BVRC manager Helen Yorston said the centre aims to build vibrant, resourceful communities by promoting, facilitating, supporting, connecting and celebrating volunteering across central Victoria.

"Volunteering changes people's lives, it's the ripple effect - touching one life and changing the community.

"It gives you the opportunity to participate and be passionate about an activity or social cause close to your heart," Ms Yorston said.

The Bendigo Volunteer Resource Centre focuses on providing individualised referral, placement and support services to people experiencing disadvantage, in particular youth under 18 years of age, unemployed people and people experiencing cultural, racial or religious discrimination.

"BVRC supports new arrivals including individuals from cultural backgrounds to link with volunteering to learn about our culture and gain experience in the English language.

"This provides links to working in an Australian workplace environment, resulting in the individual developing broader social and work-related networks," Ms Yorston said.

The volunteering opportunities in central Victoria, both in scope and size of the organisations, are plentiful.

Pall Mall's Gianna Centre is staffed by two volunteers and offers caring family support, education and referrals to men, women and young people dealing with pregnancy, parenting, relationships and fertility issues.

Bendigo's Needle and Threads program is a group of more than 50 volunteers, who respond to the specific needs of community groups.

They provide quality, handmade knitted, crocheted or sewn items of clothing, rugs and toys to less fortunate people locally and internationally.

These are just two examples of the many volunteer organisations that exist in Bendigo.

Ms Yorston even spends some of her spare time volunteering in the community, being a life member of the Bendigo Easter Fair Society and a member of the Bendigo Easter Festival Reference Group.

"Volunteering develops friendships, a sense of belonging and being valued in the community.

"It is an opportunity to develop supportive social networks that are important factor influencing the general health and wellbeing of the individual and our community," Ms Yorston said.

For more information about volunteering, visit the Bendigo Volunteer Resource Centre website, www.bgovolunteers.org.au or phone 5441 1404.

You can also visit the Bendigo Volunteer Hub, located in the Bendigo Library, Hargreaves Street entrance.