WITH plans for lots of community events up and down the country now well in place, there’s going to be a call for a lot of volunteering in the next couple of months.

Whether its stewarding or marshalling for a fun run, investing time organising a jubilee street party or just generally helping out so people in your town or village can have a safe and happy time celebrating, volunteering is really important right now.

Mind you, I hear they don’t pay too well. In fact, the job’s not paid at all! Oh – silly me, that’s why it’s called volunteering.

You do it for the love of it. And because most of the groups running these community events don’t have the funds to pay people.

If you don’t do it already, have you considered becoming a volunteer? Get in touch with your local forum, charity, church, club or school and see if they could do with some help.

You’ll be surprised at how much fun you can have not earning money.

Our own Stanford Festival kicks off on July 1 and we’re looking to award the Tony Guyon Cup again for the person you think is Volunteer of the Year 2012. To qualify, they just need to be a volunteer living and/or working in Stanford-le-Hope. Last year, the winner was Sandra Moloney, who is brilliant.

If you have someone in mind send their name to me at Gof4God@aol.com, on 01375 670582 or just via the Gazette.

As the Good Book says: “It is better to give than to receive.”

Come on everyone – let’s hear it for volunteering! Who’s first up? – JOHN.