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!

Robert Varney

Assistant Manager – Volunteer Centre & Enterprise Development

Communities 1st 

COME AND SEE US!

SPOTLIGHT

Volunteer with Bushey Festival.

Bushey Festival are looking for volunteers to help with their festival on the 9th of July at King George’s Recreation Ground. This year they are celebrating 40 years of the festival, so it is a very special year. You will be working alongside committee members who have been running the park event for several years and who are all very friendly and approachable. Tasks involve keeping areas clean and tidy, marshalling, helping stall holders, car park duty and directing bands when they arrive on site. You will be given full instruction and they will provide food and drink for those who volunteer. It is a fun event, and the focus is on volunteers feeling fully supported whilst enjoying the event themselves.

St Albans Half Marathon Volunteers with Youth Talk.

Are you interested in having fun, meeting new people and supporting your local community? If the answer to this is yes and you have a couple of hours to spare on Sunday 11th June then Youth Talk are looking for volunteers to help at St Albans Half Marathon and family runs. This is a fantastic event and there’s always a great atmosphere. Help is needed between 8 am and 1 pm. Activities may include helping set up, direct runners, giving out race-packs/numbers/t-shirts and/or giving out medals and refreshments at the end. By volunteering for us you will in turn be helping provide much needed free 1:1 counselling sessions for our local young people.

Activities Volunteer with Hertsmere Mencap

Hertsmere Mencap is a small and active charity, supporting a membership of 250 children and adults with a learning disability along with their families and carers. They are looking for volunteers to help run their day and evening activities sessions in Borehamwood on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. You will join a lovely team of volunteers and will help us to run their activities successfully.

SHORT TERM ROLES & MICRO VOLUNTEERING

Health Walk Leaders for Herts Health Walks

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

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, 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. For more information visit: https://www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/lee-valley/white-water-centre

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

Microsoft & Wordpress Administrator/IT Support with St Albans Community Bank.

St Albans Community Bank are looking for an IT Administrator. The purpose of the role is to support the IT services team to enable St Albans Community Bank to deliver its mission as efficiently as possible and implement the IT strategy. This role is a practical, hands-on role and will require experience of managing and supporting IT hardware and software.

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 a manual wheelchairs which can be hired out to Shopmobility members for a small charge per day. They are looking for volunteers to support their services.

Welcome Team Assistants with St Albans Cathedral

St Albans Cathedral are looking for welcoming and friendly volunteers to join their Welcome Team. This role plays an integral part in the overall Welcome offered at St Albans Cathedral. You will have a large impact on the visitor experience and enjoy high level of interaction with their visitors through answering questions, handing out information, helping in the shop and assisting in the interactive exhibition areas.

Education Volunteers with Bushey Museum

Bushey Museum are looking for Education Volunteers to support their Education Officer. They offer various educational experiences, both at the Museum and at Reverley Lodge in Bushey Heath, for local primary schools. This is an ad hoc role, helping to supervise the children and sometimes doing a bit of role playing. Volunteers need to like working with children and be DBS checked.

COMMUNITIES 1ST VOLUNTEERING ROLES

Neighbourly Walks

We are looking for some volunteers who would like to support people through our Neighbourly Walks scheme. We know how beneficial walking can be for the mind and the body, and we want to support as many people in the community as we can to maintain their independence and get some fresh air while doing it. In particular we are looking for a volunteer who is trained in supporting individuals with visual impairments. The client would like support on a neighbourly walk twice a month, based in AL3 area.

Training Assistants

We are looking for Volunteer Training Assistants who would be interested in helping to deliver our Training courses Hertfordshire. 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.

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.

TRUSTEE ROLES

Trustee with St Albans Shopmobility

Shopmobility are looking for a Trustee to join their team. The overall role of the Shopmobility Trustees is to contribute to the development of strategy, using skills and knowledge from their areas of expertise. They must also have a commitment to the Shopmobility ethos, museum and values, and act as a “Champion” on behalf of Shopmobility. The role of a Trustee may appeal to people from various backgrounds, with an interest in working as a member of a team as a committee member. Shopmobility is looking for people with experience in Finance and Accounting, Fundraising, Business Development, Social Care or Leadership and Management.

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.

Trustee with Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust

Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust are looking for a Trustee with a background in ecology and land management, law and compliance or finance and business management to join their organisation to support their vision of a Wilder Hertfordshire. You will bring your expertise and experience to help us achieve our Strategic aims, and as a member of the Board will oversee our governance, risk management and financial sustainability. You will have the opportunity to support their advocacy work with partners and funders. You will need to attend quarterly Council meetings, the AGM and Committee meetings.

DRIVING ROLES

Transport Driver Volunteer with The Friends of Care Homes

The Friends of Care Homes is a registered charity that put-on music-based events every weekend for our seniors, the isolated and the lonely, plus anyone who enjoys music. They are looking for a bus support worker to support our driver in the Borehamwood area on Sunday Afternoons.

Volunteer Drivers with Hertsmere Mencap

Hertsmere Mencap support 250 children and adults with learning disabilities and their families and carers. They run a minibus service taking members to regular social clubs in Borehamwood, St Albans and Hatfield on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Friday evenings. You will only be expected to volunteer once every few weeks as part of a rota, an average of 3 hours per month. You will be assisting the driver collecting members, accompanying them to the local clubs, and helping with picking up from the club, taking them to their front door when necessary.

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 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.