Moray charity now recruiting first volunteers

Lynne Stewart, a 24 year-old Moray woman, has recently returned from her latest trip to India in March which has allowed her to take another step closer to realising her dream of offering others the life changing experience of volunteering in a children's home in India where she has volunteered herself on many occasions.

While she was there, Lynne reached agreement with a children's home in the district of Ahmednagar that has now led to the door being opened for others to follow inherited footsteps by undertaking placements. The home in question is an orphanage that provides care for children and young people from the local district who are either orphans or whose parents cannot provide them with the necessary support and care.

These opportunities are being offered by Elgin-based charity ‘Volunteering Connects Cultures’ that Lynne has founded and which is run by a small Board of trustees which she chairs.

Lynne and the trustees have been working hard over an extended period to ensure that everything is in place to ensure that those who go as volunteers will be properly prepared and supported. As a result of this, the charity is now seeking its first volunteers to take up placements starting in February 2013.

Lynne stated that:

"It has been a long-held dream for me to realise this ambition and it is really exciting to know that we are now ready to start recruiting our first volunteers soon."

As she's gone about building her charity, Lynne has received a great deal of local support from many individuals and organisations but would gladly welcome support from others. We are also looking for volunteers to support the charity in local fundraising activities.

A particularly supportive relationship has been built by Moray College which has provided practical support including office accommodation, printing facilities, I.T equipment and support to develop a website.

Mike Devenney, Principal, who has joined the Board of the charity as a trustee, explained the thinking behind the relationship:

"Moray College and Volunteering Connects Cultures hope that, in building this relationship, we not only benefit the charity itself but also provide opportunities for Moray College students and staff and other people in Moray who would wish to become involved with the work of the charity at home or in India."

Anyone who is interested in finding out more about the volunteering opportunities or of the work of the charity should contact Lynne Stewart at vcc@moray.uhi.ac.uk