Celebrating the work of volunteers

What motivates someone to decide to become a volunteer for a charity? For some it may be a personal connection to the cause, for others it may be a social activity, and for many it is a desire to use their skills and talents for the benefit of the wider society.

Many of the individuals who volunteer with us at

Family Support Work, and who provided over 15,000 hours of their time in the last year, do so from a firm faith background, taking to heart the teachings of Jesus to ‘love not in word or talk but in deed and in truth’.

As a charity which supports those members of our society who are isolated, struggling with hardship or illness, they are the very ones who would have been shunned or ignored in biblical times and the most in need of kindness.

This Volunteers Week is a fitting opportunity to celebrate everybody who helps us deliver the best possible service to families across Sussex.

Whether they volunteer their specific skills with individual families; help our practitioners run group sessions; sort donations at our foodbank or plan and support fundraising events, they all play a vital role in our charity’s work.

Over 230 individuals regularly volunteer with FSW, giving their time joyfully to help the families we support.

This dedication is one of the key reasons why our organisation has been able to continue providing local support to our families even when staff members have been isolating with Covid.

The commitment of our volunteers throughout the pandemic was essential. Now, as the cost of living crisis hits our families hard, our volunteers and those at every other voluntary organisation will be even more vital. As people of faith, our desire to live out the Gospel message of Christ to love one another shines bright as we meet people wherever they are.

Just as the Good Samaritan did not pass by, we too must walk with those who need us.

For more information, visit www.familysupportwork.org