Written by Jane Tomlin from Brecon:

"I didn't know a soul in Brecon when I moved here a few months ago and volunteering has turned out to be the best thing I could have done. I just can't believe how many kind people I've met and how easy it has been to find a place in the community here as a result of calling in by chance at the Volunteer Bureau.

It often seems these days that you have to have some sort of qualification before you can do anything at all, which can be quite off-putting if you're not sure how big a commitment you want to make, so I was pleasantly surprised to find there were plenty of things I could do without any formal training. Volunteering has also proved to be a good way of trying out areas of work that I'd never contemplated before.

I liked the way in which staff at the Brecon Volunteer Bureau started by involving me in a group activity where I could work alongside them and learn from the experience while at the same time they could get to know me. The bureau's thoroughness is very reassuring, not just for the person who is receiving the services of a volunteer, but also for volunteers themselves and the way in which we are accompanied at the start of a 'new' assignment.

As I have quite a lot of time on my hands, I've been able to do a range of different jobs, but, whatever your interest, the bureau manages to find something to fit into the shortest amount of available time. Overall, the best thing I have done in terms of high reward for a small commitment has been shopping for people who can't get out and about for themselves - funnily enough, the same task which introduced me to volunteering when at school!

In some ways, the 'unglamorous' tasks are among the most important of all. Now that young people leave home for college and often live out of the area permanently, older people often need a hand; after all, not everybody is fortunate enough to have able-bodied and willing neighbours available. For younger generations who don't get to spend much time with their grandparents, establishing friendships with older people through volunteering can be very beneficial.

I have noticed and appreciated how Brecon has acknowledged and expressed thanks to its volunteers within the community, by way of a special service in the Cathedral, a Mayoral reception and a coffee morning.

Volunteering, however, is not as altruistic as some might think... Personally, I get far more out of it than I put in, therefore those people requesting help from the Bureau are themselves providing a very valuable service. This mutually beneficial arrangement seems to be part of the essence of a caring community, and as a newcomer, I honestly feel privileged to be living in Brecon."

Written by Jane Tomlin from Brecon.