What is volunteering?

It is defined as "the commitment of time and energy for the benefit of society, the environment or the individual outside of your immediate family, undertaken freely and by choice, without concern for financial gain".

Bryson Charitable Group provides a variety of opportunities for people interested in volunteering. Last year, more than 80 volunteers gave more than 22,000 hours of their time through Bryson schemes to help vulnerable people and communities in Belfast, Bangor, North Down and Ards through befriending, practical help, the arts and environmental projects. Bryson Charitable Group also sends young people from Northern Ireland to volunteer in other European countries.

These are the three main volunteering schemes operated by Bryson Charitable Group:

	European Voluntary Service (EVS) Bryson Charitable Group hosts and sends 18-25 year old EVS volunteers and acts as a co-ordinating organisation for European volunteers in Northern Ireland.
	Bryson Volunteer Service North Down and Ards  Volunteers befriend older people who are socially/ geographically isolated, assist people with learning and/or physical disabilities to integrate into the local community and provide respite for carers who have been referred through the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust.
	People Like Us Scheme (PLUS) A volunteer befriending scheme matching adults with learning difficulties with individuals from the wider community on a one-to-one basis.

Do you think volunteering may be right for you? To learn more, please ring Mary Hegarty (for EVS and PLUS) on (028) 9032 5835 or Elaine Corken (Volunteer Service, North Down and Ards) on (028) 9182 3790