Why volunteer?

We have an award winning events programme in Renfrewshire, but none of it could happen without our volunteers. Whether you are interested in how events work, want to meet new people, or just want to do something different, there are plenty of reasons to volunteer with us.

We asked some of volunteers from this year’s Paisley Food and Drink Festival why they got involved.

Volunteering feels good

Helping other people is very rewarding, especially within a community you are part of to. It gives you connections to your people around you and opportunities to make your local place better.

Volunteering can give you a great feeling of accomplishment too, especially if it’s new to you. You’ll be building new skills, working in new ways, and overcoming challenges. With the training and support offered to our volunteers, we help them develop in new and exciting ways.

Working on our events is also great for your physical health. Our events will get you out and about, meeting folk and helping with a range of tasks. Additionally, we welcome volunteers of all abilities and experiences. And we will help you to find a role that suits you.

“…it’s great working with the community and I enjoy a new challenge every time”

Volunteering is good for your mental health

In 2020, a study from the Journal of Happiness found people who volunteer feel more satisfied with their lives and rated their overall health as better. Plus, they found that people who volunteered frequently reported better mental health overall.

Working on a shared task with other likeminded people is great for building confidence and social skills. Volunteering can help you cope the effects of stress, anger, and anxiety too. Taking time to work on something for others can help build a sense of pride and identity in what you’re doing. And this can have positive impacts on the way you think about other aspects of your life.

“I volunteer to develop my confidence and to gain volunteer experience”

It is great work experience

Often one of the biggest benefits to volunteering is the positive impact it can have on your work experience and development. With our events team, we have roles in creative media, communications, site building, stewarding, event management and community building. So if you’re interested in working in any of these areas, volunteering with us can be a great place to start.

However, even if you aren’t interested in working in events, volunteering can give you the opportunity to practice important skills used in the workplace. These include teamwork, communication, problem solving, task management, and organisational skills.

“I volunteer to get experience and because I enjoy volunteering at the events”

Get involved

We have several amazing events coming up this year and we are looking for volunteers.

If you are interested, find out more, or get in touch below.