Volunteer Centre Newsletter

Welcome to our Volunteer Centre newsletter.

We are thankful 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 

Click here to go directly to our comprehensive list of Volunteering opportunities

Juli Riley 

Head of Volunteer Centre and Skills  

Communities 1st  

Befriending for Herts Vision Loss                                   Herts Vision Loss is a local charity providing a wide range of support and services to visually impaired people, their families and carers in Herts. There are over 26,000 visually impaired people in Hertfordshire, and in addition there are over 35,000 people with long term eye conditions that may result in them losing their sight further. Befrienders are needed to visit clients in the Bricket Wood area who have a visual impairment. These clients are isolated in their own homes and would like someone to chat, read or carry out small tasks with.

Apply here.

Outreach Volunteer for Mind In Mid Herts                 The Stepping Stones service forms an integral part of Mind in Mid Herts outreach services by providing one-to-one outreach support to facilitate a smooth, timely and supportive discharge from hospital back into the community. Be part of an amazing volunteer opportunity by providing one-to-one outreach support to facilitate a smooth, timely and supportive discharge from hospital back into the community.

Apply here.

Meeting Speaker                                                      We're looking for speakers who have knowledge on Asthma, COPD, or diabetes to help out with peer-to-peer support groups of those three illnesses. The COPD are diabetes meetings are in Potters Bar and Bushey. The Asthma, COPD, and diabetes are hosted within St. Albans. These groups will happen twice a month. If you are interested, please get in touch and let us know.

Apply here.

Peer-to-Peer Group Meeting Facilitator                      Do you have experience running meetings? We would love to hear from you. We’re planning to set up peer-to-peer groups to help people with long term illness, and we would like to have someone to help these support groups flow. We’d like to have three people for each group. These groups are set up for the 1st and 3rd Tuesday (Potters Bar), Wednesday (Watford), and Thursday (St. Albans) of the month. If you are interested, please get in touch and let us know.  Apply here.

Introduction to becoming a Trustee

Ahead of our next Trustee Speed Matching Session, we have arranged an information session on Tuesday 1st November with long serving trustee Sue Pearlman.

Sue will be sharing her insights into the world of trusteeship, the benefits of the role, what good governance of charities and community organisations looks like 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.

Apply here.

Speed Match Trustee event for Volunteers

This event enables organisations seeking to recruit volunteer trustees to ‘virtually’ meet potential candidates, and those interested in becoming trustees to find a local organisations they would like to support.

There will be a series of short presentations that may include graphics/videos (three minutes max) from organisations who want to recruit volunteer trustees.

 Apply here.

Business Advisor

Young enterprises are looking for volunteer Business Advisors with Business skills and the ability to impart these skills and communicate well with teenagers.  Most teams have their ‘’Board Meeting’’ once a week either in school time or after (about an hour). Training is given and all Business Advisors to ensure they are aware of what is required. 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.

 
Volunteer retail assistant for Willow Foundation           Willow Foundation are looking for retail assistants to help manage our shops. The main objective of the role is to help the Shop Manager maximise sales by providing a high standard of customer service, stock of good quality and quantity, safe efficient procedures. Full training will be provided to ensure volunteers feel confident in their tasks and that all shop activities are carried out in line with Retail standards and guidelines. Volunteers are encouraged to share their ideas, support other team members and attend occasional shop meetings.

Apply here.

Christmas Elf Volunteer for Rennie Grove                      Christmas is a busy time for Rennie Grove. The Retail and Trading team need a group of busy Christmas Elves to help their friendly team pack and dispatch items sold on ebay and other online platforms, and to keep stock moving out to their 25 shops.

Apply here.

Social media assistant for Herts Schools Outreach Herts Schools Outreach is a support service to promote and enhance positive mental health change for children and young people. They are looking for a Social Media Assistant to help support the organisation. A Social Media Assistant will create schedules and post content across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok to help raise awareness of their service and to increase followers and online presence. Keeping up to date on social media trends and researching all relevant additional content is also desired.

Apply here.

Neighbourhood Watch Scheme Promoter for Broxbourne Neighbourhood Watch                            This voluntary opportunity is to promote the Neighbourhood Watch scheme in a community environment. It involves contact with local people to encourage good neighbourliness, and establishing community links with all members of the community. Training will be provided. All volunteers will be working as part of a team. There will be an opportunity to learn about links between local councils and communities, and network with local businesses and organisations. 

Apply here.

Sports & Activity Volunteering Roles

Sports clubs and physical activity programmes across the county are always looking for volunteers, with increasing opportunities for you to get involved. Below is a list of opportunities available right now which will enable you to stay active and support a local sports club.

To express an interest please email Jeremy at volunteer@communities1st.org.uk

• Fencing Hertfordshire
  Promotions and advertising, session support, events organisers, fundraisers
• Potters Bar Town Football Club
  Ground maintenance team; 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
  Grounds keeping 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

Volunteer Ride Leaders in Herts
British Cycling 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.

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

Community Champions for Communities 1st  
Communities 1st are looking for volunteers to become Community Champions in their local area. This will enable us to reach further into local communities and raise awareness of wider health information and signposting for services. What will I be doing? Engaging with people at the vaccination centres and pop-up vaccination centres and listening to any issues they may have with regards to health concerns and giving information on local services that may be able to help. No formal qualifications are needed for this role, we welcome volunteers from all backgrounds and abilities. Volunteers must be 16 or over to apply. 

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

Hospital Ward Companion                              Communities 1st are looking for Hospital Ward Companions who will be able to commit to consistent regular availability. There will be daytime shifts Monday to Friday when the ward staff team are most active. Some out of hours evening and weekend shifts may be available when required. his role would not be well suited to ad-hoc availability but if a long-term commitment could be made this would be considered. Shifts will generally be approximately 3 hours long but there may occasionally be some variation. You will be asked to help with:

• Answering phones and taking message;
• Answering call bells and taking messages or reassuring patients that staff are coming;
• Talking to confused patients, they often need a little more time and attention so that they stay settled and less anxious;
• Help to dish out meals and drinks;
• Helping patients use i-Pads to video call their families;
• Restocking PPE and other supplies;
• Putting away stock;
• Working as part of the extended hospital team. Apply here

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. The role will entail taking the nurses on a tour around the town/area, introducing places of interest, parks, gyms, bus stations, helping with shopping and familiarising with local customs etc. Apply here.

Trustee for Redbourn Community Group
Redbourn Community Group has been supporting and connecting the Village for over 40 years. They are looking for a Trustee who is enthusiastic about Redbourn and who wishes to make a significant contribution to the Community Group. Can you give a few hours of your time each month to help them shape their plans and activities for future decades and provide strategic and/or operational support? 
 
They are particularly hoping to find Trustees who are able to offer skills and experience in the following areas: 

• Finance
• Fundraising campaigns /income generation /grant applications 
• Human Resources 
• Policy and procedures /delivery of training /volunteer management ls. 

Apply here

Treasurer for 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.

Apply here.

Trustee for Mind in Mid Herts
Mind In Mid Herts is a well-established local charity supporting the recovery of those experiencing mental health issues. They are immensely proud of what they have achieved over the recent years. They also recognise that there are lots more for them to do to strengthen their base and build for the future. They are therefore seeking new Board members to shape and deliver their strategy over the next period. The average tenure of their trustees is 3-5 years. They particularly recognise the need for locally based trustees and ideally, they would look for a commitment of circa 10-15 hours a month.

The areas where they would welcome skills and expertise are:

• Community & Corporate fundraising knowledge
• Property development and management experience and knowledge
• Major donor relationship building
• People and organisation development 

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 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. 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.