A Little Means A Lot

Volunteering doesn’t have to mean big actions and lots of time. There are many small ways you can make a difference, lots of them from home. Micro-volunteering covers everything from letter-writing, participating in short surveys or just taking a couple of minutes to clean a local public garden. Getting involved usually requires an internet connection, as that’s often how these individual efforts are co-ordinated, but there’s no reason not to do something yourself in a spare few minutes.

Try helpfromhome.org, skillsforchange. com or visit www.amnesty.org.uk for ideas and online petitions to get involved in. Many nature charities have opportunites for you to take part in surveys, too, including the RSPB.

One ingenious use of technology is a phone app called bemyeyes (bemyeyes. com). This Danish project connects blind people with sighted – currently there are just under half a million sighted folk helping around 35,000 blind and visually impaired – so they can “lend their eyes” and help them do everything from a quick check on their milk’s expiry date to helping them navigate new surroundings.