COMMUNITY spirited people are being urged to get involved in a new age of volunteering.

The Volunteer Centre Dorset is running a Community Credits Scheme for people in Weymouth, Portland, Dorchester and Bridport.

The project enables mentors to support people with learning disabilities and in return for volunteering their time they will receive credits to spend on a host of leisure activities in the local area.

The Community Credits initiative has received support from Dorset County Council, Dorset Community Foundation and the Health Social Care Volunteering Fund.

Businesses that are supporting the scheme by providing free taster sessions include the Osprey Quay Leisure Centre, Bridport Leisure Centre and the Weymouth Swimming Pool and Fitness Club as well as the First Dorset Credit Union, Bridport Golf Club and the Plaza Cinema in Dorchester.

The Volunteer Centre is now looking for people who can act as mentors.

Training will be given and the Volunteer Centre Dorset has already held an open day for potential mentors at its Acland Road base in Dorchester.

Centre manager Marie Waterman said more people are enjoying the benefits of volunteering as more organisations look to the voluntary sector for support.

She said many of these new volunteers are in a younger age group compared with those helping five years ago.

Mrs Waterman said: “The profile of volunteering has changed dramatically over the last five years with the 16 to 25 age group the largest group of volunteers the centre staff see.

“As a result of this we are hugely passionate about supporting this age group.”

This year has seen the launch of the Volunteer Centre Challenge, which challenges all organisations in the county to create at least one new opportunity for younger people in a bid to increase the choices and access to volunteering for the younger generation.

Mrs Waterman said: “We feel volunteering is a vital tool to help people become work ready, enhance their confidence, increase work opportunities and has a wealth of health related benefits.”

The Volunteer Centre currently has around 9,500 volunteers registered and has over 2,000 volunteering opportunities listed with more than 1,200 organisations.

For more information about the Volunteer Centre call 01305 269214, email info@volunteeringdorset. org.uk or visit volunteeringdorset.org