This week’s Wimbledon themed top 5 volunteering opportunities
July 1, 2016
Today marks the 1st of July, and what better way to serve up summer than our Wimbledon themed Volunteering Opportunities…
1.Lee Valley Regional Park Authority
Where: E20 3AD
When: Last Saturday of each month
Category: Sports, Tennis, Disabilities
Commitment Level: Ongoing Commitment
Lee Valley Regional Park Authority are looking for sighted guides for Visually Impaired Tennis Players. The purpose of this role is to support their monthly visually impaired camps. This includes providing a sighted guide service to and from Leytonstone Tube Station. At the centre volunteers have the opportunity to support the lead coach on court by assisting with the games/drills that are being organised. For more information and to register your interest, click here.
2.Bikeworks
Where: Tower Hamlets, Newham, Kensington and Chelsea
When: Various (1x 4 hour session a month)
Category: Sports, Cycling, Disabilities
Commitment Level: Weekly Commitment
Bikeworks are looking for an inclusive cycling club and admin volunteer. Duties will include welcoming participants, checking that they are registered and assisting new participants with their initial assessment. Full training will be provided. For more information, see here.
3.Mencap Haringey
Where: Tottenham
When: Wednesday Afternoons
Category: Sports, Boxing, Disabilities
Commitment Level: Weekly Commitment
As part of the Group Initiatives Volunteering Experiences project, Mencap Haringey are looking for gym and boxing buddies. The role involves assisting local adults with learning disabilities/difficulties. Volunteers will receive disability awareness training and will learn how to plan activities and risk assess. Click here for more information.
4. Deen City Farm
Where: Merton
When: Tuesday 5th July 10am-1pm
Category: Farm, Gardening, Sustainability
Commitment Level: Ad hoc
Deen City Farm are holding an outdoor gardening session and are looking for people to help them dig and prune. There will be a whole host of jobs for people of all ages and abilities. If you are interested in this opportunity, see here for more details.
5. London Youth Rowing
Where: London Regatta Centre, E16 2QT
When: Various
Category: Sports, Youth, Rowing, Coaching
Commitment Level: Ongoing Commitment
The London Regatta Centre is looking for enthusiastic rowing coaches who will be able to help young people access a new sport. As a charity, they work with young people who may not necessarily have been able to access the sport without their help. Most of the sessions run within school time, and they also run after-school sessions on Monday and Tuesday evenings. Volunteers will be asked to help regularly with the same group. Click here to apply.
This week’s top 5 volunteering opportunities
May 30, 2016
The 1st-10th June is National Volunteers’ Week. Here are some opportunities to get you started:
1.Trust Thamesmead
Where: Various
When: Friday 3rd June
Category: Gardening, Arts, Befriending, Sports
Commitment Level: Ad Hoc
Volunteer at one of four local Thamesmead opportunities in gardening, arts and crafts, befriending and sports. Contact Sarah Feleppa for more information and to pick up a volunteer pass. Email: Sarah.feleppa@peabody.org.uk or call 020 3828 4936.
2. The Wildlife Trusts
Where: Various
When: Various
Category: Conservation, Protection, Wildlife
Commitment Level: Ad Hoc
The Wildlife Trust are looking for people to help them to protect local wildlife. They have a variety of volunteering options around the UK which range from community gardening to species surveying. To find out more and to register your interest, click here.
3. Kith and Kids
Where: Tottenham (then Camp is residential)
When: Camp is 21st to 28th August
Category: Disabilities, Learning Difficulties, Camp
Commitment Level: High
Kith and Kids are looking for volunteers to support their members who have learning disabilities to take part in fun activities on their residential camp. To find out more about this opportunity, see here.
4.Heather Lodge
Where: Tower Hamlets
When: Various
Category: Befriending, Mental Health
Commitment Level: Ongoing
Heather Lodge is a supported accommodation service for adults with Mental Health problems. They are looking for a volunteer befriender to offer emotional support to a service user through weekly visits. If this is something that appeals to you, find out more here.
5. The Streets
Where: Various
When: Various
Category: Music, Community, Events
Commitment Level: Ad Hoc
The Streets is a dynamic programme aimed at bringing high quality music and performance to the boroughs of London. They are looking for a team of volunteers to engage in the local community through working in the boroughs involved in the activity. For more information and to register your interest, see here.
Spotlight on Alex
March 9, 2016
Alex has been living with us in High Wycombe since July 2015. In the past 7 months she has given over 100 hours of her time to the Alexander Jansons Foundation, which funds research into the causes, prevention and cures for Myocarditis.
Fundraiser: Santa Run
Alex has been key in planning, organising and running a variety of fundraising activities. This has included a Santa Run, live auctions and a comedy night.
In October, she was part of setting up a football club, White Hart FC, who play in support of the foundation. The team consists of friends of the Alexander Jansons, who died at the age of 18 from myocarditis. It was featured in the local Bucks Advertiser.
November brought a quiz night, with 120 people attending to be wined, dined and challenged with difficult quiz questions! They raised around £2000 and have had requests to host another next year.
Fundraiser: Sky Diving
She has also organised and supported charity runs. In October she encouraged another runner for the charity in the Great South Run who arrived at the finish line along with the athletes, not bad for his first time!
This year she will be looking at planning a trip to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in 2017 to raise money for the Alexander Jansons Foundation.
The Alexander Janson Foundation has many more exciting events planned for 2016, including wine tasting, a bingo night and abseiling down the ArcelorMittal Orbit! They have committed to raise at least £1 million by the end of 2016 after a hugely successful 2015.
In her own words ‘there is a lot more organising happening, we have a very busy year ahead!’
Fundraiser: Stretcher Run
Get involved
- If you’re interested in volunteering and becoming a guardian with dot dot dot, apply here today
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