AROUND 150 people queued up to offer their services to local charities and find out more at a Volunteer Fair in the borough last week.
The Wokingham Volunteer Centre (WVC) event, held in the Town Hall, was very well attended, with visitors, at times, lining the stairs as they waited to enter.
Helena Badger, volunteer services manager at WVC, said: “It’s been phenomenal.
“We’ve had a fantastic turnout, and extremely positive feedback from the charities.
“There has been a total mix of ages, ranging from 14 year old students, to people coming up to retirement, all of them keen to volunteer.”
Visitors to the free event were able to talk to representatives from 15 charities: Link Visiting Scheme, ABC to Read, Wokingham in Bloom, Berkshire Lowland Search and Rescue, Green’n’Tidy, Wokingham and Earley Transport Scheme, Wokingham Pride, and Citizens Advice Wokingham.
Also looking for new recruits were: Homestart Wokingham District, Berkshire Scouts, First Days Children’s Charity, National Youth Advocacy Service, Mind in Berkshire, Me2 Club, and Berkshire Vision.
Kath Tuthill, First Days volunteer coordinator, and volunteers Roger Graham and Clare Sudlow said they were amazed by the response.
“I can’t believe how many people we’ve seen today,” said Mr Graham.
“We’ve had almost 40 people say they are very interested in joining us.”
“And it’s been a real cross-section, from youngsters to people older than me,” added Ms Tuthill.
“We’re thrilled.”
Lorraine Irwin volunteer coordinator, and Karen Pollard services manager, both from the Link Visiting Scheme were delighted, too.
“We’ve had a really productive morning,” said Ms Irwin, “We’ll be sending out around twenty information packs as a result of today.”
Sarah, a volunteer from Wokingham Pride, wasn’t even able to get into the town hall when she tried to set up.
“When I arrived, just after 11am, I literally followed a queue of people up the stairs, and the whole hall was absolutely full to the brim,” she said.
“It has been an amazing turnout.”
Anyone who missed the event, but who would like to volunteer, should visit: www.wokinghamvolunteercentre.org.uk
