Meet the dedicated volunteers encouraging others to join as Leeds City Council rolls out its new volunteering program, Volunteer Team Leeds.
This innovative initiative aims to unify and expand the dynamic community of volunteers who support various Leeds City Council-affiliated events and initiatives. Whether it’s creating mesmerizing experiences at Light Night Leeds, offering cinematic delights at the Leeds International Film Festival, providing enriching activities in local libraries, or participating in essential befriending schemes, Volunteer Team Leeds presents a wide array of opportunities for community involvement.
Leveraging the momentum of LEEDS 2023, which saw over 1,800 volunteers contribute to the city’s year of culture, the new scheme aims to maintain and expand this dedicated community through a streamlined, user-friendly system designed with volunteers in mind.
Bill Hargreaves, a former postman, always enjoyed helping others as part of his job, going so far as to post letters for residents during the lockdown. Since retiring three years ago, he has dedicated much of his time to volunteering and has become a fixture at many Leeds City Council events, including Light Night and the Leeds International Piano Competition. Bill Hargreaves said:
“When I retired, I felt like there was no reason to stop being helpful just because I don’t get paid for it. I was worried there would be a void after retirement but I’ve made sure to fill that with volunteering. There’s no way I was ever going to be someone who sits in front of the TV when I retired. I’m just having so much fun now.”
Like Bill, many individuals choose to volunteer simply because they find it rewarding. However, volunteering can also offer a range of additional benefits. Khara Linton-Salmon, for instance, has volunteered at film festivals nationwide, but it was her involvement with the Leeds Film Festival that proved particularly fruitful. There, she made valuable connections that helped her build a career in the film industry. By 2024, she had advanced to the role of a programmer for the festival, specifically in the short film category. Khara Linton-Salmon said:
“I felt like I could speak to people that were higher up than me, and they gave me good advice, they actually wanted to help me progress. The main reason why I wanted to volunteer was just because I love film. It wasn’t until I decided to volunteer at Leeds that the snowball started rolling. Leeds gave me more of an opening to making it a career.
“Anybody that loves film I’m always telling them to do it. Not even for a career path but just because it’s fun. You go in with your passion and you meet 50 other people with the same passion.”
Councillor Mary Harland, Leeds City Council’s executive member for communities, customer service and community safety, and champion for volunteering said:
“We believe volunteers are at the heart of our city. From the pitch to the streets, and across our communities, our city is full of passion for helping out and giving back. With Volunteer Team Leeds we’re hoping to get even more people signing up to share skills, meet people and learn new things. As a key part of our city’s Volunteering Strategy, we want Leeds to be a city that is the best to volunteer in and that celebrates volunteering in all its forms, where it’s easy for people to find ways to make a difference and get involved.
“We encourage all residents of Leeds to create a profile on the new platform and join the growing community of volunteers making a brilliant positive impact through council-supported initiatives across the city.”
The introduction of Volunteer Team Leeds brings a new, comprehensive platform where individuals can easily create a profile and sign up to volunteer for various services or events organized or supported by Leeds City Council. This one-stop-shop also provides volunteers with access to learning and development tools to enhance their skills and experiences. Already, nearly 2,000 volunteers have registered on the platform, eager to contribute to their community.
Volunteer Team Leeds is supported by funding from the central government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which is managed locally by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority. Learn more about Volunteer Team Leeds and register to join at www.volunteerteamleeds.rosterfy.uk
