Making A Difference Volunteer Update

I hope you had a nice and relaxing Easter weekend. As we approach the middle of April (time flies!), we are reminded of the importance of Micro Volunteering Day. For those of you who are not familiar with this annual day of awareness, Micro Volunteering Day is a chance to showcase the power of coming together in small groups or with little resource, to make a positive impact on bigger national and global issues. This year the day will take place this coming Saturday.

This is the easiest form of volunteering! There is no application process and no commitment, all you need to do is dedicate a few minutes to doing something that can help to make a positive impact. This can be anything ranging from retweeting a message that raises awareness of a specific issue, or maybe take this as an opportunity to sign a petition for something you feel passionately about? For more information and ideas on micro-volunteering, you can check out a helpful BBC article HERE. 

If you get up to anything interesting, be sure to let us know via our socials, or alternatively you can send us an email HERE.

Wishing you all the best for the week ahead,

Stephen Craker

Chief Executive

This role will mainly include helping out at Bushey Library Computers and a Cuppa sessions during the summer breaks on Thursdays from 12-2pm. These sessions involve helping clients with;

Setting up passwords
Printing documents
Learning how to use smart phones and tablets
Helping to make the most of using apps
Training for this role will be provided! 

Volunteer as a Bus Buddy and join in with our Shopper Bus or Day Tripper outings!

You will be helping clients on and off the buses, helping to carry shopping, and generally making them feel happy to be there and included.

We have recently been supporting new international NHS arrivals in Bishops Stortford and Welwyn Garden City. 

We will cover all your expenses for these activities, such as parking and mileage reimbursement. 

We say Hello to Spring by launching our Busy Bee Communities 1st Garden Development Project.

We are looking for volunteers who are interested in gardening to help with two of our projects.

The gardening volunteer roles are:

• To provide a gardening service to our clients who are no longer able to maintain their own gardens as part of our Handyperson service

• To be part of the team of gardeners to create and maintain the gardens with the help of the community groups in the area

These projects will:

• Enable residents to continue to enjoy staying in their own homes
• Help develop positive relationships, mutual understanding, and respect between members of the local community through the activity of gardening.
• Promote participants mental health and wellbeing with by working outdoors as part of outdoor community activity, involving gentle exercises while planting.
• Provide participants a catalyst to act locally and encourage dynamic change, creating positive impact for our planet, educate about biodiversity and nature.
• Create sustainable, eco – friendly urban gardens.

We need you if you have the personal qualities below:

• An interest in gardening
• Commitment to the project
• Good communication skills
• Able to travel around the Borough to attend the sessions
• Availability for once or twice a week for two hours between May and September

Do you want to be involved in this exciting fun filled and rewarding project?

The Big Help Out campaign aims to promote volunteering and increase participation among those who traditionally do not volunteer. By showcasing the benefits of volunteering and encouraging more people to get involved, the campaign is helping to create a culture of volunteering and community involvement in the UK.

Help us spread the word by sharing information on the upcoming Big Help Out event! More information can be found on our website and social media channels. 

Do you enjoy arts and crafts, knitting, drawing and other hobbies? If so this is the volunteering role for you! If you have a hobby you would like to share with others, please get in touch. 

Each week you can get involved with creative activities, make new friends, and enjoy chatting over a coffee and free refreshments. These sessions can be an important opportunity for members of the community, allowing them time each week to socialise, get out of the house and try new things. 

Join us every Monday from 10:30am-12:30pm, at Windsor Hall, Borehamwood, with more locations to come!

There is an increasing acknowledgement of the importance of the role of mental health in the wellbeing of individuals and the community as a whole.  Being aware of your mental health can substantially reduce long term physical and mental health conditions and the stigma around it. 

This in person awareness session is aimed at volunteers in Foodbanks and Warm spaces across Hertfordshire.

Please note this training is via Zoom. 

Date: Thursday 20th April

Time: 10am to 12pm 

Register here.

Participants coming to this session will gain the confidence and basic skills to communicate with those who are living with deafness and hearing loss. It will enable them to understand deafness, signs that someone can’t hear you, body positions and communicating.

Please note this training is via Zoom. 

Date: Wednesday 26 April

Time: 10am to 12pm 

Register here.