Scores step forward to give something back to their community at eight volunteer events
More than 150 people have signed up to volunteer at community groups and charities from East Hampshire after a string of events in September.
Eight Volunteer Festivals were held in towns and villages up and down the district to give organisations and charities the chance to showcase what they do for the community.
Local people looking to give something back were encouraged to pop along to their nearest festival, see the incredible work being carried out in their area and even sign up to volunteer.
The festivals were supported by East Hampshire District Council and paid for by funding from the government.
Cllr Adeel Shah, EHDC's Portfolio Holder for Community Development and Engagement, said: "These events not only connected residents with a wide range of volunteering opportunities but also created valuable opportunities for local organisations to meet, share experiences and build new relationships.
"By bringing together people with a shared passion for supporting their communities, the events have helped to strengthen local networks and raise awareness of the fantastic work taking place across East Hampshire.
"Most importantly, the events have inspired people to take action. Early feedback shows that around 152 people have signed up to volunteer with charities and community groups across the district. This is a fantastic outcome and demonstrates how powerful local connections can be in encouraging people to give their time, skills and energy to causes they care about.
"Together, these events have helped to build stronger, more connected communities and highlighted the important role that volunteers play in making East Hampshire such a great place to live and get involved."
The festivals were held at the end of September in Alton, Petersfield, Bordon, Horndean, Four Marks, Froyle and Grayshott. In total, 120 local groups took part and showcased the many ways people can get involved and make a difference in their communities.
The festivals were part of EHDC's Grow Up! programme and paid for with funding drawn from the government's UK Shared Prosperity Fund.