A big THANK YOU from your Volunteer Coordinator…

Because all of our services here at TDS are volunteer run, and have been since the beginning, it would be too easy to take your contributions for granted - to forget, or to downplay the incredible gifts of time, skill and energy that each of you shares with our members and each other.

Life is busy, and full of responsibilities and commitments and chaos. And yet, every single day at our groups and home visits, we see volunteers making time amidst it all to be there for others - to listen, learn, and support our members. And we also see volunteers loving it - the laughter and jokes, the crazy activities, and the friendships and relationships that form.

You all help us build the mismatched, welcoming and supportive community that is TDS. Kind of like a big patchwork quilt, where no two pieces are the same - different backgrounds, ages, shapes and sizes - and yet together, placed alongside our members and carers, you all make something wonderful and special. Something that gives you the warm glow of knowing you are a part of something good.

Thank you for all you do - all that we see, and all that we don’t. You are all extraordinary to us, and we continue to be so grateful to have you on our team ❤️

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 07579831790

🎬✨Lights, Camera, Action: Launching our new volunteering film!✨🎬

Just in time for Volunteer’s Week, we’re really excited to launch our brand new volunteering film - featuring some of our lovely Levenshulme and Walk & Talk volunteers!

Watch it here, and let us know what you think:

This film was commissioned as part of a grant we’ve received from One Manchester - Manchester’s largest social housing provider - to try and promote volunteering, and it’s benefits more widely.

The beauty of volunteering is that it’s mutually beneficial - I don’t expect people to volunteer purely out of the goodness of their hearts (even though I believe you all have HUGE hearts). People want to volunteer because it’s good for us - it brings so much richness, diversity, and new experiences into our lives.

I think the film really captures this, and all there is to gain from volunteering, with TDS or elsewhere…the way it grows intergenerational friendships and relationships in your local community; the value it can bring to your life in terms of personal and professional growth; and the hugely positive impact it can have on our mental health, simply knowing we’re a part of something good.

We’re always trying to capture volunteer experiences and stories, so if you’d like to share yours - either written down or verbally - get in touch!

✨📢Tell your friends!📢✨

We’re always looking for new volunteers, but particularly over the summer period when so many of our existing student volunteers return home for the holidays.

We are especially in need of:

• Group volunteers for our Tuesday and Wednesday sessions over the summer

• Volunteer Drivers for Walk & Talk on a Wednesday morning - volunteers with access to their own vehicles, who would be happy to pick up/drop off members. There’s no cost to this - we cover everything!

Here’s a non-exhaustive list of people you could share our volunteering opportunities with:

• Your neighbour - stick a leaflet through the door!

• Your friends - encourage your mates to get involved!

• Your husband/wife/partner - those who volunteer together, stay together…right?

• Your children (16+) who may or may not be lazing around the house needing something to do this summer

• Your colleagues!

• Your long lost lover - the perfect reason to get back in touch!

• Your milkman - leave a leaflet in an empty milk bottle

• Your favourite cashier at Tesco/ASDA/Sainsburys

You can find all the necessary information about all of our volunteering roles on our website here - so please send or share the link with someone you know! Or, feel free to pass on my contact details to anybody who would like to chat about how to get involved:

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 07579831790