I AM frequently reminded of how much is done for our community by volunteers.

Wyre Forest has around 650 volunteer organisations and they do wide variety of activities.

I have written in the past about groups who supply food banks and breakfasts, about Wyre Forest Talking Newspaper, about community first responders volunteering for the NHS and a whole range of others. In the last few days I have met with a couple of other groups who struck me as noteworthy.

The Friends of Springfield Park have worked tirelessly to make Springfield Park in Kidderminster an absolute joy to visit.

There is a surprising amount of natural habitat in and around our three main towns and much of it is looked after by volunteer groups. This is done with care and attention and imagination and the friends of Springfield have done an extraordinary job – all on a voluntary basis – to provide a truly remarkable resource for the district.

They are not the only group who look after our local natural environment, but I suspect that they may be looking after the biggest.

But the other group of volunteers I met with are people who have less of a choice about the work they do.

Worcestershire Young Carers is an organisation which supports children who have become the principal carers for their disabled parents or siblings.

Around 20 young carers came to visit us in Parliament this week and I was staggered at their dedication to those who they care for.

Remember, these are just children – in some cases as young as seven or eight – who find themselves nursing disabled or unwell parents when they should be enjoying their childhood.

Indeed, they are doing this for no other reason than just a basic sense of duty and a love for the person who they look after. And it is very lonely. It is estimated that, on average, every classroom in the country has a child that is the principal carer for an adult. Yet in, sadly, the majority of cases the child carer is unsupported.

Worcestershire Young Carers is there to support those children who find themselves doing an incredibly adult job, and giving them the support they need to be able to make their own lives.

Volunteering has been part of the Big Society for far longer than the term Big Society has been in existence. It is incredibly important to us all.

CONTACT YOUR MP

  • Email: mark.garnier.mp@ parliament.uk
  • Telephone: 020 7219 7198 or 01562 746771.
  • Write: 9a Lower Mill Street, Kidderminster, DY11 6UU, or House of Commons, Westminster, London