You have reached details of some of the hundreds of opportunities currently available in the voluntary sector. People get involved for all sorts of reasons:

• learning new skills
  
• meeting people
  
• having fun
  
• caring for others

 

 

Aldryngton and Earley St Peters After School Club is  a small voluntary organisation - parents who manage their own after school club for  children aged 5 to 11. The club is based in Maiden Erlegh School and has places for 24 children. The current Treasurer will be leaving in July this year and they are looking for a volunteer who will be willing to take on the role. This post would suit someone who is capable of and confident in working with figures as they would be responsible for putting together budgets, liaising with our payroll company on staff salaries, calculating and issuing invoices for parents fees and keeping basic accounts on club income and expenditure.

Being a parent is not necessary - just enthusiasm and commitment Training will be given.

Contact:  Debbie Wright on 07966 546185

 

Holiday Playschemes  Would you like to help children with learning disabilities during the summer school holidays?  We have two playschemes operating in the district at Addington School in Woodley and Crossroads in Wokingham.

Contact:  Brendan O'Ciobhain (for Addington) on  0118 978 9232.  Steve Webb (for Crossroads) on 0118 979 5324

 

The Me2 Club will enable children and young people with additional needs to enjoy mainstream activities such as Brownies, Cubs, youth clubs and sports activities. The Me2 Club needs volunteers aged 17+ to accompany and support these children at their chosen activity.

Contact:  Claire Gray 0118 987 2598

 

COMMUNITY WELLBEING is a group composed of representatives of local statutory and voluntary agencies. It is offering a short course on the needs of human beings at each stage of development throughout life. The course is intended as a first step for those concerned about the many urgent needs in the community, and who might be interested to help as volunteers. Participants will have the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of human developmental needs of family relationships, of listening skills and of loss and change, as well as symbols as a means of understanding complex issues.

Contact: Barbara Stafford on 0118 962 7797

The Berkshire Cricket Board is looking for a volunteer as a Cricket Volunteer Co-ordinator to act across Berkshire to support clubs, district organisations and the County Cricket Board and recruit and train volunteers

Contact: Andy Hobbs on 07785 722 242

The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association is looking for a volunteer to help with administration at its Head Office in Burghfield Common.  Tasks include scanning documents, photocopying, using the telephone and data entry on spreadsheets.  The volunteer must be PC literate, patient, have a sense of humour, and not nervous of dogs as there are dogs in the building.

Contact:  Judy Taylor on 07990 540 045

A Wokingham Rainbow (pre-Brownies for girls aged 5-7) group is in danger of closing if volunteers cannot be found to run it.  Activities usually consist of art, craft and games and take place on Tuesday evenings in Wokingham.  Volunteers are also needed for Brownie groups for girls aged 7-10 years.

Contact:  Vina Gilham on 0118 978 3948

Wokingham Job Support Centre in central Wokingham is looking for volunteer advisors to help unemployed people with their job search.  Volunteers with management, recruitment, human resources or similar experience would be welcome.

Contact:  John Porter on 0118 977 0517

Norwood Ravenswood is a village for people of all ages with learning disabilities in Crowthorne.  Volunteers are urgently needed to befriend residents on a one-to-one basis and are given advice and support in this role.

Contact:  Jane Phillips on 01344 755 588

Would you like to support a young person (18-21) who has come out of the care system and is now on their own for the first time?  They may need help with practical skills, budgeting or someone with whom to share their problems.

Contact:  Gaby Watts on 0118 979 3008

Are you good with figures?  Do you have an hour or so to spare?   Reading Mencap provides a range of services to people with learning disabilities and their families.  They could really do with your help as their new Treasurer.   The duties are not complex and should not take more than an hour per week.  

Contact:  Jenny Stent on 0118 966 2518

Save The Children raises money to help children in this country and abroad.   Volunteers are urgently needed to help organise collections in Save The Children Week in April.  Full training is available.

Contact:  Sue Divall on 01344 869 173

RU 16-25?  Do you have some spare time on alternate Sundays?  If so, LEAP, a Red Cross project, would like to meet you.  This project links young people with learning disabilities with other people of the same age.   Activities include sports and social outings and take place in the Earley area.

Contact:  Isobel Redfern on 0118 929 0510

Keep Mobile, an organisation which transports people who cannot use mainstream public transport, would love to hear from you, if you could help by driving one of their vehicles.  All drivers undertake a MIDAS driving course as well as training in first aid and emergency procedures.  If you have some time to spare at the moment, please think about this opportunity.  Your help could mean so much.

Contact:  Fred Rule on 0118 979 3778

The Macmillan Cancer Care Unit in Wokingham supports people throughout the district at their Day Centre.   Staff rely on volunteer drivers to transport patients to and from home.  If you could spare a couple of hours a week to do this valuable job using your own car, it would be much appreciated.

Contact:  Jan Duce on 0118 949 5027

Being a Samaritan can be a challenging experience.  Maybe you feel you wouldn't be up to it.  Relax, everyone feels like that at first.   You do not need any formal qualifications to be a Samaritan, but you do need to be able to listen and not to judge people.  Samaritans provide confidential, emotional support for people in distress.  The Wokingham and Bracknell Samaritans are based near Bracknell Station and have a fully accessible building, so volunteers with disabilities are very welcome.

Contact:  Enrolment Secretary on 01344 455 556

Do you have any spare time on weekday mornings?  If so, the team at Voluntary Services in the Royal Berkshire Hospital would love to hear from you.  They could do with some help in taking the various trolleys around the wards (papers, confectionery, toiletries, etc.).   Ideal times are between 9.30 a.m. and 12.30 p.m.  You would need to be physically fit enough to push the trolley but full training  is given.

Contact:  Lynn Bayliss on 0118 987 7061

Are you female with a little spare time during the week?  Berkshire Women's Aid could do with your help to cover reception duties at their drop-in centre in Reading.  You will be welcoming visitors, making refreshments and generally helping to build a supportive environment.  The charity provides assistance to women and their children affected by domestic violence.  BWA runs regular 4-session training courses for new volunteers.  If you would like to support a BWA worker, please get in touch.   Volunteers do not work evenings or weekends.

Contact:  Grace Keal on 0118 950 0182

Drivers.   Twyford and District Age Concern would love to hear from anyone who could spare a little time to bring clients in to the Lady Elizabeth Centre in the village (opening hours 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.).  You don't have to give a regular commitment if it isn't convenient.  How about offering a lift next time you are popping into the shops?

They are also looking for a Computer Tutor to teach beginners how to use MS Word and e-mail.  Mondays, Tuesdays or Thursday mornings.

Contact:  Janet Potter on 0118 934 4040

Save The Children is organising a series of Sponsored Walks.  This will be a major fundraising event and will hopefully take place in the local area.  There is a wide range of opportunities with which volunteers can help, e.g. administration, marketing, sponsorship, logistics, route planning (including quizzes for children), catering, company liaison and money handling.  Please call if you would like to know more.

Contact:  Sue Divall on 01344 869 173

The British Red Cross would welcome new volunteers to help with its ACE clubs for elderly people.  Clubs are run in Lower Earley every Tuesday and Thursday and the fourth Friday of the month.  Volunteers play games, chat, prepare refreshments and sometimes go out on trips.

Contact:  Cindy Thompson on 0118 929 0508

The League of Friends at the Royal Berks Hospital is looking for volunteers to sell cards, toiletries, gifts and confectionery in the shops at the hospital.   Opening hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday, and volunteers are asked to work a three hour shift if they can.  Volunteers are also needed to work in the Tea Bar which is open every day.

Contact:  Karen Kendall on 0118 987 8592

The Oxfam Shop in Wokingham is looking for volunteer drivers to use their own vehicles to collect and deliver furniture.  This furniture is donated by local people and re-sold to raise funds to support Oxfam's work throughout the world.

Contact:  Anne-Laure Sorin on 0118 979 2139

Would you like to be a Cycling Proficiency Instructor?  Instructors work with two other adults to train children in various cycling manoeuvres.  Each course runs for 8-10 hours and the children are tested by an independent examiner at the end.   Volunteers must have a commonsense approach to road safety and be happy to work with children aged 10-11 years old.

Contact:  Anita Hogarth on 0118 936 7301

The Duchess of Kent House provides respite care for people who are seriously ill.  Staff there are looking for a volunteer to help with looking after the gardens which surround the building.

Contact:  Jane Rankin on 0118 955 0486

The Sue Ryder Shop in Woodley raises funds for the Sue Ryder Home in Nettlebed.  The shop is looking for volunteers to sort donations, to iron clothes, use the till and generally tidy the shop. 

Contact:  Margaret Vincent on 0118 969 9987

The CResCent Resource Centre in Lower Earley is looking for a Treasurer to maintain its accounts.   Duties include preparation of budgets, creating reports and general financial management.  Experience of computerised bookkeeping would be useful.

Contact:  Bob Ames on 0118 921 0555

Addington School provides special education for disabled children from 2 to 19 in Woodley.   The school would like to hear from anyone with an interest in education and with financial skills who could join their Board of Governors. 

Contact:  John Prior 0118 969 6027

Could you look after a disabled child for a short time on a regular basis?  No previous experience is necessary, as training is given to enable you to prepare for the individual needs of the child you would be looking after.   If you would like more details of the Short Break Scheme, please give us a call.

Contact:  Helen Tracey on 0118 974 6881

The Berkshire County Blind Society is looking for friendly people who could befriend a blind or partially sighted person.  The volunteers visit once a week for an hour or two for a chat, cup of tea and help to read mail etc.

Contact:  Sue Gook on 0118 987 2803

Do you have a little time to spare but can't make a regular commitment?   Why not try helping one of the Volunteer Transport Centres in the Wokingham District?   These organisations provide a service to local people who cannot use public transport by driving them to hospital appointments, etc, using the volunteer's own car.   A mileage allowance is paid to cover costs.

Contacts:

Earley Volunteer Care Bureau - Joan Tipton on 0118 966 6234

Twyford, Wargrave & District Volunteer Centre - Liz Jenkins on 0118 934 3010

Wokingham Volunteer Centre - The Manager on 0118 978 2446

Woodley Volunteer Centre - Karen Todd on 0118 969 8849

The Wokingham Centre for Parents

supports parents and young children by organising courses and workshops for parents, aiming to empower them through developing their insight  into children's issues as well as skills of listening, negotiating and managing. 

Have you ever wanted to get involved in training?  The Centre is looking for people who would train as facilitators on the courses they run for local parents.  Are you a parent with good communication skills?  Are you good at bringing the best out of other people?  Call now for more details.

Contact:  Jill Wheatley on 0118 377 4041

Community Advice Training helps people gain access to civil justice through training.  Courses include issues such as debt, welfare benefits and housing.  The group would like to talk to someone who could update and develop their website, which provides information on their services, for a couple of hours per month

Contact:  Barbara Denyer on 0118 926 7531.

Do you have some free time at the weekend?  Would you like to help out a club for children with disabilities?  The Under 11s Saturday Club runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Wokingham and the Over 11s Saturday Club in Woodley.  Volunteers need to be patient, enthusiastic, reliable and positive about disabled young people.

Contact:  David Green on 0118 969 5977

The Earley Volunteer Care Bureau is in urgent need of a volunteer to join the office team for a morning duty (9.30 a.m. to 12.15 p.m.) on a weekly or fortnightly basis.  Duties involve arranging journeys for elderly clients who use this voluntary transport scheme for getting to medical appointments, etc.  You would be a welcome link by telephone between clients and volunteer drivers and an essential part of a local community service.

Contact:  Joan Tipton on 0118 966 6234

Help the Aged and Thrive (the horticultural charity) are partners in a project to help older and disabled people continue to manage their gardens.  Volunteer Neighbourhood Garden Advisors are needed to give advice on how gardens can be made more manageable and what tools and techniques could be used to make gardening easier and more enjoyable.

Contact:  Doreen Marsden on 0118 988 5688

Interested in public relations and media work?   The Oxfam Shop in Wokingham has recently undergone a very impressive refurbishment and would be delighted to welcome new volunteers.  Staff there would particularly like to hear from anyone with an interest in PR or dealing with the local media.  This would help the store publicise its events and generally raise its profile.  Experience would be an advantage but interest and enthusiasm is more important!

Contact:  Anne-Laure Sorin on 0118 979 2139

Wokingham Drop-in opened in 2002 as a members club for people with enduring mental health problems.  Staff there would welcome help from volunteers who could support their work on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays or Saturdays.  Good listening skills are important but full training will be given.

Contact:  Sherry Over on 0118 989   2653

The British Red Cross

needs escorts to assist people on and off their minibus when attending activity centres run for the elderly.  A friendly, cheerful personality would be ideal.

It runs clubs for elderly disabled people during the day.  Volunteers are currently needed for a Saturday Club in Wokingham and clubs in Lower Earley on Tuesday, Thursday and every fourth Friday.  Volunteers chat, make the tea, play board-games and go out on visits with the club users.

It also runs a scheme to help people who have been traumatised by a house fire or flood.  Volunteers drive a special vehicle to the scene and provide practical support and a listening ear

Contact:  Cindy Thompson on 0118 929 0508.

Do you like children?  The Salvation Army runs The Kids Alive Club for children aged under 11 on Fridays from 6 - 7.30 p.m.  Young people over 11 may attend The Reaction Youth Project from 8 - 10 a.m. at the Salvation Army Centre on Sturges Road.  Volunteers are needed to run activities and make snacks.

Contact:  Gary or Lorraine Chaundry on 0118 989 4055

If you are looking for something to do on Sundays, the Berkshire Conservation Volunteers have a regular programme of conservation work in Berkshire and North Hampshire.  The group also meets up for social events and organises residential weekends - do you fancy learning some new skills and making new friends?

Contact:  Neil Frankum on 0118 975 1528

Reading Women's Information Centre would like volunteers interested in helping with administration work.   The centre also has a library which is in need of sorting out, so if you like organising information/books and would not be daunted by a challenge, this could be for you.

Contact:  Fiona Hall on 0118 931 1939

Drivers are needed for Earley Bus, a community transport mini-bus based in Earley, to drive small groups of Earley residents on shopping trips, etc.  Some evening and weekend work is available.    A Transport Manager is also needed to make sure vehicle services, MOTs and repairs are carried out, drivers' log books are checked, oil and tyre pressures are maintained, etc.   This will usually take about an hour each week.

Contact:  Barbara Reeves on 0118 975 7320

The British Dyslexia Association needs volunteers to help run its telephone helpline.  A pleasant telephone manner, patience and an ability to communicate are needed.  Volunteers are asked if they could do one morning or afternoon session per week.

Contact:  Sue Flohr on 0118 966 2677

Contact the Elderly provides companionship one Sunday afternoon a month for elderly, isolated people by taking them to a tea party.  Volunteers are needed as drivers to transport people to the party and as hosts to have the party in their homes one Sunday a year.   A local group is also looking for a Co-ordinator to organise their parties.

Contact:  Fiona Rochford on 01256 896 770

Magistrates   Did you know that Magistrates are actually volunteers?   Magistrates receive careful training before and during their service and always work as a group of three.  On average they will sit 35 half days a year. 

Contact:  0118 939 0444

School Governors take on a very important role in the management of local schools, using a variety of skills.  If you would like more information about this rewarding job, please contact:

Contact:  Jan Nowecki on 0118 979 6266

Meals on Wheels  Drivers and helpers (you don't have to be able to drive or own a car) are desperately needed for this vital service throughout the local area.  Could you spare a couple of hours at lunchtime once a month?  (You can do more if you are able to.)  You would be visiting about 20 people on a rota basis. 

Contact:  Ann Sturge on 0118 987 1528

The Museum of Berkshire Aviation in Woodley is looking for volunteers who have some spare time on Wednesdays or weekends.  If you would be interested in helping in the shop, taking entrance money or showing visitors around the Museum, please call.  Male and female volunteers are equally welcome.

Contact:  Trevor Hensley on 0118 944 8089

The Almshouse Association is looking for volunteers to help with the mailing of its quarterly magazine to all the Almshouses nationwide. The work involves stuffing envelopes with the magazine and any handouts we have included. It would take up a maximum of 2 days every 3 months. Some lifting would be involved. There is a small team of 3 helpers but  with one or two more volunteers the work would be lighter and quicker. A sense of humour and a willingness to join in are all that’s needed.

Contact:  Janice Hutton Office Manager 01344 452922.

There are many opportunities to work with young people in the Wokingham District.  This could be on the Duke of Edinburgh's Scheme or in local Youth Clubs.

Contact:  Nigel Shaw on 0118 974 6262