Chipping Barnet MP THERESA VILLIERS finds how charity work can make a difference and urges others to follow suit

While many of my constituents were out shopping, giving the lawn a last mow before winter sets in, or just relaxing with a good book, I spent Saturday afternoon working as a volunteer at the Barnado's charity shop in Whetstone.

It was all part of Make a Difference Day, which is a national programme I have actively supported for the past few years to encourage volunteering and highlight its importance in our community.

The staff and volunteers at Barnardo's made me feel so welcome and the afternoon raced by as we sorted and priced clothing to go on sale. As you might expect from a shop so near Totteridge, there were one or two impressive designer labels in the bags of donations from very generous members of the public.

I really enjoyed my afternoon working at the shop, chatting to other volunteers, the staff and customers. Barnardo's does a tremendous amount for child welfare and it could not keep going without the help of people who give their time for free.

My time at the shop was all too brief, and I have a huge admiration for the hundreds of people I meet in my constituency each week who give so much of their time to a wide range of good causes. For many, their commitment is almost as much as a full-time job.

Where would we be without them? Critically important support and services for some of the most vulnerable people in our community would grind to a halt. And it should not be forgotten that volunteering can be hugely positive for the people who do it as well as those they are helping.

For many, it gives a real sense of achievement and provides opportunities to meet new friends.

Make a Difference Day takes place in autumn every year and I would encourage all my constituents to consider getting involved. You can think up your own project or ask for advice from Community Service Volunteers (CSV), which runs the programme, or the local branch, Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme (RSVP) Barnet. You can find out more by visiting the website at www.csvrsvpbarnet.org.uk If you have a full driving licence (pre 97) and some spare time, Barnet Old People's Welfare, in Salisbury Road, High Barnet, is looking for someone to drive its minibus. It does wonderful work for the elderly and really needs a new driver.

So when it comes to volunteering, the message from me is, why not try it?