Fun Ways To Give Back To The Community

Fun Ways To Give Back To The Community

The cities, towns, and villages we live in are full of opportunities to get involved in community activities. It’s a great way to meet new people, learn more about your local area, and most importantly, make an impact. You will be surprised how even small initiatives can make a real difference to your area, and the lives of those around you. Here are some fun, practical and helpful ways to give something back.

Litter Picking

Litter is a constant problem throughout the UK. It is unhygienic, bad for the environment and wildlife, and can make even the prettiest parts of the country look like an eyesore.

Litter picking in your local area is one of the easiest ways to give back to the community, and it can make a huge difference. It is something you can do alone or build into a larger mission.

You will be surprised how many people would be happy to be involved in a group activity like this — they only need someone to take the initiative. Organising and inspiring a group of local litter pickers would also be a fantastic leadership opportunity. Why not get all your cadets involved?

You don’t need much to get started, an empty bin bag will do, but here are some tips to make the whole experience more efficient and more pleasant.

• A litter picker tool will make it easier and cleaner to pick up rubbish, especially if it is stuck in a ditch or bush.
• Sturdy bin bags are less likely to tear. A hoop ring will keep your bag open and make the task much easier.
• Wear gloves to protect your hands from dirt and sharp litter, and a hat to protect you from the sun (litter picking can be a fun activity on a nice day!).
• High-visibility clothing can be helpful if you do your litter picking in the evening, ensuring you can identify your group as you spread out.
• Don’t forget a bottle of water for everyone to keep them hydrated while they work, and some hand sanitiser will be useful until you can get home and wash your hands properly.

If you want to take this to the next level, contact your local newspaper and get your local council involved, too. They will appreciate the effort and may even be able to provide resources in some way.

Keep Britain Tidy has more resources on how to become a #litterhero.

Repair Cafes

Have you noticed that with digital technology such a big part of our lives, repairing devices like televisions or laptops is becoming increasingly rare? When all the important bits of technology are on a printed circuit board, fixing something broken can be difficult.

What about other devices, like a car, a bicycle, or even a tumble dryer, or items such as clothing?

Many items may be cheap to buy, however, they may be cheaper to repair. Repairing and reusing is the best form of recycling too, as it means less manufacturing and transportation is needed to bring new items to you.

If you have the right skills, your local repair cafe would love to hear from you. You don’t need to be a technical wizard because all sorts of items can be repaired or reused, from clothing to computers. If you don’t yet have the repair skills you might need, you can still be a valuable asset to these community-focused events.

Find out more about this service at https://www.repaircafe.org/en/

Become a Blood Donor

Beyond just your local area, giving blood is something that can benefit the whole community. However, your local area can still benefit too. The more you visit a blood donation centre and tell people, the more visible this valuable service becomes, benefitting everybody.

Be sure to check the requirements for giving blood to make sure you are eligible. There is a questionnaire to complete each time you go to ensure you are only giving healthy blood, but it is something that is otherwise available to everyone.

Did you know blood has to be matched to each person? We each have one of eight different blood types, so a wide range of donors is important to ensure the right stocks are available. If you have O- blood, you are even more valuable as a donor because you carry the universal blood type, which can be matched to anyone in need.

The NHS also facilitates donations of blood plasma and stem cells, so if donating blood is not right for you, there are other ways to help save lives.

(And not that this should be a deciding factor, but you get free biscuits too!).

Find out more at blood.co.uk

Volunteer with Army Cadets

আর্মি ক্যাডেটসের সাথে স্বেচ্ছাসেবী কাজ is another great way to give something back to your community. There are detachments around the country, where you can learn new skills, meet new people, gaining valuable experiences. The University of Northampton has even documented the positive impact of the Army Cadets.

Army Cadets welcome volunteers from all backgrounds, and you don’t need a military background. Find your local detachment today.

ছবির কৃতিত্ব: Lara Jameson