RPS Documentary Group SE Exhibition “A Gift of Time”

Location: Creek Creative Studios, 1 Abbey Street, Faversham, Kent, ME13 7BE

Tues 4th – Sunday 16th April [Closed Monday]. 10am – 4pm daily

Volunteers are the unsung heroes of society today. In a recent survey 30% of the
respondents said they took part in some form of formal volunteering during the year.
They are the oil which allow our hospitals, schools and religious organisations to
function. They put on plays at the village hall, run zumba classes, and organise the village
fete. They clean up our beaches and plant flowers in community spaces. They shop for
the elderly, organise mums and toddlers groups, they socialise puppies for assistance
dog charities. They pack emergency supplies for flood victims in India and hold coffee
mornings for cancer research.

They are the unpaid heroes. And why do they do it? A desire to help others? Yes, but I
think it goes much deeper. A need to keep busy. A warmth that comes from being with
other people. A sense of achievement of a job well done. And it works on both sides.
Whilst the UK and the Netherlands are comparatively wealthy, inequalities remain and
many charitable organisations are constantly in need of extra staff and funding. More
and more they are reliant on volunteers to fill the gaps.

Janey Devine FRPS