HEY Smile Foundation have been working with Hull What's On to create a super series of volunteer videos!

We are excited to share these case study videos as: Hull What’s On and Time2Volunteer films, sponsored by HEY Smile Foundation, Hull CVS, Hull City Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council.

To find out more about how Time2Volunteer can help your organisation to celebrate and recruit volunteers, or how to start volunteering with amazing groups and charities, please browse volunteer opportunities or contact us!

Fitmums and Friends is a community-based fitness organisation run almost entirely by volunteers. It was founded over 15 years ago by Sam Barlow, who was working full-time in the NHS and missing out on meeting other parents at school.

Wanting to make new friends, Sam put a flyer for a run in her son's bookbag. From that small start, Fitmums and Friends has grown to over 1,000 members, with 11 groups across Yorkshire—all run by volunteers.

Instead of accepting the lack of activities in her area, Sam made it happen, and now Fitmums and Friends helps hundreds of people. They even offer specialised programmes for those with sight impairments, those dealing with bereavement, and more.

To keep growing, Fitmums and Friends always need more volunteers. We chatted to some while we were there, and they told us how amazing it feels to see the impact on the community, make new friends, and gain confidence and leadership experience.

You can even support the organisation as a trustee, guiding its future development.

Fitmums & Friends is just one of the amazing community projects in Hull & East Yorkshire!