Volunteering Opportunities

Many organisations are having to cut down on the activities that volunteers would normally engage in due to the pandemic. Others are busier than ever and not in a position to train new volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering, please register on our system and be patient as it may take a while for organisations to be able to accommodate you.

Search for any of this month’s featured roles by adding the name of the organisation into the keyword field on our Simply Connect opportunity search at

cvsbeds.org.uk/volunteer

43 Bromham Road, Bedford Call 01234 354 366 or Email: volunteering@cvsbeds.org.uk www.cvsbeds.org.uk

10 Refill Bedford Social Media Volunteer Refill Bedford is looking for someone to help grow their online presence and keep their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts exciting and up-todate. Could you help them?

Chair of Campaign to Protect Rural England Bedfordshire We are looking for someone with a big passion for environmental and countryside issues who wants to make a difference in Bedfordshire. Ideally you will also have some experience of the charity sector or board management and the ability to inspire others.

Greensand Country Volunteer Researcher Greensand Country Landscape Partnership is looking for volunteers to uncover and gather stories, past and present, from across Greensand Country. These stories will provide inspiration for our commissioned artists, whose work will be presented during The Greensand Festival in May 2021. Ideal for someone interested in local and oral history looking for a project that can be done remotely.

Brownie Youth Leader, Kempston Girlguiding Bedfordshire provides a rewarding volunteering role for those wanting to get stuck into adventures and activities and develop great relationships. The Brownies is about trying new things that teach girls aged seven to ten about themselves, their community and their world. The Kempston group meets on Wednesdays between 6 and 7.30 pm.

Family Support Volunteer – Home Visiting for Together@FACES Project FACES are always looking to recruit home-visiting volunteers to support families with children aged 0-19 and who are struggling to cope for one reason or another. Challenges may be parental or child ill health, mental health, social isolation, practical support, support with child development. Volunteers are matched to families and support is tailored to a family’s needs. You should be prepared to offer the minimum of 3 hours per week and an additional 2 hours for one to one supervision approximately every 6 weeks depending on the complexity of the family situation.

Transforming pets’ behaviour

The support services offered by Wood Green, The Animals Charity have helped thousands of pet owners in the past year. Going beyond the rehabilitation and rehoming of dogs, cats and small animals, Wood Green is also able to help people resolve any pet-related queries or concerns.

These come in many different shapes and sizes, like one distressed dog owner who called Wood Green’s Pet Support team after her puppy, a Border Collie called Mabel, had bitten her vet through fear. As a first step to address the situation, Mabel joined one of Wood Green’s puppy training courses and the owner was given tailored advice to continue the training at home.

Mabel’s behaviour and emotional wellbeing improved during the course, but there was still Lockdown 3.0 has once again had a massive affect on the hospitality industry with many local small businesses suffering from being unable to open for trade as usual. The next few pages are dedicated to promoting independent local businesses that are offering work to be done. Sue Ketland, an experienced Dog Behaviour & Training Specialist at Wood Green, arranged a series of free one-to-one sessions with Mabel and her owner at a local nature reserve. Over this 10-week period, Mabel slowly learned to meet people and other dogs – including Sue’s dog, Reef – with plenty of positive reinforcement along the way.

If you are struggling with any pet-related issue, however big or small, please contact Wood Green as soon as possible. The charity may be able to offer a solution through advice, behavioural support or even financial support. If you are no longer able to care for a pet, their friendly team can help with that too.

Talk to Wood Green’s team on 0300 303 9333 or

Lockdown 3.0

visit woodgreen.org.uk to find out more.

a takeaway/delivery and those who have gone the extra mile to adapt to still serve their customers.

If your local eatery is offering a takeaway or delivery service please do support them or they may not survive.

Bedford PieDrop, A friendly local home delivery service,delivering the truly delicious, Brockleby’s handmade, awardwinning, savoury, meat & fruit pies across Bedfordshire every week • Free Delivery • Free Pie with first order • Delivered & Cook from Frozen Home Delivery Only Order Online at: www.piedrop.co.uk/bedsandmk Or contact Jo Phone/Text: 07771 803590 Email: jo@piedrop.co.uk