Please find below a selection of our latest opportunities, but please do contact us to find out all the roles we have registered.
Anthony Toby Homes Trust is a charitable trust with a large residential care home to people with learning disability Staverton is home to 14 people and they offer a friendly and homely atmosphere which provides support and opportunities to enable their service users to live a full and rewarding life. They are looking for helpers to help and support their residents to access community outings and activities. This will include bowling, pottery, golf ranges, swimming, shopping, cinema, country walks and pubs and restaurants. Volunteers are also required to support individuals to do such activities as sewing, cooking, growing fruit and veg, arts and crafts etc.
The Wokingham Volunteer Centre delivers the volunteer brokerage service for Wokingham Borough as well as community services including a transport scheme, town mobility and the Green ‘n’ Tidy gardening scheme. We are looking to recruit a new Treasurer. The role will involve maintaining an overview of the centre’s financial affairs, ensuring that proper records are kept and procedures are used. The successful incumbent would ideally financial management experience and/or a relevant financial qualification. Some experience of charity finance would be useful. Computer literacy is a must, as is excellent communication skills and being a resourceful team player.
Green 'n' Tidy' is a new project being run by the Wokingham Volunteer Centre. It provides a basic gardening service for elderly and disabled residents of Wokingham Borough who cannot maintain their own properties, do not have local family support or lack the financial resources to employ commercial companies. This project does not compete with established gardening businesses and will provide basic gardening, including lawn mowing, hedge trimming and weeding, to vulnerable people in need. We are very keen to hear from people who would like to give some time to volunteer and help with the scheme. You do not need to be a gardener - you just need to have a couple of hours of spare time, enjoy being outdoors, being part of a team and would like to help people. We need teams of gardening volunteers to make this scheme a success. If you have some free time, please contact us if you are interested in becoming a volunteer.
Relate is a charity providing counselling and therapy to help local people resolve troubled personal, marital and family relationships. There are looking for a volunteer to help as a receptionist at their Finchampstead counselling site on a Wednesday evening. They will be required to meet and greet clients, set up the counselling rooms, set out chairs and counsellor notes. There is some administration such as recording client attendance and client payments.
The volunteer will be based at Relate's Finchampstead site at the Finchampstead Baptist Centre, Gorse Ride North. This is an ongoing role, so it they would ideally like to take on someone who could commit on a long term basis. The volunteer will need to respect the confidentiality of clients and have some admin and computer skills.
DebRA is an organisation provided continuing services and support to people whose lives are
affected by EB (Epidermolysis Bullosa) They are looking to take on a Warehouse Assitant. The role will be based at their warehouse in Bracknell and will involve unloading deliveries; moving furniture; recording stock; steam cleaning, electrical testing; renovating and repairing wooden furniture.
PACT is a self govering organisation whose core objectives are to build and strengthen family life and to improve the life chances and maximise the potential of adults and children by responding to unmet need.They are looking for a motivated business process analyst to undertake a thorough review of their existing systems to ensure these are as efficient as possible.
Through a full understanding of the functionality of the CHARM's database and associated IT systems and business processes, the post holder will be expected to make informed recommendations to the Director on improvements and efficiencies to existing business processes. Please call us for more detail.
The REME Museum holds the Museum collection of Artifacts, Documents and Photographs of the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers of the Army (REME). REME recovers and repairs military equipments vehicles, electronics, helicopters etc. It forms 10% of the Army at any time and REME soldiers are deployed as Craftsmen. Skilled engineers trained to look after the technical equipment of the ARMY. The Museum is digitising the Photograph and Document Archives. They are looking for computer literate volunteers with skills in Adobe Photoshop; competent with Files, Folder and Directory organisation and willing to learn how to use the museum Database Adlib. Basic induction and training on specialist equipment will be given, successful applicants will be supported but work largely alone.
Age UK Berkshire Home from Hospital Service is a free two week service helping elderly people settle back at home following discharge from hospital. They are looking to recruit volunteers as Home Visitors to assist their clients for up to 8 weeks, after this initial 2 week period finishes. These can be anxious times for clients and the volunteers provide an invaluable service assisting with anything from shopping to accompanying clients on their first walk outdoors after discharge from hospital. No personal care will be involved. Commitment over the 8 week period will depend on the client's needs and the availability of the volunteer, but would be a minimum of 1-2 hours per week.
Team V is a new network powered by young people who are socially aware and want to change things for the better. This exciting new programme gives 18 - 25 year old volunteers the chance to change the world, one campaign at a time. Tackling key themes such as food poverty, protecting the planet and regenerating community spaces, Team leaders will inspire positive change in their communities, running campaigns in February 2012 and April 2012. Team v is managed by vinspired. They aim to inspire a new generation of volunteers (aged 14-25) across England. They do this by creating a diverse range of volunteering and social action opportunities to help young people take action to improve lives, communities and the planet. vinspired is proud to be working with our partners - CAF, Rank and NIACE to deliver the Teamv programme. If you are aged 14-25 and want to volunteer NOW, please contact us asap!
Toad Hall are a 97 place private day nursery open Monday-Friday 8am-6pm. Children attend the nursery from a wide area and cater mainly for children whose parents work locally. They need to a volunteer to support a child with extra needs on a Wednesday and Thursday morning in play activities and interacting with other children playing alongside the child, supporting the child during one to one sessions with their named key person and during small group times and supporting the child at meal times alongside staff.
Reading Refugee Support Group's vision is for an inclusive society where refugees and asylum-seekers of diverse cultural backgrounds are treated with respect; where their essential needs are met; where they can find access to their legal rights and where they are enabled to play a valuable role within the wider community. The challenges facing asylum-seekers and refugees are multiple and include:- destitution, physical and mental health problems, exclusion, alienation, de-skilling, breakdown of traditional family relationships. All those seeking sanctuary arrive without financial support; often with nothing; no local links and often without functional English. We provide an advice service, a support service and a public awareness service. They are looking to recruit several volunteers. A volunteer is needed to help as an English and life skills tutor to teach clients for 3 months – Commitment is required for 1-2 hours per week face to face and time preparing lessons. They are looking to take on a Women’s Project Facilitator to maintain regular contact with female clients and other women’s organisations. Finally, they are looking to recruit a new trustee, who either has fundraising and/or accountancy and/or HR and/or legal (human rights & immigration) experience and/or community development experience.
Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) are aiming to target the more vulnerable in society with their fire prevention services, in particular our free Home Fire Safety Check Service. They want to work with our
partners such as Age UK and Age concern to try to reach those who are vulnerable due to age. They would like to take on a volunteer would research and visit lunch clubs and other community services aimed at the elderly and promote our services to the service users. Commitment would be needed two or three hours per week plus monthly meeting of approximately one hour. The volunteer would need to be confident, empathetic with the needs of the elderly and be able to use a computer.
Community Savings and Loans are community volunteer based organisation that provides savings and low cost loans to anyone who lives or works in Berkshire. They help members to understand and take control of their finances, work on their credit rating and build confidence through our ethical savings and loans products. They are looking for volunteers to welcome customers into our office and handle general membership enquiries and fill in forms. The volunteer would need to be available on Fridays from 10am-1pm and be able to help in the Wokingham office, based in the town centre. You will need to be welcoming and have an interest in helping people and you should be computer literate and reasonably happy using Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel. You need good communication, literacy and numeracy skills and be approachable. You do not have to have a background in finance, good people skills is the priority.
The Woodcraft Folk is an educational movement for children and young people, designed to develop self-confidence and activity in society, with the aim of building a sustainable world based open equality, peace, social justice and co-operation. They run weekly with two groups: Elfins aged 6-9 and Pioneers aged 10-12 on Tuesday evenings from 6-7.30pm. Their programs include games, drama, craftwpork, singing and dancing. Hiking and camping/overnight trips are also undertaken occasionally at weekends. Volunteer roles vary and include helping by supervising/joining in with the chldren, running a class/activity, attending outside walks and visits and helping out with transport. They are also looking to hear from people who could help out with sourcing and applying for grants and helping out the treasurer.
Girlguiding UK is the United Kingdom's largest voluntary organisation for girls and young women, with around half a million members including about 100,000 trained volunteer adult Leaders and supporters. 'Girlguiding UK' is an operating name of The Guide Association. Helping with unit meetings working with girls aged 5-7 (Rainbows), 7-11 (Brownies), 10-14 (Guides), and 14-19 (Rangers). New Unit Helper are required for Girlguide meetings. This will include arranging fun and exciting activities; the range is enormous and there's something to appeal to everyone, from outdoor challenges to learning new skills, international travel to getting involved in community action projects. And whether abseiling and canoeing or having your say on how we operate, one thing is certain. An interest in helping and supporting young people is a must Depending on what activity you would like to help out with, different skills would be required. If you are good with the children and are good at organising games, crafts or other activities and work well within a team of adults then perhaps, you could be a Guider.
Explore is a national education charity. In Berkshire, they currently owrk with schools and colleges running events to enable young people to explore and appreciate the skills that produce a healthy and enduring relationship. They need to recruit a volunteer who will be responsible for raising funds through creating and managing new initiatives and partnerships. This will involve researching local sources of funding, making presentations, writing applications, liaising and be responsible to local chairman, reporting to local action group and to national head of fundraising.
Barnardos believes in the potential in every child and young person, no matter who they are, what they have done or what they have been through. It aims to support children, stand up for them and bring out the best in each and every child. Barnardos is one of the largest and oldest National Children's Charity in the UK. It provides support and advice to vulnerable and hard to reach families and children across the UK through its many community based projects. Barnardos works closely with Local Authorities and Agencies to provide services in areas such advocacy, advice, befriending, disability support, mentoring, short breaks, 1:1 specialist work, intensive work programmes and Fostering & Adoption. They need to recruit a volunteer to support their marketing and publicity. The volunteer will be required to attend events, venues and meetings to distribute leaflets, host stalls and share knowledge with the aim of recruiting foster carers within Wokingham. The volunteer will need to flexible, be a good communicator, reliable, punctual, be able to collate simple data, work in a team or individually, good sense of humour and engage with people at all levels.
KCA (UK) provides specialist care to people affected by drug, alcohol and mental health issues. KCA offers services across the South East including Berkshire. These services include Community based Drug and Alcohol Services, Young Persons Services and Psychological Therapy. KCA has been commissioned to provide an integrated service in Wokingham from mid October. They have two vacant positions to fill – Volunteer Counsellor and Peer Mentor. Counselling relates to the planning process by developing care plans to help individuals address their substance use through an agreed action plan. Mentoring relates to meeting new clients ensuring the correct processes are used and act as a role model. For the role of Volunteer Counsellor, you will need to have a counselling qualification or be currently studying for the final year of a recognised Diploma course in counselling. For the role of Peer Mentor, ideally you will be someone who has either gone through a similar experience in the past, so you are able to empathise with the clients.
Ravenswood houses an indoor hydrotherapy pool, a coffee shop, dance and art studios, riding school and a working garden all of which are developed to meet the needs of residents. There are 140 people with learning or physical disabilities or both who live on site, 450 staff and over 100 volunteers. Volunteers are welcome to help with any aspects of life at Ravenswood including; IT training, befrienders, sports and leisure, art, music, gardening, office/admin work, helping at the stables etc. They currently need volunteers to help in the cafe on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday mornings.
The Anthony Toby Homes Trust support people with learning disability in to homes in Wokingham. Staverton is home to 14 people and they aim to support service users to live a full and rewarding life. The need a volunteer to help one of their service users to attend church every Sunday morning.
The British Dyslexia Association (BDA) is a national charity and our vision is that of a dyslexia friendly society that enables dyslexic people of all ages to reach their full potential. They are looking to recruit a volunteer to ensure that calls are answered promptly, ensure that difficult calls are passed to the Helpline Manager, contribute to the production and maintenance of information sheets and attend wherever possible training sessions. The volunteer will need to have basic IT skills and excellent communication skills. This role can be demanding, due to the number of calls coming in and also can be emotionally demanding as sometimes the calls can be somewhat distraught. If you are interested, please do contact us for more information.
Samaritans provide a confidential 24 hour listening service (phone, email and face to face) to anyone in distress or despair. The Bracknell, Wokingham and Ascot branch currently need to recruit several new volunteers to support their work. Listening volunteers are required to provide to help deliver the listening service which requires approximately a three hour shift per week. They particularly need extra cover for late evening, night time and early morning shifts. Volunteers will receive excellent training and need the ability to listen, be non-judgemental and show empathy. Support Volunteers are also needed to help in a variety of fields including: administration, fundraising and publicity.
Feed the Children - (UK) works worldwide to enable vulnerable children and their communities to alleviate poverty through humanitarian relief, promoting health and education, and developing sustainable solutions. They work with trusted local partners to deliver community led programmes in areas affected by disasters, civil wars and severe poverty. In the UK they support breakfast clubs in schools in deprived areas, providing nutritious breakfasts to help children to learn. They are looking to recruit a volunteer Digital Communications Specialist. They are currently reviewing our communications strategy and would welcome input, both strategic and operational, from someone able to help them take their next steps in online
engagement and building their relationship with existing and new supporters.
Do you have up to date knowledge and skills in digital communications? Do you know how to utilise
social media platforms to help increase online fundraising and communication efforts? If you are a professional with experience of implementing digital communication strategies to increase brand awareness and increase support/sales/donations, and can spare at least one day a month to help build this charities digital presence, then they would like to hear from you.
ASD Family Help supports people with or who are affected by autism. They need to recruit several volunteers. These include - Voluntary Support Assistants, who will assist in supporting the clients with social activities, a Fundraising Administrator, who is required to support the charity with their fundraising bids and Committee members to attend bi-monthly meetings. For all these roles, an empathy with people with ASD is a must but previous experience is not essential.
Thames Valley & Chiltern Air Ambulance flies over the three counties to help with medical emergencies where speed and specialist treatment is vital. An event volunteer is needed to help raise funds at events, which include helping to set up equipment, selling merchandise, talking to the general public about the work they do and collecting donations. A full driving licence is a necessity. Volunteers will need to be approachable, trustworthy, a team player and be available on an adhoc basis.
Royal Berks Fire & Rescue Service - The main aims of the organisation are: to respond to emergency fire and rescue calls across Berkshire, to educate the public in fire safety and run a variety of community and youth outreach projects. They need to recruit volunteers to participate in Young Firefighters Sessions and assist RBFRS instructors in developing professional services that benefit young people and the community within the scheme. Volunteers will need experience of coaching or youth work, good interpersonal organisational, and communication skills. You will need basic IT skills, be self motivated and ability to motivate others. Full induction is given and training as required to meet the job requirements. This role is a long term commitment and is aimed at someone who is passionate about helping young people and has an interest in the Fire service, but it is not designed as a role that will lead to a job in the Fire service.
Calcot Services for Children – Children’s support workers. CSfC are a group of residential children's homes for children and young people aged 5 - 18 with emotional and behavioural difficulties. They are looking for Children’s support workers. This role includes taking children to and from school, activities and appointments, taking part in activities with children, in the community and in the home (e.g. playing in the garden, playing board games, baking, helping with homework, going to the cinema, going to the park) cooking, serving meals and eating meals with the children and keeping the home clean and tidy and helping the children to keep their rooms tidy.
Wokingham Town Children's Centre is part of the Sure Start Children's Centre's run by the local authority. They deliver play and learn sessions as well as targeted activities for families with under 5s. Volunteers are invaluable to the running of the centre. They are looking for various volunteers. They include; driving the Mobile Provision for the centre, supporting a session for a group of under 5's, helping with publicity for the centre, sorting and cleaning the equipment, a creche helper and someone to help meet and greet. For more information on each of these roles, please contact the Volunteer Centre.
The British Red Cross helps people in crisis, wherever or whoever they are. They have a need for volunteers to support people in A & E to settle back home. The role will involve providing emotional support whilst the service users are waiting in A & E, assisting in the transport back home in Red Cross, settling back in home, checking food and drink provisions etc and completing a small amount of paperwork. This is a responsible role and volunteers will need an enhanced CRB check.
Alexandra Place, Southlake Crescent in Woodley is a brand new housing unit, for people who are over 55 and some of which have dementia. The organisation is looking for a volunteer to help as Group Leader. This will
involve organising and running activities for the clients on an ad-hoc or regular basis. This could include singing, arts and crafts, making models, playing games etc. The volunteer will need to have good organisational skills and have the ability to take part in a range of activities.
Walter Infant School is located to the south west of Wokingham town Centre and has approximately 280 pupils aged 3-7 years old. Walter Infant School is a Community school. This means that the Governors, along with the Head teacher are responsible on the whole for running the school. They are keen to appoint several new school Governors. As well as having a desire to improve the lives and education of local children, ideally
you will have some relevant experience to bring to the committee e.g. finance, personnel, health and safety, but this is not essential.
The Alzheimer's Society run Singing for the Brain session which is an activity for people with memory loss to enjoy with their carers and families. It is supported by volunteers and led by a trained facilitator. There are two groups in Wokingham – one meets every Tuesday morning at the Cornerstone Centre, and the other meets on Thursday mornings at Charvil Village
Hall. Volunteers are needed for both groups to help set up the room, meet and greet clients, serve refreshments and
clear away afterwards. Volunteers must have sufficient musical knowledge to select suitable songs and musical activities and must be able to sing. They must have an understanding or a willingness to learn about dementia.
Ravenswood Village is looking for volunteers to help get our social group off the ground in partnership with Mencap. The client group is people with profound and multiple disabilities. The group will be meeting at
the Acorn Centre, in Woosehill on Tuesday evenings from 7:00pm to 9:00pm. Volunteers will be required to spend time chatting and socialising with the clients and must have enthusiasm, creativity, an ability and desire to work with our client group and an understanding of the basic concepts of choice, dignity and independence.
Oxfam is an international charity helping to relieve poverty and suffering both at home and abroad.
The local Oxfam charity shop in Wokingham sells donated items and new fairtraide products and food to raise money for the charity. They are trying to recruit shift leaders for Saturday morning and afternoon shifts from 9.30am-1pm and 1pm-5.30pm. Volunteers must have management/supervisory experience.
Arborfield Village Hall is owned by all the residents of Arborfield to provide a meeting place and venue for residents and groups alike. They host activities ranging from WI, over 60s, mother & baby groups, pilates, gardening clubs, brownies, history society, morris dancing, pantomime to quiz nights, plus provide permanent accommodation for our Parish Office and satellite doctor's surgery. The Village Hall has charitable status and is run by three trustees and representatives from user groups. They are looking for several new volunteers;
Vice Chairman - required to support and deputise as and when required for the Chairman in the daily running of the village hall, whilst helping other trustees to develop the hall usage and facilities.
Booking Clerk - Assessing hire requirements, matching with the hall facilities, explaining terms of hire, showing people around the hall if required, liaising with the Treasurer regarding deposits and issuing keys as required. Issuing a weekly diary via email to hall hirers to Chairman and Treasurer, along with liaising with regualr hirers regarding ongoing booking requirements and providing a point of communication to all hall hirers as and when required.
Caretaker - Liasing with booking clerk to provide access, locking up, hall assesments post hire. Liaising with treasurer, chairman and cleaner with any issues.
Availability to provide access to hall for maintenance visits, for PAT testing, fire alarms, emergency lifting, fire extinguishers and any other contactors as required.
Occasional set up of hall for hire events, and attending a monthly management meeting to update the committee on points to note.
2nd Woodley Scout Group was formed in October 1959 and met at Chapel Hall. In the early 1980's the Group relocated to Christchurch and in August 2003 we obtained our own Headquarters in Woodley. They are a very active scout group who are very accommodating of children with all kinds of needs and different backgrounds. A volunteer is required to help on a Monday night when the group meets and support the leaders with programmed activities.
ASD Family Help is a user led local charity for the benefit of people with Autism or affected by Autism. The need a volunteer to Support the Inclusion Support Worker in her day to day activity with individuals and families in accessing further information, support and social activities.
Norrey's Garden Share Scheme is part of Transition Wokingham. The purpose is to voluntarily support garden owners who cannot upkeep their garden to a person who will grow vegetables for them. They then share the produce. The volunteer will help prepare the garden site ready for the planting throughout the year. Training and support will be given.
St John Ambulance is the nation's leading first aid charity and they rpovide commercial first aid services to a variety of customers and are also trying to provide first aid training for the general public. They are looking to recruit an 'Ambassador' fundraiser to helporganise a team of volunteers to represent St John Ambulance. The role is to raise funds by supermarket collections, garden open days, raffle ticket selling etc. No previous experience necessary although volunteers must be enthusiast and a minimum of 16 years of age.
Me2Club offers support to families who have children, between the ages of 5 to 19, with special needs to enable them to access mainstream social activities. They provide trained volunteers to offer one to one support to children in need. The Me2 Club links volunteers with children with additional needs to enable to take part in activities with other children, anything from Brownies to Scouts to Ice Skating or Drama Club. They are looking for volunteers with a few hours to spare each week to support these children to get involved. No previous experience is required so if you enjoy activities with children then Me2 Club needs you.
Thrive is a national Charity that uses gardening to change the lives of disabled people. Gardening can help individuals accomplish many things. It can help rebuild a person’s strength after an accident or illness, and can provide a purposeful activity for someone coping with a difficult period in their life.
They are based at Beech Hill near Reading and are currently looking for several volunteers. Thrive need a volunteer gardener to help alongside a qualified horticultural therapist who currently supported a disabled person. They also need a volunteer to help support the training and education team in the office. The role will involve making information packs up and general administration. They also need the help of a fundraising volunteer, to support the Giving Manager to raise funds for and raise the awareness of the charity.
"Learning Through Action Trust" creates and delivers interactive learning workshops designed mainly for Children and young people. Most of these workshops are delivered in schools and deal with personal, social, health and citizenship issues including bullying, drugs &alcohol abuse, nutrition and anti social behaviour. LTA accounting is in good order using 'Quickbooks' and the last years accounts need auditing. They are a trading organisation and need advice on financial management at a critical time for LTA due to public sector spending cuts. Support needs cover budgeting, forecasting and board reporting.
Spring Gardens, a sheltered housing complex in Spencers Wood, is looking for volunteer gardeners. Basic gardening skills are need for general garden maintenance, planting upkeep. Ideally volunteers will be avaliable one morning a week.
The UK Hand knitting Association is a not for profit industry body supported by UK yarn manufacturers/distributers. The remit of the organisation is to pass on knitting, crochet and yarn craft skills to newcomers and lapsed knitters but with an emphasis on schools, youths groups and related organisations and events. It enables young people to learn skills and nurtures their creativity. This benefits the young people who learn the skills as well as building stronger communities engaged in cross- generational activity. They are looking to recruit a number of volunteers in the local area. These include yarn craft tutors, craft club organisers, yarn craft group photographer/reporter, yarn craft liaison coordinator and a yarn craft administrator. If you have a passion for knitting and other yarn crafts and are keen to pass on your knowledge to others, one of these roles could be for you.
Yarn Craft tutors are required to pass on very basic knitting/crochet skills in schools, after school clubs, youth groups, events, craft exhibitions locally with occasional opportunities further afield for anyone interested. People with these skills and also knowledge of being a team leader, are needed to be craft club organisers.
A group photographer/reporter is needed to report on successful knitting groups/craft clubs and taking permitted photographs for publicity that capture the community ‘mix’ at craft clubs to get more schools/groups involved.
A liaison coordinator is needed to establish contacts with relevant youth leaders/teachers and linking tutors with schools/clubs.
A craft administrator is needed to help with any necessary administration that is related to the other voluntary roles and feeding information to and from the press office.
The RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People) have a number of vacancies for volunteers to help in Wokingham Borough. These vacancies include Charity Box collector, Street & Store Collector, Volunteer Coordinator, Public Speaker, Events Supporter and Key Campaigner. Please contact us for more details.
The Oxfam shop in Wokingham is looking for someone with electrical qualifications to join their team. All the small electrical items they sell are PAT tested, so they need another volunteer with City & Guilds Level 3 Certificate for the Inspection & Testing of Electrical Equipment. Volunteers usually do a minimum of 1 shift which is one morning or one afternoon.
The Little Acorns Pre School is a registered charity and Pre School and provides child care to children aged 2 to 5 years of age. They primarily serve the local Twyford Community, although some of our children come from further afield. They pride ourselves on the flexibility which we offer families as well as the support we provide to those children with additional, often complex developmental needs. They need help from a volunteer to provide one to one dedicated support worker for a child with a behaviour disorder. The volunteer is needed on Mondays and Wednesdays from 8.45am-11.45am.
Wokingham Job Support Centre is looking for Volunteer Advisors to provide advice on a one to one basis in complete confidence. Advisors will have had experience of the job search process within previous employment. They will be helping job seekers to complete application forms, write CV's and search for jobs. The office is located at the Cornerstone Centre in Wokingham, although some out outreach work is also carried out. Volunteers must have good communication and adminstrative skills and will ideally have previously dealt with employment or HR matters.
Ravenswood village, based in Crowthorne, is home to 140 people with learning or physical disabilities or both who live on site. It houses an indoor hydrotherapy pool, a coffee shop, dance and art studios, riding school and a working garden all of which are developed to meet the needs of residents. All residents are offered work-related training programmes with the appropriate levels of support.
Ravenswood are in need two volunteers to support service users. They need one volunteer to help on Tuesday from 10am to midday, to take 3 service users out to a local supermarket to do their weekly shop (there is a car available to use.) Another volunteer is needed on a Wednesday from 12.30pm-4.30pm to collect a service user from Ravenswood and take him to Camberley golf club, where he works and support him there.
They also need someone who could chair or help run a resident's social group which is held on Monday evenings from 6.30pm-7.30pm. It may suit a psycology student, but anyone may apply.
The Karten CTEC Centre is based at Ravenswood Village and is a computer training centre for adults with physical and/or learning difficulties. They are in need of volunteers to help with the support the clients to use a computer. This will vary in skill level and tasks will include using the internet, email, Word documents, downloading photos from a digital camera etc. You need to capable on a PC, be patient and have a desire to support people with disabilities.
The National Trust aims to protect the places we all enjoy - ensuring our extraordinary heritage enriches lives for generations to come. The National Trust cares for the countryside, coastline, buildings and gardens of outstanding interest in England Wales and Northern Ireland. They have started a monthly volunteering event at Simons Wood and Finchampstead Ridges. Volunteers are needed to join them on the 3rd Wednesday of every month, from 10am to 3pm, to carry out various tasks across the properties.
Community Link Line offers a free weekly phone call to the housebound and lonely, to so they receive a call from someone who cares. It is a befriending service over the telephone. The charity is looking for a Telephone befriender to help on a Tuesday morning from 10am-12pm. They are based in Earley.
The Chiltern Centre, based in Henley, offers short break respite care services to children and young adults with learning/physical disabilities throughout the Thames Valley and South Oxon. Volunteers are required to assist the fundraising team to deliver their events programme. This will involve attending events, promoting the centre, some admin and tin shaking too!
Heathermount is a special school who provide education for children aged 5 - 19 with high functioning autism and aspergers syndrome. We teach an NVQ based curriculum. The national curriculum is delivered through 4 core NVQs. Catering, Business Administration, Horticulture and Internal Maintenance. They are looking to recruit mentors who will provide support to students aged between 14 and 19 years old. Mentors will take an active role, taking part in activities and will support them by providing some emotional guidance and informal educational / career advice.
Shinfield District Guides run Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and a senior group in Shinfield, Spencer’s Wood and Swallowfield. They need Unit helpers to help on a regular basis e.g. once a week or once every two weeks during term time and also people who can help from time to time. The role with involve assisting the Guider to supervise the girls in activities such as arts and crafts, games and occasional trips. Meetings take place in the evenings, with events taking place at weekends on the odd occasion.
Sebev are a search and rescue organisation that provides support to the community to help search for missing people or in civil emergencies. They are looking for a fundraiser officer to maintain and increase funding through events, appeals, grant proposals and regular giving. The volunteer will need to have excellent interpersonal skills and experience of charity funding.
The Lend and Play Toy Library hires out a wide range of toys, equipment and games suitable for babies, toddlers and children aged up to 14 years, including items for those with special needs. The service includes a party hire service and lends books to trainers in child care. They are looking for general committee members and volunteers to help and support different projects being undertaken by the Library.
Friends of Bridges Resource Centre is a Respite Centre for disabled children aged 8 to18 years and their families. Friends of Bridges is a parent led group which aims to raise funds to provide specialist equipment and stimulating days out and activities. They are looking for a Secretary and Treasurer.
West Berkshire Advocacy Service (WEBCAS) has been protecting the rights of disabled people and making their voice heard for nearly 20 years. They currently work in the local authority areas of Reading, Wokingham and West Berkshire providing Citizen and Professional Advocates plus training for self-advocacy. WEBCAS are looking for a volunteer Trustee to attend Trustee meetings and become involved in the overall functioning of the Charity. Skills required include being good listener and able to speak out respectfully and take an independent view.
The Link Visiting Scheme aims at reaching people who have become socially isolated by offering friendship, support and a listening ear. They need befrienders who will be responsible for visiting an elderly local resident on a regular basis. This can be as frequently as you choose and will be up to you to arrange with the person you are visiting. This scheme can be hugely rewarding and makes such a difference to the person you are visiting.
Arborfield Village Hall is owned by all the residents of Arborfield to provide a meeting place and venue for residents and groups alike. They host activities ranging from WI, over 60s, mother & baby groups, pilates, gardening clubs, brownies, history society, morris dancing, pantomime to quiz nights, plus provide permanent accommodation for our Parish Office and satellite doctor's surgery. The Village Hall has charitable status and is run by three trustees and representatives from user groups. They need a Fundraiser who has responsibility for coordinating the various Village Hall fundraising events such as quiz nights and 200 club, though plenty of scope for additional activities.
Daisy's Dream are inviting local residents to join their fundraising team raising money for the charity. There are regular collections taking place at venues around the Borough area and beyond. Volunteers are required to attend events and fundraise with collecting buckets. Various times and sessions are available.
Wokingham, Bracknell & Districts Mencap is a local self-supported charity working with people with learning difficulties, their carers and families. They are looking for Trustees who have an interest in learning disability or who have other skills e.g. legal and interested in helping to improve the lives of those with learning difficulties and their families.