Making A Difference Volunteer Update

Last week we held our Voluntary Sector Conference and AGM. It was lovely to meet you all and we hope you all had a good time and enjoyed the workshops and/or the 1:1 sessions you attended.

We are attending a large number of summer events in the next few weeks and we are looking for volunteers to help out at the events. You can see the schedule for Hertsmere below and if this is something you would like to help with, please contact us by clicking HERE.

We are excited to share with all our volunteer drivers that from this week we have an additional new Multi Purpose Vehicle (MPV) in our fleet. If you would like to volunteer as a driver or if you are interested but unsure about what the role entails please contact us by clicking HERE. 

Wishing you all the best for the week ahead,

Stephen Craker

Chief Executive
Meet Stephen Craker
Communities 1st Conference 2023  

Last week, Communities 1st hosted their Voluntary Sector Conference and AGM and over a 100 people attended. We were delighted to get the opportunity to speak with those who attended, from volunteers to other local organisations. We wanted to say a big thank you to all of the speakers on the day and we hope that everyone in attendance enjoyed the different workshops and 1 to 1 sessions that were available.

For those who couldn't make it this year, we hope to see you at the next one! 
Can you help at the upcoming summer events?

We are attending various social events throughout the summer and we are looking for helpful volunteers to support us on these events. Tasks involve keeping areas clean and tidy, marshalling, helping stall holders, car park duty and directing bands when they arrive on site. These are fun events, and the focus is on volunteers feeling fully supported whilst enjoying the event themselves.

If you would like to help on these events please contact us by clicking HERE.
Volunteer as a Driver!  

Beep Beep! We have good news! Communities 1st would like to introduce you all to the newest member of our minibus fleet. Meet our new Multi Purpose Vehicle (MPV). We are excited to utilise our new vehicle in our transport services to continue to support those in the community that need it most.

Our Transport Coordinator and Services Manager are looking forward to hearing from you if you would like to become a volunteer driver! 

Call our Transport team on 01727 649980 or email travel@communities1st.org.uk
International Recruit Buddies
Become a volunteer buddy to support newly recruited international NHS employees in Cambridge
 

Do you know anyone in the Cambridge area who would be interested in providing vital support to newly arrived international NHS recruits?

This support could include: meeting the new arrival at their accommodation and helping them to settle in, showing them around the town centre, helping them register with a GP and dentist, explaining how to use public transport, supporting them in their search for long term accommodation by attending estate agents meetings with them, generally offering them a helping hand and answering their questions. 

We will of course cover any expenses, such as parking costs or car mileage, incurred carrying out this role. 

Anyone interested in providing buddy support to international NHS recruits, should email us at volunteering@communities1st.org.uk or give us a call on 01727 649970. 
Be part of our Green Team! 
The Journey to Net Zero

Climate change is an issue affecting everyone and we will be examining what we can do to reduce our carbon footprint by changing our individual actions and participating in group actions to make this happen. We are very keen to involve volunteers in this process either in casting a critical eye on what we are doing or working with us on projects in the community. If you would like to be part of our “Green Team” please get in touch.

 
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Let Volunteering Roles Come to You!

Communities 1st is launching Let’s Give, a new service for volunteers. You will be able to create your own space on our website, so that organisations can find out more about you and reach out regarding their volunteering roles.

You won’t need to display any personal contact information as we will do all the brokerage, so we will put you in touch with the given organisation.

It’s a great way to showcase your skills and experience to local community groups and can help match you with a role where you can make a real difference.

You can do this by logging into your dashboard and editing your Volunteer Centre profile – scroll down to the section on External Volunteer Opportunities.
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How to Claim Expenses

New Volunteer Expenses Claim Form

We have a new volunteer expense request form. If you don't have it, please email us and we will send it to you.

For Shopping Delivery and Prescription Collection Expenses

  • To claim expenses, please sign up to our dashboard and upload your expenses there. Click here to create a login using the same email address that you originally signed up with. You will then see a list of your completed and pending activities.
  • Please submit expense claims the same week that you carried out your shop, and if appropriate, provide a photo of your receipt. If an expense is not claimed in a timely manner it can lead to a client going into arrears, which can cause them stress and confusion. We appreciate your help with this.
  • If this is your first shop, you will first need to email us your bank details  so you can be reimbursed.

For Drivers, Litter Pickers and Other Roles' Expenses

  • You will have been sent an expense claim form when you confirmed your job. To claim your expenses, please complete this and return it to the sender.