Help us break the silence by becoming a volunteer

Breaking the silence around osteoporosis is a monumental task – that’s why we need an army of volunteers to help us spread the word.

Giving the gift of time is one of the most powerful things you can do to help the 3.5 million people living with osteoporosis in the UK today – and no matter how long you spend volunteering, every second makes a difference.

Over the last 12 months alone, our generous volunteers have been instrumental in helping us to raise awareness and support for those in need.

Here’s just a flavour of what some of them have been up to:

• Lead Volunteer Advocate (LVA) Rehana led a cultural workshop at the Birmingham Central Mosque to help raise awareness of osteoporosis in the Muslim community.
• CAN member Stephen wrote a powerful open letter to Rishi Sunak that featured in The Times as part of our Better Bones campaign.
• Community presenter Janet hosted our first Lunch and Learn awareness session for an international audience at global information company LexisNexis, as part of its employee wellbeing initiative.
• New CAMEO (Come And Meet Each Other) groups have been popping up thanks to our volunteers, growing our peer support network. Our support groups have continued to help people up and down the country and our online champions have been supporting groups with their IT, enabling us to reach even more people online.
• And don’t forget about the volunteers who made their mark at the Political Party Conferences. “It was a real privilege to go to the Conference on behalf of the ROS, to work as part of a team and feel that we were getting our message across and making a difference,” says volunteer Irene.

So, what are the volunteering options?

We know life events can take over and the amount of time you have to dedicate to volunteering can change. That’s why we’ve created a number of formal and informal options, so you can choose the one that’s right for you.

Formal volunteering options could include:

• Running an ROS awareness stand in your local community.
• Helping to organise a support group or CAMEO session, either in person or online.
• Becoming an online champion by sharing your IT expertise.
• Giving awareness presentations to local groups and businesses as a Community Presenter.

If you’re looking for a more informal role, you could:

• Join the Community Advocate Network (CAN) to get your voice heard.
• Support our Better Bones campaign by writing to your local MP.
• Raise vital funds by taking part in an event – from coffee mornings to running the marathon, we’ve got fundraising activities suitable for everyone!
• Share your story to inspire others and help them feel less alone.

A word from a volunteer

Vijay, 66 from Surrey, was diagnosed with osteoporosis when he was in his 40s. He’s been volunteering for the ROS for 10 years and has gained experience of many different roles during that time.

“I helped to run an ROS stand at Swami Narayan temple during its Health Week to commemorate its 25^th anniversary.

“I have also reviewed various drafts of ROS health information fact sheets, to ensure that they’re suitable for the lay person. When reviewing these, one does more research and gives more thought to understanding, analysing and critically reviewing the information. So, you gain a more in-depth understanding of the topic for yourself,” he adds.

And his most rewarding moment?

“Giving an osteoporosis awareness talk to a Gujrati Social Group of about 50 members in Sutton (organised though the Sutton Support Group).

“And meeting Her Majesty The Queen (formerly the Duchess of Cornwall) at an ROS tea party at Clarence House was a real honour.”

Helping you to help others

Whether you take on a formal or informal volunteering role, our Volunteer and Public Engagement (VPE) team will be on hand to support you every step of the way.

“The Volunteer and Public Engagement team is here to make sure you feel supported and included in all that we do,” says Head of VPE Helen Richards.

“Volunteers are given a warm welcome and induction with a member of the team at the start of your volunteering journey with us. As a team, we are here to support you throughout your volunteering. We will provide you with all the ROS materials you need in your role, we will share guidance on how to volunteer safely and in line with our policies, and we will help you claim any sundry expenses you may incur and ensure you are never out of pocket.”

Read more about our volunteers in our Meet the Volunteers blog now. Or if you’d like to hear about the latest opportunities, drop the VPE team a line at volunteerengagement@theros.org.uk