. We are looking for people over the age of 14 to help run our centre over the summer period. We are very keen on getting people for the 11th/12th May and for the summer holidays. They will be helping with maintenance tasks, cleaning tasks and possibly assisting the running of activities. This could count towards your Bronze DofE, so speak to your Leader. For more details contact Rhys Pedrick on 01702 562690
IT Mentors: The Abbeyfield Society is a charity that provides accommodation, support and care to older people. With more than 500 supported living houses and 80 care homes in the UK, Abbeyfield’s mission is to enhance the quality of life for older people. Integral to our homes are the teams of volunteers who underpin each Abbeyfield house. Their contributions range from activities such as chatting with residents to getting involved with bigger projects, like fundraising for new developments. One of our newer volunteer projects aims to bridge the gap between generations and, currently, we are training young people (aged 15 to 25) to teach our residents how to use iPads. The scheme, titled ‘iPals’, has been running for a year and already 32 of our residents have become technology savvy with the help of 32 of our young IT Mentors. We have had one resident watch their grandchildren open Christmas presents on Skype and one of our oldest residents – a 108 year old – is now on Twitter! The scheme involves a commitment of one hour per week over a twelve-week period. Abbeyfield provide all the necessary equipment alongside a training pack to ensure the young volunteers feel comfortable on their first day with us. We are currently recruiting young IT Mentors for our house in Kendal – although we have additional opportunities around the country. Details: j.conway@abbeyfield.com
Live Below the Line is an innovative awareness and fundraising campaign that's making a huge difference in the fight against extreme poverty. We are challenging individuals and communities to see how much change you can make out of £1. By living off just £1 per day for food for 5 days, you will be bringing to life the direct experiences of the 1.4 billion people currently living in extreme poverty and helping to make real change. To complete the Live Below the Line challenge as part of your DofE Programme you will not only raise funds for crucial anti-poverty initiatives, you will also gain a personal insight into one of the challenges faced when living below the extreme poverty line. For more details visit www.livebelowtheline.com/uk
British Heart Foundation Volunteering Opportunities - Across the UK we have over 725
retail shops. We're actually the biggest second-hand furniture and electrical retailer in the UK, with over 153 dedicated Furniture and Electrical stores. By volunteering n BHF Shops or Furniture &Electrical Stores you can help fight for every heartbeat. We have a wide range of volunteer roles in our BHF shops and Furniture and Electrical stores including warehouse operatives, sales and customer service, administration, window dressing and arranging house collections. There are also opportunities to participate or help out at
events and help with our
fundraising. To find out more about volunteering in one of our retail shops
click here
Citizens Advice Direct is a telephone and web based advice service which offers free, independent advice to the citizens of Scotland. Our state of the art contact centre is based in Glasgow's affluent Merchant City. As Investors in People we value the commitment and dedication of our volunteers and aim towards empowering and developing each individual. By doing so we allow them to deal with the many different issues our clients present us with each day. Our volunteer workforce is made up of people from all sections of society with the only qualification being a willingness to help others. We offer a comprehensive training programme via a range of flexible courses, as well ongoing support, travel expenses, and opportunities to undertake a range of additional training. If you are over 16 years old and interested contact us at
recruitment@citizensadvicedirect.org.uk
The Woodland Trust are running
FREE ‘Discover Woods’ courses that provide practical tips and ideas to help you plan woodland adventures. This opportunity could be used as part of your Gold Volunteering section. Attending a course would enable you to plan and lead an activity packed woodland adventure for other young people. You may decide to plan a woodland visit for young people working toward their Bronze or Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award or you may lead a visit for any other group of young people aged 11-16. The one day courses include: an introduction to nature spotting, seasonal foraging, basic bush craft skills, ideas for woodland challenges, games and activities and preparing for your woodland visit. Courses are suitable for beginners. You will need to be 16+ to attend a course and make independent plans after the training date to take a group of young people on a woodland visit prior to Sep 2013. All visits should be arranged and delivered in conjunction with the young people’s group leader. You may attend the training with your leader if preferred. To find out where your nearest course is visit our website
www.visitwoods.org.uk/discoverwoods To book a place please contact Susan Khan
susankhan@woodlandtrust.org.uk or ring 08452 935546 or 07827 827010
Epilepsy Society – Communication Project Volunteer. This is an exciting project to set up and implement ‘Widget’, which is a pictorial/symbolic communication system that supports individuals’ communication needs. Used in conjunction with verbal communication the system engages the individual in meaningful visual and vocal communication. Alternatively you may wish to support the staff teams of individual departments to produce newsletters giving details of past and forthcoming for circulation across the site. Epilepsy Society will provide appropriate training and information necessary to fulfil role of volunteer. Any expenses must be negotiated prior to starting role. The mentor & volunteer coordinator will provide support to enable the volunteer to fulfil their role. Pictorial and written evidence of your role can be gathered to support your Award. For more information email Martina.pettitt@epilepsysociety.org.uk
Flood Awareness Wales work with communities who we have identified as at risk of flooding, and there are opportunities to help raise awareness amongst these specific geographical areas through the following; Raise awareness through leaflet drops; organise local events and drop in meetings; assisting Flood Plan Leads, set up community groups through social media. The type of volunteer opportunities will depend on the communities we’re engaging with, and your creative input will also be appreciated. To speak to one of our team about volunteer opportunities in your local area, please contact Flood Awareness Wales on 02920 466103 or email
floodawareness.wales@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk
Energy Clubs is a new project ran by Sports Leaders UK which offers primary schools the opportunity to host a FREE breakfast, lunchtime or after school club ran by volunteers. These volunteers can be anyone over the age of 16, parents, grandparents, friends of the school our sports leaders/students. An Energy Club involves 30 mins of a fun, energetic physical activity delivered to a specific age group within primary schools and guiding the children to think about a healthy lifestyle and diet. To find out more information on volunteering with Energy Clubs please go to www.energyclubuk.org and register interest. Download their leaflet here.
Parkrun: parkrun organise free, weekly, 5km timed runs around the world. They are open to everyone, free, and are safe and easy to take part in. These events take place in pleasant surroundings and we encourage people of every ability to take part; from those taking their first steps in running to Olympians; from juniors to those with more experience; we welcome you all. If you’re interested in signing up to run at an existing parkrun event, or volunteering to help out please go to www.parkrun.org.uk
Do you have a brilliant fundraising idea for the British Red Cross? If so, you could win £100 towards making your idea a reality. Hundred 2 Hundreds gives you the chance to create your own fundraising project. It’s an opportunity to have fun with your friends, while developing invaluable skills. You can build your skills in research, leadership and creativity, and learn about humanitarian issues. Also, by raising money for the British Red Cross, you’ll be helping people in crisis at home and overseas. Hundred 2 Hundreds can be used for the Volunteering section of your Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, or as part of your Silver or Gold Volunteering sections. How do I apply ? We are now accepting applications. You will find the application form online, and further information, at
http://www.redcross.org.uk/Hundred2Hundreds. Will you help me? If you need to, you can talk your plan through with our fundraising team before you apply. Just email
getfundraising@redcross.org.ukor call us on 08444122811. If you become one of the winning groups, you will be given advice and support from our fabulous fundraisers, as well as a confirmation pack to help you plan your event or project. What else do I need to know? You will need to complete the event or project within three months of receiving the award, and should aim to at least triple the money you’ve been awarded. There are certificates for all fundraising achievements over £300.
Kilmartin House Museum (Argyll) Volunteers: The Kilmartin House Museum (approx. 30 miles south of Oban) is unique. A visitor centre in the heart of the historic Kilmartin Glen: a landscape dominated by ancient monuments, the museum cares for and displays many of the archaeological objects discovered in the local area. It provides a shop, café and centre for education, enabling people of all ages to enjoy and better understand the historic, cultural and natural riches of the area. The museum relies on a dedicated and growing team of volunteers who work with us in a variety of ways. There are opportunities for you to bring your enthusiasm to the museum where we can tailor a role for you. Whether you would like to interact with visitors, help in the garden, assist the education team on activities for schools or maybe work behind the scenes in the office, we will provide full support and training to help you develop your skills and feel confident in your role. We will provide an assessor who will meet with you at key stages throughout your programme and provide your final assessor report. For more information contact Lynn Jones, Volunteer Coordinator lynn@kilmartin.org 01546 510278
Reach: Each year, babies are born in the UK missing part of one or both arms and hands and some children lose limbs or parts of limbs due to traumatic incidents or necessary surgery. Reach aims to provide affected families with the opportunity to get together, share experiences and information about what to do and where to go for advice on treatment and help them realise that they are not alone. Every year about 40 children with upper limb deficiency go on Reach Activity Week (RAW). These events are confidence building and life changing as Reach children are able to learn from each other and build supportive friendships. Funds are desperately needed for Reach to carry on providing RAWs. Participants may wish to get involved with a local branch or undertake a fundraising campaign for the national charity. W: www.reach.org.uk T: 0845 1306 225 E: reach@reach.org.uk
Concern Universal is an international development organisation tackling poverty from the grassroots. We create opportunities for people around the world to improve their lives and shape their own futures. By building skills and connecting people at all levels in society, we help communities deliver practical solutions with long term impact. Today we are working in 9 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America tackling these 5 main areas; food security, better health, respect for rights, skills development and resilience to disasters and climate change. Volunteers play an important role in helping Concern Universal achieve its objectives. We need volunteers to join our team and help raise funds as well as awareness of the work we do. Why not fundraise on behalf of Concern Universal in your area. We can provide you with training, support and ideas for fundraising activities. We also need volunteers to attend events on our behalf and seek out opportunities for potential fundraising events. www.concern-universal.org If you are interested in volunteering please contact James Rogers for more information; james.rogers@concern-universal.org or 01432 355111
Heritage centre volunteers: The 1745 House at Dunollie is a heritage centre just outside Oban newly opened to the public. We are at an exciting point in our development and over the next few years we will be expanding our exhibition space in order to display more of our collection and we will be undertaking a program of archaeological investigation and research into our grounds which includes the medieval castle. We have a varied and interesting selection of volunteer opportunities available: Visitor assistants, Castle Tour Guides, Cream Teas, Organising events, Marketing and promotion, manning events, Archive Group, Curatorial assistant, Grounds and Castle Maintenance, Wall consolidation, Path Construction, Gardening, Tree Thinning, Archaeology Research/Survey/Excavation/Post-Excavation Work/Grave Yard recording. We provide training and supervision for all volunteers. Contact Tara Coia, Learning and Events Officer, www.dunollie.org Dunollie House, Oban, Argyll PA34 5TT. 01631 570550. There are a range of potential volunteering opportunities at St John Ambulance. You might want to join a unit (either Cadets if you’re under 18 or an adult unit if you are 18+). By doing thing this you will be trained in vital life saving skills and will then be able to volunteer providing first aid cover at events like sports matches, concerts and festivals. Alternatively, you might want to become a youth leader and support a local Cadet or Badger unit. You will be trained in youth leadership and will help to run the unit and inspire other young people. There are also opportunities for behind-the-scenes volunteering such as fundraising, logistics, PR and volunteer support. Most opportunities at SJA are a long term commitment and we would hope that you would stay on after your DofE is complete. If you would like to find out more please complete this form and state in the ‘comments’ section which type of volunteering you would be most interested in.
The Children's University (CU) is a national organisation providing 7 - 14 year olds (and 5 - 6 year olds with families) with exciting and innovative learning activities and experiences outside normal school hours, at weekends and during school holidays. We celebrate achievement and reward participation through our national certificates. Raising children’s aspirations is important to us and we aim to develop the understanding in grown-ups that children can only aspire to what they know exists and in children that learning can be a satellite navigation system to better places in life. Across the 70-plus local CU centres in England and the many others in the rest of the British isles our focus is always first on those children who need our provision most but we are of course an inclusive movement for all those who wish to become CU students! If you are interested in volunteering for the Children’s University please visit www.childrensuniversity.co.uk/local-childrens-universities/ The local CU centre will make you familiar with what we do, provides training and will encourage you to think outside the box! You will be able to evidence your volunteering in your ‘Passport To Volunteering’ and in that way be also properly accredited for your achievements by the national Children’s University.
Challenge Nepal new volunteering adventures with the charity Resolve International. Team work and individual volunteering in England combating child poverty in Nepal. Design your own awareness-raising project and fund-raise to combat poverty. Amazing Free Bronze resource pack full of ideas and advice available online or request a CD version. www.resolveinternational.org
RNLI Volunteer Youth Advisory Board Member: Do you want to help save lives at sea? Would you like to meet new people? Do you want your voice to be heard and valued? Would you like to develop your team-working skills? Are you up to the challenge of improving the RNLI’s youth message? The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Our volunteer crews and lifeguards provide a 24-hour search and rescue service, as well as a seasonal lifeguard service on many of the busiest beaches in England and Wales. We have the ultimate reason to put our faith in young people – nearly 500 RNLI volunteer crew and lifeguards are aged between 17 and 22 years old. And, every day, they’re willing to risk their lives at sea to save the lives of others The RNLI Youth Advisory Board is a group of people aged 16-18 from across the UK and RoI who help the RNLI by consulting and advising on various projects involving youth engagement. You could use membership of this board as part of your Volunteering section work. Details from here.
Become a Free to Dance Team Leader: Get training, skills, support & experience... Make a real impact. Free to Dance is about ordinary people doing extraordinary things, including everyone in a totally unique, freedom-filled event, using everyday freedoms to support those with none, and just having fun, letting go and being free. Team Leaders will promote Free to Dance in their area, recruiting people over the next 3 months to take part in a huge fundraising silent disco in October and raising awareness of the situation faced by people in Burma. Developing your skills whilst being supported by the Free to Dance Team and our network of Team Leaders you will find this a fun way to boost your CV whilst supporting an important cause. More details can be found at www.free2dance.com or by emailing Fiona@free2dance.com
The Wings of Hope Achievement Award (WOHAA): Want to do something incredible with your DofE volunteering? WOHAA is a unique challenge for students in years 9 -13 (S3 – S6) that not only helps you to develop skills needed beyond the academic arena, but also provides an opportunity to make a direct and long-lasting difference on the lives of children in the developing world! You are challenged to fundraise in all sorts of wonderful and wacky ways in your school and local area. We look for creativity and innovation with previous students doing a range of activities from cake sales to mufti days and sky dives! What’s more – the WOHAA team will be there to support you along the way. That’s not all: you will have the chance to win an incredible, all-expenses paid trip to our projects in India, gain work experience placements with top UK employers, you can apply for a WOHAA bursary to support you throughout your university studies, and we also offer free industry skills workshops for ALL WOHAA students run by our corporate partners! You can register online now at www.wohaa.co.uk Don’t miss out – sign up today!
Helping older people: Want to gain new skills and have fun whilst doing something rewarding? The Abbeyfield Society, a not-for-profit care provider for older people, is looking for young volunteers to join its expanding community. Our key goal is ‘to enhance the quality of life for older people’. With over 700 houses and 80 care homes across the UK, we have a great array of volunteering opportunities available that will help us to achieve our goal. Ranging from resident befrienders to fundraisers and activities support workers, our roles appeal to all volunteers’ wants and needs. For those who would like to try a number of roles, we now offer a volunteering programme specific for DofE participants. For more information about volunteering with Abbeyfield, please go to www.abbeyfield.com or contact Kathryn Edwards on: k.edwards@abbeyfield.com
Two volunteering opportunities with Save the Children: Make a racquet for children and serve an ace this year by organising a FUNdraising tennis tournament to help us save children’s lives. Hold your tournament in a local club or school on private or public courts. Contact us for help and support to get you going. For more details call the tennis hotline: 0845 601 7378, e-mail: tennis@savethechildren.org.ukk or follow this link: www.savethechildren.org.uk/tennis Set up your own enterprise group and put your entrepreneurial skills to good use. You choose what to do – develop a business, a campaign and/or organise and publicise a substantial fundraising event. Get your hands on a pack today and you will find all you need to set up your own student enterprise group. Register online at www.savethechildren.org.uk/schools call on 020 7012 6400 or email schools@savethechildren.org.uk