If you can spare time – however much – to volunteer, there are many local opportunities to make a difference to those who need extra help and support.
Little Village needs volunteers
Little Village is opening a new hub in Roehampton and they need your help. Little Village provides great quality baby clothes and equipment, donated by families, to families who need this kit but can’t afford to buy it. They promote sustainable living, and they make it as easy as possible for local families to support one another.
They are looking for volunteers who are available on a Monday or Tuesday (10-1pm) to help pack up items for families, sort donations and support when these items are collected.
Little Village are working closely with Eastwood Children’s Centre and will be based there (166-168 Roehampton Lane, London, SW15 4HR).
If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer please complete this very short form and they can get you involved ASAP!
29 October 2020
FiSH Neighbourhood Care
FiSH Neighbourhood Care provides voluntary help for the residents of Barnes, Mortlake & East Sheen with the aim of combating loneliness and providing practical support.
There is a long winter ahead of us and FiSH need more volunteers! If you have a couple of hours a week to spare they need shoppers, car drivers, bus escort’s, gardeners, handypersons, bakers, errand runners… The time you give is up to you; some volunteers help on a regular basis, others just occasionally. Some have direct contact with clients, others less so. But every minute you give will make a difference and will be appreciated!
Application forms can be downloaded from their website.
All FiSH volunteers are DBS checked and will need to provide two referees.
29 October 2020
Volunteer position: Court Volunteer with PSU
The Personal Support Unit aim to reduce the disadvantage of people facing the civil and family justice system without a lawyer, enabling them to access justice. They believe that no one should face court alone and so they work to provide immediate support to everyone who comes to them.
The PSU’s incredible service is only possible because of the time, dedication and varied experience of life that volunteers bring to bear when helping their clients.
Attending court alone is daunting. Those they support are usually unable to access any formal legal help, yet need to be able to present their own case clearly and without emotion – often facing professional barristers in court. At a time of great stress, this can seem an insurmountable task.
Their volunteers provide both reassurance and guidance, so that their clients have the very best chance of engaging with the courts in a dignified away.
Volunteers support clients by:
- explaining how the court works
- helping to fill in court forms and organise court papers
- helping clients plan what they want to say in court
- going into court hearings with them
Find out more about court volunteering with PSU here. If you can spare at least two days per month volunteering at the West London Family Court, then they would like to hear from you. Please complete an online expression of interest via their website and the relevant PSU will send you further details and a comprehensive application form. If successful you will then be required to have an interview with the relevant service.
Befriending Volunteers wanted
Have you got some free time to visit a resident in our local care home, lead a singing group or play scrabble? Local charity Embracing Age are looking for volunteers to befriend residents in the local care home. Please get in touch with Rachel@EmbracingAge.org.uk or through the Embracing Age website.
Age UK Richmond upon Thames currently needs motivated volunteers for:
IT One-to-One Support, Handyperson Service Support, Social Centre Champion, Games and Activities and Finance Manager Support
Age UK Richmond upon Thames work across the borough to improve the quality of life for older people and to enhance their status and influence. They seek volunteers for a variety of new projects. Perhaps you have the skills and experience they are looking for?
As a volunteer with Age UK Richmond upon Thames you can expect induction training, ongoing support, out of pocket expenses, the opportunity to help make a difference to the lives of people in the London Borough of Richmond, the chance to gain new skills and experiences and to be part of a caring team.
What Age UK Richmond upon Thames would expect from you in return is a commitment to support older people, the ability to offer your services on a regular basis and reliability and trustworthiness.
Click here for a list of current volunteering opportunities with Age UK Richmond and details on how to apply.
Age UK Richmond upon Thames, Suite 301, 3rd Floor, Parkway House, Sheen Lane, East Sheen, London SW14 8LS.
Volunteer with the Scouts – become a Beaver Colony Leader!
East Sheen Scout Group is looking for volunteers to run its Atlantic Beaver Colony.
Beaver Scouts are young people aged between six and eight years old. They belong to the first and youngest Section in the Scouting family. Boys and girls can join Beaver Scouts in the three months leading up to their sixth birthday. They can move to the next Section, Cub Scouts, between seven years and six months and eight years six months. Easily recognised by their distinctive turquoise sweatshirts, Beaver Scouts enjoy making friends, playing games, going on visits and helping others.
Beavers meet every other week at Christchurch Community Hall during term time.
We are looking for potential leaders (aged 18+) to be part of a team. Ideally you would share the job amongst you, holding a planning meeting just before each term started. If there are four volunteers sharing the role, then two people would run a meeting, on alternate Tuesdays, with the help of parents on a rota. This means each person would only have to run 4 meetings a term. It’s great fun!
We can offer training and support so no previous experience required.
Please contact Lynn at lynnmmilner@btinternet.com if you are interested in this rewarding role.
East Sheen Scout Group – Website
Missing People needs Helpline Volunteers for Project 42:
Project 42 is new initiative that aims to ensure that Missing People’s Helpline Volunteer Rota is filled every single shift, every day of the week. That’s 42 shifts every week.
Helpline Volunteers provide vital emotional and practical support to people who are away from home and their loved ones left behind. Often supporting people in crisis, it is a vital role, which relies heavily on the compassion and generosity shown by our team of wonderful volunteers. Ensuring full coverage of our volunteer rota each day will mean we’re able to respond to more people who need our help.
This is a brilliant role if you’re a great communicator. If you’re interested in finding out more you can read the full role description or register your interest on our volunteer management hub.
The deadline is 5th April. Full training to equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge for this role is provided. If you’d like to find out more from a member of the volunteering team, you can email mailto:volunteer@missingpeople.org.uk or call 020 8392 4590.
Click here for a list of other current volunteering opportunities with Missing People.
Missing People,284 Upper Richmond Road West, East Sheen SW14 7JE | Tel: 020 8392 4590
Volunteer at Shelter, East Sheen:
Shelter helps millions of people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness through our advice, support and legal services. And we campaign to make sure that one day, no one will have to turn to us for help. We’re here so no one has to fight bad housing or homelessness on their own.
Shelter East Sheen is looking for any help from people of all ages and backgrounds. Please drop in, e-mail, or call for further information:
Eastsheenshop@shelter.org.uk | 0208 878 4990
Shelter East Sheen, 337 Upper Richmond Road West, East Sheen SW14 8QR
Home-Start
Home-Start UK is the leading family support charity. They offer outreach services through volunteers giving regular support, friendship and practical help to families with young children who may be under stress. This support can be fundamental to helping prevent family crisis and breakdown.
The Richmond scheme, based on Sheen Lane, runs FREE regular training courses which cover an introduction to Home-Start, Safeguarding, Boundaries, Listening Skills, Confidentiality, Values and Attitudes, Parenting and Play, plus supporting families with issues such as bereavement and loss, special needs, mental illness, early language development and domestic abuse.
For more information,please contact Angie Ahmed 020 8487 8500 or info@homestart-richmond.org.uk.
Find out more about being a volunteer here.
Home-Start Richmond upon Thames, 211 Parkway House, Sheen Lane SW14 8LS
Other East Sheen Charity Shops
Your local charity shops are always keen to hear from people who would like to volunteer, including Duke of Edinburgh students. Please feel free to drop in any time and see how you can help. All help is much appreciated, however much time you have to spare.
A full listing of your local charity shops can be found here. They include:
- Princess Alice Hospice
- Octavia Foundation
- The Children’s Society
- Cancer Research UK
- Fara
- Mind
- Barnardos
- Youth Education Sport Charity Shop