Bullion Hall Volunteer walks to raise over £200

Bullion Hall volunteer Claire Bevitt has raised over £200, taking part in Co. Durham based grant giving charity Point North's 38.7miles in July campaign. The campaign is named after the percentage of children in County Durham living in poverty and is part of Point North’s mission to fight poverty and enrich lives.

Claire began to volunteer after being encouraged by volunteers at Bullion Hall’s Toddler Group. Claire had recently moved to Chester le Street from Gateshead and visited Bullion Hall looking for groups that her son Ethan could join. Ethan joined the Youth Group, while Claire and her daughter Amelia started going to the Toddlers Group.

After Claire started volunteering with the Toddler Group, Bullion Hall became a Hub for the Bread and Butter Thing, and needed to recruit volunteers to help with unloading, packing and giving out packed bags of fresh, cupboard and chilled food. Claire added the Bread and Butter Thing to her volunteering and continues to help every Thursday.

When Bullion Hall’s Lets Connect project was set up, providing fulfilling social activities for adults with learning difficulties, Claire, drawing on her experience as a care worker, volunteered with this project too.

Claire says she “was already walking more and trying to complete 10,000 steps a day”, when Belinda Lowis, Chief Officer at Bullion Hall, told her about Point North’s 37.8 miles campaign. Claire signed up and quickly achieved a target of £150 in donations, which was matched by Point North, before going on to complete the 38.7miles. If you would like to donate to Point North's campaign find out more here.

Claire regularly volunteers 6 hours a week at Bullion Hall. She also volunteers for one-off events such as Bullion Hall’s Summer Fair in July and Halloween Disco. She also volunteers with Little Treasurers, a local charity providing activities for children with SEND.

Claire say’s volunteering has “Volunteering has helped me to become part of my local community, giving back and helping others. It has also helped me to socialise with others and make new friends. I would encourage others to volunteer and try new things”

Bullion Hall volunteer Claire Bevitt