03/10/2026
Meet our volunteers…
Matt is 28 and lives in the Rochford district.
Matt moved to the area with his family around lockdown so hadn’t had chance to get out and meet new friends before he found himself mostly stuck at home like everyone else.
He said, ‘I wanted something to do outside of just going to work and I hadn’t had the time to build up a network of friends in the area, so I thought of volunteering as a way of doing that while also doing something a bit different.’
Matt found a volunteering role with the Bar ‘n’ Bus Trust which is a Christian-based charity providing community-based youth work across South Essex, supporting young people aged 10-19 through detached youth work, in-school support, group work projects and mobile youth work. Their work builds trust, resilience, life skills and engagement with communities on young people’s own terms, in parks, high streets and schools, often where they choose to be.
Matt said, ‘You can’t force the connection, you have to let them come to you. We go out in our specially modified transit van which is fitted with things like an X-box and a hot chocolate machine and we are available to any young person who wants to talk or just needs somewhere safe to hang out.’
He added, ‘Sometimes it can take months to gain their trust, but we’ve found consistency is key so just turning up and being there can be all it takes.’
In the winter months Matt says they sometimes move to indoor venues or even use floodlights.
Matt said, ‘Bar ‘n’ Bus are brilliant to work with. They helped me develop youth work skills and I’ve found I’ve made friends there as well as helping lots of young people. I’ve really got a lot out of volunteering for just a few hours a week and would tell anyone to try it. The bottom line is, if you don’t like it, nothing’s lost and you might make a real difference to someone else’s life.’
To find out about volunteering in the Rayleigh and Rochford area, visit www.volunteeressex.org and you can search for opportunities that fit with your interests and the time you have to give. Bar 'n' Bus are currently looking to find Event Volunteers - check out: https://www.volunteeressex.org/opportunities/event-coordinator-15853/
To find out more about Bar ‘n’ Bus: [email protected] www.barnbus.org.uk
Tel: 07935222113
