Have I got a match for you

By Angie Jacobs, JVN volunteer broker

Matchmaker, matchmaker make me a match, find me a find, catch me a catch…” Well, I didn’t quite land my dream role as a shadchan (shidduch maker), but I am a matchmaker of sorts. I work for JVN, matching volunteers with their perfect roles.

Volunteering is so much more rewarding than romantic love anyway – it is always showing kindness, always a good use of your time and doesn’t snore.

My official title is a “volunteer broker”. With a little bit of schmoozing and a lot of knowing my charities and their volunteering roles, I suggest the match. From then on, I keep an eye, but it is really up to both parties to make it work. In the words of Joey from Friends (sort of): What’s not to love? Kindness – good. Charities – good. Fulfilment – GOOD! And that’s just it, volunteering brings joy to everyone – giver and receiver.

Helping at Maccabi GB Community Fun Run.[Missing Credit]

Volunteering love can be shown in different ways. There’s the behind-the-scenes love, the volunteer giving their time to prepare food, do admin or research. Then there’s the front-of-house love – befriending, mentoring, teaching or selling. (I have, of course, only scratched the surface of the roles one can do; we have hundreds of different ones on our website).

Like with dating, some people may feel a little shy about volunteering. They may be scared of not knowing what is required of them and what exactly they will be doing. They may even wonder what to wear. Here at JVN, we work with our charities to ensure their role descriptions on our website are clear and honest. There will be an up-to-date explanation of what the volunteering entails. (We won’t airbrush it and say it’s more glamorous than it actually is.)

Once you approach JVN, either online, in person or on the phone, you will be treated with respect and warmth. We appreciate that everyone has different skills, interests and expectations. If there isn’t a role that you fancy at the time, that’s fine, come back another day as we always get more opportunities on our books. We want you to love what you do. You might not meet your beshert straight away. Indeed, you may have to proverbially kiss a few volunteering frogs, before you find the role that is your perfect match. Once you do, we hope that you will be very happy together.
JVN is not just about making the matches, although that is the best bit (don’t tell my boss I said that). We also promote volunteering in the Jewish and wider communities. Let’s just say we spread our love around, supporting charities to work in the optimal way with volunteers at all levels.

In January we held our annual awards ceremony at The Grove and what a simchah that was. We had more than 300 guests, music, films, great food (the strudel was my favourite) and the most overwhelming feeling of love in the room. The award winners were bursting with pride when their efforts and commitment were rewarded with not just the physical trophy (although they were very tasteful), but also the recognition from everyone in the room who celebrated the love they gave to their roles. And not one broiges!

All this talk about love and dating, has got me thinking about whether we have actually made any shidduchs between two people volunteering at the same charity. Indeed, volunteering can be very sociable, with your team members or with the people you are supporting.

Don’t you remember how the best fun was always at school or camp when you were all in the same boat? Volunteering can bring that feeling of love and togetherness too, whether it is packing boxes in a warehouse or working on the desk at the Maccabi Fun Run.
As with anything else, you get out what you put in. (If you have met your love match through JVN, do let us know and yes, we would all be delighted to come to your wedding).

So whether you have a special skill like playing the ukulele, want to help a charity that’s supported your loved ones or simply want to do something fun and sociable now you have time on your hands, do get in touch and I promise I will do my best to find you your perfect volunteering match.

jvn.org.uk, registered charity 1130719