Our First Volunteer Open Day

Cake, Chats and Community Spirit

On Monday 23rd February, we hosted our very first Volunteer Open Day at Jelleyman’s Heritage Arts Charity. We had leaflets, we had sign-up sheets, we had carefully arranged information boards… and most importantly, we had cake. A strong start all round.

The Glass Brick Room set up for our Volunteer Open Day

We weren’t entirely sure what the day would bring, but from the moment the doors opened, the mill was filled with friendly faces, curious questions, and the comforting sound of people saying “Oh, I didn’t realise all this was here!”.

Visitors wandered through, chatting with our volunteers about everything from gardening and heritage projects to creative workshops and behind-the-scenes organising. We discovered that Kidderminster is full of people who quite fancy getting stuck in - whether that means planting trees, planning events, sharing skills, or simply helping to make the tea (a very important role, as it turns out).

Angela from Wyre Forest Litter Pickers

Some of the first folks to turn up were from the Wyre Forest Litter Pickers, who are keen to encourage people to do their bit looking after the local area. Angela even managed to do some on the spot recruiting for the cause keeping Kidderminster spic and span after a brief chat with another visitor, demonstrating the value in opportunities like this to connect.

There was a lovely atmosphere throughout the day. Conversations flowed, ideas were exchanged, and more than a few people left saying, “I’ll be back.”

Some signed up on the spot, bravely committing their details to clipboard and pen. Others took leaflets home to think over and share with others, which we fully support - after all, great decisions are often made over another cup of tea.

It was also a proud moment for us to look around and realise just how much this place is powered by volunteers. Every display, every event, every warm welcome starts with someone deciding to get involved.

So, a big thank you to everyone who came along, asked questions, shared ideas, and sampled the refreshments. And a special thank you to the volunteers who set up, baked, chatted, and tidied away at the end - my heroes.

If you couldn’t make it, don’t worry. The kettle never sleeps, the doors are often open, and there’s always space for one more pair of hands (or one more slice of cake).

Here’s to the first of many.