Dartford Giving

By Kate Hargreaves

This month I’m writing about a fun volunteering role in the local community in a little-known social club, where you will be able to immediately see the positive impact of your time spent. would be no New Yorkers. Many of the volunteers have been helping out for a number of years and are ready to “retire”, so new volunteers would be really appreciated.

New Yorkers Club volunteer “What is it?” New Yorkers is a Dartford-based social group for adults with learning difficulties. They meet on a Tuesday night from 7-9pm at Hubert House (near Temple Hill), which is organised and supervised by a group of volunteers, of which you could be one! New Yorkers’ members are typically a very friendly, funloving bunch who love getting to know new people. “Would I enjoy it?” The activities that take place at the Tuesday night sessions range from craft making to karaoke, quizzes to discos. The members often put on shows, inviting families, friends and the local community to attend, with Grease, Wizard of Oz and Mamma Mia being recent years’ productions. You don’t need expertise in any of these areas to volunteer, you just need to be willing to get involved and chat with the members.

“How much time do I need for it?” Being able to give two hours on a Tuesday night (with breaks aligning with school holidays) is the minimum. There are also a number of other activities and trips that occur throughout the year, such as a day out at the seaside and seeing a show at the Orchard Theatre. Whilst full attendance at Tuesday night sessions and other events is not compulsory, you do need to be reliable – if you sign up to a session then you need to attend, as the events cannot go ahead without the required number of volunteers.

“What would I get out of it?” Volunteering at New Yorkers is guaranteed to put a smile on your face and make you forget your worries. You get to have a fun evening with the members whilst also giving the members’ carers some much-needed respite time. The volunteers really are invaluable, as otherwise there “Are there any requirements?” Volunteers will be CRB checked due to spending time with vulnerable people, but otherwise all you need is enthusiasm. “Anything else I need to know?” New Yorkers is really valued by the members and their carers, and is often oversubscribed with a waiting list, as there are very few places in the area that these people can go that is a safe environment to socialise and make new friends. New Yorkers receives no funding and relies solely on donations and members raising funds; and any money raised is spent entirely on the members as there are no administration costs or paid staff.

“This sounds great, how do I get involved?” If you would like to know more or would like to go along one Tuesday night to see what the fuss is about, call Christine on 01474 813368, and you’ll be guaranteed a very warm welcome from New Yorkers! As always, if you have any questions about New Yorkers or any other volunteering role, feel free to email me at kate@dartfordliving.com. Happy volunteering!