Volunteers can make a difference

Nov 5 2009 by Marjorie Kerr, West Lothian Courier

LOCAL MSP Mary Mulligan joined forces with a charity to highlight the importance of volunteering.

The Linlithgow MSP spent time with the staff and volunteers at Barnardo’s Scotland shop in Bathgate to mark Make a Difference Day.

The national volunteering organisation, Community Service Volunteers, organise CSV Make a Difference Day which this year was held on Friday, October 30.

Over 50,000 people across the UK were expected to take part in this year’s campaign doing a host of activities from working in homeless projects, to teaching people new skills, baking cakes for neighbours or giving time to work in local charity shops.

Make a Difference Day provides an opportunity to promote and encourage the concept and value of volunteering amongst local communities and to show how giving up a bit of your time can make a real difference to the lives of neighbours in your local community.

Ms Mulligan spent a morning in the Bathgate Barnado’s shop and during her volunteering stint she helped to stock the shop, worked in the store room and took her turn at the till serving customers.

This was a return to her roots for Ms Mulligan as she started her career in retail before she entered the world of politics.

Commenting on her contribution to Make a Difference Day, she said: “Volunteering is a great opportunity to do something positive and feel good about yourself, learn new skills and maybe even boost your career.

“I would encourage as many people as possible to try volunteering in their local communities.

“In West Lothian there are around 53,000 people of all ages who give their time to volunteer formally or informally to assist organisations or individuals in our local communities, and the value of their kindness and generosity are beyond measure to those they help.”