REGARDING the letter 'Charity did not shine for me' (BEN: October 10). May I offer advice and support to the individual concerned.

First of all, volunteering should be a positive experience, and we at the Volunteer Bureau try to ensure this happens. Secondly, volunteering is not just about providing unpaid services. It is also about the needs of the volunteer.

We work with groups and organisations, providing training and support to address those issues concerning volunteer development. Bolton Bond Board is one of the groups which gives a high priority to developing its volunteers.

We also recommend that organisations have complaints and grievance procedures in place for its volunteers. Again I know that the Bond Board does have such a complaints procedure.

Finally I would invite the writer to contact us at the Volunteer Bureau and we will together look at a new volunteering opportunity.

Peter Sloan

Co-ordinator

Bolton Volunteer Bureau