Let's Give Volunteering Newsletter

Welcome to this latest edition of Let’s Give.

September is here and as we reflect on the long summer days and wonderful holidays, we look forward to spiced hot chocolate and cosy evenings.

Having said all the above, there are still plenty of volunteering opportunities available and lots of organisations looking for their next amazing volunteer.

Now is the time to update your profile to help you stand out just that little bit more.

Following on from our last Let’s Give newsletter, we are still looking to celebrate the impact that Let’s Give volunteers make so please share your stories with us.

Please email us your stories to volunteer@communities1st.org.uk.

Best wishes,

Julie Yorston
Assistant Manager Volunteer Centre

Celtic Harmony is looking for volunteers to support the day-to-day running of the Prehistory Centre by welcoming visitors, sharing insights about their collection, and ensuring their visitors are engaged. As a Visitor Experience Volunteer, you'll play a vital role in bringing history to life for their guests.

St Albans & District Talking Newspaper creates an audio programme designed for those in the St Albans & District whose visual impairment puts them at risk of being excluded from what is happening around their local community. They are seeking an additional producer to provide backup or to job-share with existing producers. The task is to follow a programme template creatively, drawing on an established team of readers and guests to record, create and deliver an audio programme that is of value to their listeners. They are looking for someone who has either relevant experience, a creative instinct, or a love of radio.

Do you have experience of parenting or caring for children?

Do you have 2-3 Hours a week to spare? If so, you could be the person Home-Start is looking for!

Home-Start has a dedicated team of Volunteer Mentors who support hundreds of families across Hertfordshire. They provide both emotional and practical support. It may be helping a parent with a disability take their child to the park, helping a family access local community groups or assisting with healthy eating, budgeting or parenting skills.

Looking for a fun and rewarding way to give back? Hertsmere Mencap’s vibrant Youth Club in Borehamwood is seeking volunteers to join their Thursday evening sessions from 7pm–9pm. You’ll help run games and activities, create a welcoming space, and be part of a caring team supporting young people with learning disabilities. It’s a great chance to build skills, make friends, and enjoy making a difference in your community.

The Green House is a hub of ideas in the centre of St Albans City where people can come and connect to find out ways to reduce their carbon footprint.They are looking for friendly hub volunteers to greet people, help them find some answers to their environmental questions and to keep the hub looking welcoming. All volunteers will be supported in their roles and will be shown how to easily source information at the hub.

Age UK Hertfordshire is looking for befrienders for their service. Volunteers will be carefully matched with an older person, providing friendship and sharing news, views and interests. Volunteers will regularly visit somebody in their own home every week, perhaps for a cup of tea and a chat or you may choose to take them into their local town or garden centre.

Redbourn Community Group is looking for car drivers and minibus drivers to take residents to medical appointments and continue their seasonal programme of outings. They offer the opportunity to do flexible volunteering. Flexible volunteering is really about the ability to help out by offering your services as a volunteer, as and when it suits you, with no regular pattern of commitment or a minimum stipulated number of hours each week.

Jersey Farm Day Centre is looking for a driver. In this role, you will be required to collect the minibus from a designated pick-up point, pick up clients from their homes, and bring them to Jersey Farm Community Centre. After 3pm, you will take clients home and return the minibus.

Rennie Grove Peace Hospice van drivers are a key element of their Retail and Trading operation. They ensure that both new and donated items are moved between their shops, Ecommerce centre and Retail and Trade hub to ensure that they maximise the income they can generate for the benefit of their patients and their families. They provide key support to their fast-moving retail environment, where no two days are the same.

We are looking for keen gardeners to volunteer and support local residents with their gardening. If you are passionate about gardening and looking for more ways to spend time in the fresh air, why not sign up as a volunteer gardener?

Every week, we receive enquiries from people in your local community who need help with the maintenance of their garden. If you would like to help people and give them the chance to spend time in and enjoy their gardens again, please get in touch.

Whether you're a seasoned barista or looking to learn the art of creating the perfect cup of coffee, you can volunteer to help us run the coffee cart and make it a success. You’ll have the opportunity to connect with new people, develop a range of skills, and – if you’re interested – mentor others who are eager to learn but may find it a little more challenging.

Whether you can give a few hours or more each week, your time and energy will make a meaningful difference. Every cup you serve helps support our programme, which assists individuals working towards a better future.

We are looking for a friendly and organised Volunteer Centre Admin Assistant to support the volunteer centre. In this role, you will help manage volunteer registrations, maintain accurate records, respond to enquiries, and assist with the coordination of volunteer opportunities. This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys working in a team, has strong administrative skills, and is passionate about supporting community volunteering.

Join this 2-hour CPD accredited training on Women and Gambling Related Harms led by GamCare's Women's Pathway Programme.
This training is aimed at practitioners working directly with women, to feel more confident in identifying gambling-related harms, and how to respond and signpost for support. During this training, we will cover the gambling-related harms women experience, either from their gambling or someone else's.

Date: 30 September 2025                       Time: 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Where: Online

The Sight Loss awareness training is designed to equip participants with a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced by individuals with sight loss, along with practical skills to better support them.

The session covers various aspects of sight loss, including causes, functional and emotional impacts on daily life and strategies for effective communication and assistance.

The session is aimed at families, carers and professionals to raise awareness about barriers people with sight loss experience, including mobility challenges and social isolation.

Date: 13 October 2025                          Time: 11:00am to 12:00pm
Where: Online

This bite size one hour session on Menopause Awareness is aimed at getting a basic understanding of what menopause is and how it affects women. The session will also provide information on the support available.

Date:  16 October 2025                          Time: 12:00 noon to 1:00pm
Where: Online