Volunteering Opportunities

December 2012 - January 2013

Monthly bulletin

This bulletin contains a selection of key volunteering opportunities that we are urgently looking to fill.

Please contact us if any of them is of interest, quoting the reference number. If not, please also get in touch as we have hundreds more opportunities to suit your interests, skills experience and time availability.

You can register online here, quoting opportunity reference number, or drop in to the centre or contact us directly.

Volunteers with expertise required for key roles

Volunteer Centre Westminster (VCW) is actively looking for volunteers to support key areas of its operations.

These roles can be taken on either as short term (1-3 month attachments) or on a longer term basis.

Please click here to learn about current roles available.

Cafe Helper

Ref. 3478

We are a welcoming community hub for all types of people. We run a friendly community cafe and would like to extend opening hours to 5.30pm which currently end 3.00pm and we are looking for volunteers who could assist us with running of this service.

We offer a great opportunity to develop customer care and team working skills in a friendly supportive environment.

Library Lab Ambassadors

Ref. 3761

We are looking for volunteer ambassador for our library. Responsabilities include: welcoming new visitors to the space and explain the Library Lab, informing the manager if new materials are needed, relaying information and new connections/contacts and ideas to the manager. You may also be required to host workshops in the evening, making sure the event runs smoothly. We will ensure that you get the most out of your time, just let us know what would you experience in! It could be customer service, marketing, website design, social media. Just let us know and we will create a plan of action for you!

Meal time helpers

Ref. 1975

We are looking for volunteers to help us with serving lunch to our pupils. We are a small school for children aged 11-14 who have behaviour difficulties. We do not have a lunch time supervisors, and we are looking for 2 people to help us organise lunchtimes for up to 12 children. Senior members of staff are always present, but we could do with some help.

Volunteer drivers (20)

Ref. 3291

We are looking for volunteer drivers to place and collect our charity boxes from shops and pubs within M-25. We need volunteers to be able to commit to donating one day a week.

We fundraise in a variety of ways from big events, our annual abseil to smaller community events and collections. We heavily rely on our volunteers to keep our unique service operational.

Volunteer collectors (100)

Ref. 2094

Volunteers required to support collections around London. We organise the venue and send out details a month in advance. If you are free to help just let us know and we will arrange for you to collect a bucket and uniform.
We fundraise in a variety of ways from big events, our annual abseil to smaller community events and collections. We heavily rely on our volunteers to keep our unique service operational.

Information Volunteer

Ref: 3447

We are recruiting volunteers to assist in the provision of information (e.g. leaflets, posters and information days) to people with arthritis, in London Libraries. This includes: identifying and targeting libraries in which to provide information about arthritis and Arthritis Care within a given area; ensuring the supply of up-to-date and relevant information to each library; liaising with staff at the designated library with regard to the service you provide; representing and promoting Arthritis Care; raising awareness of the needs of people with arthritis, delivering standard presentations to local community groups within a library setting.

Blog writers (15)

Ref. 3041

We're looking for writers to blog about issues pertaining to education and culture, society and technology with a focus on the African continent.

We're looking for writers with a distinctive voice, an ability to look at things insightfully and communicate them in an engaging manner to a wide audience. This opportunity will give a young and upcoming writer the chance to develop their network and have their words read across the continent.

Events Volunteer

Ref. 2972

We use music as a tool to help homeless people move forward to in their lives. We run music Workshop Program in 11 homeless centres nationally, which helps build self-confidence self-esteem social networks, skills, creativity and enjoyment for our participants.

Every year we organise several fundraising events to help raise funds for our work and to develop new supporters and audiences. These events can be anything from a quiz to open mic night performing an Opera in a Day. Your role will involve helping to set up the venue, arranging chairs, tables and seating plans, helping ticket allocation, displaying information or prizes, assisting in greeting guests, looking after participants should they be attending, and any other job our team require.

Reception Officer

Ref: 3477

We are a welcoming community hub for all types of people in the heart of Westminster. We run a friendly cafe, community centre and conferencing service and we are looking for a reception officer volunteer who will assist us. We offer a great opportunity to develop administrative and front line customer service skills in a friendly supportive environment.

Refugee Services Interpreter

Ref: 3470

We have a long tradition of providing practical and emotional support to vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers in the UK. Our Refugee Services work with thousands of beneficiaries every year in around fifty different towns and cities enabling people to draw upon their own strengths to withstand crisis and rebuild their lives.

Please join our team if you have good interpersonal, diplomacy, communication and teamwork skills. Full training will be given for any technical requirements.

Required languages for the role: Kurdish, Turkish, Farsi, Tigrinya, Amharic, Russian, Mandarin, Arabic, Dari & Pashtu.

Befriender for a person with mental health issues

Ref. 3134

Befriending opportunities for enthusiastic volunteers!

Our clients have experienced mental health issues and homelessness and currently live in mental health hostels. We have 6 clients across two projects that require befrienders. You could work with one or two clients. We would meet you informally to discuss the position, and then set up a meeting with your befriendee to ensure a good match. Befriending will be anything from 1 hour to a full day depending on your / the clients requirements.

Volunteers could take a client out for walks, for a coffee or for day trips. We would provide full training/ CRB checks through our volunteer service. We also would provide expenses.

Family befriender (20)

Ref. 104

Know the difficulties that young parents face? Would you like to help other parents create a secure childhood for their children? Then this could be the organisation for you.

We support children under the age of 5 and their families by carefully matching them with volunteers who can help make their lives a little easier and less isolated. As a family befriender you will build a relationship with the family you have been matched with. Spending a couple of hours a week with them to help support their needs whatever they maybe could mean helping with the shopping, playing with the children, taking them to the park or simply listening to a parent.

We put a high priority on the induction and training of the volunteers. You will be given a 5 week training course which will lead to an accreditation in home visiting. You will also receive regular support either individually or as a group. There are many other activities you can get involved in, such as Family Groups, day trips and a Volunteers' Forum.

Creative Assistant

Ref: 3638

We are looking for creative assistant willing to work with a creative team. The candidate will assist visual technician in their duties, work with both PC and MAC in post-production and help writers in their activities.
Candidate is required to attend two meetings a month.

Ref. 3638

Youth And School Volunteers

Ref: 3492

Our aim is to reach people with first aid and humanitarian messages across the UK. Our goal is to engage with young people and encourage them to remain part of the humanitarian world, helping others in crisis. This can be achieved through staff and volunteers with a range of skills working together.

As a youth volunteer, you will have the chance to be part of a fantastic network of volunteers, helping to spread the youth message of the British Red Cross in schools, colleges and youth organisations. You will provide expertise, support and guidance to children and young people to improve their confidence, ability and willingness to help those in need and to educate people to be more resilient.

In this role we are looking for individuals to assist first aid trainers to deliver lifesaving skills to young people in schools and youth organisations and to support young people to develop peer education projects across all London boroughs within the M25.

Helpline volunteer

Ref. 3246

Helpline volunteers provide calm words when they are needed most by anyone considering issues around their sexuality. This is an exciting opportunity for LGBT volunteers to help their community. After training you will be dealing with calls on many varied topics.

Volunteers should be good listeners who can provide support without being directive.

Membership volunteer

Ref: 3627

We are looking for membership volunteers to run and promote our membership service. This will include informing potential members of what services they can access. Networking at suitable events where potential members are likely to attend. Creating a database of members and ensuring that this is kept accurate and up to date.

Front of House Volunteer

Ref. 3708

We are looking for 6 volunteers to shadow our front of house staff over the next few months. We are looking for people aged 16-25 who live in the borough of Westminster and are currently registered unemployed and looking to gain experience of costumer service in a theatre environment.

You will need to be able to work daytimes and or evenings, weekdays and or weekends. You can apply for any of the two week placements and need to be available for around 12 shifts of 3.5 hours during each placement e.g. 42 hours over 2 weeks.
* Placement 1: 26th November - 8th December
* Placement 2: 10th December - 22nd December
* Placement 3: 31st December - 12th January
* Placement 4: 14th January - 26th January
* Placement 5: 28th January - 9th February
* Placement 6: 11th February - 23th February

Befriending volunteer (100)

Ref. 3296

We are looking for volunteers to establish and maintain appropriate and professional boundaries in the befriending relationship, to provide input, acknowledging a person's right to make decisions for themselves,which is non-judgmental and supports the individual to achieve their goals. We hope you recognise that the relationship with the client may be challenging due to the needs and circumstances of the client and being realistic about what can be achieved in your relationship with them. The tasks undertaken by a volunteer will vary depending upon the needs of the individual they are supporting but will at all times be governed by the policies and procedures operated by the Project.

The volunteer will ideally be reliable & committed, have good communication skills and can speak a south Asian language such as Hindi,Urdu, Punjabi, Gujarati or Bengali.You will have a good understanding of the Asian community in Britain and have a mature attitude and empathy for clients, be able to maintain confidentiality and use a non-judgmental, honest and tactful approach. We expect our volunteers be able to commit to 2-3 hours per week for a minimum of six month.

Breakfast cook (5)

Ref. 495

We are looking for a breakfast cook for an over 50's breakfast club every Friday between 9:30 and 12 in the Victoria area.

Training will be provided but preferably you will have some qualification. The position is a subject to 3 months trial period, and candidates should have Food and Hygiene Certificate.

Breakfast volunteer (5)

Ref. 430

People are needed for this great opportunity to help with a breakfast club.

Duties will include practicalities, such as, washing up, cleaning tables, and general kitchen duties. There will also be an opportunity to chat to local elderly people. If volunteers can commit to helping out for at least 6 months there is the opportunity to do some training and go on a food hygiene course.

After you have attained a food hygiene course you will be able to cook the meals.

Over 50’s dinner volunteer (5)

Ref. 1470

Volunteers required for over 50's dinner in Victoria/Pimlico

The volunteers are needed once a month a Saturday serving dinners, washing pots, making tea and coffee and chatting to elderly older people.

This is a good way to meet elderly people in a great atmosphere.

Over 50’s dinner volunteer (5)

Ref. 2276

Volunteer required for over 50's dinner (11am -3pm) in Vauxhall which take place on the first Wednesday of every month.

Your tasks will include serving dinners, washing pots, making tea and coffee and chatting to elderly older people. This opportunity is a good way to meet elderly people in a great atmosphere.

Volunteer for our London hubs and community cafes

Ref. 3177

Volunteers play a crucial role in helping us address the issues of food waste and food poverty, whilst gaining valuable skills and experience. Our projects are tackling real problems in the local community; the idea is simple but the effects are great… and we have a lot of fun too!

There are many different roles and ways to volunteer within our charity. Each Hub is run by a team of volunteers, providing a weekly community meal and arranging a lot of fundraising events to get involved in too.

There is no better way to spend a little of your spare time... doing food pick-ups, cooking, serving and chatting to local residents. You can sign up for the whole shift or a few hours, and can come along as little or as often as you want!

For those that want to take on more responsibility, we also look for Hub leaders, who take on roles including: treasurer, volunteer coordinator, fundraiser, events and promotion. Get in touch to learn more about these roles!

Mental Health Befriender

Ref. 3591

Flexicare befrienders provide companionship, practical and emotional support to those affected by mental ill health. You will be required to visit clients in their homes and assist them in accessing other service in their community, such as Cinemas, café, galleries. Minimum commitment of 2 hours per fortnight for 6 months. No previous experience necessary. Full training, ongoing support and CRBs provided

Volunteer Mentor

Ref. 3631

We are looking for mentors for a child. This is one of the most satisfying, funny and rewarding experiences you could ever have. You would help a child gain a greater sense of belonging at home, at school and with friends. You would meet with a child aged 5-11 for 2-4 hours, once a week for year. We would also ask you to spend time planning mentoring sessions, and attend supervision once a month at Chance UK offices.

International Citizen Service Volunteer

Ref. 3531

The International Citizen Service (ICS) is a global volunteer experience which supports youg people from all backgrounds to make a real diffence to some of the world's poorest people. This new initiative funded by the Department for International Development (DFID), will give thousands of 18-25 year olds across the UK the chance to join in the fight against global poverty.

Helpline Volunteer

Ref. 1610

We are looking for volunteers who will be able to answer phone calls, emails and web chats from under 25s accross UK, offering confidential, emotional support. We help young people with a wide range of issues including bullying, abuse, homelessness, sexuality and mental health.

Volunteering with us is a good opportunity - you will be empowering young peolpe to make a real difference to their own lifes, whilst developing your own communications skills and meeting lots of new people. We will give you full training, and cover your travel expenses.

We are looking for volunteers to do one 4-hour shift per week, especially those who are available to do daytime shifts. We are open everyday, from 1pm - 11pm and are based near Baker Street near Central London.

Volunteer Mentor

Ref. 3627

We are looking for membership volunteers to run and promote our membership services. This will include informing potential members of what services they can access. You will also be networking at suitable events where potential members are likely to attend and create a database of members and ensuring that this is kept accurate and up to date.

Performance Volunteer

Ref. 2971

We are often asked to perform at external events ranging from meetings and conferences to the bi-annual main production. Your role will be varied and will depend on what is need in terms of support of the day. It is likely to involve supporting the company managers, meeting participants and taking them to the venue, helping set-up the waiting areas and rehearsal space, organising refreshments, assisting participants into costume, directing the audience to the seats, looking for valuables during performance and tidying up at the end.

Volunteer Administrator

Ref. 2973

Streetwise Opera uses music as a tool to help homeless people move forward to in their lives - we run music Workshop Program in 11 homeless centres nationally, which helps build self-confidence self-esteem social networks, skills, creativity and enjoyment for our participants.

As an Admin Assistant you will have a variety of duties from producing and distributing newsletters and other marketing and promotional materials, to maintaining databases, filling, photocopying and archiving materials. Sometimes we need help with mail outs - and then it's a case of all hands on deck to fill envelopes and post them out.

Volunteer Fundraisers

Ref. 3628

We are urgently looking for a team of volunteers to help us to raise funds so we can continue with the activities of the organisation.

You will do this by researching relevant funders and applying for these funders for grants. You will also use your own initiative under the guidance of the CEO to come up with fundraising activities such as events, auctions.

Workshop Volunteer

Ref. 2969

Volunteering in workshops will involve a weekly commitment for ten or twelve workshops or possibly a longer term involvement. The role will include all the small things that help a workshop run smoothly such as setting chairs, handing out/photocopying word sheets, getting the kettle on the tea break, support staff. This opportunity would particularly suit volunteers who would enjoy taking part of the workshop alongside the participants.