Volunteering Vision Newsletter

Last week we held our annual AGM and conference. It was great to hear from so many organisations and volunteers about their experience of volunteering over the last year. We hope that everyone who attended took away as much as we did! If you were not able to join us this year, you can catch up with the events on our different social media platforms below.

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 aim to support all volunteers in their activities. If you are looking for more volunteering opportunities, please look for opportunities on our website using the button below or get in touch by emailing volunteer@communities1st.org.uk.

Finally, I would just like to mention that this will be my final Volunteering Vision newsletter with Communities 1st as i will be leaving to join Children in Need at the end of this month. 

Christine Halpin

Head of Partnerships and Capacity Building

Communities 1st 

The Barbara Bus Fund helps people who cannot get out or use public transport or an ordinary car, because they have a disability that necessitates full-time use of a wheelchair. The charity is looking for a Chair of Trustees to lead the Board of Trustees, committee meetings and the AGM. The role of Chair is a voluntary position with the requirement to commit to one to two days per month, attend online meetings every 6-8 weeks and the AGM. 

Are you an empathetic and understanding person in the Broxbourne/ Cheshunt area who has a spare hour each week to make a positive difference in a young person’s life? If so, MCR Pathways is seeking enthusiastic volunteers to join their team as a mentor! MCR Pathways is an award-winning mentoring charity dedicated to addressing inequality in education outcomes, career opportunities, and life chances for care-experienced young people and those experiencing disadvantage.

Apply here

Are you interested in mental well being and art? Would you like to work in an inspiring creative gallery space? 

H’arts in Mind are looking for reliable volunteers to share shifts at their new community art hub at the Galleria Shopping Centre in Hatfield. Mileage will be paid, there is free parking and tea and coffee. Training will also be given to all volunteers.

Do you have some spare time to
give back to your community?

As a trained volunteer mentor, you
will help support struggling families
in your local community by visiting
them in their own homes for 2-3
hours a week.

Home-Start Herts will provide you
with FREE e-learning training -
with two in-person sessions - to
provide you with all the skills and
information you will need

The next training will take place in Bishop Stortford. You can find details below.

Date: 25th September and 23rd October
Location: Bishop’s Stortford Library,
The Causeway, Bishop’s Stortford,
CM23 2EJ
Time: 9.45am to 3.00pm

Isabel Hospice is inviting the east Hertfordshire community to attend a Volunteer Information Session on Saturday, 3 August, in Welwyn Garden City. This event, aimed at those thinking of volunteering, promises to be an enlightening experience for those considering contributing their time and talents to support the hospice's mission.

Date: Saturday, 3 August 2024        Location: Living Well Community Hub, Hall Grove, Welwyn Garden City, AL7 4PH      Time: 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

InspireAll is looking for volunteers to join their friendly team at the Family Centre Service in one of the many roles they have available. These roles include their baby groups, play sessions, gardening, admin roles and many more. They offer an induction and training, mentor support, flexible hours, varied volunteering roles and the opportunity to learn new skills!

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.

Can you support our qualified therapists with setting up our creative therapy room and supporting patients to express their creativity?

Rennie Grove Peace Creative Therapies team works with patients and family members to offer the opportunity to explore and express complex thoughts and emotions around the experience of dealing with life-limiting illness and loss. Their volunteers support qualified therapists to ensure that every person who attends has the opportunity to access the activities on offer in a safe and supported environment. Without volunteers, they would not be able to offer this valuable service to so many people.

Herts Welcomes Refugees is looking for volunteers to become befrienders, to serve as ESOL teachers or to join the team. These volunteers would continue the work they do to support refugees and asylum seekers who have come to Hertfordshire.

• As a befriender you would be supporting a family or individual as they settle in to their new community.
• As an ESOL teacher you would be providing structured ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) support to individuals or small groups. This can be face to face or online.
• As a team member, you would be volunteering at asylum seeker hotels, providing support with a range of activities, such as helping with events, classes, outings etc.

Highfield Helpers are a group of people who help with the upkeep of Highfield Park. They are looking for volunteers to help support this project. In this role you will help the environment, get to meet new people and support a charity all in one go! It’s also a great way to get fit for free. No experience is needed as you’ll be working alongside park staff.

Watford Credit Union are looking for volunteers to join their Board. They have a range of roles available which include Treasurer, Money Laundering Officer, Compliance Officer and Secretary. To continue this unique public benefit, they need committed people who are willing to give 2-3 hours or more per week, this would normally be during the day to early evening. You would be helping to provide a vital service for those whose financial stability is affected by our uncertain times.

Open Door St Albans is looking for a new Chair of Trustees to lead their Board in sustaining and developing new opportunities to meet the needs of rough sleepers and those at risk of homelessness in the St Albans area. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced leader with a passion to tackle homelessness issues, and with experience in strategic decision making and developing and delivering change.

Are you passionate about making a difference in your local community? Do you possess the skills, knowledge, and commitment to help shape the future of community initiatives? If so, Broxbourne Big Local (BBL) is seeking enthusiastic individuals like you to join their team of Trustees.

Broxbourne Big Local is dedicated to proactively meeting the needs of the people in the borough. Our primary objective is to provide valuable opportunities and services centred around the Wormley Community Centre, to expand our reach across the borough in the future.

Age Concern St Albans runs lunch clubs for older people to provide social interaction and combat loneliness. They aim to provide transport to their clients, and they rely on volunteer drivers to help get clients to the clubs. Can you help for a couple of hours on a Monday or Wednesday to drop off between 9:30am and 10:30am and then take home between 13:30pm and 14:30pm? Mileage can be paid for this role.

St Albans Good Neighbour Scheme is looking for volunteer drivers to help out with the service that they provide for their clients in the local community. The process is that the driver collects the client from their home at a prearranged time. The client is then driven to their appointment/destination. After the appointment is completed the client is driven home. In many cases the driver will need to help the client get to their appointment in the hospital and arrange a process where the client can advise the driver they are ready to go home.

We are looking for volunteer drivers to help our clients in the local community. Volunteers are needed to help people in Borehamwood, Shenley and Potters Bar who are unable to use public transport to attend health appointments and so help to reduce social isolation. What are we looking for? Driving skills, a clean licence, a roadworthy car, honesty and reliability and good timekeeping. We’re always in need of people willing to help us deliver our transport service.

We are looking for green-fingered volunteers to help us help our community to work undertaking various light duties in the garden including:

• Mowing the lawn
• Weeding
• Light gardening duties
• General tidy up
• Digging

Able2enable takes a holistic approach to support individuals to develop key life skills, improve wellbeing and increase employability skills. We encourage individuals to grow within their capabilities by providing them with coaching and wellbeing support, training opportunities and supported volunteering placements. We are looking for a Volunteer Admin Assistant to support the project with tasks like following up clients to schedule appointments, emailing organisations about Able2Enable, researching volunteer and employment opportunities for clients and working with the lead on specific tasks relevant to Able2Enable.

Registered Charity: 1187164

Main Office: 1st Floor Ver House, Park Estate, Frogmore, St Albans, AL2 2WH.