Banbury residents are being invited to a pair of events that are set to be held by a volunteering organisation this week.
Royal Voluntary Service in Banbury will be opening its doors for the two events as part of The Big Help Out.
Friday, June 7, will see the charity's Cornhill Centre host a Volunteer Fair from 10am-2pm.
Residents will have the chance to learn about the range of voluntary openings in the region.
A number of organisations including Dogs for Good, St John Ambulance, Banbury Museum, and Refugee Education UK will join Royal Voluntary Service volunteers from the Cornhill Centre.
Following this, on Saturday, June 8, from 11am-3pm, a BBQ will be held at the Cornhill Centre.
This joint event with the Cornhill Companions service is open to potential volunteers and Banbury residents who are curious about what the centre and voluntary services entail.
Existing volunteers are also being encouraged to ‘bring a friend’.
Attendees will be able to discuss the available opportunities and hear about the experiences of volunteers and the benefits they have gained from their work.
Dave Stott, assistant director of volunteering at Royal Voluntary Service, said: "We would be thrilled to welcome new faces to our services at the Cornhill Centre.
"This is a fantastic opportunity for everyone to see what we do and to experience the rewards of volunteering first-hand."
He added: "Joining us for The Big Help Out is a great chance to meet new people, learn new skills, and make a valuable contribution to the community.
"For anyone curious about volunteering, this is the perfect chance to see how fun and fulfilling it can be.
"We encourage everyone to sign up and join us."
Last year, 6.3 million people across the nation joined the first ever Big Help Out event, which was launched as an official celebration of their Majesties’ Coronation.
This year, it is hoped more people will join in the nationwide event, which takes place from June 7-9 and offers a taste of what volunteering is like.
The Cornhill Centre operates five days a week, presenting a weekly programme of volunteer-led activities.
It offers arts and crafts sessions, gentle exercise, tackling loneliness tea sessions, dancing and music.
The centre is also the base of the Cornhill Companions friendship service and has a café which is open from 10am-2pm for drinks, with volunteers on hand to have a chat and share information about activities.
The centre is currently seeking more volunteers to provide companionship and help with the schedule of activity sessions.
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