Volunteer for Heart Research UK

Volunteer and Help Hearts in 2013

If you've got some spare time why not give it up for a good cause – and get involved with some volunteering for Heart Research UK during 2013.

Our volunteers play such an important role in our work, helping us to run events or just to support us in the many things we have to do in the office.

We particularly need volunteers to help with a range of events that include our 17^th Three Peaks Challenge in the Yorkshire Dales on 15 June, a new Hike for your Heart event at Ben Nevis, and our annual Sing for your Heart fund-raiser in the run up to Christmas. (Click on our events calendar below) 

There are also lots of different roles available throughout the year, and Heart Research UK, which is based in Leeds, will always try to be flexible to suit peoples’ availability, skills and requirements.

Two Heart Research UK volunteers who have been helping the charity out for over two years are husband and wife Ivor and Valerie Baum and they explain what it means to them to volunteer.   Ivor, 65, from Alwoodley, Leeds, also helps out at St Gemma’s Hospice where he has been a volunteer driver for about five years.

“I find volunteering very fulfilling and rewarding,” he said.  “You meet different people so it is good to socialise.  I find the people very friendly and helpful, and you really do feel part of a family. 

“Volunteers are important and you are all helping towards the charity making more money so it is a worthy cause.”

His wife Valerie, who also works in North East Leeds MP Fabian Hamilton’s office, has done various volunteering jobs including working at the former ChildLine offices in Leeds.  “I am happy to do all sorts of jobs to help Heart Research UK,” she said.  “I do like making new friends so volunteering is a good way of doing that.”

With the support of volunteers, Heart Research UK can continue its work in raising money to fund medical research into the prevention, treatment and cure of heart disease as well as helping people live happier, healthier, longer lives through its healthy lifestyle grants.

Donations to the charity are, of course, vital to the on-going fight against heart disease but the charity also relies on volunteers to support it in a variety of different roles at events, in the office, by organising local fundraising events or spreading our healthy heart messages to schools and businesses.

Volunteering is a great way of enhancing your CV, using professional skills and expertise to help others or simply offers a chance to meet new people and give something back to a worthy cause.

Each year over 100 people formally volunteer for 350 volunteering opportunities a year at Heart Research UK, and the charity is hoping to increase this in 2013.

Volunteering roles at Heart Research UK are flexible dependant on availability and skills. There’s bound to be a role to suit everyone whether it’s simply giving time to rattle a collection box, marshall at a fundraising event or help out in the office.

Lynne Desborough, Fundraiser at Heart Research UK, says:

“To make sure that our 2013 events and activities are bigger and better than ever, we really need your help. Volunteers are so important to the success of our events and we value every minute of their time.

“The good news is that we have more opportunities than ever available but this also means that we need more volunteer help than ever before.”

“We really appreciate all the help and support we get from our volunteers, some who have been with us for many years.  From everyone at Heart Research UK we want to express our heartfelt thanks for your continued support.”

If you're interested in volunteering, please contact Lynne or Lisa on 0113 234 7474 or email fundraising@heartresearch.org.uk or visit www.heartresearch.org.uk/supportus/volunteer for more information.

Please click here to view our events calender for 2013

Please click here to view our volunteering opportunites for 2013