This week’s top five volunteering opportunities
April 1, 2016
1.Bee Garden build day
Where: Dalston, E8 3DL
When: Thursday 7th April – 11.00 to 16.00
Commitment Level: Regular Commitment
Help to get the Bee Garden ready for spring planting. They’ve nearly finished assembling the new raised bed planters and now need help filling them with soil. No prior experience or skills are required. For more information and to sign up, click here.
2.Friendship Works
Where: Various
When: Weekends
Commitment Level: Regular Commitment
Friendship Works is looking for people to mentor children who are facing multiple disadvantages. Mentors give long term support by meeting with a young person for three out of four weekends. Activities include visiting a museum, going to a café or pursuing shared interests such as sport or crafts. To find out more and apply, click here.
3.Sustainable Merton
Where: Various
When: Various
Commitment Level: Various
Sustainable Merton is a community led initiative giving local residents the opportunity to do practical work to make the area a sustainable community. They are engaged in projects covering renewable energy and energy saving, local food growing, water conservation and raising awareness of issues associated with climate change. They are looking for a host of volunteers to perform a variety of roles. To find out more, click here.
4.Gardener at Greenwich and Bexley Community Hospice
Where: 185 Bostall Hill, Abbey Wood
When: Various
Commitment Level: Various
The hospice grounds provide an opportunity for rest and relaxation for patients, visitors, staff and volunteers. In order to keep the grounds looking beautiful they are supported by a team of dedicated and committed volunteers. There are a variety of tasks including weeding, planting bulbs, watering and general garden maintenance. For more information and to register your interest, click here.
5.PACT – Prisoner’s Family and Friends Helpline Volunteer
Where: Peckham
When: Various
Commitment Level: Regular Commitment
The purpose of the role is to provide support for those involved in the Criminal Justice System. Service users can contact their confidential service by telephone, email, letter, website or via the peer support group. They aim to give practical advice and emotional support and to work as a signposting agent. If you are interested in this opportunity, please click here for more information.
BONUS OPPORTUNITY
Into University are looking for people to volunteer as Academic Support Tutors to support primary and secondary students during their after-school sessions. The programme provides free tutoring and support to young people in a stimulating classroom environment. Volunteers act as role models and support academic progress. For more information and to apply, click here.
This week’s top five volunteering opportunities
March 24, 2016
1.Wilton Way
Where: E8
When: 2nd April and 16th April
Commitment Level: One-off opportunities
On the 2nd April Wilton Way are hosting the Hackney Deaf Childrens Society Easter Egg Hunt from 2.00-4.30pm. They are looking for some volunteers to help set up the hunt and assist the families in finding eggs around the community garden.
On the 16th April they are hosting a Big Dig event, organised by Capital growth. For more information about this, click here.
For more information, email wiltonsway@gmail.com.
2.Girlguide Group
Where: St Hilda’s East Community Centre
When: Tuesdays 4.30-6.30pm
Commitment Level: Regular Commitment
A new east end Guide group is currently being set up, focusing on building girls’ confidence, raising aspirations and having fun in a girl only space. They need enthusiastic volunteer Leaders, Assistant Leaders, Helpers and Occasional Helpers to join our team to run this new group. This volunteering option is for women only. For more information and to register your interest please contact Kim by emailing kim@sthildas.org.uk.
3.Trussell Trust
Where: Various
When: Various
Commitment Level: Various
The Trussell Trust runs a network of over 400 foodbacks, giving emergency food and support to people in crisis across the UK. To learn more and to get started, click here.
4.Alternative therapies for substance users
Where: HMP High Down
When: Various
Commitment Level: Regular Commitment
They are looking for volunteers to work with clients (prisoners) on the Substance Misuse Unit. Ideally they would like volunteers who are trained to deliver alternative therapies such as deep tissue massage and yoga/relaxation. They would like someone who can commit to delivering these sessions either twice or three times per month (Monday-Friday). For more information, click here.
5.Green Thursday Volunteers
Where: Wycombe Rye Lido Car Park
When: Thursday Morning
Commitment Level: Low – Can attend as few or as many sessions as you please
The Chiltern Rangers are looking for volunteers to help them care for the local environment and woodlands. The work varies each week but is all focused around conservation. Find out more here.
Spotlight on Peter
March 23, 2016
Peter has been a Dot Dot Dot guardian for over a year and a half. He has been a dedicated volunteer with Sycamore Tree during this entire period, amassing over 400 hours of volunteering.
Sycamore Tree is a restorative justice and victim awareness course, helping prisoners to rehabilitate themselves and create awareness about their past, present and future. It operates across several prisons, and Peter usually finds himself in Brixton or Holloway leading his sessions.
Here’s how Peter describes his role:
I work as a group leader – building relationships, facilitating discussion, to help guide my group through the course, and lend support elsewhere as and when needed.
I encourage the women or men to be open in order to fully take responsibility, but my main impetus is to try to help them realize their own self-worth and hope that this continues upon release, so they fulfil their true potential, rather than lead a life of crime.
Recently he had a particularly rewarding example of how valuable his volunteering is:
A man, at Brixton, was rambunctious and extremely reluctant to engage in the course during the first two weeks. Claiming that all he was doing, whilst inside, was trying to better his game, to get smarter, figuring out how to continue committing crime, but to not get caught.
By the end of the course, he’d done a complete 180. He was a calmer, content gentleman, and he was excited to tell me he’s starting a CSCS course, in order to become a builder when he came out. Realizing the only true way to not get caught/go back to prison, is by not committing crime! All he now wants to do is remain on that path, and help provide and care for his child and build a better life for himself and his girlfriend.
This isn’t really a highlight; it’s more an example. The whole course is a highlight, as there are so many more examples.
So, well done Peter! This kind of volunteering is absolutely invaluable, and we’re happy our guardians are engaging with such worthwhile causes.
Get involved
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