What a great article there was in The Westmorland Gazette about volunteering (Podium, July 26, 'Volunteering plays a crucial role in society').

I volunteer with Eden and South Lakeland Credit Union. I joined because I wanted to be able to help people who were struggling.

I’ve met some interesting people since I joined last October and discovered just how complicated running a community bank is.

For me politics doesn’t always provide solutions to people’s personal problems. So, rather than just banging on about social injustice, I thought I’d see if there was even a small way I could help someone else.

I chose the Credit Union, because I think a family’s finances sometimes need a helping hand rather than a hand out, to help people help themselves. Not to take over, more supporting others, while they find a better way of managing.

I think that applies to most things, for most people, whether it’s finances, health, food or life generally. I believe that we like to feel independent, just supported, while we try to get things right.

There are so many opportunities to volunteer in South Lakeland - for me it was finding one that I thought may give someone hope when they were feeling hopeless.

It’s been a learning curve, change, I find happens slowly and sometimes there aren’t quick fixes. Mostly people have to fix themselves and they can do that with support. Yet some people simply get lost without it.

So I’d say to anyone thinking of volunteering, give it a go, there may just be someone out there that needs your help. You may not be able to bring about world peace, but you may gain more than you lose.

Hilary Claxton

Board Member, Eden & South Lakeland Credit Union, writing in a personal capacity

Kendal