Volunteers Week: Sharon Orr

The 1^st-7^th June is Volunteers Week, which is a time to say thanks for the contribution millions of people make across the UK through volunteering.

We’d like to highlight the fantastic work of our volunteers, who over the past year have contributed over 1,144 hours towards subcommittees, grants panels, events and much more.

In this article we speak with Sharon Orr, who is Community Affairs Manager at Provident Financial Group as well as a Trustee of Leeds Community Foundation and GiveBradford.

• Tell us more about your involvement with Leeds Community Foundation?

I’ve been involved with Leeds Community Foundation as a Trustee for a few years now, following a long-standing funding partnership.  Through my trusteeship I’m able to work with a diverse Board of Trustees to add support around my own areas of experience.

This includes grant allocation and impact measurement and also working with my own network to help raise awareness of the Foundation’s brilliant work and the value that they bring to the philanthropic and community investment landscape in Leeds and Bradford.

• What drives your support?

Leeds Community Foundation is fantastically well-placed to act as a conduit between donors and the communities that they are trying to reach and invest in.  Knowing how much Provident Financial Group benefit from that as a corporate funder, makes me passionate about helping others to access this funding model, and in turn seeing the very tangible benefits that this brings to our communities and those who need it most.

• What community issues are important to you?

Over the years that I’ve worked in community investment, I’ve heard so many stories from community leaders and those who are providing frontline services, that have been truly jaw-dropping. It makes you realise just how lucky so many of us are and it makes me even more determined to work with organisations who are facing into the barriers to social inclusion and are tackling disadvantage and inequality head on.

• Have you got any advice for individuals who are looking to get into volunteering?

Volunteering is such a grounding experience.  I’ve volunteered for many years now and I would argue that it’s not altogether altruistic, because I get so much out of it – both on a personal and a professional level.  It makes me appreciate everything that I have, and the life chances that I’ve had.

Everyone has something they can give and everyone has some time to give.  Find something that you feel passionately about and just take that first step – I promise you’ll not be disappointed, and, as cliched as it sounds, you will absolutely make a difference.