Volunteer Centre Newsletter

Welcome to our Volunteer Centre newsletter.

We are pleased announce that the next Broxbourne Volunteer Fair has been confirmed in collaboration with Broxbourne Alliance PCN. This event will take place on the 9th of May in Cheshunt at the Laura Trott Leisure Centre.

This event will be the perfect opportunity to explore volunteering opportunities in the Broxbourne and East Herts area, and to speak directly with local community groups and charities.

Please click here for more information and if your organisation would like a stand at the event to showcase your work and volunteer opportunities, please click here.

We aim to support all volunteers in their activities. If you are looking for more volunteering opportunities, please look for opportunities on our website here or get in touch by emailing volunteer@communities1st.org.uk.

We have split volunteering roles into the following sections: 

Spotlight
Short Term Roles and Micro Volunteering
Longer Term Volunteering Roles 
Trustee Roles 
Driving Roles

We have lots of training opportunities available here for anyone who would like to expand their skill set or try something new!

Christine Halpin

Head of Partnerships and Capacity Building

Communities 1st 

SPOTLIGHT

Trustee with Open Door

Open Door St Albans are looking for a new Chair of Trustees to lead their Board in sustaining and developing new opportunities to meet the needs of rough sleepers and those at risk of homelessness in the St Albans area. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced leader with a passion to tackle homelessness issues, and with experience in strategic decision making and developing and delivering change.

Volunteer Driver with Verso Care at Verso Vineyard Church

Verso Care are looking for Volunteer Drivers to help with various different duties. These duties include driving their IVECO charity vehicle to collect donations from local supermarkets, businesses and organisations within St Albans and the surrounding area. You must hold a current full UK driver's licence and be prepared to undertake additional driving training, which will be provided free of charge by an external driver training team. Volunteer driver days available are Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.

Volunteer Mentor with MCR Pathways

Are you an empathetic and understanding person in the Broxbourne/ Cheshunt area who has a spare hour each week to make a positive difference in a young person’s life? If so, MCR Pathways is seeking enthusiastic volunteers to join their team as a mentor! MCR Pathways is an award-winning mentoring charity dedicated to addressing inequality in education outcomes, career opportunities, and life chances for care-experienced young people and those experiencing disadvantage.

SHORT TERM ROLES & MICRO VOLUNTEERING

Health Walk Leaders for Herts Health Walks

The Countryside Management Service would like to recruit more volunteers to support existing Hertfordshire Health Walks and set up new, shorter walks for people who are not currently active or are returning to activity after an injury or illness. Join their team of more than 200 volunteers who help others become healthier and happier by walking together outdoors. No experience is necessary. You can lead walks or provide support from the back. Volunteer once a week or once a month it is up to you. Training is free and nationally accredited.

Drop In Volunteers with Centre 33 St Albans

Centre 33 are looking for volunteers to assist them at their drop in centres. These centres provide an opportunity for those who are homeless, sofa-surfing, otherwise in unsecure accommodation, and those who are in accommodation but have difficulties in coping, to get a warm meal, a hot shower, some supplies and a space to meet others. Both of the spaces they need volunteers to help at are in are in St Albans. These drop in centres are run entirely by volunteers, and both day and evening sessions are managed by a team leader. This role could see you cooking and serving meals, cleaning up at the end of the session, chatting with attendees and full training will be provided. You can read more about this opportunity using the link below.

LONGER TERM VOLUNTEERING ROLES

Volunteer Coordinator with Ehlers-Danlos Support UK

Ehlers-Danlos Support UK are looking for volunteers to provide a positive, informative, sensitive and safe environment for those affected by EDS to share, learn and form a community. This role includes facilitating 4 support groups in your local area, checking social media regularly for updates, responding to emails and attending coordinator meetings.

Young Achievers Volunteer with DS Achieve

DS Achieve is a small Hertfordshire based charity. They work with families and professionals to enable children and young people with Down Syndrome to fulfil their potential. DS Achieve is looking to recruit volunteers for the Young Achievers programme to support the Group Leader and Assistant Leader to run developmental sessions for children and young people with Down Syndrome.

Inpatient Unit (IPU) Listener Volunteer with Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care

Rennie Grove Peace Hospice are looking for an Inpatient Unit Volunteer. Their short stay Inpatient Unit (IPU) provides symptom, pain and medication management for patients dealing with a life limiting illness, as well as end-of-life care for those in the last days of their life. Their Listener Volunteers will provide one to one emotional support to patients and family members on the IPU as identified by the nursing team.

Family Centre Service Volunteer with InspireAll Leisure and Family Support Services

InspireAll are looking for volunteers to join their friendly team at the Family Centre Service in one of the many roles they have available. These roles include their baby groups, play sessions, gardening, admin roles and many more. They offer Induction & training, mentor support, flexible hours, varied volunteering roles and the opportunity to learn new skills!

LET VOLUNTEERING ROLES COME TO YOU!

Communities 1st has launched Let’s Give, a new service for volunteers. You can create your own space on our website, so that organisations can find out about you and reach out to you about 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 organisations that are interested in you volunteering with them.

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.

For more information contact us by email here or call 01727 649953.

TRUSTEE ROLES

Trustee with Healthwatch Hertfordshire

Do you want the views and experiences of the public to be used to influence improvements in health and social care in Hertfordshire?

Do you want to join our thriving Board as an effective trustee of a dynamic countywide charity?

Healthwatch Hertfordshire is recruiting committed trustees to help us to fulfil our role as the local independent consumer champion for health and social care.

Trustee with St Albans Old People's Trust

St Albans Old People’s Trust are looking for a Trustee to join their organisation The Trust provides very valuable and worthwhile support to those who live in poverty or have fallen on hard times, are vulnerable and not likely to have their positions much improved. It strives to give back some dignity to those individuals by assisting them to remain in their own homes and be as independent as possible with the purchase of services and items which, for all sorts of reasons, they are unable to afford themselves. As part of the role, you will be required to review grant applications, review financials, engage in training programs and help the Trust with innovation.

Partnership Board Member with Leecliffe Big Local

Leecliffe Big Local are looking for dedicated Partnership Board Member volunteers to join their local organisation. The Partnership Board is a resident-led partnership that manages the Big Local programme, including events and projects in their area since 2012. The Partnership Board appoints its officers and can appoint sub-groups to help it carry out its responsibilities. You will meet on a monthly basis with all the 9 Partnership Board Members as well as with a representative of the Local Trust, the Local Trusted Organisation’s representative, the Community Officer, the Volunteer Coordinator and Administration Assistant.

DRIVING ROLES

Volunteer Drivers with Age Concern St Albans

Can you help Age Concern St Albans for a couple of hours on a Monday or Wednesday to drop off between 9:30am and 10:30am and then take home between 13:30pm and 14:30pm? Age Concern St Albans runs lunch clubs for older people to provide social interaction and combat loneliness. They aim to provide transport to their clients, and they rely on volunteer drivers to help get clients to the clubs. Mileage can be paid for this role.

Transport Driver for St Albans Good Neighbour Scheme

St Albans Good Neighbour Scheme are looking for volunteer drivers to help out with the service that they provide for their clients in the local community. The process is that the driver collects the client from their home at a prearranged time. The client is then driven to their appointment/destination. After the appointment is completed the client is driven home. In many cases the driver will need to help the client get to their appointment in the hospital and arrange a process where the client can advise the driver they are ready to go home.

COMMUNITIES 1ST VOLUNTEERING ROLES

Able2Enable Admin Assistant with Communities 1st

Able2enable takes a holistic approach to support individuals to develop key life skills, improve wellbeing and increase employability skills. We encourage individuals to grow within their capabilities by providing them with coaching and wellbeing support, training opportunities and supported volunteering placements. We are looking for a Volunteer Admin Assistant to support the project with tasks like following up clients to schedule appointments, emailing organisations about Able2Enable, researching volunteer and employment opportunities for clients and working with the lead on specific tasks relevant to Able2Enable.

Energy Agent with Communities 1st

The "Welcome Space Network" is a project designed to provide comprehensive support and resources to vulnerable and isolated individuals across Hertfordshire. This two-year project aims to establish a network of 30 Warm Welcome Hubs, offering a range of services including energy support, community engagement, benefits advice, and digital inclusion programmes in response to the challenges of loneliness, isolation, and energy-related hardships, particularly in relation to the cost of living crisis. We are looking for volunteers to be a friendly face and engage in conversation with those that attend the welcome spaces. Another responsibility of the role is for volunteers to provide practical advice on energy savings, safety and efficient home management. Full training will be provided.

Community Car Driver Volunteers

We are looking for volunteer drivers to help our clients in the local community. Volunteers are needed to help people in Borehamwood, Shenley and Potters Bar who are unable to use public transport, to attend health appointments and so help to reduce social isolation. What are we looking for? Driving skills, a clean licence, a roadworthy car, honesty and reliability and good timekeeping. We’re always in need of people willing to help us deliver our transport service.