PKAVS Volunteering - Good For The Heart and Soul

#SCBP Charity of the Year 2015 - PKAVS

A couple of years ago there was a great study carried out that showed volunteering is not only good for your soul, it’s also good for your heart!  The study found that after just ten weeks of taking part in community programmes people had better cardiovascular health!    The experts involved reckoned that by giving time and energy to help others, you not only feel good emotionally, you will find you gain a positive effect on physical wellbeing.

Researcher Hannah Schreier, of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, said: ‘The volunteers who reported the greatest increases in empathy, altruistic behaviour and mental health were the ones who also saw the greatest improvements in their cardiovascular health.’

We LOVE this! Finally, a way to bolster heart health without having to run a marathon, drink green sludge  or eat cardboard cereal.  It got me thinking that there will be a good many people out there with resolutions for 2015 that involve BOTH helping others and becoming healthier. Always here to help, I present to you the PKAVS Volunteer Scheme!

You see, when PKAVS has its Sunday Name going on it is Perth and Kinross Association of Voluntary Services!  You can see why it is abbreviated! However, what the long version of this great charity’s name does really well is highlight the importance of volunteers to the services they provide in the local community.  

PKAVS volunteers come from all walks of life and help in all sorts of ways. Some give up regular blocks of time every week and others drop in for an hour of bag packing once a year.   The truth is, they need everyone and every single hour is valuable in helping to make a difference right here in Perth and Kinross.

Here’s some of their regulars!

• Paul : Who has volunteered at PKAVS Mental Wellbeing Services for almost 2 years now. He runs a watercolour session with clients on a Monday and Thursday at Wisecraft, which has been a huge success.
• Sandy : Who is a dedicated volunteer at PKAVS Walled Garden and has brought a huge amount of gardening knowledge to the service. Over the past 4 years he has helped support clients three days a week in the garden and has also led a walking group for some of the that time.
• John : Who has volunteered with PKAVS Adult Carers Service for the past 14 years as a driver. He travels from Birnam to Perth 5 days a week and assists at Day Services, collecting lunches and taking clients to appointments which helps with their wellbeing
• Janette :  Who volunteers with PKAVS Adult Carers Service on a Friday and has done for the past few years. She assists with all daily duties and is adored by everyone!
• Linda : Who is a flexible volunteer and often helps out at events and charity bag packs as required. 
• Sarah :  Who volunteers once a week at a Young Carers Service respite group. She helps with pickups & dropoffs  and with the group activities.

So, if you’d like to have your heart and soul boosted by volunteering then its as easy as adding your name to the list! PKAVS hold a flexible volunteer database so you can have your name added to the list and then any upcoming opportunities will be emailed to you, leaving you free to decide if the timing or activity suits you! Easy!

If you’d like to do something a little more regularly then why not contact PKAVS by emailing fundraising@pkavs.org.uk and letting them know when you’re free? They will happily help you find a fit within the organisation so that you can start feeling ACE!

ONE DAY OPPORTUNITIES 2015

There are dates being confirmed all the time, but you can sign up to either of these bag packing dates NOW!

Saturday 28th March 2015
11am – 4pm
Asda Perth, Dunkeld Road

 Saturday 29th August 2015
Timings to be confirmed
Morrisons, Caledonian Road

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PKAVS is Small City, Big Personality’s chosen charity for 2015. Find out why we decided to work with this amazing organisation and what the bring to our small city, over one our announcement page here.

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