IT'S National Volunteers' Week (June 1-7) and the Daily Echo has teamed up with the Eastleigh Volunteer Bureau to salute some of the people who willingly give their time to others. Today we turn the spotlight on two local people who give up their spare time to work in the community...

BRENDA Lawrence says volunteering is a vital part of her life.

And she has made herself so indispensable during the five years that bureau managers Dee Tuffill and Julia Allan both agree they would be lost without her.

It all started when Brenda, from Chandler's Ford, went to the bureau to find out what she could do after having taken early retirement from her admin role in the physiotherapy department at Winchester's Royal Hampshire County Hospital.

It was clear that Brenda's excellent administration skills would be very useful to help the bureau get to grips with their brand new database.

From initially importing information to the database, Brenda is now the office expert and handles all aspects of this work. Besides this, she deals with telephone and e-mail inquiries and interviews prospective volunteers.

Asked why she volunteers, Brenda will give a range of reasons.

She says it uses her office skills and keeps them updated. Second-ly, by volunteering on a Monday, she reckons it is a good start to the week.

Thirdly - and half jokingly - she says it is good for her marriage! She says she goes back home with amusing anecdotes about the day - and housework doesn't take over her life.

But, importantly, it also gives her the flexibility that paid work couldn't offer. She and her husband travel extensively and during these times the bureau has to make do without her.

Brenda said: "Voluntary work is such an integral part of my life, allowing me to use skills that I really enjoy, I can't imagine ever not being involved."

Student Brian fits driving old folk into his schedule

BRIAN Kaitano's busy schedule doesn't stop him sparing time to help others.

A driver with Eastleigh Community Services' Voluntary Transport Scheme, Brian is also one of a team of volunteers transporting elderly people.

He fits this into a busy life as a business studies student in London and doing part-time support work in Eastleigh.

Brian explained that he became a volunteer driver through his work as a care worker when he noticed the Dial-a-Ride bus collecting residents for an outing.

He then, by chance, saw the noticeboard at the Volunteer Bureau advertising for drivers and stopped to find out more.

After he was interviewed and his references were checked he underwent training and then began driving older people to day centres.

He said: "I really enjoy interacting with passengers and getting to know them. Volunteering has given me much more insight and broadened my experience of life as well as fulfilling my wish to be involved in the local community."

Brian, pictured, chose to live in Eastleigh, having lived and worked in London. He likes the location, saying that London is far too hectic and both he and his partner have no plans to move back there.