Frome charity seeks views on barriers to volunteering

A charity in Frome is calling on people with learning disabilities to share their experiences of volunteering.

The OurSelf Advocacy Team at OpenStoryTellers is working on a nationwide project with Spark Somerset and the NHS called Volunteering for Health. The project aims to find out what barriers prevent people with learning disabilities from volunteering.

The team would like to have a short conversation with people, either online or face-to-face, to find out about the positive aspects of volunteering and any challenges they may have faced.

Charity member Ben Waller said, “This will help us to create a set of ‘Top Tips’ for organisations who might be considering looking for learning disabled volunteers.

“Only 5% of adults with a learning disability are in paid employment – volunteering is a crucial step for many into paid work. The positive impact of volunteering on people’s health is clear. 94% of charity volunteers report feeling less isolated and lonely and 77% experience improved mental wellbeing.”

Ellie, a supported intern at OpenStoryTellers, said, “This project is important as we want to tell people about the benefits of volunteering for people with learning disabilities. We want to hear from you because it will help us understand what barriers people face.”

OpenStoryTellers is a community arts charity for people with learning disabilities.

People can contact the OurSelf Advocacy Team at OpenStoryTellers by emailing ben.waller@openstorytellers.org.uk to arrange a chat or find out more.