Making a Difference Volunteer Update

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Are you thinking about volunteering this summer? Why not take inspiration from our Volunteer Blogs? Our recent blogs include Georgie's experiences as a Community Connector of raising health awareness, and Team Venn's experiences driving, mentoring and supporting the local community.

If you're struggling for budget-friendly entertainment to fill your family's summer holiday, why not check out our Help for School Holidays webpage? It's jam-packed with local offers and activities to help you and your family get the most out of the summer without breaking the bank!

Another means of helping out is visiting this website where you can sign up to receive discounts from many shops and businesses www.charityworkerdiscounts.com

 

Wishing you all the best for the week ahead,

Stephen Craker

Chief Executive
Meet Stephen Craker

Inspiration from our Volunteer Blog
In our Volunteer Blog we have asked some of our volunteers to share their volunteering experience with us.

Jeremy who helps the community with shopping told us that: "The human contact is important for us all. I feel I'm doing something useful and making a little difference."

He reflected that “It’s always appreciated if you are able to listen and be there for someone else. ”Jem feels he gets a lot out of helping and that the whole experience is mentally enriching for himself as well as for the people he supports.

He firmly believes that these "little differences," made by volunteers add up to a greater good. He added "If anyone is thinking of volunteering, I cannot recommend Communities 1st highly enough. If you have some time, please donate it."

Helen and Mike became volunteers in 2020 when, like many people in the face of COVID, they wanted to do their bit. They have been involved in various activities and recently mentoring, supporting, and advising international recruits as a Buddy is an area of work which Helen has focused on, while Mike has been involved in providing transport to the international NHS recruits.

If you would like to volunteer but are not sure where to start or what opportunities are available, do not hesitate to contact us by clicking HERE.

Help for School Holidays  
Local offers and activities to help you and your family get the most out of the summer
 

On THIS page, you will find meal deals and low-cost activities available to you and your family during the school summer holidays (July - September 2023).

We endeavour to keep this page regularly updated, but if you know about a deal or activity we're missing, let us know by emailing us@communities1st.org.uk

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 with these events please contact us by clicking HERE.

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. 

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.