Category: Housing

School Readers is looking for volunteers in your community to listen to children read in primary schools. No qualifications are required, just a love of reading, some spare time each week in term time and a willingness to go where children need you the most.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated individual to support the Enrichment Co-ordinator and/or Play Specialist. You will volunteer as part of a team providing play and activities to babies, children and young adults within the hospice and the wider community as part of our ‘Activity Outreach Service’. This is an exciting and rewarding opportunity to make a real difference to the families that are supported by Bluebell Wood. Key Tasks: We require you to assist with: Supporting staff in their delivery of play and enrichment activities including scheduled group work and workshops; Preparing resources pertaining to play; Maintain certain environments within the hospice for dedicated play/enrichment, including display boards; Support with tidying up after activities including stock replenishment; Supporting effective communication with babies, children, young people and their families to ensure they are well supported and included in all activities; Supporting the Enrichment Coordinator and/or Play Specialist in visiting children and young people in hospital or their home to provide bespoke play/enrichment activities. Ideally you will: Be artistic and creative; Be positive, friendly and outgoing; Hold inclusivity at the heart of all you do; Have experience and confidence with children and an awareness and understanding of special educational needs and disabilities; Understand the sensitive and confidential work which is carried out at the hospice; Have good communication skills; Be reliable; Be sensitive, self-aware and recognise your limitations and boundaries; Be flexible to the changing needs of the hospice environment and the needs of children and their families. What we offer in return: The opportunity to develop new and existing skills; The chance to be in a voluntary role helping to provide a special environment for the families that access Bluebell Wood’s care; The opportunity to meet new people and be part of an enthusiastic team; Induction training to help you learn more about Bluebell Wood; Training provided to carry out your role, including online training; We’ll cover your travel expenses (in line with our policy); We’ll provide you with free refreshments and a free meal if you volunteer across lunchtime. General Bluebell Wood volunteers are asked to: Be a minimum of 16 years of age; Attend induction and any routine training; To complete e-learning training around areas relevant to the role; Abide by Bluebell Wood policies and guidance, including our Health & Safety policy; Co-operate and liaise with colleagues; Act in a professional manner at all times; Be polite and respectful to everyone you meet whilst volunteering in this role; Act as an Ambassador for the Bluebell Wood Charity. Additional Information: Bluebell Wood is committed to safe volunteer recruitment practices. An Enhanced level Disclosure Barring Services (DBS) check is required for this role. These are free for volunteers. Please be aware that if you do not have your own transport, or live locally, the hospice is difficult to get to by public transport. If in doubt, please check public transport routes to see if it is feasible for you to volunteer here. We are over one mile from the nearest bus stop.

About this role:

We are looking for enthusiastic and motivated individuals to help staff maintain the efficient running of the kitchen. You will volunteer as part of a team providing catering services to children and young people and their families and to staff, within the hospice. This is an exciting and rewarding opportunity to meet new people and make a real difference to the families that visit Bluebell Wood.

We are looking for volunteers to support kitchen chefs at Bluebell Wood on any day of the week and at set times.

You will volunteer as part of a team providing catering services to children and young people and their families and to staff, within the hospice. This is an exciting and rewarding opportunity to meet new people and make a real difference to the families that visit Bluebell Wood.

Key tasks:

Volunteers will support with some or all of the following tasks:

• Setting up our dining room tables.
• Basic preparation of food ready for cooking (such as salad and vegetables).
• Clearing away plates and crockery after meals.
• Washing up and loading /emptying dish washer.
• Keeping the kitchen area tidy.
• Helping to keep store-room tidy and clean.
• Removing rubbish to appropriate areas.
• Other tasks as appropriate as directed by our Chefs.

What we are looking for:

We’re looking for volunteers who:

•  Are friendly, respectful and have good communication skills as you will be meeting with families, staff and visitors
• Are willing to work as part of a team
• Understand the sensitive and confidential work which is carried out at the hospice
• Are able to cope well under pressure in a busy kitchen environment
• Are able to operate kitchen equipment under supervision (training provided).

What we offer in return

• The opportunity to develop new and existing skills.
• The chance to be in a voluntary role helping to provide a special environment for the families that access our care.
• The opportunity to meet new people and be part of an enthusiastic team.
• Induction training to help you learn more about Bluebell Wood.
• Training provided in order to carry out your role, including online training.
• We’ll cover your travel expenses (in line with our policy).
• We’ll provide you with free refreshments and a free meal if you volunteer across lunchtime.

General

Bluebell Wood volunteers in this role are asked to:

• Be a minimum of 16 years of age
• Attend induction and any routine training
• To complete online training around areas relevant to your role
• Abide by Bluebell Wood policies and guidance, including our Health & Safety policy
• Co-operate and liaise with colleagues
• Act in a professional manner at all times
• Be polite and respectful to everyone you meet whilst volunteering in this role
• Act as an Ambassador for the Bluebell Wood Charity.

Additional Information

• Bluebell Wood is committed to safe volunteer recruitment practices. A standard level Disclosure Barring Services (DBS) check is required for this role. These are free for volunteers.
• To help protect the vulnerable children and young people who access our care, we encourage hospice staff and volunteers to vaccinate against Covid-19 and flu where eligible.
• All volunteers handling food must cover their hair (including any facial hair) with hair nets provided. No jewellery except wedding rings can be worn whilst volunteering due to hygiene reasons.
• Please be aware that if you do not have your own transport, or live locally, the hospice is very difficult to get to by public transport. If in doubt, please check public transport routes to see if it is feasible for you to volunteer here. We are over one mile from the nearest bus stop.

Mindscape are in need of a couple of volunteers, one to become the Secretary of the group helping with the admin side of things as they expand. They also require a Mental Health Champion to help promote the group and provide support for individuals if they need it with their mental health issues. Mental Health First Aid certificate is an advantage but not essential as training available.

HMC (Hatred Monitoring Centre) is looking for dedicated volunteers in charge of social media data collection. At the initial stage, we aim to collect small-scale data across different minorities, including the Banyamulenge, Roma, and Hazara communities. The objective of this exercise is to compare how these communities are portrayed on different social media platforms and anticipate the trends of hatred campaigns in the future. The tasks of the social media data collection volunteers will involve: Monitoring & Recording Hate Speech & Online Campaigns: Document and track hate speech trends on social media platforms and online forums and assist in laying the foundations of creating databases for future research and advocacy. Volunteers can help in setting up mechanisms to flag up harmful content that requires urgent action. Administrative and Research Support: Conduct preliminary assessment of data collected and basic research to determine funding opportunities and advise on how to best use the information gathered for an inclusive society. Social Media and Content Creation: Support HMC’s online presence by creating blog posts, graphics… based on the preliminary assessment of data collected. Any other relevant tasks aimed at promoting HMC’s mission and objectives.

This is an adhoc role which you support at the events near to you that suit your availability. Most events take place on weekends and bank holidays. Bluebell Wood offers care for children and young people in North Derbyshire with a vast range of complex medical needs. We are looking for motivated and enthusiastic individuals to support with the running of our events and fundraising initiatives.

Charlie’s Place Animal Sanctuary’ in Pilsley near Chesterfield, are looking for animal lovers who are happy to volunteer an hour or so in a morning or evening on occasions, to help care for a wide range of animals. The Sanctuary houses hens, ducks, pigs, sheep, lambs, donkeys, geese and various birds along with hedgehogs, pigeons and squirrels often receiving specialist care in the sanctuary hospital.  If you love animals, are 16+ and you are interested in caring for a wide range of them – please get in touch, the animals will be happy to meet you!  For more information, you can find Charlie’s Place on Facebook

This is a vital and interesting role within the ‘Read Easy’ Sheffield team to lead on the marketing and publicity of the Sheffield group. This will involve running social media accounts, creating posters and other graphics whilst proactively seeking opportunities to promote our work. This voluntary position will suit someone who has an interest in marketing and communications, enjoys social media and can help to champion what we do. You will need to be enthusiastic and self-motivated with excellent written and verbal communication skills and able to write compelling communications. The main focuses of our publicity include reaching new readers, advertising volunteer roles, fundraising campaigns and advocating for our charitable work.

Read Easy Sheffield are recruiting a part-time/flexible Fundraiser. This is a vital and interesting role within the Read Easy Sheffield Management Team to secure funding from local organizations, grants and trusts that are interested in investing directly into their local community. It will suit someone who enjoys writing, making new connections and championing what we do. You will receive training and support to develop your fundraising skills, so whilst previous experience is desirable it’s not essential. What will you be doing: planning how much money is needed to cover group expenses and agreeing best approaches to fundraising; writing applications to local community funding organizations’ and businesses; Skills: a non-judgmental attitude and respect for others with a commitment to equality and diversity so that you can make everyone feel valued and included,.

DCHS Clay Cross Community Hospital/ Ripley Community Hospital

The aim of our meet and greet volunteers is to provide a happy polite and helpful service to our patients and visitors, by assisting them with a variety of enquiries and signpost or escort patients to the appropriate department.

Responsibilities/tasks:

· To make patients, visitors and the general public feel welcome

· Greet patients entering the hospital

· Offer support to patients requiring directions to departments and wards.

· To reassure anxious service users or visitors.

· Help to provide an efficient service for staff and patients within the hospital

As a volunteer, you will be expected to:

· Maintain appropriate confidentiality.

· Adhere to all guidelines for Infection Protection and Control, including adequate handwashing and PPE.

· Treat colleagues, patients and relatives with respect and compassion at all times.

· Act within the limits of your skills and training provided.

Personal qualities:

· Excellent communication skills

· Polite and approachable

· Professional friendly approach