Volunteer Centre E-Newsletter 14th may 2021

This week is Mental Health Awareness week. For many, the gradual easing of lockdown will bring opportunities to reconnect with family and friends, do things we enjoy like playing sports, and return to work that we value. For others, the prospect of a lockdown ending will bring difficult emotions and anxiety. It could take some time to navigate our way back to 'normal.

We know that volunteering has given many of you a positive routine and a way to stay connected through the uncertainty of lockdown. Volunteering offers a challenge through which you can overcome fears, frustrations and anxieties. Providing you with these opportunities is important to us at Communities 1st.

The efforts of the past year have only been possible thanks to personal sacrifices made by our volunteers and staff. However, in looking after others we sometimes forget to look after ourselves. This week I encourage you to find things in your life that bring you joy, focus on what you can influence for the better, remember to pace yourself and be kind.

We continue to work hard to ensure you can volunteer as flexibly as possible. Our prioritised volunteering roles and training opportunities are promoted below. If we can help you find a role or learning opportunity that’s right for you, please let us know. You’re always welcome to come and share your stories at our regular volunteer catch-ups.

 

Stay tuned for more Volunteers Week 2021 news coming your way soon! 

Until we can give you a real one… a big virtual hug to you all!

Tom Watkins

Volunteering Development Manager
Communities 1st

 

 

VOLUNTEERING NEWS

New Opportunities for Existing Communities 1st Volunteers

To update your interest in any of the latest volunteering opportunities we have available, please follow this link. Click through to the page titled: ‘Update what you would be willing to do’. This will take you to a list of opportunities. Select any opportunities that you are interested in. Please note that this list will be pre-populated with the opportunities you have previously registered an interest in, so if you are still interested please don’t de-select these. Select Submit when you are finished to save your selection.

 

Volunteer Management Awards - We Want Your Nominations! 

Volunteers’ Week is just round the corner, so it’s nearly time for this year’s Hertfordshire Valuing Volunteer Management awards. These awards are unique because the nominations are made solely by volunteers. If you volunteer for an organisation (other than Communities 1st) that really values their volunteers and deserves to be nominated for an award – nominate them now!

  • Wednesday 2nd June - 1pm-3pm.

Nominate your organisation through this online form, and show them how much you value their support!

 

Trustee Speed Matching 

Our Trustee Speed Matching sessions enable you to ‘virtually’ meet incredible local organisations who are recruiting volunteer trustees. The organisations will give short presentations, and then volunteers will be asked to deliver short pitches themselves. Presentations are limited to three minutes and may be accompanied with slides, graphics and/or a video presentation. We suggest you include who you are, the reason you want to volunteer, and a bit about your experience and the value you could bring to an organisation. There will also be a chance for some networking. After the event we will arrange follow-up meetings and interviews where appropriate. The next online Speed Matching event will be jointly hosted by Volunteering Herts, (Communities 1st, Community Action Dacorum, Welwyn Hatfield CVS and Broxbourne & East Herts Volunteer Centre). 

 

The Hertfordshire Special Constabulary

If you are looking for fulfilling voluntary work, the Hertfordshire Special Constabulary could be right for you. Successful applicants will be able to build new skills and strengths as they give back to the community.

For many years, Hertfordshire Specials have been deployed in frontline policing teams, including:

  • Response
  • Safer Neighbourhood Teams
  • Road Policing Unit
  • Operational Support Unit 
  • Warrants and Bail

For more information, including how to apply, visit www.hertspolicespecials.co.uk or email volunteer@communities1st.org.uk

 

COVID Information Champions
Communities 1st, with Community Help Hertfordshire and partner organisations, are leading the COVID Information Champion project. This project utilises local community networks to spread accurate and up-to-date information about COVID-19 and vaccinations, from Public Health England.

Anyone can be a COVID Information Champion. All you have to do is reach out to your community and share information that’s passed down from Public Health Hertfordshire. The information is presented in easy to understand, bite size chunks, to ensure it is accessible to everyone in the community. It can be shared through social media, emails, text messages and online messaging apps, or printed out and used as posters.

If you would like to become a COVID Information Champion, you can email Christine at CIChampion@communities1st.org.uk or phone 020 8940 4869.
To learn more about the project, visit the Community Help Herts website.

 

May Volunteer's Quiz!
This fun, friendly event is open to everyone. Come along by yourself or with a team. For more information contact c.horton@whcvs.org.uk.

  • Wednesday May 26 - 1:00 - 2:00pm

 

 

VIRTUAL VOLUNTEER MEETUPS

Virtual Volunteer Meetings

It has been so wonderful getting to know some of you at our weekly virtual volunteers’ socials. We have a number of drop-in sessions taking place each week. These meetings are a great place for you to share ideas and positive stories, and an opportunity for us to show you what an important part of our team you are.

Volunteer Centre Virtual Lunch 

This is an online event for volunteers interested in the opportunities below or those we offer through other local charities.     

 

Vaccination Centre Volunteer Afternoon Tea 

This get together is for volunteers who are helping in vaccination centres, to help them get to know each other and our organisation a little better.

Compassionate Community Connectors Virtual Coffee Morning 

This event is for volunteers who provide community support (e.g. shopping deliveries, telephone befriending, digital champions) to meet, swap stories and get to know us. 

You can register for future sessions through our online events calendar.

 

 

TRAINING

Mental Health First Aid – An Introduction

It’s mental health awareness week! This article includes a couple of thought-provoking exercises to encourage people to think and talk about their mental health. Our introductory mental health course will enable you to develop your knowledge of mental health first aid and apply this in daily life, either in your place of work or as a volunteer. This course aims to allow you to feel more confident in identifying and supporting individuals who may be experiencing mental health distress or difficulties. This course will help you learn simple, practical skills you can use to recognise warning signs, help prevent mental distress from developing into a more serious issue, and promote mental health recovery.

 

Boost your CV and Interview Skills Training Session

This fast-paced webinar presented by Donna Obstfeld of DOHR will explore the modern job search process. From updating your online profile and building the perfect CV, to preparing for an interview, researching your potential employer and presenting the best version of yourself, this webinar will prepare you for the recruitment processes. Donna has over 25 years of recruiting and interviewing experience.

 

An Introduction to Trusteeship
Ahead of our next Trustee Speed Matching Session, we have arranged an information session with NCVO governance consultant and trustee Sue Pearlman.

Sue will share her insights into trusteeship, good governance of charities and community organisations, and what may be expected from trustees in various positions on a board. She will be on hand to answer any questions you may have about the wonderful world of trusteeship.

 

Dementia Friends Information Sessions
Can you help us reach our target of 1,000 new dementia friends in 2021 and help us make our communities more dementia aware? We’re hosting virtual information sessions on dementia, the first of which is next week. 

A large number of the people we are supporting through the Compassionate Community Connector project and at Vaccination Centres are living with some form of cognitive impairment. This session will give you the opportunity to learn more about what it is like to live with dementia and turn that understanding into action.

 

Deaf Awareness & British Sign Language – More Learning Opportunities
Last week was Deaf Awareness week. At Communities 1st we are passionate about making life more inclusive for people with hearing difficulties. Recently we ran some brief but informative virtual workshops to help you learn effective ways to communicate with deaf people and understand some of the barriers faced by people experiencing hearing loss. We’ve had great feedback from these sessions and our fantastic trainer has offered to deliver some more advanced virtual sessions from September onwards. If you are interested in attending one of these sessions please let us know by emailing volunteer@communities1st.org.uk.

 

Food and Nutrition – Your Immune System and Gut Health

Do we really need to buy dietary supplements? In this session, we will be looking at the function of our Gut and Immune system, what affects them and how we can encourage them to work better.

 

IV Awareness Training - Terence Higgins Trust
The Terrence Higgins Trust offer training sessions that will equip you with the knowledge and skills to support people living with or at risk of HIV. The sessions address:

  • The difference between HIV and AIDS
  • Routes of transmission and how to reduce risk through prevention strategies.
  • How to test for and prevent HIV
  • How stigma and discrimination affects people living with HIV
  • Ways to support people living with HIV
  • This fully interactive virtual session will take place:

Thursday 17th June - 2:00pm - 4:30pm

Register here.

 

Spot the Signs Save a Life – Suicide Prevention Training
This training will equip you with practical steps you can take to prevent suicide and teach you where you can signpost to for mental health services available in Hertfordshire.

The three hour training session will:

  • Increase your awareness and knowledge about suicide
  • Share information about which groups of people are most at risk and why
  • Make you feel more confident to spot the signs of someone who may be feeling suicidal
  • Introduce practical steps about what actions you may take if you notice someone is distressed

Wednesday 26th May – 10:00am - 1:00pm - Register here.

Tuesday 22nd June – 4:00pm – 7:00pm - Register here.

 

Living with COVID: Support available to Hertfordshire residents

As the country moves out of lockdown, we know vaccines will not eradicate the virus. Therefore we will all need to learn to ‘live with COVID’ whilst we strive to keep cases as low as possible. The Hertfordshire Community Reassurance Cell (CRC) would like to invite you to a webinar outlining the support available to Hertfordshire residents as we move into this new phase of recovery. 

 

Making Every Contact Count Training – MECC
Making every contact count is an approach to behaviour change that aims to make use of the millions of day to day interactions that organisations and individuals have with each other, in order to encourage changes in behaviour that have a positive effect on people’s health and wellbeing.
Making changes such as stopping smoking, improving diet, increasing physical activity, losing weight and reducing alcohol consumption can help people to reduce their risk of poor health significantly.

Many of you who are volunteering with us, especially at vaccination centres and as part of our community response effort, are well placed to have some of these conversations. There is massive value in encouraging volunteers to become MECC trained in order to support public health messaging within our community to help people build healthier lifestyles.

We will be running some MECC courses very soon but in the meantime why not give the approach a go for yourself? You can discover how it works using this virtual role-playing online tool.

There is also a free introductory course available through the NHS workforce training platform. If you register on the website you will be provided with evidence of learning. We recommend you do this as we’d love to add this training to your volunteering records. Please email course completion certificates to volunteer@communities1st.org.uk.

 

 

 

VOLUNTEERING ROLES

Please email volunteer@communities1st.org.uk for more information or to express an interest in any of the live roles listed below.

 

SHORT TERM ROLES AND MICRO-VOLUNTEERING

Heavy Lifting Volunteer – The Living Room St Albans
The Living Room, a Hertfordshire based charity that aims to free people from addiction, are looking for a couple of volunteers to help get their St Albans centre back up and running. They need volunteers who can help with some heavy lifting; this will be less than a days’ work. If you are feeling strong and ready to help, please email volunteer@communities1st.org.uk

 

Painting and Decorating Volunteer – The Living Room St Albans
The Living Room are also looking for a couple of volunteers who can help paint and decorate their group counselling room after a year of being closed. This will be roughly 2 days’ work and all equipment will be provided. You don’t need to be a professional, but some experience in interior painting would help. If you'd like to know more, please email volunteer@communities1st.org.uk

 

Dog Walker – Communities 1st
Could you help walk two strong husky dogs on a regular basis? One of our clients in St Albans has two large dogs who require daily walks, so we are looking for several volunteers to help share the load. Experience walking or owning large dogs is desirable. If you can help with this role, please get in touch.

 

Art Therapist – Urgently Needed
A Hertfordshire based organisation urgently needs someone with experience in art therapy who can volunteer some time to work with a young child. Please get in touch if you think you can help. A DBS check is desired but not essential, as we can assist you with this. The organisation will require two independent references, unless you are already a registered Communities 1st Volunteer.

 

Accounts Examination Support – Potential Kids
Potential Kids is a small, award-winning charity based in Welwyn/Hatfield that provides learning, social and sports opportunities to Neurodiverse children and young people. They are looking for an independent accountant, willing to volunteer to verify their account tax for 2019/20. The whole of their year’s accounts are on zero; it can be spot checked or looked at in totality. The balance sheet and P&L have also been done. The accounts are due by the end of May to companies house and with the charities commission end of June. 

 

Graphic Design Volunteer – Open Door St Albans
Open Door, a charity dedicated to ensuring no one sleeps rough in St Albans, are seeking a volunteer with experience in graphic design or communications to create a one off piece of work to support their fundraising activities. If you have relevant experience in using graphic design software, they would like to hear from you. 

 

Exam Invigilator Volunteers – HAFLS
Hertfordshire Adult and Family Learning Service are looking to recruit exam invigilators to help supervise adult learners taking exams throughout the academic year. Full training will be provided and no experience is necessary. You’ll need to be a good communicator and able to maintain confidentiality. You must be over 18 and be flexible, reliable and professional.

 

Digital Champions - Communities 1st 
We are recruiting digital champions to help those who lack skills or resources to gain confidence with technology. This project aims to give members of the community access to technology and train them in basic skills/software packages. In this way the project hopes to reduce the loneliness and isolation caused by the pandemic. Find out more about digital champions here.

 

Welfare Check / Survey Callers
Do you enjoy talking to others, and can you be sensitive when asking vulnerable people about how they are feeling? We have a small team of volunteers checking in with the people who have been using our services (clients) and asking for feedback on our service, to see if our services have improved their wellbeing during this difficult time. Our volunteers are asking a series of questions provided by the Office of National Statistics. This is a flexible position that can be done at home. Please get in touch if this sounds like something you can do.

 

 

LONGER-TERM VOLUNTEERING ROLES

Gardener Volunteers – Blessed Earth
Do you enjoy being outside and have an interest in gardening? How would you like to learn how to take care of plants and trees, and how to properly prune and maintain them? Blessed Earth organises self-funded community projects for charities and vulnerable adults. They are looking for volunteers to support their work at these events. No experience is necessary but you should be willing to learn. This is a flexible, sociable role with a really positive impact, base in St Albans.

 

Odd Jobs Assistants – Communities 1st
Do you have the DIY skills and the time to help people who are struggling to maintain their property? From fitting a lightbulb to some light painting and decorating, from fixing a lock to setting up a new television, we need positive volunteers with skills and patience to help with our handyperson service. Volunteers need to be willing to travel across Hertsmere, St Albans and Welwyn Hatfield. If this sounds like you, get in touch.

 

Litter Picker Volunteers – Communities 1st
If you're passionate about keeping our public spaces clean, have a role for you! We are looking for volunteers who are ready to help with litter picking. This is a flexible role with scope for working in a friendly team of volunteers. Equipment will be supplied to you. Litter picks (sorties) are currently being arranged in St Albans, but the programme may expand to other areas. Shifts will soon be available using our scheduling calendar in this area. Please get in touch if you or someone you know would be interested.

 

Foodbank Volunteers – Red Trust Bushey
Red Trust Bushey is a charity supporting people who may be facing difficult circumstances in the Little Reddings area. They are looking for volunteers to join their Foodbank, which is open on Friday mornings at St James’s Church House in Bushey. The ideal candidate will be understanding, hardworking and a team player. Volunteers are required to help sort food donations and deliver food parcels to clients. There may also be opportunities to help with making drinks and talking with people who attend their drop-in. You would be required for 2-3hrs on a Friday morning but this can be discussed during the application process. 

 

Gardening Club Facilitator – Red Trust Bushey
Red Trust Bushey are looking for a volunteer gardener club facilitator to lead activities in their new gardening club at the Finch Lane allotments in Bushey. Ideally, you should enjoy working with people, have good experience with planting/maintaining gardens, and have an interest in supporting others to learn gardening skills. They are looking for 2-3hours per week but this can be negotiated.

 

Duty Officers & Drivers – Bushey and Oxhey Care
Bushey and Oxhey CARE was set up over 50 years ago to help elderly/housebound people in Bushey and Oxhey with transport. The pandemic has hit this organisation hard and to continue offering this valued service they desperately need more volunteer Drivers and Duty Officers. As little as one day per month as a duty officer and driver can make a difference. Duty officers receive incoming calls from clients and coordinate trips with volunteer drivers. Drivers use their own vehicles and will need a clean license. All volunteers will be subject to a DBS check; this can be arranged for you. Reasonable expenses can be claimed for both roles.

 

Arts and Crafts Volunteers – H’Arts in Mind
If you have artistic skills/talents you would like to share, are good at working in a team, and would like to help people in your community, H’arts in Mind need you! They are looking for volunteers to contribute to their Community Arts and Crafts markets, coming soon in Hatfield. Expenses will be paid (travel, lunch, coffees). H’arts in Mind want to bring Art to the community, to offer demonstrations, get the community involved, encouraging people to learn new skills. To find out more visit the H'Arts in Mind website.

 

Gardening Volunteers – Communities 1st
We need volunteers to help people tidy their gardens. If you’re willing to mow a few lawns and pull a few weeds, to allow an isolated person to enjoy their garden, please get in touch with us. Anyone offering their time will be recorded on our system so they can be offered gardening work when it comes up. Social distancing measures will be strictly adhered to in this role.

 

IT Volunteers – Hertsmere Mencap
Hertsmere Mencap supports 250 children and adults with a learning disability along with their families and carers. They have launched a Digital Inclusion Programme to train their members in vital online skills, and are looking for new volunteers to expand their team of excellent trainers to run weekly coaching sessions in Borehamwood. Mencap members have found this project has given them a lifeline during the recent isolation of lockdown. You should know how to browse the internet, shop online, play games and use Zoom. You will need patience and to be confident communicating with people - a sense of humour will help too! Meetings are arranged at a time to suit you and the member. This role will be subject to an enhanced DBS check. 

 

Minibus Drivers – Hertsmere Mencap
Hertsmere Mencap supports over 200 learning disabled members and their families and carers. They have a minibus that is mainly used to take members to and from social clubs in Borehamwood, St Albans and Hatfield. You will join a rota of volunteer drivers, so you will only be asked to drive once every few weeks. Applicants will need a clean driving licence and several years’ driving experience, preferably in a minibus. If your licence was issued before 1997, it should allow you to drive D1 vehicles (up to 16-seater minibus as per our one). If issued in 1997 or later, you will need to take a driving test to cover you to drive a D1 vehicle. A DBS check will be required. 

 

Volunteer DJs – No Barriers Radio
Do you love a good disco? Do you enjoy playing a great mix of tracks that will really get people in the mood for dancing? If yes, No Barriers Radio would love to hear from you! They are a radio station aimed at individuals with some form of disability/learning difficulties, who are looking for friendly and enthusiastic volunteer DJ. You’ll need to be approachable and friendly, with good time management skills, honesty and integrity and a willingness to learn.

 

Fundraising Volunteers – No Barriers Radio
No Barriers Radio are interested in helping others to break down barriers for people with learning disabilities. They need help to research sponsorship events and draft an activity plan that  makes the best use of volunteers’ time and capabilities. Previous experience is not essential, good communication skills would be a bonus. The ability to write letters, a good telephone manner and the confidence to interact with people at events would be great. Most of all they are looking for people with an interest in helping others to overcome physical and psychological adversity.

 

Technicians – No Barriers Radio
No Barriers Radio are looking for technicians who are keen to gain experience and build a professional portfolio of work for potential employers. You could be ‘between’ jobs right now or perhaps recently retired. Would you like to support a worthy cause? You’ll need to be able to act on your own initiative and have an interest in producing great sound. Applicants must be motivated and be able to work with people who have learning disability.

 

Gardening Volunteers – The Abbey Line
We are looking for volunteers to help with gardening projects along the Abbey Line in 2021. The Abbey Line Community Rail Partnership is aiming to bring some greenery and colour to the platforms along the Abbey Line. Volunteering shifts can be arranged around existing commitments and we welcome ideas and input into the projects, so there’s scope to be creative. To find out more and sign up, please contact Rob at volunteering@communities1st.org.uk.

 

Call Handlers – Family Lives
Family Lives operate a free confidential helpline for anyone experiencing difficulties in their family or relationship. Their volunteers take calls from parents and carers on separation and divorce, isolation, depression, bullying and abuse, dealing with behavioural problems, etc. You can find out more about their services on their website. Once trained volunteers commit to weekly 4-hour shift comprising 3 hours ‘online’ and a debrief session with your supervisor. They ask that volunteers have experience of parenting or working with children/young people, and are good listeners with a willingness to learn. You will need a PC/laptop, headset and good Wifi.

 

Chair of Trustees – Herts Viewpoint
Viewpoint provides an independent, recovery focussed, united voice for individuals living with mental health and/or addictions challenges to share their experiences of accessing support services to help shape future provision. They believe everyone has the right to be listened to and to have a voice. They are seeking a new chair of trustees to provide leadership and direction to their board. This is a long term commitment; by volunteering in this role you will have the chance to make a very real impact whilst contributing to a fantastic organisation.

 

Compassionate Neighbours – Peace Hospice Care
Do you like a chat over a cuppa? You can make a difference to someone lonely or at risk of isolation, simply by sharing your time and companionship. Compassionate Neighbours is a movement of local people providing social and emotional support to people in their communities who are coming towards the end of life due to age or illness. The group also share their knowledge and experiences of death, dying and loss within their community and encourage engagement with these issues. Compassionate Neighbours help others by: visiting regularly, offering friendship, emotional support and a listening ear, helping people to do the things they enjoy, and helping people stay connected to their community, family and friends.

 

Trustees – Green Connections CIC
Green Connections CIC is a small local social enterprise that design original online workshops and activity packs using nature, heritage and the arts, to help people feel more connected to each other and to the outdoor world. Their work addresses issues like loneliness and social isolation, improving health and wellbeing for everyone involved with their programmes. They are looking to recruit a Treasurer and General Secretary volunteer. You will assist them with financial management and administration, helping to safeguard Green Connections' future development. 

 

Volunteer Drivers (using own vehicle) – St Albans Good Neighbour Scheme

St Albans Good Neighbour Scheme volunteers help with lifts to medical appointments, shopping, collecting prescriptions, some practical help (gardening, etc) and befriending.  Their clients are elderly, unwell, lonely, disabled or facing a crisis and don’t have anyone else to turn to.  The role is flexible, the only requirements are that you have a driving licence, access to a car, and get along with people. The charity will pay mileage costs. Volunteers can indicate their usual availability and are free to accept and refuse any transport requests at any time, it is fully flexible. Apply via their website as a ‘Transport volunteer’ and they will help you complete a DBS check. 

 

Volunteer Helpline Responders – St Albans Good Neighbour Scheme
This role is flexible, you just need to use your landline or mobile, usually for one day per month, to receive a request from clients and find suitable transport volunteers. Full training on Optimise will be given. The charity's phone line is open from 9 – 1 every day of the year, with any extra cost of calls arising covered by the Scheme. Apply via the website as a ‘Duty Officer’ volunteer.

 

Volunteer Drivers – Communities 1st
We’re always in need of people willing to help us deliver our transport service. Our new scheme supports the NHS locally to fulfil GP and vaccination appointments, as well as hospital visits. If you're willing to drive a larger vehicle, we also run a much-needed shopper bus service. Expenses can be claimed at 45p/mile should you wish to do so. Note, you may be required to travel further afield than your immediate local area.

 

Group Support Volunteer – Live Well Borehamwood
Live Well is a small community group for over 50s based in Borehamwood which supports older people from the local and surrounding area. They are a close, friendly group who enjoy participating in social activities and laughing a lot together. They are looking for an enthusiastic, positive and reliable volunteer to support their work. You’ll be working with the group secretary to support the committee at Tuesday afternoons sessions and/or helping out during the week with routine admin tasks and errands. Mileage will be reimbursed and training opportunities are available

 

Workshop Lead Volunteer – Emmaus Hertfordshire
Emmaus regard itself as a homelessness charity with a difference. They don't just offer people a bed for the night, they offer a home for as long as someone needs it and meaningful work in one of their social enterprises. 40 formerly homeless people live at the Emmaus community in Hill End, St Albans. They have a workshop where they carry out minor repairs, renovations and repurpose donated items that may need work before being sold in one of their five shops or via social media, eBay etc. They need people with new skills to help make it a success. If you have a creative flair or a knack for seeing the potential in items received as donations –  they would love to hear from you! Mon-Fri works best for this activity. You would not be expected to do a full 5-day week, but a regular day/s is essential.

 

Volunteer drivers (using organisation’s vehicles) – Barbara Bus Fund Stanmore
The Barbara Bus Fund provides a wheelchair accessible community transport service for wheelchair users who are unable to transfer and travel in a standard car seat, and relies on volunteer drivers to assist their passengers. The role is flexible and based from the RNOH at Stanmore. If you would like to make a massive difference to someone’s life, enabling them to ‘get out and about’ again they'd like to hear from you. The only requirements are that you like driving, like people, are aged over 25 years and have no more than 6 penalty points. You will need to complete a DBS check.

 

Keeping in Touch Volunteers – Carers in Hertfordshire
Carers in Herts need to recruit additional Keep in Touch Volunteers to help them reach out to unpaid family carers. Carers in Hertfordshire is a charity supporting family carers caring for elderly, disabled, physically or mental ill people, as well as those misusing drugs or alcohol. Coronavirus has impacted on people’s ability to access their usual support network. The charity is calling carers to ensure they are supported during this difficult time. You will be based at home to make the calls. Most calls are made between 9.30 and 4.30 Monday to Friday during office hours, however the charity will be developing an out of hours service over the coming weeks.

 

Virtual Note Taker Volunteers – Carers in Hertfordshire
Carers in Hertfordshire aims to provide unpaid family and friend carers with a platform to speak up and make their voices heard, and to use their experiences to help to improve the services that are available to them and those they care for. The forums cover a variety of topic areas including: Aspergers and Autism, Dementia, Drugs and Alcohol, Learning Disabilities and Mental Health. They are looking for volunteers who want to gain experience in taking notes, for their Forums and Meetings. The Forums take place on Zoom on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays throughout the year. You will need to be able to edit a word document.

 

 

CCC ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT ROLES - COMMUNITIES 1ST

To coordinate the ongoing Compassionate Community Connector COVID-19 response effort, there are a number of key areas that require more volunteer assistance:

 

Shopping Support Brokers
We expect our shopping help service to get busier again very soon. There will be more requests for essential shopping help from vulnerable people isolating at home. Our busy team of shopping brokers liaise with clients to ask whether they need any shopping or prescriptions collected, and then arrange for or ‘broker’ volunteer shoppers in the same area to do the shop.

If you have some time during the day that you could offer to help arrange shops for those in need, we offer training on our CRM system so that you can work from home. Do you have half a day or more you could give to help with this vital service? If you are reliable, organised and friendly, please get in touch to find out more.

 

Case Study Callers/Writers
There are so many ‘good news’ stories that have been taking place within our CCC scheme. We would like to capture as many of these as possible, to produce case studies that will illustrate the enormous benefits of these volunteer/client relationships. If you have a background in writing or interviewing, we would love to hear from you about why you are suited to this role. This is a remote role and the work can be done in your own time. You would be expected to contact both the client and the volunteer to take down their stories.

Email volunteer@communities1st.org.uk for more information or to put your name forward for any of these roles. 

 

VOLUNTEERING DASHBOARD
If you’re an active community response or vaccination centre volunteer and haven’t set up your dashboard yet, please do. It helps us keep our volunteering programme running efficiently and give you more control over your activities.

 

Scheduling Vaccination/Testing Centre Shifts
For those of you signed up to support a COVID Vaccination or Testing centre, our Dashboard system allows volunteers to book their own shifts. This system will only be visible to you once you have completed the full recruitment process, signed your volunteering agreement and finished the required training modules. Please note that only your closest vaccination and testing centres will be visible to you for booking. Our scheduling team will still be in touch if we have shift vacancies or cancellations.

 

Telephone Befriending Volunteers
We ask those of you that haven't logged all of the telephone activities you have done on the dashboard to please do so. It need not be a long report, we just need to know for sure that your calls have been taking place. It’s so important that we keep track of what is happening and who is receiving the support they have requested from us.
 
If you can no longer commit to calling your matched client, please let us know by emailing volunteering@communities1st.org.uk. Equally, if you have more capacity and would like to call another person please let us know too. Loneliness and isolation are felt more acutely at this time of year and we are seeing a rise in demand. More offers of support are always welcome.

 

Contacting us through the Dashboard
The dashboard is able to send messages to our staff team about your volunteering activities. We want to reiterate that this is intended to be for general feedback, and is monitored regularly throughout the week. Due to the high volume of correspondence we receive this cannot always be acknowledged but it is always received.
 
PLEASE DO NOT REPORT ANY SAFEGUARDING CONCERNS THROUGH THIS CONTACT METHOD.

If you have a low level concern about someone you are supporting, please contact our duty team via email volunteering@communities1st.org.uk.
For moderate to high level concerns we ask contact us directly by telephone on 020 8386 4006.

In an emergency, where someone is in immediate danger you should always call 999 and then inform us by telephone when help is on the way.
The Volunteering Dashboard is regularly updated to make it easier and more rewarding to use. We’d really value your feedback on how you’re finding it. Remember that if you’re having difficulties, our Digital Champion volunteers should be able to help you. Let us know if you need their support.

As always, our thanks goes out to those of you who are already using it. Please continue to do so!