UCL UNION VOLUNTEERING NEWS
November 2nd – 8th
Compiled by the Voluntary Service Unit
www.uclunion.org/volunteers
Hi
We’ve a load of new volunteer vacancies in this week’s issue, including a big one-off volunteering event we’ve organised for club and society members next Friday (10th November). We’re also looking for volunteers to work with children with learning disabilities, at a new arts venue, on an English-teaching project, with an arts project with people with mental health problems, and an audio project with young people in the East End. Plus there are a couple of office-based vacancies, and an advert from the metropolitan police volunteering programme. Pretty much something for everyone!
If you’d like to read about volunteers’ experiences from last year, visit http://www.uclunion.org/volunteers/why-volunteer.php . We’re also on the lookout for new students to profile – so let us know if you’d like to tell your volunteering story on our webpages.
All the best
John Braime
Voluntary Services Coordinator
EVENTS FUNDRAISING TRAINING
5.30 – 9.00PM TUES 7TH & WEDS 8TH NOVEMBER
Would you like to learn more about how to raise money for charity by putting on fundraising events. These two sessions will give you the basic skills you need; then, we’ll find you a placement with a local volunteer organisation where you can put what you’ve learnt into practice. If you’re already volunteering somewhere, you can also make use of this course.
To sign up, email j.braime@ucl.ac.uk . Note that you must be able to attend both sessions
++++
UCL UNION CLUBS AND SOCIETIES VOLUNTEERING CHALLENGE – FRIDAY 10TH NOVEMBER
Fancy doing something a bit different? The VSU (Voluntary Services Unit) is offering Clubs & Societies members - committee and new members - the opportunity to take part in a big volunteering challenge…. a River Thames foreshore clean up with Thames 21 on Friday November 10th.
Thames 21 is an environmental charity that works on the rivers and canals of London, involving local communities to help them turn their local waterway into a clean and safe place that they can be proud of. Volunteers help out on river clean-up events throughout the year but on the 10th Thames 21 are organising an event exclusively for UCL Unions Clubs & Societies.. We are looking for up to 80 keen volunteers to take part – so if you’re a member of a Club or Society, why not get your fellow members involved?
Exact location and times will be confirmed nearer the day but it will basically involve you turning up for a few hours and getting muddy on the foreshore. Its a great way for you to do some team building in your club or society, get to know other club & societies committees, experience another side of London life and make a difference to the community, have fun and get a taste for volunteering. Wellies are provided if you don’t have your own.
Travel expenses covered and lunch will be provided. This event will also be supported by the Sabbatical officers who will be out in force, getting a bit dirty themselves.... what more can you ask for?
To sign up for the event please email j.braime@ucl.ac.uk.
++++
VOLUNTEER NEEDED FOR HOMELESS PROJECT!
The Soup Kitchen in the American Church on Tottenham Court Road provides homeless people with food and a safe environment to socialise and relax three times a week. As a member of this team you will be working closely together with the Soup Kitchen. The team will attend the Soup Kitchen 1 2 weekly, generally from 10am to 12am. The goal is both to assist the Soup Kitchen and actively look for potential for a follow up project and/or ways to improve our current operation. You have to be an open minded person and a good listener.
If you are interested or just want to find out more, please email j.braime@ucl.ac.uk.
++++
KEEN LONDON
KEEN London is a charity providing sports and recreational activities
for children with special needs. Volunteers, mainly students and
young professionals, are paired up with athletes on a one to one
basis. Our aim is to provide activities that promote physical and
social development, teamwork and self-confidence in an encouraging,
friendly, supportive and, most importantly, FUN environment! We do
this primarily through group coaching in a range of sporting and creative activities, on a Sunday and Wednesday. We ask for a minimum commitment from volunteers of three one and a half hour sessions per term. Come along - you will have great fun and make new friends! Fore more info, email John at j.braime@ucl.ac.uk
++++
MAYTREE RESPITE CENTRE - DATABASE UPDATE PROJECT
Maytree is a sanctuary for suicidal people offering a supportive non-medical environment where people at acute suicidal risk can rest, reflect and be befriended up to 4 nights, confidentially and without judgment. We’re looking for a volunteer to help us with our:
Database Update Project
This involves updating our Access database with contact records and will help Maytree manage statistical reporting for funding and their mailings much more effectively. May also require some basic research where enquiry or address details are incomplete. Computer literacy and previous database experience would be preferred.
Time commitment is flexible – it would be great if you could start as soon as possible!
If you are interested, please email Petra on p.wahlqvist@ucl.ac.uk
++++
VOLUNTEERS WANTED FOR THE ROUNDHOUSE!
The Roundhouse, Camden Town, is a cutting edge performing arts centre with an exciting and varied programme of events which recently included the BBC Electric Proms. We are now looking for more volunteers to join the Front of House team. Front of House volunteers meet and greet, check tickets, show the audience into the auditorium, keep an eye on the audience during the show, do cloakroom duty and sometimes sell programmes and merchandise. At present we need volunteers who are friendly and courteous and who live in or near Camden. You need to be available some weekends as well as some weeknights. We ask for a commitment of two shifts per month. Volunteers usually get to see the show. We pay travel expenses up to a current limit of £5.00. Training is provided and we supply volunteers with a tee-shirt. If you are interested, please email Petra on p.wahlqvist@ucl.ac.uk
++++
THE BRITISH HEART FOUNDATION
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) is the nation's heart charity, leading the battle against the UK's single biggest killer, coronary heart disease. Volunteers are the lifeline of the BHF. Your skills, experience and time could make a real difference to men, women and children with heart disease. We have a range of interesting and flexible roles and we will support you with training, advice and travel expenses.
Opportunities include:
Schools Co-ordinators promoting healthy heart messages to school children
Junior Golf Co-ordinators; assisting with our Junior Golf Championship
Walk Co-ordinators; organising and co-ordinating sponsored walks
Events Helpers and Collectors
Want to find out more? Email j.braime@ucl.ac.uk
++++
MAIDEN LANE COMMUNITY CENTRE ESOL CLASSES
Maiden Lane is a vibrant Community Centre located near Kings Cross. We provide innovative services and activities for people in this culturally diverse area including an English class for two days per week. Users of this service are mainly East African women at various stages of learning English.
We aim to recruit up to 10 volunteers to work with this group to help improve their English, reduce sense of isolation and increase integration into the community. Our volunteers need:-
• Ability and willingness to work with people of various cultures and backgrounds
• Ability to work with people who may have difficulty communicating in English.
• Basic understanding of the needs of recent immigrants and people from refugee communities.
• Computer literacy
Student volunteers will gain experience of working with people of different cultures, people who are learning English, an inner city community centre; and training in diversity, disability awareness and equal opportunities. We may also be able to provide group visits to museums and exhibitions and other activities.
++++
TOYNBEE HALL – VIRTUAL POSTCARDS PROJECT
Training – Tuesday 7th November
Project starts – Tuesday 14th.
Note that this opportunity is only open to students who have had a Criminal Records Bureau Check completed.
The project will work with 25 young people referred onto the programme by school teachers in primary and secondary schools who have assessed them as being at risk to be excluded early in their secondary school life or become regular truants.
Using MP3 recorders the participants are organised into small groups and are encouraged to record the sound environment in Tower Hamlets. Each group with an adult worker will explore Brick Lane, Spitalfields Market and other local places of interest and the nearby City of London to create an exciting short recording of their world. Using free ICT software each young person produces a virtual postcard about their physical and personal environment using their MP3 recordings. The young people then learn about uploading their virtual postcards onto the Toynbee Hall and Sonic Postcards websites, where they can be exchanged with communities nationwide.
The volunteer will support the facilitators in guiding and motivating the young people in the workshops. They will help to keep the children’s focus in the task in hand and guide them in producing their audio tracks. The volunteer will develop their leadership and motivations skills and gain experience in working with young people. The project should also be exciting and fun!
++++
INTERESTED IN ARTS AND CRAFTS?
BESIDE an East London Charity, is looking for TWO VOLUNTEERS to support one of its clubs,.
Do you like to listen to people?
Do you value hearing people’s life experiences?
Do you connect with people who like art, or crafts?
Can you share 2 ½ hours per week?
1.30pm to 4.00 pm on Mondays
Start Date: 8th January 2007
The venue is off Commercial road, East London, and is accessible by Bus and/or Docklands Light Railway. The venue is accessible for people who might be less mobile.
Once a week people with an interest in art and/or craft meet to socialise and work on their own projects while they chat. The members are intelligent, independent and creative, but have a history of mental health difficulties. Members are quite anxious about change so we try to keep arrangements fairly familiar. We are asking for a minimum commitment of 2 academic terms from each volunteer.
This work could be of interest to students planning a career in social work or psychology.
For more info, contact John at j.braime@ucl.ac.uk
++++
THE MET VOLUNTEER PROGRAMME (MVP)
The Met Volunteer Programme was established in 2001 with the primary aim of getting local communities more closely involved with their policing, and so improving the service we can offer. There are a variety of voluntary roles and as the programme grows, more roles are being identified and more places are becoming available, giving the right kind of volunteers a greater range of opportunities to choose from. Of course, through giving up your time to volunteer with the MPS you are benefiting your local police and thus your community too, there are also a number of benefits that you personally can get out of the experience. You could come to us in the evening, at the weekend, early in the morning - with policing being a 24 hour challenge, there is the potential for there to be voluntary opportunities to match a wide range of circumstances. All applicants should be aged 18 and over and have at least 3 years UK residency. You will undergo vetting and we will require two professional references.
For more info, email John at j.braime@ucl.ac.uk
++++
BECOME A MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEMBER FOR CARILA!
Carila provides free and confidential services for men, women, children and families and disabled people in London, combats inequalities and help people to exercise their legal and social rights and improves skills and raises the profile of the Latin American Community. Carila is looking for volunteers to become committee members.
Committee members will be expected to:
• Attending 6 meetings every year.
• Act as Trustees of the Charity and Directors of the company.
• Determine the policy and future direction of CARILA.
• Work closely with staff in a sub-committees
In return they are offered:
• A direct voice in shaping CARILA’S work
• A full induction and training in the roles and responsibilities in becoming a Management Committee Member.
• Access to training
• Representation of CARILA within other organisations and networks.
If you are interested, please email Petra on p.wahlqvist@ucl.ac.uk
November 2nd – 8th
Compiled by the Voluntary Service Unit
www.uclunion.org/volunteers
Hi
We’ve a load of new volunteer vacancies in this week’s issue, including a big one-off volunteering event we’ve organised for club and society members next Friday (10th November). We’re also looking for volunteers to work with children with learning disabilities, at a new arts venue, on an English-teaching project, with an arts project with people with mental health problems, and an audio project with young people in the East End. Plus there are a couple of office-based vacancies, and an advert from the metropolitan police volunteering programme. Pretty much something for everyone!
If you’d like to read about volunteers’ experiences from last year, visit http://www.uclunion.org/volunteers/why-volunteer.php . We’re also on the lookout for new students to profile – so let us know if you’d like to tell your volunteering story on our webpages.
All the best
John Braime
Voluntary Services Coordinator
EVENTS FUNDRAISING TRAINING
5.30 – 9.00PM TUES 7TH & WEDS 8TH NOVEMBER
Would you like to learn more about how to raise money for charity by putting on fundraising events. These two sessions will give you the basic skills you need; then, we’ll find you a placement with a local volunteer organisation where you can put what you’ve learnt into practice. If you’re already volunteering somewhere, you can also make use of this course.
To sign up, email j.braime@ucl.ac.uk . Note that you must be able to attend both sessions
++++
UCL UNION CLUBS AND SOCIETIES VOLUNTEERING CHALLENGE – FRIDAY 10TH NOVEMBER
Fancy doing something a bit different? The VSU (Voluntary Services Unit) is offering Clubs & Societies members - committee and new members - the opportunity to take part in a big volunteering challenge…. a River Thames foreshore clean up with Thames 21 on Friday November 10th.
Thames 21 is an environmental charity that works on the rivers and canals of London, involving local communities to help them turn their local waterway into a clean and safe place that they can be proud of. Volunteers help out on river clean-up events throughout the year but on the 10th Thames 21 are organising an event exclusively for UCL Unions Clubs & Societies.. We are looking for up to 80 keen volunteers to take part – so if you’re a member of a Club or Society, why not get your fellow members involved?
Exact location and times will be confirmed nearer the day but it will basically involve you turning up for a few hours and getting muddy on the foreshore. Its a great way for you to do some team building in your club or society, get to know other club & societies committees, experience another side of London life and make a difference to the community, have fun and get a taste for volunteering. Wellies are provided if you don’t have your own.
Travel expenses covered and lunch will be provided. This event will also be supported by the Sabbatical officers who will be out in force, getting a bit dirty themselves.... what more can you ask for?
To sign up for the event please email j.braime@ucl.ac.uk.
++++
VOLUNTEER NEEDED FOR HOMELESS PROJECT!
The Soup Kitchen in the American Church on Tottenham Court Road provides homeless people with food and a safe environment to socialise and relax three times a week. As a member of this team you will be working closely together with the Soup Kitchen. The team will attend the Soup Kitchen 1 2 weekly, generally from 10am to 12am. The goal is both to assist the Soup Kitchen and actively look for potential for a follow up project and/or ways to improve our current operation. You have to be an open minded person and a good listener.
If you are interested or just want to find out more, please email j.braime@ucl.ac.uk.
++++
KEEN LONDON
KEEN London is a charity providing sports and recreational activities
for children with special needs. Volunteers, mainly students and
young professionals, are paired up with athletes on a one to one
basis. Our aim is to provide activities that promote physical and
social development, teamwork and self-confidence in an encouraging,
friendly, supportive and, most importantly, FUN environment! We do
this primarily through group coaching in a range of sporting and creative activities, on a Sunday and Wednesday. We ask for a minimum commitment from volunteers of three one and a half hour sessions per term. Come along - you will have great fun and make new friends! Fore more info, email John at j.braime@ucl.ac.uk
++++
MAYTREE RESPITE CENTRE - DATABASE UPDATE PROJECT
Maytree is a sanctuary for suicidal people offering a supportive non-medical environment where people at acute suicidal risk can rest, reflect and be befriended up to 4 nights, confidentially and without judgment. We’re looking for a volunteer to help us with our:
Database Update Project
This involves updating our Access database with contact records and will help Maytree manage statistical reporting for funding and their mailings much more effectively. May also require some basic research where enquiry or address details are incomplete. Computer literacy and previous database experience would be preferred.
Time commitment is flexible – it would be great if you could start as soon as possible!
If you are interested, please email Petra on p.wahlqvist@ucl.ac.uk
++++
VOLUNTEERS WANTED FOR THE ROUNDHOUSE!
The Roundhouse, Camden Town, is a cutting edge performing arts centre with an exciting and varied programme of events which recently included the BBC Electric Proms. We are now looking for more volunteers to join the Front of House team. Front of House volunteers meet and greet, check tickets, show the audience into the auditorium, keep an eye on the audience during the show, do cloakroom duty and sometimes sell programmes and merchandise. At present we need volunteers who are friendly and courteous and who live in or near Camden. You need to be available some weekends as well as some weeknights. We ask for a commitment of two shifts per month. Volunteers usually get to see the show. We pay travel expenses up to a current limit of £5.00. Training is provided and we supply volunteers with a tee-shirt. If you are interested, please email Petra on p.wahlqvist@ucl.ac.uk
++++
THE BRITISH HEART FOUNDATION
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) is the nation's heart charity, leading the battle against the UK's single biggest killer, coronary heart disease. Volunteers are the lifeline of the BHF. Your skills, experience and time could make a real difference to men, women and children with heart disease. We have a range of interesting and flexible roles and we will support you with training, advice and travel expenses.
Opportunities include:
Schools Co-ordinators promoting healthy heart messages to school children
Junior Golf Co-ordinators; assisting with our Junior Golf Championship
Walk Co-ordinators; organising and co-ordinating sponsored walks
Events Helpers and Collectors
Want to find out more? Email j.braime@ucl.ac.uk
++++
MAIDEN LANE COMMUNITY CENTRE ESOL CLASSES
Maiden Lane is a vibrant Community Centre located near Kings Cross. We provide innovative services and activities for people in this culturally diverse area including an English class for two days per week. Users of this service are mainly East African women at various stages of learning English.
We aim to recruit up to 10 volunteers to work with this group to help improve their English, reduce sense of isolation and increase integration into the community. Our volunteers need:-
• Ability and willingness to work with people of various cultures and backgrounds
• Ability to work with people who may have difficulty communicating in English.
• Basic understanding of the needs of recent immigrants and people from refugee communities.
• Computer literacy
Student volunteers will gain experience of working with people of different cultures, people who are learning English, an inner city community centre; and training in diversity, disability awareness and equal opportunities. We may also be able to provide group visits to museums and exhibitions and other activities.
++++
TOYNBEE HALL – VIRTUAL POSTCARDS PROJECT
Training – Tuesday 7th November
Project starts – Tuesday 14th.
Note that this opportunity is only open to students who have had a Criminal Records Bureau Check completed.
The project will work with 25 young people referred onto the programme by school teachers in primary and secondary schools who have assessed them as being at risk to be excluded early in their secondary school life or become regular truants.
Using MP3 recorders the participants are organised into small groups and are encouraged to record the sound environment in Tower Hamlets. Each group with an adult worker will explore Brick Lane, Spitalfields Market and other local places of interest and the nearby City of London to create an exciting short recording of their world. Using free ICT software each young person produces a virtual postcard about their physical and personal environment using their MP3 recordings. The young people then learn about uploading their virtual postcards onto the Toynbee Hall and Sonic Postcards websites, where they can be exchanged with communities nationwide.
The volunteer will support the facilitators in guiding and motivating the young people in the workshops. They will help to keep the children’s focus in the task in hand and guide them in producing their audio tracks. The volunteer will develop their leadership and motivations skills and gain experience in working with young people. The project should also be exciting and fun!
++++
INTERESTED IN ARTS AND CRAFTS?
BESIDE an East London Charity, is looking for TWO VOLUNTEERS to support one of its clubs,.
Do you like to listen to people?
Do you value hearing people’s life experiences?
Do you connect with people who like art, or crafts?
Can you share 2 ½ hours per week?
1.30pm to 4.00 pm on Mondays
Start Date: 8th January 2007
The venue is off Commercial road, East London, and is accessible by Bus and/or Docklands Light Railway. The venue is accessible for people who might be less mobile.
Once a week people with an interest in art and/or craft meet to socialise and work on their own projects while they chat. The members are intelligent, independent and creative, but have a history of mental health difficulties. Members are quite anxious about change so we try to keep arrangements fairly familiar. We are asking for a minimum commitment of 2 academic terms from each volunteer.
This work could be of interest to students planning a career in social work or psychology.
For more info, contact John at j.braime@ucl.ac.uk
++++
THE MET VOLUNTEER PROGRAMME (MVP)
The Met Volunteer Programme was established in 2001 with the primary aim of getting local communities more closely involved with their policing, and so improving the service we can offer. There are a variety of voluntary roles and as the programme grows, more roles are being identified and more places are becoming available, giving the right kind of volunteers a greater range of opportunities to choose from. Of course, through giving up your time to volunteer with the MPS you are benefiting your local police and thus your community too, there are also a number of benefits that you personally can get out of the experience. You could come to us in the evening, at the weekend, early in the morning - with policing being a 24 hour challenge, there is the potential for there to be voluntary opportunities to match a wide range of circumstances. All applicants should be aged 18 and over and have at least 3 years UK residency. You will undergo vetting and we will require two professional references.
For more info, email John at j.braime@ucl.ac.uk
++++
BECOME A MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEMBER FOR CARILA!
Carila provides free and confidential services for men, women, children and families and disabled people in London, combats inequalities and help people to exercise their legal and social rights and improves skills and raises the profile of the Latin American Community. Carila is looking for volunteers to become committee members.
Committee members will be expected to:
• Attending 6 meetings every year.
• Act as Trustees of the Charity and Directors of the company.
• Determine the policy and future direction of CARILA.
• Work closely with staff in a sub-committees
In return they are offered:
• A direct voice in shaping CARILA’S work
• A full induction and training in the roles and responsibilities in becoming a Management Committee Member.
• Access to training
• Representation of CARILA within other organisations and networks.
If you are interested, please email Petra on p.wahlqvist@ucl.ac.uk