Volunteers making a difference in their local communities: Nusrat's story

Legends of the Forest is our volunteering platform featuring a range of opportunities for residents to get stuck in with volunteering. We spoke to some past and present volunteers about their experiences and how it has changed not only them but their communities too.

Nusrat was a Community Health Champion at Leyton Orient Trust and has now gained full-time employment with them due to her time volunteering. Community Health Champions are locally engaged volunteers who offer support, advice, and signposting to residents around health and wellbeing. They often participate in local events and attend public spaces where they can have open conversations with residents.

She said: “The best part of volunteering is seeing members of the community coming together and socialising with each other, many of whom live alone. It is wonderful when they tell me I am making a difference to them, and they can feel the transformation happening.

“Volunteers are critical to so many organisations. We learn people skills, how to read certain situations, empathy, selflessness, organisational skills, all of which can be taken into any workplace.”

Volunteers will receive substantial training before starting any opportunity. All volunteers in Waltham Forest who log their hours on Legends of the Forest earn Tempo Time Credits, which can be exchanged for a range of fun activities such as boat trips or swimming.

Register on Legends of the Forest to see our full range of exciting roles and make a difference in your community.