Volunteering matters october 2016

October 2016

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t Volunteer Centre One Community we are always surprised to meet people who feel they can’t volunteer because they are “too old” or that they aren’t “good at anything”. People are often unaware of the skills they have – to care, to listen or to help. Often all that’s needed is the time it takes to fill a charity bag, or to sit and have a cup of tea with someone – just for a chat and a bit of company. No qualifications are required and there’s no exam to take. What you bring is yourself, your kindness and enthusiasm to make a difference to someone.

To find out more about volunteering, and the volunteering opportunities listed below, please contact Volunteer Centre One Community on 023 8090 2458 or volunteer@1community.org.uk. You can also find our volunteering opportunities on www.do-it.org

Wednesday Volunteer at Eastleigh Museum A volunteer is needed for a half-day session on a Wednesday at Eastleigh Museum. The museum volunteers greet visitors and serve them in the café and shop. The role provides both retail and catering experience, serving drinks from the coffee machine and pre-wrapped food.

Volunteer Centre Drop-Ins

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Looking for a volunteering opportunity that’s just right for you?  Need volunteers for your group or organisation?

Drop in and see us at:

Eastleigh Museum, 25 High Street, Eastleigh SO50 5LF, second Tuesday of every month 10am-12 noon, Tuesday 11 October Hedge End Library, 11 Upper Northam Road, Hedge End SO30 4DY, 10am-12 noon Thursday 13 October West End Library, Parish Centre, Chapel Road, West End SO30 3FE, 10am-12 noon Thursday 10 November

Father Christmas Wanted We’re looking for a Father Christmas to add a little magic to the festive season!

Every year there are popular Christmas events at The Royal Victoria Country Park (RVCP) and Manor Farm Country Park (MFCP). Bookings are taken in advance and on the day if there are spaces available. All presents are festively wrapped for you. This role gives you the opportunity to take part in the Christmas festivities and engage with the family audience to create an unforgettable magical visitor experience.

Father Christmases are needed to cover 1 or 2 shifts a week. Although this role is short term only, there are a whole host of other volunteering opportunities to become involved with at both sites. Assisted by a team of ‘elves’ (staff and volunteers) to create a memorable visit for the children and families visiting Father Christmas. Tasks will include engaging with children and parents. Giving each child a wrapped gift and wishing them a happy Christmas! Listening to Christmas wishes and posing for photos.

Volunteers must be able to Ho Ho Ho! No acting experience is needed but you must be smilie, loving and jolly (and must like children). Experience of working with children would be beneficial. No flying required!

Produced by Volunteer Centre One Community, 16 Romsey Road, Eastleigh SO50 9AL Tel 023 8090 2458

Shop Assistant Royal Victoria Country Park Are you keen to start a career in retail? The busy shop at Royal Victoria Country Park needs enthusiastic and welcoming individuals to assist the Reception/Admin Assistant. You will need to be comfortable chatting to people and making sure that all visitors have the best possible park experience. The park shop is a busy place and the main point of contact for visitors to find out about the park. You will welcome visitors to the park and assist with providing excellent customer service, care and security for the benefit of visitors and the local community. Tasks will involve assisting with retail sales and cash handling, booking customers onto events and selling car park tickets. Providing information about the park and promoting events.

The volunteer needs to be someone with excellent communication skills. Someone who is patient, friendly and reliable. You will need to be able to work well within a team environment, with site staff and other volunteers. Plenty of four legged friends visit the shop so it’s good if you are comfortable around dogs.

You will be given full induction training into the various aspects of the work. Ongoing training and support will be given as required and you will have opportunities to meet staff members and volunteers.

Walks & Tour Guide Royal Victoria Country Park Do you enjoy talking to people? Why not bring the stories of Royal Victoria Country Park to life in a fun and interactive way. A combination of guided tours around the park and chapel will be used to enhance the visitor experience. Tour Guides provide guided tours, much like a guided walk leader, focused on local history. This is a varied role and can include delivering talks within the chapel and the around the park.

We are looking for someone with good communication skills and the ability to interact with individuals and groups of people. You will need to be comfortable managing small and large groups of people.

It is important for volunteers to have some experience of this role although this could be gained by supporting other tour guides. The role Volunteering Matters Page 2

could then be assumed when the volunteer has gained enough experience and confidence.

Toilet Twinning Toilet Twinning is a charity initiative that is passionate about extending the reach of the water and sanitation programmes of international NGO Tearfund; who work in some of the poorest countries in the world. Last year, Tearfund's water and sanitation work benefited more than 1.2 million people – and more than half a million people benefited from pit latrines.

Speaker: As a volunteer speaker you will become part of a passionate group of people who want to help flush poverty away. You will share your enthusiasm for Toilet Twinning by speaking at groups in your local area. You will give inspiring talks to schools, churches or community and youth groups. If you are a confident public speaker then we would love to hear from you.

What's involved?  Give talks to a variety of groups in your local area to promote the work of Toilet Twinning.  Inspire groups to raise funds for Toilet Twinning by twinning their toilets and/or getting involved with other Toilet Twinning initiatives such as Toilet Twinned Towns.  Collect donations and complete necessary paperwork.  Be an excellent ambassador for Toilet Twinning at all times.  Keep up to date with latest Toilet Twinning campaigns and resources through the charity’s website and the quarterly volunteer newsletter.

Events Volunteer 2017: Toilet Twinning has a stand at many events throughout the year such as Spring Harvest, New Wine, Glastonbury, and Notting Hill Carnival to name a few! The purpose of the events stand is to engage people with the work of Toilet Twinning and the desired outcome is for supporters to twin their toilet.

What's involved?  Proactively engage new and current supporters asking them to 'Twin their Toilet'.  Take payments and complete necessary paperwork.  To encourage and update current supporters with what Toilet Twinning are currently

involved with.  Be an excellent ambassador for Toilet Twinning at all times.  Contribute to the team.  Attend initial on-site briefing run by Events Team Staff.

Volunteers will receive entrance to the event as well as travel and food expenses. Residential opportunities may require the volunteer to stay overnight.

As a Volunteer Befriender your role will be to provide social companionship to patients who have a chronic or life limiting illness and who are isolated or lonely. Visiting patients in their own homes, you will help them to feel more supported and help to improve their emotional well-being and confidence.

How much time do I need to commit?

Just 2-hours a week, or less, can make a real difference to a patient living in your local community.

What support will I be given?

All relevant training will be given, as well as regular and on-going support and supervision.

Interested?

Interested volunteers will be invited to an informal interview and the role is subject to references, simple health checks and DBS clearance.

Eastleigh Oxfam Shop Eastleigh Oxfam shop welcomes new volunteers to undertake the following roles: Cashier: The till operator is essential to the success of the shop. They are often the main point of contact for customers, not only taking payment but also accepting donations of goods, answering questions about Oxfam's work and keeping an eye on the shop floor.

If you enjoy meeting people and are happy to learn new skills, this role could be for you.

Music Team Member: Oxfam Shop Eastleigh receives wonderful donations of CDs, DVDs and

vinyl. The team of music volunteers aims to sell as much as they can to support Oxfam's work. The volunteers bring a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm to the section, between them covering the wide range of music genres.

The enjoyment and challenge of this work come from the fact that you never know what you will find next. The shop sells everything from basic CDs to collectible vinyl. The team develops the skills to know how to make the most money possible from the donors' generosity.

Oxfam also sells through its online-shop and there are vacancies for volunteers keen to develop this area of work. If this interests you, see below.

No particular skills are required, but to work as a member of the music team it is likely that you will:  Be interested in a variety of forms of music and be keen to learn about new types.  Be able to work as part of a team to ensure donations are processed methodically.

Online Sales Volunteer: As an Online Sales Volunteer, you will sell different types of items online. This opportunity will allow you to get retail experience and IT skills, and be a part of a great international team fighting poverty.

No previous experience is needed, so don't be afraid to apply. If you are successful, full training will be given. So if you are comfortable with using the internet and want to help fight poverty, and consider yourself a reliable and responsible person, then this opportunity is for you. A commitment to a four-hour shift per week is asked.

You should have the ability to work independently, be adaptable and flexible, and have the knowledge of or desire to learn more about online sales.

Oxfam shop volunteers benefit in lots of ways. You will be joining over 23,000 volunteers to show "we won't live with poverty". You will be given all necessary training and support for this role. You will gain valuable retail experience in a responsible role. You will learn more about the exciting work that Oxfam does across the world.

Volunteering Matters Page 3

Singing for the Brain Support Volunteer – Eastleigh Volunteers are needed to support the Alzheimer’s Society Singing for the Brain at Centenary Hall, Eastleigh. The group meets weekly on Tuesday 10.30am-12pm. Volunteers are need from 9.30am to 12.15pm – time each side allows for set up and pack down time.

Singing for the Brain® is designed to be a fun, stimulating and social activity for people in their early to moderate stages of dementia and their carers/families. Your involvement aims to help people feel less isolated and to experience an enjoyable activity helping towards their feeling of wellbeing. Volunteers support the group by:  Welcoming and socialising with people with dementia and their carers/families  Setting up the room and tidying up after the session – manual handling chairs and tables  Making and serving drinks and light refreshments  Supporting the group leader by handing out song books and encouraging participation Musical skills are not in any way essential for this role but an enjoyment of singing would be an advantage.

Heritage Guides History buffs in Eastleigh are being urged to sign up to offer exclusive behind the scenes tours of their hometown. The Culture Unit of Eastleigh Borough Council is calling on residents to help share their passion for town history. Would you like to get involved in your community by offering exclusive, behind the scenes, trips to heritage sites and have the opportunity to learn from top historians and academics?

For further information 023 8090 2458

Find all our opportunities www.do-it.org

Email volunteer@1community.org.uk

Website www.1community.org.uk

Registered charity number 1052978

Secretary Eastleigh Good Neighbours A secretary is needed for Eastleigh Good Neighbours, to take notes at each meeting (6 per year), and prepare the agenda for the following meeting. The secretary is also responsible for managing the group's correspondence. The EGN committee is a friendly and supportive group and full training for the role will be given. The majority of the role can be performed from home. Meetings are held in central Eastleigh on a Thursday evening.

Clay Technician Bursledon Brickworks Industrial Museum needs a volunteer clay technician. This is an essential 'behind the scenes' role to enable the smooth running of the clay workshop, which is an extremely important resource for the education and enjoyment of the museum users. Typical tasks and duties involved in the role are re-cycling clay, including using a small industrial pug mill, for workshops, and loading, unloading and programming the kiln. Heavy lifting and physical tasks are involved and some knowledge and experience of working with clay is desirable but not essential as full training will be given. A commitment of at least one day a week (or two half-days) is asked.

Company limited by guarantee 3132524

Volunteer Centre One Community is funded to work in Eastleigh by Eastleigh Borough Council Hampshire County Council

Eastleigh Edition