Thank you to those who volunteer!
’Tis the season to be jolly, and to be grateful for the many volunteers who support Genesis Trust. On Thursday 5 December ’tis also International Volunteer Day and it encourages us on that day to reflect on and celebrate the dedicated people who have given their time over the last year.
Volunteers provide vital support across every part of Genesis including all our Genesis Life Projects; the whole Bath Foodbank operation; Genesis Furniture; the Operations and Fundraising teams through our Curios shop, events such as our quizzes, and supportive administrative tasks at our Church Farm office.
It is not one size fits all when it comes to volunteering and we really appreciate how our volunteers give their time to help vulnerable and homeless people in Bath in so many different ways through our interlinked projects and activities.
We aim to support people in times of crisis and by providing ongoing further support to help them overcome poverty in all its forms. People can be impoverished in different ways, and we can group the multiple and diverse experiences as poverty of resources, of relationships and of identity. With just a small staff team, this holistic support can only be offered with our excellent volunteering team alongside us. Meeting people on their own individual journey with their own particular situation and needs takes time, compassion and understanding. We appreciate every person who volunteers for enabling this to happen.
This week in particular we thank the many volunteers who will be putting in extra time to help with the Bath Foodbank warehouse move from West Avenue to Brassmill whilst still ensuring that Foodbank can carry out business as usual, without a hitch, at the busiest time of year!
As well as our regular teams we have help from businesses, students and individuals who support with specific tasks. We reflect
on International Volunteer Day on their kind contribution as well. This semester we have had seven groups of students from the University of Bath School of Management, supporting all of the projects with fundraising events, hands on help and even filming with a drone for Genesis Furniture. Our many corporate partners also provide valuable extra pairs of hands in times of need throughout the year.
Last but not least, we celebrate people who organise collections amongst their community of food for Bath Foodbank, clothing and care package items for Genesis Life Projects. Thank you for volunteering your time to make this happen. Together we can support homeless and vulnerable people in Bath to restore their lives, find hope and a better future.
Nick Mayo, CEO says, “My thanks go out to all our volunteers for your vital contribution this year. You work so hard to help the whole team to build relationships, encourage participation and grow confidence in all the areas of Genesis Trust. Our aim is to deliver a supportive, caring environment for our clients, where they feel safe, find community and gain the confidence to make sustainable changes in their lives. All of this is only possible because of the supportive community we have around us. Thank you for partnering with Genesis Trust and for journeying with us and our clients toward new beginnings and better futures.”
