Volunteers’ week top five opportunites

To celebrate volunteer week, we’re looking back at guardians’ volunteering throughout the year and picking our top five opportunities that you can get involved with.

1. Acton Homeless Concern
Where: 1 Berrymead Gardens, Acton, London W3 8AA
When: Ongoing    
Acton Homeless Concern provides a drop-in day centre for homeless people and people from other disadvantaged groups. Guardians Hannah and Mats have been volunteering here since 2014, where they help with providing support, advice and food. They currently run two drop in centres; one provides lunch, showers, a GP, counselling, advice and other health services, while the other provides refreshments and social activities. They are always looking for volunteers who can spare a few hours now and then to help the people who visit the centres. There are lots of ways that volunteers can contribute, from giving advice on housing and benefits, to helping serve the lunch. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer then please contact Ian Breen on 020 8992 5768.

2.Envision
Where: Various locations across London, Birmingham and Bristol
When: Ongoing, during term time.    
Envision aims to engage young people in social action that develops their own skills as the same time as benefiting others. The project was set up to challenge the stereotype of ‘the youth’ as being apathetic and disengaged with the issues going on around them. Renee volunteers with Envision, as a team mentor, where she meets sixth formers on a weekly basis at their school. Throughout the school year, she has explored what issues the young people feel strongly about and talked about what they can do to influence change. Envision are looking for some more team mentors – take a look here to apply.

3.SHP
Where: 245 Gray’s Inn Road, London, WC1X 8QY
When: Ongoing    
SHP is a London-wide charity that supports some of London’s most vulnerable people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, through the provision of supported housing and community- based support services. Their goal is to prevent homelessness and promote social inclusion. A recent campaign run by SHP helped 260 homeless and vulnerable people join the electoral register. Susanna runs a garden project on site that aims to support the service users who are keen to get outside and do some gardening. Susanna gives them an opportunity to grow food and make their space attractive. If you would like to volunteer with SHP too, please look here to express your interest

4.Mind Yourself
Where: CAN-Mezzanine, 49-51 East Rd., London N1 6AH and various locations around London. When: Ongoing 

Mind Yourself has a mission to improve the physical and mental well being of the diverse Irish communities living in London. Lucia runs the Mind Yourself singing group, where she holds weekly singing sessions for the members to enjoy. Mind Yourself are looking for volunteers to bring fresh ideas, motivation and commitment to their activities and research. They are currently looking for a group leader for their men’s group, a general group leader, assistant group leaders and accompaniment volunteers. If you would like some more information about these roles, please look here or contact Sam at sam@mind-yourself.co.uk or 020 7250 8100.

5.Body & Soul
Where: 99 Rosebery Avenue, London, EC1R 4RE    
When: Ongoing
Body & Soul is a charity that promotes the respect, dignity and well being of children, teenagers, adults and families living with and affected by HIV.  They aim to counteract the devastation of a HIV positive diagnosis with strategies to reduce isolation and stress, promote active lives, create a voice for human rights and improve health and well being. Jonas and Alex assist and deliver music workshops which empower young people to create their own pieces of music or spoken word. The workshops run for four weeks and by the end, the young people will have recorded and produced finished pieces that they can feel proud of. If you would like to give your time and skills to help Body & Soul, then please take a look here.