Do you want to get involved with your local community, use your skills and gain new ones, all at the same time as having fun? Volunteering in your area is a great way to meet like minded people and make friends. And research shows that people actively involved in their community are happier, healthier and live longer!

Other reasons to volunteer:

• Gain a sense of achievement.
• Build confidence and self-esteem.
• Develop new interests and skills.

Whatever your reasons, there are hundreds of worthwhile projects to get involved in around Brighton and Hove. A great place to start is by contacting the Brighton & Hove Volunteer Bureau [1], which has excellent information and advice for potential volunteers, and advertises any new positions on its website. Another good organisation is Community Base [2] on Queens Road, which provides a home for many communities in Brighton and Hove, offering them somewhere to meet, exchange ideas and work. And of course, if you are interested in issues concerning peace, social justice, sustainable development and environmental conservation, then get in touch with BPEC [3] (Brighton Peace and Environment Centre). See our volunteering page [3] for more information.

Conservation

If you feel like sticking your wellies on and getting your hands dirty there are some fantastic conservation opportunities in the beautiful countryside around Brighton and Hove. East Sussex County Council [4], BTCV [5], RSPB [6] and the Sussex Wildlife Trust [7] all have voluntary groups where you can get involved in all sorts of outdoor activities from hedge-laying to woodland clearance.

Campaigning

There are hundreds of campaign groups to get involved with, both locally and nationally. The best places to look for these are in publications such as SchNEWS [8] or by popping into The Cowley Club [9] on London Road, where you can grab a bite to eat while getting some ideas. You can get involved in almost anything that you want to, so what are you waiting for - get out there!