VOLUNTEERS are worth their weight in gold.

If you take the figure of £7.83, which is the minimum wage per hour for a person age 25 and over and then think of one person doing a part time job at the Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre in Taunton.

This individual say doing two hours per day on two days will cost £31.32, times that by four and it’s £125.28 per month which would become £1,503.36 per year.

It might not sound a lot in the grand scheme of things, but when you add up all the volunteers who volunteer for free at the Tacchi-Morris it becomes a huge amount of money.

Many of them work extra hours and also put in much needed shifts at the weekend when their pay would have to be doubled.

On the Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre website it states: “We rely on our dedicated team of welcoming volunteers and recognise the invaluable contribution they make in helping to enhance the overall experience of visitors and fulfil the aims and objectives of Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre. Our volunteers assist in the day-to-day running of the box office, front of house services, café and bar, as well as co-ordinating the exhibitions programme.”

To find out more about those who volunteer at the Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre, entertainment reporter, Lawrence John spoke to three people who gladly give up their time to help.

Cris Buttle has volunteered at the Tacchi-Morris for four years and works at a lighting technician.

Speaking about why he volunteers, Cris said: “What I like is the sense of family it gives me working here.

“There is a great feeling of camaraderie and I really enjoy being here every day.

“I love being involved in show business as I have been on stage as an amateur actor at the Wellesley in Wellington.

“It is a good feeling volunteering at the Tacchi-Moris as we have a good team and I know what I am doing here is helping people and the community.

“What I would say to people about volunteering is come and speak to people here, see if it is for you and how you can help.”

One of those helping ‘front of house’ is Caroline Vaughan.

She works as an usher and also helps out at the cafe.

Caroline has been volunteering at the Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre for 13 years.

She said: “This is such a friendly theatre and you meet so many people working here.

“Volunteering is a commitment and by making that commitment you see some great shows and you give people the chance to enjoy the shows.

“Volunteering gives me a social life and by doing it I have realised how much it means to the arts community.”

Asked what would she say to would be volunteers, Caroline said: “Come along and meet the gang as I think they will enjoy being here.”

The third volunteer was Judith Jay who has been volunteering at the Tacchi-Morris for six years.

She does two days a week and works in the box office dealing with people’s enquiries and those wanting to buy tickets over the phone.

Speaking about why she volunteers, Judith said: “I took early retirement as I used to be a children’s nurse.

“What I like about it is I enjoy being with people and helping people which is different to what I did before.

“I enjoy volunteering as it gives me something to do and means I am in contact with people all the time.

“What it also gives me is a sense of achievement and a sense of helping people get the tickets they want for a show.

“I would hope those who want to do volunteering here would come along, give it a go and join what can be very much like a family at the Tacchi-Morris.”

Centre Director at the Tacchi-Morris, Andy Pulleyn explained the centre in Monkton Heathfield, could not operate without its’ volunteers.

He said: “People who volunteer do it for different reasons but the main reason is they believe in the arts centre and the community side it creates.

“Our volunteers do not let us down as they care so much and will go beyond the hours they do to help us. We really appreciate our volunteers as they help bring the community together.

“We have a programme with Heathfield School which allows the pupils to help out and mix their passion for the arts with volunteering.

“I would say to people who want to volunteer here they will find something which will make a difference. I think they would get so much out of it and they would see how much this place means to the community.”

Further details about volunteering at the Tacchi-Morris go online at tacchi-morris.com or call 01823 414144