A SPECIAL event to be held in Sandbank later this month will emphasise the importance of volunteering and the vital difference it can make to a local community.
The village is preparing to host its very own Volunteer Fair and the event, organised by Sandbank Community Development Trust, Scenic Sandbank and Argyll and Bute Third Sector Interface (TSI), will take place at Sandbank Village Hall on Saturday, September 20, from 10am to noon.
Open to everyone, the fair will showcase the many ways local people can get involved from lending an hour a week to taking the lead on a project. There will also be arts and crafts activities for children, making it a family-friendly morning out.
Volunteering may feel like one more task on a busy list, but organisers stress its real rewards: boosting wellbeing, easing stress, providing purpose, and building connections.
Beyond individual gains, volunteering benefits the wider community. Extra hands help maintain and enhance villages, engage with local activities, and support neighbours in need. Whether tending fruit and veg in the community garden, assisting at a coffee morning or helping at a lunch club, every contribution makes a difference.
Sandbank’s Volunteer Fair is a chance for local organisations to share their work and invite new volunteers to join them. Groups with opportunities to offer, big or small, are encouraged to take a stall and connect with those ready to make a difference.
Sue McKillop of Scenic Sandbank Community Garden and Oakbank Community Inn, said: “Volunteers are key to moving our two community projects forward. The Garden and the Inn bring different opportunities, appealing to a range of skillsets. Everyone has something to contribute, regardless of age or ability. The fair will be a chance for our community to meet us – and perhaps offer fresh talents and ideas.”
John Parker of Sandbank Community Development Trust said: “We are keen to encourage everyone to contribute to our community, from an hour a week to leading a project or sitting on a board. Lots to do and your community needs your help.”
For stallholder enquiries, contact John Parker at [email protected].
For wider volunteering support across Argyll and Bute, visit www.argylltsi.org/volunteering.
