Charity begins at home

So it comes as no surprise that Yorkshire and the Humber is a community-minded region, embracing small charities and community groups and the charitable services they provide.

A UK-wide poll of 2,000 people, carried out by specialist charity insurance broker, PolicyBee, as part of Small Charity Week (June 13 to 18) also highlights the importance of charity shops.

According to the poll, 80 per cent of those that have supported a local charity in the last year, did so by purchasing an item from a charity shop. Other popular forms of getting involved and supporting local charities included attending a charity event, donating online and volunteering.

Findings also show that almost half of Yorkshire and the Humber’s residents have received the support of local charities in their community, with 78 per cent of those having benefitted directly from charitable support or services over the past 12 months.

Juli Thompson, chief executive officer and project manager of Inn Churches and The Storehouse in Bradford which provide practical support to homeless and vulnerable people in the local community, says they couldn’t function without their volunteers.

“We depend on volunteers, they are the backbone of what we do. We have 850 volunteers in our winter shelter and some of them have been volunteering since the start and they absolutely love it,” says Juli.

“We would be lost without our volunteers. We couldn’t do what we do and they get a lot out of it as well.

“A lot of them want to help their local community.”

June Hill has been volunteering with Inn Churches through the winter shelter project, involving local churches working together to ensure homeless people have a roof over their head in winter, for the past seven years. She also volunteers with The Storehouse, a project helping to feed the local community.

June’s introduction to volunteering came through her involvement with St John’s Church, Great Horton, in her home city of Bradford. She says she finds volunteering ‘empowering.’

She says it has brought her in touch with ‘amazing people’ who she wouldn’t otherwise have had the opportunity to meet, and has enabled her to become involved with different experiences.

“What a wonderful way it is to bring people together in the community who want to work together to help other people who are going through difficult times.”

Overall, many Brits feel there is a strong connection between charity and local community, with almost 50 per cent of those that volunteer locally, choosing to do so simply to ‘give back to their communities.’

Findings show it is the younger generation of 25-34 year-olds who lead the way when it comes to community spirit, with 48 per cent of those that have ever volunteered stating they volunteer to give back to their community, 11 per cent do so to feel a part of their community.

The research also illustrates the different perceptions that the public has of the concept of charity. When asked what the word ‘charitable’ meant to them, results were wide-ranging. Seventy three per cent believe it means giving up your time or money to someone in need, 60 per cent believe charitable means giving food or other aid, 55 per cent stated it is using your skills for a good cause and 39 per cent said it is spreading knowledge of worthy causes and people in need.

This news comes from research undertaken by OnePoll on behalf of PolicyBee to gain a better understanding of the environment in which small local charities and community groups operate.

Kerri-Ann Hockley, Head of Customer Service at PolicyBee, said: “Local charities and small community groups are often the unsung heroes of our cities, towns and villages. From summer fete fundraising and community events to local youth groups and elderly care support, these services are vital to local communities. We are happy to help support and safeguard them, as they safeguard and support others.”

PolicyBee is also hoping to raise awareness of the many challenges that are facing small charities and community organisations.

For more information, visit www.policybee.co.uk/mcg