Elmbridge Volunteers

our warming climate

Whenever we are faced with a crisis in any area of life, reactions tend towards hype, then hysteria, with panic not far behind and all sense of perspective so easily gets lost. The undeniable trend to a warmer climate provides a clear example, with almost every weather event viewed with alarm. It sometimes seems that there is a belief that we never used to get ‘extreme’ weather. The link to extreme weather from a warming climate is at best tenuous. Floods have made the news this winter, but these are extremely common events in this country. Some of the worst include those of spring 1947 (when days of heavy rain following a snowy winter led to catastrophic floods over a wide area), September 1968, when older readers will no doubt recall the severe flooding from the River Mole following a weekend of torrential rain, and the very wet autumn of 2000 when large areas of the country were underwater for days. There are numerous only slightly less severe examples from earlier years. And we should remember that changes in land-use (including building on flood plains) are present-day factors - not to mention a media looking for every hint of such events when some earlier ones received little coverage.

VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES March / April 2020

Help at Saturday morning football cafe Are you free on Saturday mornings between 9-10am? If so, you could help run the small, friendly café, providing hot and cold drinks and snacks. Qualifications aren’t required but you should be confident handling money and able to stand during your shift. Help reduce plastic pollution in Surrey’s rivers Working in pairs, volunteers will spend around an hour a month collecting and analysing plastic found in a 5m stretch of the River Mole. Training available, with a session in April/May to interpret data and design a local action plan of initiatives. Interested in motorsport? Brooklands Museum need Events Marshalls at their weekend events. Age and gender are no barrier, you just need to be reasonably fit, comfortable with early starts and not mind being out in all weathers. They are holding a Volunteer Recruitment Morning on April 2nd, 10.00-1200. Help someone fulfil their potential – Mentors required The Amigo project supports and matches volunteers with local people with a mental health diagnosis who require support with activities. The volunteer buddy will be trained, managed and fully supported. Days/ times are flexible with 1-4 hours per week anticipated. Do you have finance experience? A small local charity that holds art groups for people with disabilities and long-term health issues is looking for a good-hearted and good with money Treasurer/ Trustee. Trustee meetings are held 5/6 times a year on Tuesday mornings. INTERESTED IN ANY OF THOSE ROLES? To book an appointment: Call us on: 01372 463 587 Email: contact@csva.co.uk www.centralsurreyvoluntaryaction.co.uk