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!

Shopping on a Budget helps you understand the benefit of shopping on a budget. It will look at current shopping habits and highlight areas where savings can be made. Register here

Juli Riley

Head of Volunteer Centre and Skills 

Communities 1st 

COME AND SEE US!

SPOTLIGHT

Training Assistant for Communities 1st

We are looking for Volunteer Training Assistants who would be interested in helping to deliver our New You Course. This course aims to develop skills and confidence over a range of topics. This role would involve you welcoming guests, helping with setting up, enrolment administration, helping with handouts during the course and overall, just assisting the lead trainer to make sure the course is run smoothly. We are looking for assistants on the 13th, 15th, 20th, and 22nd March. All sessions run from 9:30am - 2:30pm at the Michaelmass Hall, 78b Sandridge Rd, St Albans, Herts AL1 4AR.

Volunteer IT Tech with Age UK Hertfordshire

Age UK Hertfordshire are looking for volunteers to support older people to learn basic IT skills that could transform their lives, helping to reduce isolation and allow them to access information we often take for granted. This role will allow you to promote the wellbeing of all older people and to help make later life in Hertfordshire a fulfilling and enjoyable experience.

Flourish Refugee Group Volunteer with Hertfordshire Mind Network

Hertfordshire Mind Network provide group sessions for refugees and asylum seekers, enabling individuals to connect with others and explore common issues, concerns and share ideas. The purpose of the groups is to assist the group co-ordinator with running a group that supports refugees and asylum seekers who require support with both their wellbeing and practical challenges. They are looking for volunteers who will support the running of the Flourish Group.

Befriender with St Albans Good Neighbour Scheme

St Albans Good Neighbour Scheme are looking for Befrienders in the St Albans area to help with their befriending service. The befriending service helps provide regular contact and companionship for those who are isolated or lonely, in their own home.

SHORT TERM ROLES & MICRO VOLUNTEERING

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.

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

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

LET VOLUNTEERING ROLES COME TO YOU!

Communities 1st is launching Let’s Give, a new service for volunteers. You will be able to create your own space on our website, so that organisations can find out 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.

LONGER TERM VOLUNTEERING ROLES

Art Group Volunteer with Guideposts Trust

The St. Albans and Harpenden Friendship Scheme runs a weekly art group in Harpenden, on a Friday morning 10am to 12.30pm for adults with a learning disability. They would like a volunteer to assist the members with their art and craft activities. No experience necessary as they will offer training to fit the role. Volunteer required to assist adults with a learning disability with their art and craft activities. Setting up and clearing away is helpful. The art group meets weekly 10am to 12.30pm but availability can be flexible.

Minibus Administrator with Harpenden Trust.

Harpenden Trust are looking for one or two volunteers to assist with the administrative side of their minibus service. The role will include bookings, communicating with other Trust volunteers and external organisations and entering booking information onto spreadsheets.

Compassionate Neighbour Volunteer with Peace Hospice Care

Do you want to make a difference to someone in your community who is lonely or at risk of isolation by simply sharing your time, companionship and support? By becoming a Compassionate Neighbours Volunteer you will support a community member living with a life-limiting illness, building connection and friendship. Peace Hospice is committed to linking people in our local area who have a desire to help others, with those who could benefit from support, therefore promoting and building a self-sustaining
Compassionate Community.

Community Library Volunteer with Hertfordshire County Council.

Community Libraries are a partnership between Hertfordshire Libraries & Heritage Services and a local group of volunteers who run the library to the benefit of the rest of the community. They are looking for volunteers to help out at the London Colney Library who are looking for volunteers to help with the running of the library. There are different ways that volunteers can support the running of their local Community Library. Each community library is supported by colleagues from a nearby larger “buddy” library, as well as the Community Services team who will deliver your initial induction sessions.

Volunteer Complementary Massage Therapist with Rennie Grove

Complementary therapists work with our patients and their carers or family members to offer a range of treatments that help to contribute to their relaxation and well-being. Treatments will be offered in clients’ homes, virtually or at our Living Well centre in St Albans. Rennie Grove are looking for volunteers to become Volunteer Complementary Massage Therapists.

COMMUNITIES 1ST VOLUNTEERING ROLES

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

Handyperson

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.

Number Ninjas

The Multiply project aims to improve people's numeracy skills by offering maths-boosting sessions. On topics such as basic numeracy, Shopping on a Budget, and Family Budget, these sessions will help people in their everyday lives. We are looking for volunteers to become Number Ninjas.

Number Ninjas will help us:

Identify the learning needs of local residents
Engage and refer suitable candidates for tailored tutoring support.

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. .

TRUSTEE ROLES

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. .

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.

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.

Our Next Anyone Can Volunteer sessions will take place on:

23rd March 2023 (11am-12pm)
27th April 2023 (11am-12pm)
25th May 2023 (11am-12pm)

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

DRIVING ROLES

Minibus Driver with The Harpenden Trust

Can you spare a couple of hours now and again to join the pool of drivers at The Harpenden Trust? The role requires drivers to do mainly short trips around town, to take our clients to social events and activities.

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.

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.