Eastleigh Edition
April 2019
V
olunteering Matters provides a monthly round up of volunteering opportunities in the local area, provided by Volunteer Centre One Community. These are only a few of the many available, and we are here to help you find a role to suit you. To find out more about volunteering, come to one of the events below, have a browse through this newsletter, or go to the website www.do-it.org to find all our volunteering opportunities online. Otherwise, you can call us to make an appointment for a chat on 023 8090 2458, or ask for information by emailing volunteer@1community.org.uk
Vivid Looking for Digital Mentors Could you help people to develop their online skills by showing them how to send and receive emails, use a search engine, browse the web and complete online forms safely? Vivid Homes (a large housing association) is looking for digital mentors to help people who need that little bit of extra support, either using a computer in the library, or being shown how to use their own device that they might bring along to a session. You don't need to be technical genius. As long as you're patient, good at explaining instructions and comfortable working with people from all walks of life. All sessions will take place at Eastleigh library at present and Vivid offers travel expenses and an induction at the beginning of the placement. You will receive day to day support from the library and on-going monthly keep in touch meetings will be held by Vivid to discuss any learners you have seen and offer overall support.
Volunteer Ride Leader SportWorks is recruiting a number of volunteer ride leaders to deliver weekly led Mum and Child Cycle Rides at Itchen Valley Country Park. If you love cycling and are passionate about getting more people on their bikes, we want to hear from you. There’s no need to be a cycling expert, just have a good level of fitness and enthusiasm to support others in your community. The sessions will run from May to September 2019 and there will be three bookable day time sessions a week. To do this role you will need:
Volunteer Centre Outreach
Looking for volunteers for your organisation? Looking for a volunteering role that’s just right for you?
Drop in and see us at:
Eastleigh Museum, 25 High Street, Eastleigh SO50 5LF, second Tuesday of every month, 10am-12 noon, Tuesday 9 April West End Library , Chapel Road, West End, SO30 3FE, 10am— 12pm, Friday 26th April
Produced by Volunteer Centre One Community, 16 Romsey Road, Eastleigh SO50 9AL Tel 023 8090 2458
Ability to cycle safely and legally on local roads and paths Cycling qualification preferred but appropriate cycle ride leader training can be provided The time commitment is flexible but 90 minutes per week minimum is preferred.
Otterbourne Hill Community Hub Volunteers The Community Hub at Brendoncare Otterbourne Hill supports both residents living on the site and people living in the local area. The hub offers a range of services for individuals and families to enjoy, including a restaurant, hairdressing salon and space for film showings, with a regular schedule of dementia-friendly clubs and activities. Volunteers are needed to support the activities that happen during the week. Volunteers support club members to access the activities, help set up the room, collect club subs, make refreshments and chat to club members after the class. Volunteers really do make all the difference in helping older club members get the most from these fun activities. At the moment the following clubs are run, but Brendoncare is interested in setting up new clubs such as art, community singing, crafts and gardening. Please get in touch if you are interested in helping set up a new club, or helping with an existing one. Monday—Fun Fitness 10am-12pm and Koffee Klub 10am—12pm Tuesday—Zumba Gold 9.30am-12pm Wednesday—Seated Exercise 10.3am-12pm Thursday—Zumba Gold 10.30am-12pm Friday—Tai Chi Beginners 9.30am-11.30pm and The Socialites Social Club 3.30pm— 5.30pm
Minibus Drivers Revitalise—Netley Waterside House Revitalise provides respite breaks in a holiday setting for physically disabled adults. They are seeking volunteers to drive their purpose adapted minibuses on daily and evening excursions, including destinations such as shopping Volunteering Matters Page 2
centres, theme parks, cinema and even clubbing! This is an excellent opportunity to make friends, enhance your CV, develop skills and experience, get training, build self-confidence and enjoy a unique and rewarding challenge. If you enjoy talking to different people, socialising and helping disabled people to enjoy all the opportunities available to them, this could be the role for you. You will need a minimum of a category B license for at least two years and be over 21 years of age. You will have to successfully complete a MIDAS assessment. Revitalise is also looking for help with their extensive gardens and with DIY and general maintenance of their holiday venue at Netley Waterside House.
Website Editor—Mencap Eastleigh Borough and Romsey MENCAP Society runs a number of activities and projects in the region aimed at supporting people with learning disabilities who live with their families, in supported housing or independently. Their website has increasingly become an important source of information about their work. So they are looking for someone who would love to help keep it up to date, fresh and interesting. The role would probably only need a couple of hours of your time each month, mainly when the monthly newsletter is issued. They are looking for someone with experience of editing websites (and therefore good IT skills), who can carry out the tasks from home, but who would also be prepared to occasionally attend committee meetings which are held generally on a Wednesday evening every 6 weeks or so in the Eastleigh area.
Red Cross Mobility Aids Service The Red Cross mobility aids service provides valuable short -term support to vulnerable people in the UK. Mobility Aids Volunteers deal with wheelchair requests and enter details onto a database, all while providing excellent customer service. The role includes:
Issuing and receiving wheelchairs (or other mobility aids equipment) Demonstrating how to use and look after our wheelchairs Dealing with enquiries from people wanting to borrow a wheelchair (or other equipment) Using a computer-based stock control system Receiving payments / donations and issuing receipts Giving information about other Red Cross services or other providers where appropriate The minimum commitment is 2 hours a week.
PACT—Meet at the Gate Mentors Pact is a national charity that provides support to prisoners, people with convictions, and their families through a range of services. Meet at the Gate Mentors meet with service users, prior to their release from prison, on the day of their release, and approximately two weeks after release. They work alongside the prison and probation service supporting vulnerable adults on their release from custody. To do this role will you will need to be: nonjudgemental/non-discriminatory; approachable and friendly, flexible, reliable and punctual, organised and able to use your own initiative. Good communication and interpersonal skills are essential along with the ability to respect confidentiality and to work as part of a team. Experience of working with vulnerable people would be helpful. Full training is provided by PACT. Pre-agreed expenses will be paid. This role is subject to an enhanced DBS check.
Youth Club Volunteers for a Lively and Busy Youth Club in Chandlers Ford KWood Youth Club opened at Knightwood Leisure Centre in September 2010 and then moved to Valley Park Community Centre. It has an average weekly attendance of 20 young people. They are looking for enthusiastic volunteers to join in running the open access youth club on a Friday evening in Chandlers Ford. Young people aged between 13 and 17 have the opportunity to come along, meet up with friends and make new ones,
and take part in fun and engaging activities such as pool, Xbox, PS4, Wii, board games, listening to music, art and crafts, football and badminton. The sessions are run by a youth worker, supported by a happy band of volunteers, ensuring the safety of the young people and supporting and encouraging them to take part in activities. The volunteers are always welcome to come up with dynamic and interesting activities that reflect young people's needs. The club leaders introduce key youth issue themes into activities in a fun and engaging way, such as sex and relationship education, drug and alcohol awareness, promotion of healthy lifestyles and careers. The youth club runs from 6.30pm to 9pm every Friday, including during school holidays. Volunteers are generally asked to attend three times every two months. They are also looking for volunteers to support in the administration and fundraising activities related to the running of the club.
Usher—Thornden Hall Volunteering at Thornden Hall is a fantastic way to give back to the local community while also receiving great benefits, such as discounts at the bar and tickets to selected events. Thornden Hall hosts a variety of school and commercial events throughout the year and is always in need of volunteers to work as ushers in the auditorium and behind the bar, before and during the shows. The volunteer team provides ushers, bar staff and crew for all Thornden events. Friends of Thornden Hall (FroTH) is the crucial team of volunteers who provide the ushers, bar staff and crew for all Thornden Hall events. All monies raised through FroTH, including all the bar profits are able to be 100% reinvested in the Hall.
Woodland Volunteers The Observatree project aims to protect the UK’s trees, woods and forests from new pests and diseases – either arriving or spreading across the country. The earlier these are spotted, the higher the chances that outbreaks can be eliminated or controlled.
Volunteering Matters Page 3
Volunteers play an essential role within Observatree. They help carry out early surveys for tree pests and diseases, they complete Tree Alert reports to enable scientists to carry out a correct diagnosis, and they provide further accurate data allowing scientists to identify trends in the spread and appearance of pests and diseases. Observatree volunteers are trained annually by tree health professionals and scientists. Training enables volunteers to correctly identify signs and symptoms of Observatree’s 22 priority pests and diseases as well as carry out effective site surveys. Volunteers are also trained to collect samples, record accurate grid references, and follow good biosecurity. Volunteers gain new skills and experiences that have led to new opportunities. Surveyors involved with the project have even gone to work or study within the tree health sector.
Resource Friend for Safe Families Safe Families is a Christian organisation that exists to stabilise families at the point of crisis, to reduce the flow of children going into care, and to help prevent neglect and abuse. They aim to equip, support and encourage volunteers to meet the needs of families in the local community. They work with the Local Authority to identify families and provide support through befriending and hosting children for short periods. Volunteers are welcome from any faith or none. A Resource Friend does not have contact with the family in crisis but demonstrates their compassion through donating much needed resources; from cots, toys, nappies, furniture or clothing, through to kitchen appliances, food and pots of paint! You may have skills such as gardening or carpentry which could also be very significant for families in reducing their stress.
For further information 023 8090 2458
Find all our opportunities www.do-it.org
Email volunteer@1community.org.uk
Website www.1community.org.uk
Registered charity number 1052978
Company limited by guarantee 3132524
Progressive Chairman and Trustee for Small Local Charity Age Concern Chandlers Ford offers a range of activities at the Age Concern Centre. They also offer help with transport, home visits and gardening for older people. Age Concern Chandlers Ford aims to care, to the best of its ability, for the welfare of local older residents. They are looking for a new Chairman and trustee to increase and drive forward the offerings of the charity to the local community of older people. This role will require leadership and chair person skills and would suit someone retired, or semi-retired, with experience of leading an organisation or part of an organisation. Experience of managing people and projects would be very helpful. The outreach of the charity has declined in recent times and new ideas and energy are needed to reverse this. Reasonable expenses will be reimbursed. A full handover will be given by the existing chairman.
Volunteer Centre One Community is funded to work in Eastleigh by Eastleigh Borough Council Hampshire County Council
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