A VOLUNTEER roadshow has highlighted the desperate shortage of people willing to donate their time in Maldon.
Good for Essex – an initiative to alert the public to the need for volunteering – arrived at the Blackwater Leisure Centre in an attempt to recruit residents willing to give up a few hours to help struggling community organisations.
Cllr David Finch, deputy leader and cabinet member for finance and the transformation programme, said: "Essex residents have the potential to make a significant impact and we're encouraging and enabling people to play a more active part in their local communities.
"Good for Essex supports people and community groups to participate in individual, group and community activities to help themselves and others.
"We're excited to be running these events in partnership with volunteer centres, who alongside other voluntary and community sector organisations, play an important role in supporting stronger and more resilient communities."
The Maldon and District CVS Volunteer Centre received only 350 enquiries from locals looking to volunteer last year. This left hundreds of positions in the district yet to be filled.
Reg Crouch, 83, has been volunteering in Maldon for 23 years and despairs at the lack of help for organisations doing vital work,
"There is a great shortage of volunteers. I can't think of a single voluntary organisation that can't do without more assistance. If volunteers don't do half these jobs, nobody does."
"There are so many lonely people around who are living alone and sometimes they just want to go for a drive so that they have someone to talk to."
The Burnham-on-Crouch resident regularly drives a vehicle for Viking Community Transport, a charity that provides minibus services for residents who have difficulty travelling, whilst his wife runs the local Helen Rollanson charity shop.
The 'Good for Essex' roadshow allowed passers-by to use a photo booth to capture themselves holding up their skill-set, all which can be put to use with different community groups and make everyone 'the perfect volunteer'.
David Eniffer, chairman of Volunteer Centres Essex, said: "We are happy to work in partnership with Essex County Council with the Good for Essex exercise to promote volunteering in the county and look forward to helping even more potential volunteers find opportunities".