Volunteering and guardianship
We are a social enterprise, which means we care about creating social value through the way we work. Supporting our property guardians to volunteer, typically in the local area, is how we do this.
When our guardians sign up with Dot Dot Dot, they are agreeing to volunteer for 16 hours a month at a charity or charities of their choice. We believe that people who volunteer make great guardians and vice versa. This is because they’re conscientious, happy to help other people and to make a place better through building community. We know our properties are in safe hands!
Dot Dot Dot guardians are currently contributing around 5,500 hours of volunteering per month to charities and community organisations in Greater London, Buckinghamshire, Lancashire, Cambridgeshire and Oxfordshire. Take a look at our infographic showing the impact Dot Dot Dot guardians have had in their communities since we began in 2011.
Read on to find out more about how and where you can volunteer; and the final section of the page summarises our most recent blog posts about volunteering.
If you already volunteer and are enjoying it, then we’re happy for you to keep up the good work. We don’t ask you to change what you’re doing, but we’d love to hear about it and continue to support you in it. Those who are interested in helping others and making a positive social impact generally make brilliant property guardians.
If volunteering is new for you, you can start by looking at helpful online resources which cover all or most of England. Click on the logos below to explore current opportunities.
We’re also particularly keen to support our guardians into volunteering within the neighbourhood where they live. Volunteers are always valuable, and there is an extra value when those hours are put in to support communities which are going through change. if you get housed in an area where we know of specific needs and charities working in the locality, we will make sure you’re connected with the relevant people when you’re ready to start volunteering.
We’re always on hand if you’re struggling to find the right volunteering for you but there are some brilliant resources out there for you to explore. You might end up doing something different every month, or you might be really passionate about a particular cause and get involved with one particular group.
12 September 2019 | News and Features, Volunteering blogs
Dot Dot Dot guardians contribute £2 million worth of effort to voluntary sector
We’re marking a significant milestone – more than 140 years of volunteering by Dot Dot Dot guardians. That means people we house across the country have collectively given over 229,060 hours to good causes since we launched in 2011.
5 July 2019 | Community, Volunteering blogs
The Thomas Crosbie PACE Foundation presents: Coldfire Festival
We caught up with a group of Dot Dot Dot guardians who are volunteering for Coldfire Festival with The Thomas Crosbie PACE Foundation. The festival is created as a celebration of young talent in sport and the arts, and promotes wellbeing, up and coming artists, and offers a safe space for young people to express their thoughts and feelings.
14 June 2019 | Volunteering blogs
Volunteers’ Week – a special thank you from the Dot Dot Dot team
Volunteers’ Week is a time to recognise and celebrate the countless volunteers up and down the country who make invaluable contributions to good causes every day. We held an event to say a special thank you to our guardians for all of the fantastic ways in which they’ve impacted positively on their communities.
24 May 2019 | Volunteering blogs
Dementia Action Week: Starting a conversation
Check out some great organisations where you can offer support to improve the lives of people with dementia. Two-thirds of people living with dementia report feeling isolated and lonely. That’s why this year, Dementia Action Week is about starting a conversation with someone living with dementia.
22 May 2019 | News and Features, Spotlight on, Volunteering blogs
Spotlight on: Alison – Remembering Not to Forget Part 2
For Dementia Action Week 2019, we catch up with Dot Dot Dot guardian, Alison, to hear about how things are going with her charity, Remembering Not to Forget. Read about the hard work and commitment it takes to run her charity, and the achievements that make it all worth it.
