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Where volunteering begins: Emily's story

Now more than ever, volunteering is in the spotlight. The Olympic and Paralympic Games demonstrated, in the most real and powerful way, just how relevant volunteering is in 21st century Britain. The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) want to make sure it stays that way. They want to encourage volunteering and make sure decision makers are aware of its enormous value.

Many people want to volunteer and it is well known that many will do it if we ask them to. NCVO’s new campaign, Where volunteering begins is designed to catch people’s attention and give them the knowledge and resources to get started. 

In this campaign video, Emily, a young woman who volunteered in the Paralympic Games, provides an inspiring example of the powerful impact volunteering can have on an individual. She highlights what volunteering can achieve, not only for the volunteer and those they help, but for communities. You can now watch Emily's story below.

Watch Emily here
 

Where volunteering begins is a resource for anyone who would like to highlight the value of volunteering 

Emily’s film is one of five videos that tell the stories of five ordinary people who make a difference by volunteering. 

Feel free to share the five campaign videos – you could even add them to your own website.

You can talk about the campaign and videos on Twitter using #begintoday.

And do share NCVO’s I want to volunteer web pages which explain how volunteers can get started.

The NCVO is the largest umbrella body for the voluntary and community sector in England. NCVO champions and strengthens the voluntary sector, with over 10,000 members, from the largest charities to the smallest community organisations. They make sure the voluntary sector can do what it does best.

There are thousands of voluntary sector organisations in the UK. Everyday, across the country, millions give them their time, energy and money. And for over 90 years, NCVO has brought the voluntary sector’s people together: to solve problems, address root causes, and inspire each other.