Time is money, so the saying goes. Contributing to a good cause could be a case of putting your hand in your pocket for loose change or donating some of that precious time to help out as a volunteer at one of the many groups and organisations crying out for your services.

So what's in it for you?

Today's volunteers tell me they get infinitely more out of it than they put in.

At least that was the message that came over loud and clear when I spent some time with one group of volunteers in the run up to next week's National Volunteers Week.

The weekly meeting of the Salisbury Dysphasia Support Group was in full swing when I arrived at St Martin's Church Hall.

One to one sessions were over, the coffee break was drawing to a close and chattering groups of men and women were preparing for some lively discussion as they puzzled over quiz sheets.

Chatter and discussion is important to these people.

Dysphasia means difficulty in expressing or understanding through the written and spoken word as the result of brain damage, more often than not engendered by a stroke.

Stroke is one of the biggest killers in the UK and those who survive often have to cope with severe disability.

For many, this will mean learning to speak and write all over again.

This is something volunteer Alan Morton knows about first hand.

Ten years ago, he fell off a ladder and suffered brain damage leaving him totally unable to speak.

"I know about the frustration of planning in your head what you want to say, but by the time you get it out, the conversation has moved on," he says.

"Volunteering means I can put something back in for the help I've had over the years."

Judy Chatterton Dickson is the group's longest serving volunteer - she's been with the group since 1989.

"It's important for me to be involved with someone like Linda, who had a stroke seven years ago".

"But we've been working together for 18 months and she's made such progress," Judy says, smiling encouragement.

"I get a tremendous amount out of it - it's fun, I wouldn't stay if it wasn't."

Retired speech therapist Liz Broadbent feels the same.

"A lot of it is about encouragement and acceptance, " she says.

"This was something I could do and helping here gives structure to us as retired people."

Not all the volunteers are retired.

Philip Tomes is the divisional librarian at Salisbury Library and it's his day off.

He has been volunteering here since he came along a few months ago to talk about the library services.

"My grandfather had a stroke and he found the effects frustrating.

"He liked word exercises and games and would have enjoyed something like this.

"We have a laugh and can get quite noisy - I do enjoy it, it's not a chore."

Dee Mansfield's mother died following a stroke.

"I saw something about this group in the paper and thought I could help.

"I enjoy it - it's only a couple of hours out of your morning - and I've got my three men and we have a general discussion.

"Sometimes I bring in things myself and if not, Aileen always has plenty of materials for us."

Aileen Stark is the Dysphasia Support Service's organiser for Salisbury as well as north and west Wiltshire.

She is keen to hear from potential volunteers, all of whom get training and support from a visiting speech therapist.

Anyone who would like to know more about volunteering for the Dysphasia Support Service can contact Aileen on 01722 329053.