During National Volunteer Week (May 19-25) The Smith Family is celebrating the role of volunteers in strengthening local communities, while helping to improve the lives of students experiencing disadvantage through education.
With this year’s sector-wide National Volunteer Week theme being Connecting Communities, Smith Family CEO Doug Taylor says volunteers play an important role in fostering a strong sense of community for students.
“The idea that it takes a village to raise a child is reflected in our volunteers’ work,” he said.
“Bringing together different people within a community, outside of a student’s immediate family, to offer support and guidance with their education, makes a world of difference to their confidence and learning outcomes.”
Last year almost 5,000 individuals volunteered with The Smith Family, amounting to a total of more than 123,000 hours of service donated.
The Smith Family also acknowledges the contribution to its work of more than 13,000 VIEW Club members in communities across the country, who last year volunteered more than 70,000 hours.
VIEW Clubs offer a wonderful opportunity for women to build lasting connections within their local communities.
Thanks to this support, The Smith Family has been able to bring its life-changing learning programs to more young people, across more Australian communities, than ever before.
“Volunteers are integral to our work, and thanks to their ongoing support we’re able to continue to grow our reach and improve the lives of young people experiencing disadvantage,” Taylor said.
Central Coast resident Kathy Wyborn is in her ninth year as a volunteer with the Smith Family’s Learning Club and said the most rewarding part was attending the weekly sessions with the children and being involved with their activities.
“Even though it is only one hour a week we attend the schools, the staff are very appreciative of our attendance at the Learning Club and often speak of the many benefits which the children receive from our attendance,” she said.
“Each year I find a certain connection with a number of students and I look forward to watching the progress of these students whether it is in maths, reading or self-confidence.”
The Smith Family welcomes the donation of time through a variety of volunteering opportunities around the country.
Volunteers can commit to as little as an hour a week or participate in longer term roles.
A range of opportunities is available to help children in need, including tutoring through a local Learning Club or the online reading program, student2student, as well as administration roles.
To see available opportunities on the Central Coast, visit www.thesmithfamily.com.au/volunteer
The Smith Family is currently running its annual Winter Appeal which aims to raise almost $8M nationally to support more children in need.
To donate visit thesmithfamily.com.au/winter
