Volunteering can be an incredibly rewarding experience. It allows you to offer a service which can make a real difference to our society as a whole.
During my time as a Local Member of Parliament I have met a number of excellent volunteers from a range of organisations. Just last week I met with the Southend Station for the National Coastwatch Institution, an organisation based in the Ministry of Defence’s site in Shoeburyness. This organisation is run entirely by volunteers, and aims to keep people safe at sea. I was lucky enough to be shown around the facilities and speak to a couple of local volunteers. They explained that volunteering at the Coastwatch can be incredibly exciting and when lives are saved by them it becomes a very rewarding experience, and only takes 2/3 hours a month of their time. Should you or anyone you know wish to join this great organisation you can contact the Station Manager on 01702 295446.
Of course not everyone would want to volunteer in such a hands on position. There are of course other options you can explore such as befriending or becoming a trustee for a local charity. If these sort of roles interest you, you can find out more from the Southend Association of Voluntary Services by emailing them at [email protected].
However, some people may wish to serve their community in a more official capacity. One way which this can be done is by joining the Magistrates Court. Here you will get full training and support in a role where you uphold justice at the base level. This role is perfect for someone who has an interest in the law and is able to take an objective stance on most issues. This role is vital to upholding law and order in our local community and I would strongly advise anyone interested to find out more information at the gov.uk website.
In the meantime, should you have any concerns or questions that I may be of assistance with as the Local Member of Parliament please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected]