Part of the iVolunteer flipbook for Leeds City Council. This is the contribution of staffer Laura Stimpson. bit.ly/ivolunteerleeds

1. i Volunteer Leeds
Laura Stimpson
Charities
and singing!
The
of
Voice
Yesteryear
I have been passionate
about volunteering for many
years now. It gives me an
opportunity to meet and work
“Laura
Stimpson
writes
with people from all walks of life that I’d not usually get the chance to
meet, allows me to use and learn skills I wouldn’t use in every-day
life and gives me some satisfaction that I’m making a difference.

2. i Volunteer Leeds
Laura Stimpson
Charities
and singing!
Many of the things we
rely in in life depend on
volunteers, and I believe that
when you can, you should
dedicate some of your time to
helping out.
Over the years I
have taken part in
many different
volunteering projects,
I have taught drama and
song writing to disadvantaged young
people and worked with adults
with learning disabilities.

3. i Volunteer Leeds
Laura Stimpson
Charities
and singing!
I have been a Samaritans listening volunteer for 10 years. It can be challenging
at times but it is a privilege to be able to support people at times when they feel
alone and unable to share their distress with those close to them. It has given
me the opportunity to learn a lot about different people, improved my listening skills,
and although it sounds a cliché it helps me to put my own troubles into perspective.
I also enjoy giving my time to sing for charity. After years of dreaming about
it, I began singing professionally in 2012, I decided I wanted to support some
local charities as well as doing paid gigs. It was such an amazing feeling for me
not only to be paid to do something I enjoy so much, but having people want to
listen to me sing. I feel really grateful that I’m able to do this and that spurs me
to use my talent to share with charities and help them raise money and awareness.

4. i Volunteer Leeds
Laura Stimpson
Charities
and singing!
It’s impossible to support
everyone who asks, just as
it’s impossible to choose
which charities are most
worthy of your support,
so many are equally
deserving. I decided to
support three charities
free of charge and offer a
discount to other charities.
Laura supports
Kirkwood
Hospice
kirkwood
hospice.co.uk

5. i Volunteer Leeds
Laura Stimpson
Charities
and singing!
The main charity I support is Kirkwood Hospice, an amazing hospice
in Kirklees who really do make a huge difference to not only those
suffering from illness, but their families too. It is an absolute honour
to be associated with them and to help them to provide the highest
quality of care to both patients and their families, they hugely rely on
donations to be able to maintain their great work.
I have supported Beyond Cancer, an inspirational Leeds
based charity, founded by my dear friend and colleague
Pat Case who also features in iVolunteer Leeds.
Beyond
Cancer
beyond
cancer.org.uk
I have sung for Huddersfield Samaritans, the
branch I volunteer at and Candlelighters a
Yorkshire childhood cancer charity.
Hudds
Samaritans
samaritans.org
They say volunteering is unpaid,
it's true, you don't receive any money to
do it but the personal payment is huge.