VOLUNTEERING is another practical example of aiding the community in which you live.

It’s provides an opportunity to offer your time and effort for the benefit of others — in a whole sphere of diverse opportunities.

In return you will gain the satisfaction of putting something back into the borough, while meeting new people, learning new skills and gaining useful experience.

More than 2,000 people came forward to volunteer their services and know-how in Blackburn with Darwen last year and there are usually about 200 different opportunities waiting to be filled at any one time.

As the name would imply, the Community and Volunteer Service, in Railway Road, Blackburn, is the hub of volunteering for our two towns and staff have been delighted at just how many people have been inspired to do their bit.

Its brief is to promote and support voluntary and community action, with a role in such projects as substance misuse, helping the jobless gain experience for future employment, family health and well being, choices for children who have special educational needs and hosts an older people’s forum, providing access to activities and education.

Deputy manager Yasmin Patel commented: “More and more people have been coming forward to volunteer and last year’s response was really good and we are constantly having to update the opportunities available.”

College students of 18, to mature men and women of 50 and beyond have volunteered to be carers, caterers or conservationists over the last 12 months.

The range of opportunities within Blackburn with Darwen is vast; whatever skills and experience you have, there is something that you can do.

The best way to see what is available is to browse the do-it database, by clicking on to www.do-it.org.uk.

Although volunteering as a carer, or to work in the retail and administration sectors are the most popular choices among the volunteers of Blackburn and Darwen, there are a diverse range of other openings, to suit all tastes and skills, including fund raising for charity and local organisations.

Among the openings available this week was as an allotment volunteer, working with people growing vegetables and flowers at Queens Park allotments, walking dogs for the elderly via the Cinnamon Trust, or as a radio presenter with Radio Hospitals Blackburn.

Or how about being an events volunteer for the Youth Zone, a crafts assistant at East Lancashire Hospice, a critical care welcomer for East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust or a conservation assistant, cleaning rivers and planting trees clean-ups and tree planting, or helping restore Darwen Cemetery?