IF you think volunteering is not for you, think again. PAULINE HAWKINS finds out why so many people in the Blackburn area are prepared to give their time for free to help others.

VOLUNTEERING is the second most popular pastime in the country after sex, according to research. The latest national survey has revealed that one in two people questioned had carried out some form of voluntary work -- whether it was done formally by working for a charity or informally by being a good neighbour.

And at Blackburn with Darwen Volunteer Bureau diversity is the key to success, with 20 per cent of volunteers coming from an Asian heritage background and about half the total number aged between 16 and 25.

The borough's volunteer bureau at 61-63 James Street, Blackburn -- part of the Blackburn with Darwen Council for Voluntary Service -- has celebrated its commitment to inclusion by winning a national award.

"A place where all people are recognised as individuals with gifts to offer" is the description staff from the volunteer bureau gave it in the competition, open to 350 volunteer bureaux across the country.

Volunteer bureau manager Kate Hodge and inclusive volunteering development worker Geraldine Freeman's submission showing how they encouraged diversity stated: "We see diversity as an intrinsic part of our practice, not an add-on token gesture.

"This gives other organisations a working model that they can strive towards and enables us to provide client-focused support and solutions for breaking down barriers to getting involved.

"Different organisations are at different points on the road towards embracing diversity.

"By offering constructive, supportive, solution-focused ideas, rather than judgment and criticism, we can make the journey one that they are happy to take."

Kate said: "When people who have a disability or mental health problem try to become volunteers, sometimes they experience misunderstanding and prejudice coming from the very organisations they want to help as volunteers.

"Sometimes these services assume that people will not have useful talents and skills to offer and close the door before they get to know the person.

"We are working hard to encourage services to change their attitude towards people who are kindly offering their time for free."

The volunteers are testament to the success of the inclusion scheme. Simon, who has schizophrenia, said: "Ever since I became ill I have had nothing but obstacles thrown in my way because of fear and prejudice about mental illness.

"So when I went to the volunteer bureau and they were really positive about what I could offer, I was really delighted.

"I have volunteered with a local charity that supports young people for the past six months and it has been great. I have had the chance to make new friends, gain new skills, build on my confidence and have fun in the process."

Louise Clarke, 40, who lives in Darwen, has also benefited from the volunteer bureau's inclusion policy.

"As a window dresser at Selfridge's in Oxford, she was happy in her work.

"But one morning about eight years ago she woke up to find she had numbness in her left arm and leg.

The numbness spread to her right arm and leg and her health problems -- thought to be multiple sclerosis -- began to affect her concentration span and memory.

Louise's social worker put her in touch with the volunteer bureau and she began volunteering at the Age Concern charity shop in Darwen. Geraldine said: "After two weeks there were some concerns that she needed a little bit of extra support because of her concentration and memory.

"I went in to volunteer with Louise for five weeks and we had a really good time.

"After five weeks I was surplus to requirements."

Another volunteer, Shahnaz Dahya, 26, came to Blackburn from India when she married and was referred from the town's women's resource centre to the volunteer bureau about a year ago.

Shahnaz had a degree in accounting and commerce gained in India, where she worked as a junior manager in an office.

Now, as well as being a volunteer, she is about to start studying for a mathematics degree at the University of Central Lancashire.

The volunteer bureau sees about 40 new volunteers each month and has about 200 organisations on its books.

Geraldine, who joined the volunteer bureau a year ago, said: "A lot of Asian people come forward with unique skills.

"For example, many are multilingual. We have young people studying for law degrees who want to gain experience. The majority of people from Asian backgrounds want to work in mainstream organisations.

"We have more than 300 opportunities for volunteers, including in advice and information, working with animals, clerical, counselling, the environment and working with young or homeless people.

"One of our aims is to support people who have any kind of support needs. The whole project is about enabling everybody to volunteer and to turn the barriers that prevent people from being volunteers into bridges for success. We support people who volunteer in any way we can -- they may lack confidence, have low self-esteem, have language problems, have an offending background or drug and alcohol issues in their past. We can help them through that."

Anyone who would like to volunteer should contact the volunteer bureau on 01254 694113 or e-mail blackburnvb@care4free.net for more details.