Posted on: Friday 5 June 2026
This #VolunteersWeek, we're celebrating our wonderful volunteering community. We're working with communities to harness the power of volunteering as part of the Torfaen Deal. Today, we celebrate young volunteers who are making a difference and learning key skills.
Katie Rees, 24, from Pontypool, started as a volunteer with Cwmbran Library in March, becoming one of the first volunteers to support the Library@Home service.
She is one of five volunteers at the library who work as stock pickers, using customer profiles to put together carefully curated selections of books and audiobooks, which are then delivered to customers’ homes.
Katie said: "I really enjoy reading and I love packing stuff at home to sell online, so this opportunity perfectly aligned with my interests. It gets me out of the house each week to socialise more and I enjoy giving something back to the community".
The Library@Home service is a free delivery option for residents who are unable to visit the library due to ill health, disability or caring responsibilities.
Torfaen Community Hubs & Libraries will also shortly be recruiting three Read to Me volunteers, who will visit people’s homes to share the therapeutic benefits of shared reading, as well as an IT volunteer to support digital enquiries at Cwmbran Library.
If you are interested in volunteering with the library, please keep an eye on Connect Torfaen for the latest opportunities: https://www.connecttorfaen.org.uk
Play volunteers break record
A record breaking number of young people have signed up to Torfaen Play Service’s Youth Volunteering Project to help with the rollout of play programmes over the summer holiday period.
The breakdown includes over 200 new volunteers stepping forward, more than 50 returning volunteers, and 18 Play Helpers aged 13 – 15, all contributing to one of the largest youth volunteering programmes in the region.
Working alongside experienced playworkers, the volunteers will play a vital role in supporting Food and Fun Camps, Sports and Activities Camps, Open Access playschemes, and specialist play and respite sessions - for children with additional needs.
17-year old Ruby Baiton, who returns for a second year of volunteering, said, "I really enjoyed volunteering for Torfaen Play because I’ve built relationships with many of the children and love seeing them grow in confidence and make new friends. Through volunteering I have grown in confidence and completed lots of training. "
Due to overwhelming demand, the application process for this year’s programme has now closed with a reserve list in place.
Social media volunteer promotes forum
Rae Carter, 15, from Pontypool, is Torfaen Youth Forum's social media volunteer.
She has been a member of the forum for the past three years and came up with the idea of the role to help promote the work they do.
Rae said: "I realised the youth forum needed their voices out there more and needed to be able to show the public what they were doing, while also putting faces to the names of members."
You can follow Torfaen Youth Forum on Instagram. To join the Torfaen Youth Forum, speak to your secondary school or contact philip.wilson@torfaen.gov.uk
Volunteers help children swim
Ten young volunteers are helping children learn to swim, thanks to a volunteering programme run by Halo Leisure Torfaen.
They've signed up to become Helpers in the Water at Cwmbran Stadium, Pontypool Active Living Centre and Fairwater Leisure Centre, alongside swimming instructors and the lifeguard team.
The initiative is open to volunteers of all ages, but is particularly popular with younger people aged 16 and over.
Halo Leisure Torfaen also has Gym Buddy and Front of House volunteer opportunities. Volunteers are provided with training, a uniform and discounts. For more information about voluntary opportunities, visit the Halo Leisure website.
You can find other voluntary opportunities on Connect Torfaen.