OPPORTUNITY CENTRE HAILED AS SUCCESS FOR NEWLIFE FOUNDATION
October 2009
In has been just one year since the Opportunity Centre opened at Newlife Foundation, yet the impressive tally of man-hours volunteered in the last 12 months would suggest otherwise. With more and more volunteers lending a welcome hand to the charity, a staggering 7,151 hours has been accrued from volunteers across Cannock and Staffordshire.
The disabled children’s charity opened the Opportunity Centre, based at head office, at the beginning of October last year to welcome individuals and groups to volunteer their time and skills or learn new abilities, to help disabled children through the work of Newlife.
Community Relations Manager, Heather Campbell, said: “The Opportunity Centre has been a fantastic success; I cannot believe that we have had over 7,000 hours of volunteering accumulated in such a short period of time. I sit in the centre daily working with the volunteers and can see how much it means to them – it is not only the perfect opportunity to give something back, but also to gain new skills, personal achievements, and make friends.
For one volunteer the Opportunity Centre has had a major impact on her life. Leanne Brindley, aged 32 from Whittleby in Cannock, has Cerebral Palsy and has been volunteering at the Opportunity Centre for just under a year with her carer, Clare Saunders. In the past 12 months Clare and the staff at Newlife have seen Leanne’s confidence grow. Clare explains: “Leanne used to be very reluctant to see unknown people and visit different places, but through a fondness for Heather and Newlife, Leanne has started to interact with other volunteers and the staff here.
“The whole idea behind the Opportunity Centre is excellent, Leanne can only manage a few hours volunteering so the freedom to do as little or as much as you like fits in perfectly. Leanne is particularly proud of her name badge and is always pleased to pin it on as she knows that a visit to the Opportunity Centre is imminent. Following her volunteering sessions, we always find Leanne very motivated and her parents and I are delighted with this progress.”
Mrs Sheila Brown OBE, Newlife’s CEO adds: “Newlife is very proud of this unique facility. Dedication from the Opportunity Centre volunteers has meant that more stock has been repaired and processed for sale so we have been able to help even more disabled children; and if it can have the effect on others as it has for Leanne, then that is marvellous achievement and we have succeeded in our mission.”
The Newlife Opportunity Centre has a whole host of opportunities associated with Newlife’s recycling centre from repairing jewellery, de-labelling clothing, computer work, and administrative duties. Volunteers can be anyone - from people with time on their hands; students looking for voluntary placements, work experience, those with disabilities, people looking to gain employment skills or even people with a flair for arts and crafts that could volunteer time to create something out of recycled goods.
The Opportunity Centre is looking to recruit more volunteers so if you would like to be part of this exciting venture, contact Heather Campbell on 01543 468 888.
For more information about volunteering at the Opportunity Centre please contact or log onto www.newlifecharity.co.uk.
