Volunteering is good for us! It can provide fantastic opportunities to improve both our mental and physical health. We've heard first-hand from many of you that giving your time during this difficult period had a positive effect on your mental health. When you give your time meaningfully you can counteract stress, anger, and anxiety.
As our community begins to open up again this has never been more important. We'd love to hear more about how volunteering has positively impacted your lives! If you'd like to share any good news stories from the past year, even if you're not currently able to volunteer, please email communitystories@communities1st.org.uk.
We're generating more short term, flexible and micro-volunteering opportunities so that everyone can get involved in helping their community. The school holidays will soon be here, bringing the opportunity for young people to start volunteering!
We aim to enable you to volunteer as flexibly as possible. Our priorities volunteering roles and training opportunities are promoted below. Please speak to us if you are looking for a role or learning opportunity that's right for you.
For all that you do and all that you are, thank you!
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.
VOLUNTEERS VIRTUAL GET TOGETHER - LET'S DO LUNCH
A warm welcome is guaranteed to our weekly drop-in social sessions for volunteers which take place every Thursday lunchtime. It's a great chance for you to meet other volunteers and members of our staff team at Communities 1st. They are a place for you to share ideas and positive stories. We want to show you what an important part of our team you are and give you the chance to get to know Communities 1st as an organisation too. See you then!
Thursday 24th June - 12:30pm - 1:30pm
You can register for future sessions through our online events calendar.
TRAINING
Body Positivity & Preventing Eating Disorder Webinar
Young people have become more worried about their appearance since COVID-19 and have also rated their sense of wellbeing more negatively. Worryingly referrals for eating disorders have also increased significantly since COVID-19
This free webinar delivered by Hertfordshire County Council's Public Health Team and the Eating Disorder Service at Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is a must, for anyone hoping to work with children and young people. It will provide the data, as well as practical guidance on promoting body positivity, responding to early signs of eating disordered behaviours and how to access further support.
Monday 28 June - 4pm - 5:30pm
Food and Nutrition - Nutrition and Hydration
Nutrition and Hydreation is an essential part of our health and well-being. As warm weather is fast approaching, hydrating the body will increasingly play an important role in our lives and those we love and support. This short but very informative session aims to highlight the importance of good hydration and simple techniques to help you stay well hydrated
Monday 12 July - 11am – 12:30pm
Dementia Friends Informative Sessions
Can you help us reach our target of 1,000 new dementia friends in 2021 and make us and our communities more dementia aware? We're hosting a virtual information session 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 allow you to learn more about what it is like to live with dementia and turn that understanding into action.
Saturday 10 July - 11am - 12pm
Mental Health First Aid - An Introduction
We all have a state of mental health, just as we all have a state of physical health. How were feel can vary greatly from good mental wellbeing through difficult feelings and emotions, to more severe mental health problems. This introductory course will enable you to discover the skills you have by developing your knowledge and application of mental health first aid in daily life and your place of work either as a volunteer or employee. Every organisation can be affected by mental distress and ill health in the workforce if not handled correctly.
This course aims to allow you to feel more confident to identify and support individuals who may be experiencing mental health distress or difficulties.
This course will share some basic practical skill you can use to help prevent mental distress from developing into a more serious issue, It will also show you how you can promote the good recovery of mental health. You can provide comfort to a person experiencing mental distress. You can recognise the warning signs and respond effectively to minimise risk.
Wednesday 21 July 11.00 am-1.00 pm
Thursday 12 August 10.00am-1.00pm
End of Life - Death, Dying & Loss ~Awareness Training - Peace Hospice Care
We'll be organising another of these incredible introductory training courses offered by the Compassionate Communities Coordinator at Peace Hospice Care towards the end of the summer, It is designed to give you are foundational knowledge of how to have conversations around death, dying and loss within your local community
We hope that by the end of the training you will:
- Feel more confidence in supporting someone who is facing death, dying, or loss
- Have a better understanding of the needs of people with palliative conditions
- Recognise the role of a hospice.
- Be able to reflect on your own beliefs, fears and wishes around death, dying and loss.
- Be armed with self-care tools to help build your resilience and overall wellbeing.
Monday 2 August - 2pm, - 4pm
The Saracens Foundation - Opportunites for Young People with Special Educational Needs - Level 1 leadership in sport and physical activity
An exciting opportunity for SEN individuals to gain a fully funded qualification first 4 sport Level 1 leadership in sport and physical activity. The course requires 30 hours of learning, delivered in blended learning (Online and face to face). Full support is given for participants with learning difficulties and may take a little bit longer to complete.
- Register your interest here.
HIV Awareness Training - Terence Higgins Trust
Terrence Higgins Trust is the UK's largest Sexual Health and HIV charity. They offer training sessions that will give you the knowledge and skills to support people living with HIV and those most at risk of acquiring HIV
The sessions:
- Explain the difference between HIV and AIDS
- Identify routes of transmission and how to reduce risk through prevention strategies
- How to test for and prevent HIV
- Identify ways to support people living with HIV
THT will be delivering a fully interactive virtual session especially for Communities 1st volunteers in the Autumn, so let us know if you'd like to take part.
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, to encourage changes in behaviour that have and well-being. 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 is well placed to have some of these conversations. There is massive value in encouraging volunteers to become MCC trained 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 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 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.
SHORT TERM ROLES & MICRO VOLUNTEERING
Please email volunteer@communities1st.org.uk for more information or to express an interest in any of the live roles listed below.
Fundraising at The Legends Festival - Marie Curie
Marie Curie need volunteers o help at The Legends, one of Europe's largest touring music festivals. Volunteers get free entry for themselves and two free tickets for family and friends, Bring a picnic, chairs and blankets and have a fabulous time dancing away whilst collecting much-needed funds for Marie Curie. The event takes place at Hertfordshire County Showground, St Albans 31st July - 1st August.
Dogwalker Urgently Needed (AL8 area) WHCVS)
Lady, a female dog in Welwyn Garden City needs walking twice a week whilst the owner Alan is on holiday until 8th July. All enquiries should be sent to Carmen Dillion from WHCVS at c.dillon@whcvs.org.uk.
Seasonal Groundwork/Gardening - Growing Roots
Do you have a few hours spare every week on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday to prepare the ground, sow seeds, plant out and pot up plans ready for this year's growing season at Growing Roots' St Alban's bases plot? Help will also be needed to move a compost heap that is encroaching on the neighbouring plot. A hands-on approach will be needed to assist with the management of the Growing Roots Plot regularly. All tools and equipment will be provided on-site.
Fundraising & Bid Writing Support - Herts Asian Women's Association (HAWA)
HAWA has been doing outstanding work throughout the pandemic supporting their members with shopping/prescription delivery, telephone befriending, and having delivering food from food banks, etc. They have also been advocating on behalf of members who are struggling with issues such as paying Council Tax online, IT issues, housing, debt and unemployment. Many of their members do not have English as a first language. They are in urgent need of financial assistance and are seeking someone willing to help them write funding applications.
Java Script & Google Apps Specialist - St Albans Good Neighbour Scheme
Are you a computer coding whizz? A short term assignment is available for experienced Google Workspace users and developer who can help SAGNS with the implementation of a new secure intranet workspace. This could be a very short term project only lasting a couple of days as you help to fix bugs in the code and configure the Workspace. The interested volunteers may be able to support and maintain this new digital infrastructure on an ongoing basis. Tasks would involve supporting SAGNS volunteers, updating their websites (a public website and an intranet website), and generally keeping an eye on operations.
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 Neurodiveres 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 accountants are due by the end of May to companies house and with the charities commission end of June.
Crafting Workshops Volunteers - Urgently Needed
Caring volunteers with crafting skills are required to teach workshops with a group of women in Welwyn Hatfield. Workshops would take place in person and be expected to last a couple of hours at a time. Any materials that are needed can be provided. If you are a confident crafter in fun hobby-related activities and want to share these talents with others -jewellery making toiletries, baking, beauty, art, crochet, knitting, needlework sewing, gardening, wreath making, candles, health and well-being, etc please get in touch
Sports & Activity Volunteering Roles
Sports clubs and physical activity programmes across the county are opening up, with increasing opportunities for you to get involved. Below is a list of opportunities available right now that will enable you to stay active and support a local sports club.
To express an interest please email Jeremy at volunteer@communities1st.org.uk
- Abbey Flyers Nomads – Netball Club
Volunteer coaches - Fencing Hertfordshire
Promotions and advertising, session support, events organisers, fundraisers - St Albans City Youth FC
Minibus drivers & assistant coaching volunteers - Colney Heath Ladies FC
Social media/press assistance & fundraising support - St Albans Bowling Club
Refreshments volunteers for match days - Special Olympics St Albans
Support volunteers for athletes with learning disabilities - Old Albanian Cricket Club
Volunteer scorers & umpires, a safeguarding lead, membership administrative support - St Albans Cricket Club
Under 11s assistant coach, occasional bar work - Oxhey Jets FC
Groundskeeping and general maintenance - Abbotts Langley Cricket Club
Social media and website admin, membership secretary, junior cricket coaches, junior cricket umpire, assistant groundskeeper - Bushey Cricket Club
Groundskeeper, umpires & scorers - Rickmansworth and Watford Sea Cadets
Administration and general assistant - North Watford Bowls Club
Grounds and lawn maintenance, participate in friendly bowls matches - LGDA Football Club
Youth football coaches for female teams - Watford Netball League & Kath Worrell Junior League
League & fixtures secretaries - Watford Amateur Boxing Club
Coaching assistants for young boxers - Para Dance UK
Trustees - West Herts Warriors Basketball
Coaches
British Cycling - Volunteer Ride Leaders in Herts
British Cycling is on a mission to transform Britain into a great cycling nation. They need your help to do it. They need volunteers who are enthusiastic about leading entry-level or family-friendly bike rides. Benefits include FREE ride Leader training, Free Ride Leader kit and access to a supportive network. head to their website to find out more about their programmes.
Dog Walker
Could you help walk two strong husky dogs regularly? One of our clients on St Albans has two large dogs who require daily walks, so were 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 contact Carmen c.dillon@whcvs.org.uk.
LONGER-TERM VOLUNTEERING ROLES
Support Volunteers - home Start Watford and Three Rivers
Home-Start is a voluntary organisation where volunteers offer regular support, friendship and practical help to young families under stress in their own homes. Volunteers who are parents or have parenting experience understand that sometimes family life can be tough and that is why their support can be so valuable in helping another family. Could you help build the confidence and independence of a young family by offering support, friendship, and practical help committing to a minimum of 2-3 hours per week? Full support, induction and ongoing training and development opportunities are given.
Gardener Voluiters - 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 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, based in St Albans
Odd Jobs Assistant - 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.
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 2-3 hours on a Friday morning but this can be discussed during the application process.
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 confidence would be great. Most of all they are looking for people with an interest in helping others to overcome physical and psychological adversity.
Litter Picker Volunteers - Communities 1st
If you're passionate about keeping our public spaces clean, have a role for you! #qw are looking for volunteers who are ready to help with litter picking. This is a flexible role with a 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.
Arts and Crafts Volunteers - H'Arts in Mind
If you have artistic skills/talents you would,d like to share, are good at working in a team, and would like to help people in your community, Herts 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, offer demonstrations, get the community involved, encouraging people to learn new skills. To find out more visit the H'Arts in Mind website.
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, have an interest in supporting others to learn gardening skills. They are looking for 2-3 hours per week but this can be negotiated.
Volunteer DJs - No Barriers Radion
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 Radion 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 a friendly and enthusiastic volunteer DJ. You'll need to be approachable and friendly, with good time management skills, honestly and integrity and a willingness to learn.
Gardening Volunteers - Communities 1st
We need volunteers to help people tidy their gardens. If you're willing to mow a few lawns a 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 that 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 Support 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. You should know how to browse the internet, shop online, play games and use Zoom. You will need patience and confident communication skills - 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.
Call Handlers - Family Lives
Family Lives operates 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 fund out more about their services on their website. Once trained, volunteers commit to a weekly 4-hour shift compromising 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.
Technicians - No Barriers Radio
No Barriers Radion are looking for technicians who keep gaining 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.
Volunteer Helpline Responders - St Albans Good Neighbour Scheme
This role is flexible, and you would just need to use your landline or mobile, usually, one day per month, to receive requests from clients and finds suitable transport volunteers. Full training on Optimise (the system used to match requests with volunteers) will be given. Their Phone line is open from 9-1 every day of the year, with any extra cost of calls arising covered by the Scheme. If you'd like to offer an invaluable service in keeping their lines open, they'd be delighted to hear from you. There is an easy registration process via the website (www.sagns.org) apply as a 'Duty Officer' Volunteer.
Volunteering Administrator - Hertsmere Mencap
Hertsmere Mencap is an active charity, supporting the membership of 200 children and adults with a learning disability along with their families and carers. Their mission is for people with a learning disability to be valued equally, listened to and included. They are looking for a volunteer to help with general administrative tasks such as processing invoicing and contacting/overseeing references for new volunteer applications. the ideal applicant would have experience in Microsoft Excel and Word. The time commitment would be no more than 8-10 hours per month. Volunteers will receive and l; laptop and necessary training, Do you have good communication, It skills and attention to detail? you'll need an interest in helping people in the community and a willingness to contribute your skills and your time. You will help disadvantaged people to lead more fulfilling lives and will enjoy considerable satisfaction doing so.
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 Neighbour is a movement of local people providing social and emotional support to people in their communities who are coming towards the ends of life due to age or illness, Compassionate Neighbours helped 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 friend.
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 mentally ill people, as well as those misusing drugs or alcohol. Coronavirus has impacted 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.
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 afternoon sessions and/or helping out during the week with routine admin tasks and errands. Mileage will be reimbursed and training opportunities are available.
Trustees - Live Well Borehamwood
Live Well provides support to adults ages 50 plus who live in Borehamwood and surrounding areas. Their main purpose is to support the elderly, lonely, isolated and also those with mental health issues, physical disabilities and carers. They meet every week and typically have a full diary of events, which are decided by their members. Since lockdown, they have continued operating and have adapted to provide practical support to members. As a Trustee, you would support the group as they transition to charity status and also share its future successes. You would work with fellow trustees to shape, drive and monitor Live Well’s strategy by participating in quarterly board meetings.
Workshop Volunteers – Emmaus Hertfordshire
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 before they are sold in one of their five shops or online. They need people with new skills to help make this project a success. If you have a creative flair or 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.
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.
Friendly Talker Volunteers – Redbourn Community Group
Redbourn Community Group is looking for volunteers to make regular, friendly phone calls to people in our community who may be feeling lonely or isolated and would welcome some regular contact. Could you be a friend to someone in the Redbourn community?
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 and 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. They are particularly looking for someone who can set up heavy tables before group sessions on Monday afternoons at 12:30 and also pack them away after sessions at 2:45 pm based at Farriers Way Community Hall in Borehamwood. You would be required to generally help facilitate social sessions but you are also welcome to participate in activities. The applicant would need to be able to lift and manoeuvre tables.
DRIVING ROLES
Please email volunteer@communities1st.org.uk for more information or to express an interest in any of the live roles listed below.
Minibus Drivers – Live Well Borehamwood
Live Well Borehamwood committee and volunteers have worked hard to establish a group for over 50’s which is supportive, fun and promotes independence and mental wellbeing. It is important that their members feel supported and their events have a positive impact on members’ wellbeing. They require a volunteer minibus driver every Monday at 12 noon for approximately 30 - 45 mins and then to return at 3 pm for approximately 30 - 45 mins. You may be required ad-hoc for longer journeys when they go on planned trips. They are looking for a patient and cheery driver to collect members for sessions and also drop them off again afterwards. Applicants need to hold a UK license and be over 25 and under 70 years of age, due to terms of the charity’s driving insurance. Driving a minibus feels like driving a modern car. New drivers will be given a familiarisation session before taking a minibus out.
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.
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 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 on 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.
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.
CCC ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT ROLES - COMMUNITIES 1ST
To coordinate the ongoing Compassionate Community Connector COVID-19 response effort, several key areas 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 can 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 you to 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 go out to those of you who are already using it. Please continue to do so.