A Hamilton befriending organisation is encouraging new volunteers to get involved and support its range of vital community projects.
Covey – standing for Community Volunteers Enabling You – is currently seeking mentors and befrienders for young people with additional support needs, primary and secondary pupils and parents, as well as volunteer drivers, in Hamilton, Clydesdale and across South Lanarkshire.
They are highlighting the benefits of volunteering, with one supporter who has been part of the local charity for three years telling how she has helped young people try new things and saying: “The greatest reward has been watching small wins become big moments.”
Based at High Patrick Street in Hamilton, Covey supports young people and families with support services, activities and individual and group mentoring.
The organisation’s current volunteer opportunities in Hamilton include supporting evening groups for young people with additional support needs, based in both the town centre and Whitehill, plus helping with daytime groups for parents and for pupils at schools across the town.
Covey volunteer Lisa Greer has undertaken two different roles with the charity, and is currently contributing to the Intandem project, supporting young people aged between eight and 14 who have or are at risk of becoming subject to a compulsory supervision order,
She called her volunteering experience “rewarding and memorable”, with Covey encouraging more people to get involved by saying: ”Her story is a powerful reminder of the difference a volunteer can make in a young person’s life.”
Lisa said: “My fondest memories are the times when young people I’ve supported have had the chance to try something new, enjoy themselves and feel proud of what they’d achieved. These moments show just how meaningful the role can be.
“One especially memorable day out was a trip to Linlithgow with the first young person I supported. We explored the Palace, visited a farmers’ market, browsed charity shops and travelled by public transport; the young person described it as ‘the best trip of all’, a moment which has stayed with me ever since.”
She noted that volunteering needs “patience, understanding and care,” adding: “When a young person is having a difficult day or navigating circumstances outside anyone’s control, the most valuable things I can offer are consistency, encouragement and positive feedback, taking each outing one step at a time and allowing it to unfold naturally.
“A particularly important part of the role has been recognising and nurturing each young person’s strengths, even before they fully recognise them themselves; through gentle encouragement and support around school attendance, I focus on celebrating progress.”
Lisa added: “Even car journeys have become a valuable part of the relationship, creating space for conversation, laughter and connection – these everyday moments can make a lasting difference.”
She and Covey say their programmes open up new opportunities for young people, including “the chance to try new things, to be listened to, to have choice and control,” and that volunteers play a vital role.
The organisation is currently recruiting volunteers across all its projects and runs regular in-person and welcome sessions to find out more. Full details are available at www.covey.org.uk/volunteervacancies1
Lisa said: “It’s everyday successes that have made the biggest impact, from introducing new experiences to seeing skills develop and self-belief grow – giving time as a volunteer can help shape brighter futures and create lasting, positive change.”
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