Volunteer Scheme To Inspire More People To Get Active

A NEW volunteering scheme has been launched on Teesside to encourage people to be more active and boost public health and wellbeing.

Tees Active, a charitable leisure trust which manages a range of venues and activities for Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, has unveiled ‘Active Kindness’ to open up a variety of volunteering opportunities.

The opportunities available cover theatre, sport, leisure, and health, with swimming, pickleball, and bowls among the activities included in the programme.

Tees Active managing director Leon Jones said: “The Active Kindness scheme is designed to significantly increase the positive impact we can have on our communities.

“We want to harness the passion, skills and experience local people can bring to our leisure activities so we can work together to inspire more people to be active. It’s about trying new things, making new friends, and giving back to the community.

One of the new volunteers who has already signed up to Active Kindness is Jean Huggins, a regular member of Thornaby Indoor Bowls Club, who wants to share her love of the sport.

Jean said: “I’m very passionate about bowls, so I’m excited to be given the opportunity to encourage more people to give it a try. It’s a sport that brings wonderful social and health benefits, as well as a friendly yet competitive spirit among those who play, so I can’t wait to start volunteering and spread the word.”

Councillor Nigel Cooke, Cabinet Member for Environment, Leisure and Culture, added: “We are very fortunate to have a thriving network of volunteers engaged in a wide range of areas across the borough, and this initiative builds on that foundation of kindness.

“Volunteering brings so many benefits to both the volunteers and those they support in terms of physical and mental health, and we know we can have a massive impact by growing the numbers through Active Kindness.”

To find out about the opportunities available, go to: www.teesactive.co.uk/volunteering/