How volunteering can keep you happy & healthy

It’s official…taking time out to help others as part of a charity volunteering initiative is good for them and good for you too.

It has been scientifically proven that ‘doing good’ can give someone a heightened sense of wellbeing, a stronger immune system and much, much more.

While it’s common knowledge that volunteers do a world of good for the charities they assist, and the communities they serve, increasingly people are discovering that ‘helping out’ can also bring many benefits for volunteers themselves.

Rewarding

In an episode, of the late, great, Michael Mosley’s BBC Radio 4 programme, Just One Thing, which is available on BBC Sounds, he discovers that, as well as being a very rewarding thing to do, volunteering can benefit your health too.

Michael speaks with Dr Edith Chen from Northwestern University in the US, who has been investigating the power of helping others.

Lowers chronic inflammation & cholesterol

She tells Michael about her studies showing that by boosting your mood and empathy, volunteering can lower chronic inflammation, cholesterol and even help you lose weight.

Michael also mentions how it’s a great way to meet new people too.

Communicare

We’re here to support Communicare and the profits from your purchases in the Bakery go to the charity. However, it always needs volunteers, or Communiteers as it calls them, to help with its befriending initiatives.

Annie, Manager at Communicare, explains: “We’re here to help people live their best lives, rather than to just exist. Our volunteers support our multi-generational initiatives befriending people in Shirley and communities city-wide, through our Good Neighbours Network.

Eradicate loneliness & isolation

“Our mission is to eradicate loneliness and isolation, which are issues impacting on people of all ages and potentially represent a significant health risk to them. Volunteers are so vital to us and to those we help as together we’re working to eliminate loneliness, which is known as society’s ‘silent epidemic’.”

Importance of social interaction

New medical research out at the start of this year suggests social interaction may keep us healthy because it boosts our immune system and reduces our risk of diseases, such as heart disease, stroke and type two diabetes.

Annie adds: “Researchers came to this conclusion after studying proteins from blood samples taken from 42,000+ adults recruited to the UK Biobank. These findings are just part of growing scientific evidence that loneliness is a potential killer impacting significantly on our nation’s health.”

How Communicare touches lives

Communicare is currently supporting more than 750 individuals/families through tasks including, befriending, transport for appointments and assistance with shopping and always needs more donations and volunteers to help with its work.

How to volunteer

Annie concludes: “If you ever have a spare hour, or so, each week, then we’d love to hear from you, as we always need more volunteers and befrienders. The experience could also benefit you, as many of our Communiteers say how much volunteering has enhanced their lives, as well as those they befriend and assist.

“We can be flexible and work around your other commitments too. Please get in touch via 023 8250 0050 or volunteer@communicareinsouthampton.org.uk.”

How to find out more

To find out more about Communicare and how you can volunteer for, fundraise or donate to the charity, please visit its website.