A dedicated army of volunteers who give up their time to help others have hit an amazing milestone – clocking up 50,000 hours between them to help make the county a better place.

More than 1700 Time Credit Volunteers have given 50,000hrs – which equates to five years and eight months – since the scheme launched in 2014.

They help older people, children and young people and community organisations across Cambridgeshire.

Wisbech volunteer Glenda Storey came to know about Time Credits when she was homeless and in a hostel.

She volunteered to give her time to Wisbech Community House, which supports people to get back into work.

“When I started going to the Community House I was given the opportunity to volunteer and was again given Time Credits for my time,” she said. “I have been using them to go to the Light Cinema, Peckover House, Elgood’s Garden, the College of West Anglia and swimming at New Vision.

“Without Time Credits I would not have been able to visit these places and enjoy the activities they have on offer.”

The scheme is commissioned by Cambridgeshire County Council, CHS Group and Cambridge City Council who work with Spice, a social enterprise that delivers the initiative in various locations in the county.

Adrian Chapman, service director for Community and Safety at Cambridgeshire County Council, said: “Thank you to everyone who has helped their community over the past four years to help make it a better place. Over the next few weeks we want to celebrate this by showing some of the great things that have been achieved.”

When a person gives an hour to their community, such as helping children read in schools, companionship for older people or setting up a peer support group, they earn one printed Time Credit.

These can be spent on an hour’s activity in other community organisations or leisure attractions.

Over the next 10 days, using the hashtag #50,000hrs, the council will be celebrating the achievements of some of the volunteers who have made this happen.

To find out more about Cambridgeshire Time Credits or how you can help, visit www.justaddspice.org, search for CambsTimeCredits or follow @cambstimecredit.