Volunteer Centre Newsletter

Welcome to our Volunteer Centre newsletter.

We are grateful for the ongoing support of volunteers, constituting the backbone of our communities. Volunteering for all the fantastic organisations and community groups in the local areas.

We aim to support all volunteers in their activities. If you are looking for new volunteering opportunities, please look for new 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!

Garment repair can be painful and expensive. In our Make Do and Mend course participants will learn simple hand-sewing techniques that will enable them to repair much-loved clothes and make them wearable again.

Register here

Juli Riley 

Head of Volunteer Centre and Skills  

Communities 1st  

Drama Group Volunteer with Mind in Mid Herts          

Mind in Mid Herts is looking for an enthusiastic, friendly and reliable volunteer to support their drama group. This FUN programme using theatre techniques is for those suffering from stress, anxiety, depression and other conditions affecting mental wellbeing. Some of the tasks will include preparing the room for the group, working with the group service users and supporting the facilitator.

Apply here.

Handyperson for Communities1st.        

Communities 1st deliver a Handy Person Service designed to help those 60+ or on benefits, living in Hertsmere and St Albans & District to help with tasks they are unable to carry out themselves. We are looking for Handy Person Volunteers to help us help our community. We ask volunteers to undertake various light practical duties that may include changing lightbulbs, moving furniture and shopping for materials etc. We are a busy service and are looking for some friendly and caring volunteers to help fulfil demand. We can offer flexible hours, which suit both you and our clients’ needs. If you have a few hours to spare and would enjoy doing a bit of DIY whilst helping people who would really struggle to manage it themselves, please give us a call to discuss this opportunity further.

Apply here.

Treasurer for St Albans Folk at the Festival

St Albans Folk at the Festival is a small organisation made up entirely of volunteers. It was set up to work with local folk music and dance groups to organise the annual St Albans Folk Festival. They are looking for a hands-on treasurer who enjoys folk music and dance and will join the organising group to take responsibility for their finances and prepare annual accounts. .

Apply here.

Volunteers for Canoe World Championship.                                                                                                       We’re looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help in showcasing the world's best canoe slalom athletes competing at the Lee Valley White Water Centre, Waltham Cross, between 18 - 24 September 2023. There are a range of volunteer roles available across the event, both pre-event and during competition. You don’t need to be an expert about canoe slalom, or have even volunteered before, there will be a role to suit you. Lee Valley White Water Centre is renowned across the globe as one of the best white-water courses in the world and in 2023 will play host to around 300 of the world's best athletes from across 50 countries as they battle it out across a week of high-octane competition.

To apply, please email volunteer@communities1st.org.uk

Warm Spaces Volunteer                                             

Churches Together are looking for volunteers who can help with Warm Spaces in 6 venues across the Borough of Broxbourne. Warm Spaces are venues that people can come to which are free, warm, welcoming and safe. Hot drinks will be served, and for those venues which are open over lunchtime, soup and sandwiches will be offered. The role of the volunteers is to help to make the guests feel welcome and comfortable, and to help serving the drinks and refreshments.  

Apply here.

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 about you and reach out 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 have reached out for you.

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.                                  

Health Walk Leaders for Herts health walks            

Would you like to walk within a friendly group, make friends and enjoy the health benefits walking has to offer whilst helping others to enjoy walking too? Volunteering is flexible and there is no expectation of time commitment.

Apply here.

Befriending Service with Age UK Hertfordshire

Age UK Hertfordshire are looking for Volunteers to help with their Befriending role. The volunteers will help on the Age Uk Visting Scheme. This is where volunteers will be matched with older isolated people who they then visit weekly (or as agreed) in their own homes and may take them into their local town for coffee or to a garden centre to offer companionship.                                             

Apply here.

Volunteer Café Assistant with Leeannas Wish CIC 

Cottonmill based community interest company, Leeannas Wish, are looking for a volunteer to help in their community kitchen to start asap at their Cinema Cafe. Held at the Cottonmill Community & Cycling Centre every Friday between 3.45-5.45pm, the volunteer will be asked to help chop and prepare fruit, serve crisps, biscuits and popcorn and make squash as required. 

Apply here.

Service Volunteer with St Albans and District Shopmobility    

Shopmobility is a service that provides manual wheelchairs and electric mobility scooters to help people, who may have limited mobility, to get around in St Albans City Centre. Their aim is to support people with limited mobility to improve their quality of life and reduce social isolation. The service has a stock of manual wheelchairs which can be hired out to Shopmobility members for a small charge per day. They are looking for volunteers to work 3- or 4-hour shifts. These shifts are currently 10am – 2pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Fridays. 9.30am – 1.00pm and 1.00pm - 4pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Shopmobility would like to open for more hours, should we have more volunteers, so these hours may change.

Apply here.

 
Remote Family Support Volunteer for Family Lives

Family Lives operates a free confidential helpline for anyone experiencing difficulties in their family or relationship. Our volunteers take calls from parents and carers on a wide range of subjects. They are looking for volunteers who have experience of parenting or working with children and young people, are good listeners and are willing to learn.  

Apply here.

Isabel Hospice will be hosting their next Information session on Saturday the 28th January 2023 at 11am at the Living Well Community Hub, Welwyn Garden City AL74PH.

Find out how to support your community through the wide range of opportunities with Isabel Hospice.                                        

If you are interested , please email: volunteer@communities1st.org.uk 

Hospital at Home Volunteer                                          

We are looking for volunteers who can devote some time out of their day to attend home visits with individuals in the community who need some help using their Doccla kits. These kits can monitor vitals from home, and allow patients to be monitored from home, rather than attending time consuming medical appointments.

These will be individuals who have been recently discharged from hospital or who are being closely monitored by health professionals and need a little bit of help. This kit is very simple to use, and we will give you full training on how to help individuals use it.

To apply, please email volunteer@communities1st.org.uk 

Neighbourly Walks Volunteer

We have had many new requests for Neighbourly walks from clients who would like to get a bit of fresh air and exercise. This is the perfect opportunity for anyone looking for low-impact exercises to keep you fit and healthy. We are particularly looking for volunteers to support the St Albans area due to the volume of requests we get here, but we would also appreciate volunteers to give support to the Hertsmere area also, to make sure we can cover all our requests. This activity can be done around your prior commitments and will usually involve having a 30 minute to 1 hour walk every week or two. You can also be matched with people near you if you would prefer to walk to their location.

To apply, please email volunteer@communities1st.org.uk

International NHS Buddy

NHS Trusts across Hertfordshire and West Essex are recruiting a number of NHS professionals internationally each month to fill staffing shortages. Communities' 1st is looking for volunteers that can provide wrap-around social support to these professionals. We are looking for volunteers who are sociable, outgoing and have a warm and welcome personality. If you enjoy meeting new people and exploring different places around Hertfordshire, have an open mind, are positive about diversity and are committed to building relationships with people from different backgrounds, this maybe something you will enjoy doing. .

Apply here.

Treasurer with Borehamwood Foodbank

Borehamwood Foodbank are looking for a person with financial management experience who can take on trustee responsibilities and the tasks of being Treasurer. You will be working with the support of a financial subcommittee and will be responsible for managing a bookkeeper and PAYE specialist. Support with small administrative tasks such as banking or making regular payments will also be available by an administrator. It is anticipated that the post will take 3-4 hours a week, but this can vary throughout the year.

Apply here

Trustee with Citizens Advice East Herts

We are looking for three talented volunteer trustees who can give time and commitment to help us run our charity, help us develop our services and secure the vital resources we need to go forward. We are particularly looking for people who have fundraising, marketing or premises management expertise. Committed to working within the aims, principles and policies of Citizens Advice is essential. A willingness to think strategically but to have the time to offer operational support is also important.

Apply here

Treasurer with DS Achieve

DS Achieve is looking for a new volunteer Treasurer to join our existing Board of five Trustees. Our ideal new Treasurer will have a background in finance with a relevant accountancy qualification. We are a small local charity that prides ourselves on good governance and maintaining robust financial procedures and the Treasurer will take a lead on financial issues for the team. If you enjoy being part of a small, friendly team and want to volunteer some of your time and skills to a great charity this is the role for you.

Apply here.

Van Driver/ Crew Member for Emmaus Hertfordshire

Emmaus Hertfordshire source furniture via house clearances and one-off item donations. Driving a van or being part of their van team, moving donations into our warehouse and then into their shops is an essential part of their operations. In their house clearance service, you would be involved in packing goods and loading them to and from the van. You could be involved in both van driving and house clearance packing or just one of these roles.

Apply here.

Volunteer Drivers for Minibuses or own vehicles

Drivers required to drive either their own cars or our MPV’s and Minibuses Volunteers are needed to help people in Borehamwood, Shenley and Potters Bar who are unable to use public transport, attend health appointments, and reduce social isolation. What are they looking for? Driving skills, clean license, roadworthy car, honest and reliable, good timekeeping.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, other projects and trips. Expenses can be claimed at 45p/mile. Note, you may be required to travel further afield than your immediate local area. Apply here.

Volunteer Drivers with Barbara Bus Fund

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 only requirements are that you like driving, over 25 years and have no more than 6 penalty points. You will also need to complete a DBS check.

Apply here.