Therefore, I can only describe my shock when my recent column encouraged two members of the local public to contact me and offer their time to assistance with local projects.
One of these people was an experienced man in IT, who although busy may be able to offer a small amount of time, advice and the occasional cable and socket. The other was a lady with children who between feeding times would like to get some experience to add to her CV.
Volunteering in general has received some bad press over the years and as-a-result of my informal research (asking around 20 young people on the skate park last week) most agreed that volunteering was "not cool". So, are the days of volunteering numbered? Or is it just in need of a re-brand?
A similar piece of informal research (also on the skatepark, but a number of days later) revealed that young people were quite happy to "give me a hand" with something I was working on and thought it would be "a cool thing" to do to fill up a Saturday.
I am amazed that by simply rewording my request for help young people in particular suddenly seemed to realise that they could actually get involved and offer to help out.
As a result of this I have decided to re-brand my efforts and while still calling for anyone who wants to volunteer, I am also keen to hear from those who want to "lend a hand", "get involved", "learn something new" or just fill a quiet Saturday.
We all have skills we can offer and if we are honest I think we all have a little free time, even if we can only work from home in the three-minute break in the middle of a Monday night soap opera.
That's enough from me, its sunny outside and I have some painting to do. Anyone want to "give me a hand"?!!
Steve can be contacted on stevepr@talk21.com or at www.myspace.com/lancysk8. He is also contactable at Trinity centre or at the Juice Bar in Clitheroe.