At the heart of Masham, nestled in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales, is a hub of warmth, support and community spirit – the Mashamshire Community Office. And at the centre of its vibrant volunteer network is Sarah McCourt, the Volunteer Coordinator whose passion for people and community really shines through.  We asked her more about her role:

Introduce yourself – who are you, where do you work, how long have you worked there and what is your role?

Hello, my name is Sarah and I work at Mashamshire Community Office in Masham. We are a charity at the heart of our community and we aim to be the go-to place for support, information and services that enable Mashamshire residents, businesses and visitors to thrive.

We promote and deliver a broad range of services and activities that further the interests and prosperity of Masham and the wider community. I have been working in my current role as Volunteer Coordinator for five months and I am responsible for the recruitment, induction, training, scheduling and support of our 60+ team of volunteers.

What attracted you to the organisation and role?

In a nutshell, the people and the opportunity to create a positive, motivating and inclusive environment where our volunteers feel valued and empowered to contribute to our mission. Having worked at the Community Office before I already knew what great work they do and the difference they make in the community, but at the heart of the organisation are our volunteers without whom we couldn’t do what we do.

Having been an active volunteer for various groups and organisations for 26 years I think this first-hand experience helps me understand volunteer needs and perspective and gives me insight into the needs, motivations and challenges of volunteering.

What would you say to anyone thinking of becoming a Volunteer Coordinator/ Manager?

Do it, I don’t think you’d regret it and although it can be challenging at times it is a rewarding job. You will meet and work with some amazing people from all walks of life, all with their own story and different reasons and motivations for volunteering. Be prepared to work hard, you’ll need good organisational and communication skills, patience, empathy and multi-tasking is a must!

One thing I have learnt is that it is definitely a two-way relationship. No two days are the same!

What have you learnt about yourself while in this role?

That I really enjoy working in a people focussed environment and it brings out the best in me. I love helping our volunteers navigate their role, supporting them along the way and seeing the joy and satisfaction they get from it. I look forward to going to work every day.

Tell us something about yourself that your colleagues would be surprised to know

Ooh, I don’t think there is anything as I’m an open book and love to talk! They might not know that I love and have a fascination for bees. I have attended a few beekeeper’s courses, have all the kit and equipment and would love to have a hive or two when I have time for a hobby…or maybe a bee farm when I retire. All I need are the bees!