Last Saturday saw the launch of Volunteer's Week (1st – 7th June), a national event which says 'thank you' to the millions of volunteers across the UK who give their time freely to help local charities and organisations.

There will have been many events taking place locally this week, in celebration of our local volunteers. The Wansdyke Play Association will be going on a 'thank you tour', finishing up at the Hollies Gardens, Midsomer Norton this Friday, between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. B&NES Council staff will be lending a hand at several locations, with staff creating a dry stone wall at the Haydon Community Garden, working with residents at Clandown to create a community allotment and supporting disabled riders during their weekly session at the Wellow Trekking Centre.

Age UK have also been thanking their local volunteers this week. Janet Dabbs, Chief Executive of Age UK B&NES, said: "We have around 150 volunteers who donate in the region of 11,000 hours of their time to support our work each year. Their work makes a big difference to the lives of so many older people and their carers, and I'd like to thank every one of them for getting involved."

Mike Bell and his wife, Sonja, from Midsomer Norton, have been volunteering with Age UK B&NES for the last three years. "Sometimes an opportunity arises to do something you really believe in. Leading walks for health with Age UK B&NES was just that kind of situation and Sonja and I both leapt at getting

involved," said Mike. "It was also a wonderful way for us, as new residents in the area, to make new friends and feel a part of the community. Similarly, befriending through Age UK has given us both the opportunity to meet interesting local people."

Age UK B&NES is a local charity that supports around 12,000 older people, their families and carers every year. The charity would like to hear from anyone who would like to get involved, even if they can only offer a few hours a month. Visit: http://www.ageukbanes.co.uk">www.ageukbanes.co.uk or call: 01225 466135 or email: [email protected]">[email protected]

The new Midsomer Norton and Frome Branch of Guide Dogs attended the Midsomer Norton Farmers' Market last Saturday, with many stopping to meet the volunteers and, of course, the dogs. Group Organiser, Juliet Moore, and volunteers manned the stall for the morning to talk to local people about the work of the Guide Dogs charity and how residents can get involved.

Guide Dogs was started in 1931 by Muriel Crooke and Rosamund Bond, who trained the first four British Guide Dogs from a lock-up garage on Merseyside! The charity has come a long way since those humble beginnings, and over 29,000 people have benefitted from guide dogs since then. The charity receive no Government funding, but will pay for a guide dog throughout its lifetime – costing around £50,000 per dog. The charity also carry out a huge amount of work with schools and young people.

Each dog represents a huge investment and so the groundwork of the small local branches, like the new Midsomer Norton and Frome Branch, is vital. The team are looking for volunteers who can give up an hour of their time to help with collections – their most recent at Tesco raised £500. Volunteers can also make items to sell at stalls, or businesses can offer space for counter-top collecting boxes. If you have any skills you think you might be able to offer the charity, please do get in touch. Contact Juliet on: 01761 415326 or email: [email protected]">[email protected]

The next fundraising event held by the local branch will be a Captain's Day at Frome Golf Club, followed by a stall at the school fayre at Oakhill. The group hope to organise more fundraising opportunities for Guide Dogs 'Week', which runs later in the year from 5th – 13th October.