Volunteering matters november 2017

November 2017

W

e have some interesting new volunteering roles for you this November. To express an interest, learn more or find out about many others we have to offer, please contact Volunteer Centre One Community on 023 8090 2458 or volunteer@1community.org.uk. If you want to have a chat with a member of staff about what volunteering role might suit you, phone to arrange a time and place to meet. Alternatively you can find our volunteering opportunities on the do-it website: www.do-it.org

Usher at 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 free 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.

A rota is sent out with details of all the shows at the hall with an invitation to pick as many or as few shifts as you want.

Friends of Thornden School (FroTH) is affiliated to Thornden School so the volunteer recruitment process requires all applicants to complete a DBS check and undergo annual child safe guarding training.

coaches. Above all, you will have fun, and hopefully find it very useful and rewarding to see people making progress. Sessions run Thurs evening 67pm, Fri evening 6-7pm or Sunday 10am-12 noon.

Volunteers are particularly needed Friday evening and Sunday morning.

You don't need any prior knowledge of the sports being enjoyed, just an interest in sport, patience and enthusiasm, and a willingness to join in. Minimum Age 14.

The coaching sessions are held at Wildern School gym on Thursdays, Thornden School Gym on Sundays and Crestwood School on Fridays.

Multi Sport Volunteers Would you like to have fun, increase your physical activity and help a group out at the same time?

Volunteers are needed to assist with multi sport sessions. The sessions are for people (aged 16-30) with learning and physical disabilities, and are run by qualified coaches. Volunteers help the coaches, and encourage the club members to join in, providing support as needed. This would be an excellent opportunity for anyone considering sports coaching as a career, or who is interested in working with people who have a range of learning and physical disabilities. You will get the chance to try out different sports, and work with different

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 Library, The Swan Centre Eastleigh SO50 5SF. 10am-12 noon on Friday 3 November Eastleigh Museum, 25 High Street, Eastleigh SO50 5LF, second Tuesday of every month 10am-12 noon, Tuesday 14 November

Produced by Volunteer Centre One Community, 16 Romsey Road, Eastleigh SO50 9AL Tel 023 8090 2458

Could you be a Hospital Patients’ Befriender?

What will I be doing?

As a Volunteer Befriender your role will be to provide social companionship to patients who have a chronic or life limiting illness and who are isolated or lonely. Visiting patients in their own homes, you will help them to feel more supported and help to improve their emotional well-being and confidence.

How much time do I need to commit?

Just 2-hours a week, or less, can make a real difference to a patient living in your local community.

What support will I be given?

All relevant training will be given, as well as regular and on-going support and supervision.

Interested?

Interested volunteers will be invited to an informal interview and the role is subject to references, simple health checks and DBS clearance.

Safe Families for Children South Coast Enthusiastic about making a difference? Want to help a family get back on their feet? Interested in helping an overwhelmed parent realise they can do it?

Want to spend time supporting vulnerable children who need a bit of attention? We would love you to think about the opportunity to become a Host Family or a Family Friend.

Family Friend – A Family Friend supports and encourages an isolated and struggling family and, first and foremost, lends a listening ear. Then, the Family Friends work with the family, to reach the goals that the family want to achieve. These goals can be as diverse as learning to read, de-cluttering the house, encouraging a hesitant mum with behaviour strategies, accompanying a mum to a mothers and toddlers group, or helping a family try out cheap and healthy recipes. As a volunteer, you can choose the area you would like to work within, and the case you would like to work with. You can Volunteering Matters Page 2

find a case that suits your own skills and experience. You also choose how much time you would like to give – volunteers typically spend about an hour a week with a family (but some do more). Safe Families for Children works with families where there are children under 10 years old.

You do not have to have any special experience or skills. Anyone, of any age can do this - you just need to be willing to engage with people who need support. Most of all, you need to be compassionate, caring and determined to help these families get back on their feet - and stay there!

When you sign up as a volunteer, Safe Families will: ask for three references, carry out an enhanced DBS check, provide training, and conduct a 1:1 assessment.

Host Family – A Host Family will host children up to the age of 10. This happens to give families some respite from a difficult situation or if a difficulty has arisen which means they need someone to look after the children – such as having to go into hospital. As a volunteer, you can choose the geographical area you would like to work within, and the case you would like to work with. You can find a case that suits your own skills and experience. You can choose the number, age and gender of the children you host. You also choose how much time you would like to give – volunteers typically host over a weekend, roughly once a month, but sometimes, the hosting can last longer.

A volunteer needs no specific skills or qualifications. Experience of child care in any capacity is great, but not essential. Safe Families are looking for people who can be empathetic but also able to support children in what might be a difficult time in their lives. Volunteers need to be caring and compassionate and non-judgemental.

Good listening skills are important. A volunteer's own skills and experiences of parenting, life skills, work experience or talents can be used and matched to particular cases.

Host Families will need a spare room for the child/children they host. The Host Family's house will have a Home Safety Check, carried out by a member of the Safe Families team. Basic ICT skills would be useful, as volunteers need to upload notes onto the Safe Families database.

Customer Service Volunteer Tudor House Museum, Southampton As a customer service volunteer you will become a key member of the front-of-house team that provides customer service at Tudor House. You will work to a front-of-house rota, ensure public and staff health and safety at all times (including assisting with fire evacuation) and protect the museum’s collections and buildings of historical and cultural interest.

Volunteers should:  Have an enthusiastic attitude  Be reliable and flexible  Have good interpersonal skills  Have the ability to communicate clearly in spoken English  Be confident in public speaking and delivery  Have an interest in history Experience of working with members of the public is helpful but not essential.

The Community Hub, Hedge End The Community Hub is Hedge End Town Council's Youth Centre for young people aged 11-21. They are looking for volunteers for two different sessions (see below). They need enthusiastic, reliable and dedicated individuals with a passion for supporting young people. In house and external training is provided.

Volunteer Youth Practitioners – The Community Hub is looking for volunteers to assist their staff team each Wednesday evening 4.30-7pm at a youth club for 8-11 year olds. Young people come to chill out with friends or make new ones! The club provides refreshments, table tennis, pool, PS3, X-Box 360, TV room, music studio, films, cookery, tuck shop, info and advice. They run a structured curriculum of fun events and activities which they greatly need your support to deliver, and they are looking for enthusiastic, reliable and dedicated individuals with a passion for supporting young people.

Volunteer Youth Practitioners Learning Disability Session – The Community Hub is looking for volunteers to add to the staff team each Friday evening at The Friday Night Project for young people aged 11 to 21 with additional needs. These include Autistic Spectrum difficulties. The session times are 6.30-9pm. Volunteers will be expected to engage young people in a range of both formal and

informal learning opportunities. Including arts/ crafts, discussion groups and cookery, as well as assist on trips and other planned activities.

An ability to remain calm and resourceful in sometimes challenging situations would be beneficial as would experience of working with children/young people with SEN.

The View Community Café, Netley The View Community Café in Netley is looking for café volunteers and community volunteers.

Café volunteer tasks include:  Helping with daily jobs such as cleaning, making drinks and serving customers  Supporting Special Educational Need students in their work experience  Helping build community links and providing a warm, welcoming space for local residents Tasks for Community Volunteers include:  Attending community groups and events and providing a friendly face and a listening ear for local residents  Helping vulnerable members of the community access and enjoy activities  Encouraging community involvement and helping to address community needs Training on Food Safety & Hygiene Level 2 Course for Catering is provided. Hours are 9.30am-2.30pm Wednesday & Friday, 12-5pm Thursday, 9.30am1.30pm weekends (flexible to availability).

Organising Volunteer, Independent Age In this role you will make a real difference to the lives of older people by building a relationship with one or more Independent Age volunteers who provide friendship support to Independent Age service users to promote their wellbeing and reduce loneliness. Older people accessing friendship services through Independent Age are socially isolated and are matched with a Volunteer Visitor who will meet up with them for a chat.

Giving time to listen to an older person can empower them, improve their physical and mental wellbeing and build self-esteem.

Organising volunteers play a key role in supporting a small group of volunteer visitors. The role has two elements:  supporting volunteers  being a key contact for Independent Age in your community Volunteering Matters Page 3

The assessment part of the role is optional, depending on the needs in your area. To become an Organising Volunteer you will need to either have some previous experience in a similar role and/or have volunteered for at least six months. You'll need to:  be aware of the needs of the older person at all times  have a keen interest in older people and the issues of later life  be reliable, consistent and dependable  have a clear speaking voice – it is essential to being understood as some of the older people being supported have a low level hearing loss  be patient, empathetic and non-judgemental  have good computer skills of Office and Outlook programs  have strong networking skills  be able to lead a team of volunteers  recognise the boundaries of the volunteering role  work independently but know when to seek advice or report concerns Experience of working with older people is also desirable, though not necessary.

Hampshire Libraries Libraries across Hampshire offer a wide range of volunteering roles to suit your skillset. These include choosing and delivering books to those who find accessing libraries difficult, and helping with children’s events or adult learning. This is a great role if you love reading and would enjoy helping others to access books – and so much more – at your local library.

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

Eastleigh Museum Eastleigh’s Museum needs volunteers to provide a warm welcome to visitors and information about exhibits. Duties include serving light refreshments in the small cafe and selling items in the shop. The museum is a hub of community life, preserving Eastleigh's heritage and putting people in touch with local services, opportunities and events. Morning shifts are from 9.30am until 12.45pm, and afternoon shifts from 12.45pm until 4pm. Volunteers are currently needed for Monday afternoon and Friday afternoon shifts.

Ford Project Transition from Fields to Ford and Beyond Use your skills, gain new skills and help create a pop-up museum exploring the changing uses of the Ford site. The museum launches in Swaythling in April 2018 and will track Southampton’s shift from making to moving through the story of one site. Volunteers are needed to research, plan, create and share. Choose a team to join: Community Enterprise Team – Thursday 4-6pm from 2 November 2017 at the Roundabout Café SO18 2LE. Volunteers in this team achieve a Level 2 Award of Personal Effectiveness (AoPE) accredited

by ASDAN. Curation Team – Tuesday 1-3pm from 31 October 2017 at the Swaythling Neighbourhood Centre SO16 3AY.

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Volunteer Centre One Community is funded to work in Eastleigh by Eastleigh Borough Council Hampshire County Council

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