A new online platform has been launched to help match people in Watford and Three Rovers with local volunteering opportunities.

As well as supporting with recruitment, the Golden Volunteer system allows organisations to manage their volunteers’ shifts and also communicate with them.

The platform has been developed by the Watford & Three Rivers Trust (W3RT), the community and voluntary service funded by Watford Borough Council and Three Rivers District Council to support the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise sector in the area.

Golden Volunteer can be found at https://www.w3rt.org/volunteer and it enables groups seeking to fill volunteering opportunities in Watford and Three Rovers to find a good match in just a few clicks.

W3RT know from the Civil Society Almanac 2021 that people aged 65 to 74 are most likely to volunteer, however, the pandemic caused a drop in regular, formal volunteering for people in this age group.

This has meant many groups are seeking new volunteers to help maintain local services.

Anyone searching for volunteering opportunities to meet new people, gain new skills and make a difference in their communities will find the new Golden Volunteer platform simple to use.

The search options mean that people can find a cause they are passionate about and a volunteering event or opportunity that suits their availability in a just a few minutes.

A full list of opportunities can be found at https://w3rt.communityvolunteering.org/

One of W3RT’s Community cars volunteers is Taz.

He said: “I was an LGV driving instructor, so when I retired I wanted something driving related to do during the day. Having heard about W3RT’s Community Cars programme, I applied and it fits perfectly, I can choose how many journeys I do and who, what, where and when.

“I enjoy getting clients to their appointments on time and making sure they get back home safely. You get to meet a wide variety of people from all walks of life, everyone has a story to tell you.

“My wife decided to come and help deliver prescriptions with me. People may be shielding or self-isolating and can’t get out, I do the driving and Jackie picks up the medication or whatever it may be and then we get it to the client’s address.

“To anyone thinking of volunteering I would say: when was the last time you did something for the first time? Why not try volunteering? I’m sure someone somewhere would be grateful and benefit from your skills and time whatever that may be.”