Is 2018 the year YOU volunteer?

People choose to volunteer for a variety of reasons. For some, it offers the chance to give something back to the community or make a difference to the people around them. For others, it provides an opportunity to develop new skills or build on existing experience and knowledge. We hear from dental nurse Michelle Reid, clinical director at Heath Dental in Solihull, Birmingham, who has just become a trustee of Dental Mavericks, a dental charity that relives disadvantaged children out of unnecessary pain.

What does being a trustee of Dental Mavericks involve?

It’s a privilege to have been offered the position and an amazing opportunity to be more involved in the workings of Dental Mavericks. I’m excited to contribute to the growth and progress of charity. I am the only dental nurse amongst the trustees and so give a profession-specific perspective and opinion. We have bi-monthly meetings online at which we discuss upcoming trips, past trips, fundraising, equipment requirements, training needs, everything and anything that is necessary. I commit to at least one trip a year, which is no problem as I enjoy doing them so much. I fundraise throughout the year and, importantly, spread the word about the charity and encourage others to get involved. We are a non-profit organisation and we are nothing without all the amazing volunteers and fundraisers.