Young Volunteers - Details of Current Opportunites

Addington School - Holiday Playscheme

The Addington Holiday Playscheme operates during the Summer (four weeks) and Easter (two weeks) for special needs children aged 3 to 19.

What do volunteers do?

Volunteers help run playscheme activities (including feeding and toileting).

When?

Volunteers are required for mornings and afternoons, Monday to Friday.

Where?

Addington School, Loddon Bridge Road,   Woodley.

Crossroads Playscheme

Crossroads operates a Summer Holiday Playscheme for children with special needs and their brothers and sisters.

What do volunteers do?

The role of the volunteers is to play with the children and to help thgem join in with the activities such as painting, football, picnics, ball pond, slides, magicians and music making

When?

Summer Holidays 2004

Times 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Where?

The Youth and Community Centre, Reading Road, Wokingham.

Salvation Army- Children's Club

The Salvation Army runs the Kids Alive Club for children under the age of eleven. It also runs the Welcome Inn Cafe. The Cafe is open all week, except Sundays.

What do volunteers do?
Volunteers help with a number of things, including setting up equipment, registration, supervising games and running the Tuck shop.

When?
Volunteers are required from 6 to 7.30 pm on Fridays.

Where?
Salvation Army Hall, Sturges Road, Wokingham (behind Iceland).

Charity Shops

Charity shops raise vital funds for various good causes.

What do volunteers do?
Volunteers sort donated items, price goods, steam clothes to remove creases, do window displays, chat to customers and take money.

When?
Times are arranged to suit both parties.

Where?
The following shops welcome volunteers of your age:

Riding for the Disabled

The Riding for the Disabled Association gives people with disabilities the opportunity to ride horses in a safe environment.

What do volunteers do?
Volunteers help get the horses ready for the riding lesson, act as horse leaders and side helpers. This opportunity would suit someone who has experience of horses and their care.

Where?
Talisman Riding for the Disabled
Cloud Stables
Aborfield

When?
Sunday afternoons 3:30 - 4:30 pm.

Wokingham Animal Rescue Group

Wokingham Animal Rescue Group based at Nelsons Lane, Hurst. They take in abandoned and unwanted animals and take care of them until new homes can be found. It costs a lot of money to pay for food and vets' bills, so volunteer help is vital.

What do volunteers do?
Volunteers walk dogs, clean out and feed the animals. Most of the work is outside, so warm, old clothing and boots are necessary in cold weather.

Where?
Nelsons Lane, Hurst

When?
Animals need constant care, even on Christmas Day, but we would check the current need before sending a new volunteer.

Reading Safety Street

Safety Street is an imaginative mixture of interactive scenes designed to help young people become more aware of safety issues and how their actions can make them safer.

What do volunteers do?
They take groups round the scenes and help them learn the safety issues being highlighted, eg. a building site, railway line, river bank, home situation, electricity, gas.

Where?
Great Knollys Street, Reading (near Reading Station).

When?
Monday - Friday, February - November. Actual times vary according to bookings.

Thames River Rescue

Thames River Rescue provides safety services on the River Thames. Volunteers are preferred to have at least a Bronze Medallion, plus an interest in motor boats and the river.

What do volunteers do?
They help to staff a river rescue motor boat at public events.

Where?
The River Thames at Reading and Henley.

When?
Normally Saturdays and Sundays.

Addington School

Addington School offers education for children and young people with learning disabilities, aged between 2 and 19 years. The school is divided into three  buildings, each catering for different age groups.
Volunteers receive a warm welcome, and a comprehensive tour and induction before they start.

What to volunteers do?
Addington is very well equipped and has dedicated staff who welcome volunteers to help in the classroom or with swimming lessons. Volunteers can choose the age group with whom they prefer to work. It is very good experience for people hoping to work with children with disabilities.

Where?
Addington School is situated in Loddon Bridge Road in Woodley.

When?
Monday - Friday from 9 am - 3:15 pm.

In-Roads Club

The In-Roads Club provides fun and games for children with severe physical handicaps, aged between 3 and 10 years. The children attend once every few weeks to give their families a break. About 6 children use the club each Saturday and each needs their own helper. There are always qualified staff on hand and volunteers are not left on their own.

What do volunteers do?
Volunteers play with the children. They will be offered a short First-Aid course as the scheme is run by the Red Cross.

Where?
The Oaks Family Centre, Finchampstead Road, Wokingham.

When?
The Club is open every Saturday from 10 am - 5 pm but volunteers are welcome to help for half a day and/or work one Saturday every few weeks.

11+ Club

The 11+ Club is a Saturday club for children with disabilities aged between 11 and 16. The children attend the club on a rota basis to enable their families to have a rest from caring for them and for the children to have fun in a different environment.

What do volunteers do?
Volunteers help set up activities for the children, play games and generally help the children enjoy their day.

When?
Saturdays 10 am - 5 pm. You are very welcome to volunteer for part of Saturday and work on a rota basis so that you do not attend every week.

Where?
Addington School, Woodley

Berkshire County Blind Society

The society provides help and advice for people who are losing their sight and supports them when they become registered as blind.

What do Volunteers do?
Volunteers are matched with a blind person whom they visit each week for an hour or two. The volunteer helps do things which the person can no longer do, eg. read mail, write letters.

Where?
Volunteers would be matched with someone living locally if possible.

When?
Times are arranged to suit both parties.

Earley Activity Centres

The two Activity Centres in Lower Earley and Wokingham provide a friendly atmosphere for retired, older people with a physical disability such as partial sight, arthritis or stroke damage. Meetings consist of various activities, conversation and refreshment breaks. Regular trips out are also planned. Volunteers are given First-Aid training.

What do Volunteers do?
Volunteers join in the activities, chat to the elderly people and make refreshments.

Where and when?
Westmead Centre, Rances Lane Wokingham, Saturdays 10 am - 4 pm.

Bradbury Community Centre, Elm Lane, Earley: Tuesdays 11:00 am - 2:00 pm, Thursdays 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm.

L.E.A.P.

This is an Activity Project for people aged 16-25 years who have learning disabilities. There is a programme of events on alternate Sundays, which includes such things as discos, shows, a circus workshop and guest speakers. The members are mainly quite able and full of fun.

Volunteers...
...in the same age range (16-25) are wanted to make friends with the members and help them get out and enjoy life.

Where?
Red Cross Headquarters, Eastern Avenue, Earley

When?
On alternate Sundays between 1:30 - 4:30 pm. Volunteers may also join days out and holidays if they are able to.

Westmead Centre

Westmead is a day centre for adults with physical disabilities, many of whom use wheelchairs. The staff provide a wide variety of activities for the people who come to the centre. There is a computer room, art room, craft room equipped with sewing machines and opportunities to learn about electronics and a dining room/kitchen. There is a lively, cheerful atmosphere.

What to volunteers do?
Volunteers help the staff by using any particular skills they may have, eg. teaching computer or craft, by giving assistance to people in the art/craft areas or by playing board games and chatting.

Where?
Westmead Centre, Rances Lane, Wokingham (connected by gate to St. Crispin's School).

When?
The centre is open Monday - Friday 9:30 am - 3:30 pm.

The Museum of Berkshire Aviation

This fascinating museum in Woodley tells the story of Berkshire's contribution to aviation history. It houses various planes and photographs and is open to the public.

What do volunteers do?
Volunteers are needed to take ticket money, talk to the visitors or help in the shop.

Where?
Mohawk Way, Woodley.

When?
Summer: Weekends & Bank Holidays 10:30 am - 5:00 pm
Wednesday 10:30 am - 5:00 pm.

Winter: Sunday 12 noon - 4:00 pm.

Volunteers are welcome - times to suit.

Rural History Centre

The Rural History Centre incorporates the Museum of English Rural Life and shows what life was like in the countryside over the last 150 years. The Museum is open to the public, but behind the scenes there are shelves of archive material including old photos, books and films. There is also a workshop where agricultural implements are restored. This experience might suit people who hope to do museum studies or agriculture.

What do volunteers do?
The Centre is seeking volunteers to help in the conservation and packaging of a unique collection of 130,000 glass negatives, as part of new project funded by the National Lottery.

Where?
On the Whiteknights Campus at Reading University.

When?
Monday - Friday for a morning or afternoon or for a week in the holidays.

Rainbows, Brownies, Beavers and Cubs

Boys and girls aged 5 - 11 have fun doing all sorts of activities on these organisations, but they do rely on older people to supervise and help.

What do volunteers do?
All sorts of things: helping play games games, doing art and craft, sport, badge work, perhaps even going away on camp!

Where?
Many groups in the district are needing helpers. We will match you with a group near your home.

When?
Groups meet most evenings, usually between 5 and 6 for an hour or two, and some meet on Saturday mornings. You would be welcome even if you could not go every week.

 

Local Primary Schools

Your local primary school may be pleased to receive help in the classroom. If you are thinking of a career in teaching or working with children, this type of experience is valuable.

What do volunteers do?
Volunteers may do a variety of tasks depending on the needs of the class teacher. You may be asked to hear children read, help with art and craft or teach computer skills. You may be asked which age range you would prefer to work with.

When?
Monday - Friday 9 am - 3:00 pm. Have you any free time in your timetable?

Where?
Most schools are pleased to take volunteers at an agreed time each week. Have you a local school within travelling distance.

 

Witness Support Service

The Witness Support Service is based in Reading and exists to support people attending court as witnesses.

What do volunteers do?
Volunteers listen and support people during their time at the court. Witnesses may need information about procedures or may be in need of comfort when distressed. This opportunity is valuable for young people thinking of a career in law or for those wishing to work with people.

Where?
Reading Crown Court, Old Shire Hall, The Forbury, Reading.

When?
During opening hours of the court. Monday - Friday 9:30 - 4 pm.
This opportunity is available to volunteers with a week or two to spare during holiday periods.

 

Working Holidays in Conservation

Are you interested in conservation issues? If you would like a week's working holiday, here are 3 ideas...

National Trust
BTCV
Canal Camps

These three organisations offer holidays at reasonable cost (to cover food and accommodation) in all parts of the UK and abroad. Many holidays are restricted to people over 18, but Canal Camps minimum age is 17 and BTCV and NT do offer some holidays for people aged 16.
The Make A Difference Team has up-to-date brochures about these holidays, so please call for further information if you are interested.

 

RSPB Voluntary Warden

The voluntary wardening scheme provides an opportunity for people interested in ornithology and conservation to gain practical experience of the day to day management of a Royal Society for the Protection of Birds reserve. It is preferable to book 3 months before you wish to go. Applicants must be 16 years old. You're expected to pay your own travelling expenses and food, but free accommodation is provided.

What do volunteers do?
Volunteers may work with visitors, help with surveys, manage livestock, cut and burn vegetation, etc. You would work a 5 day week. This work qualifies for the residential project on the Gold Award of the Duke of Edinburgh's Scheme.

Where?
30 sites in England, Wales and Scotland.

When?
A first time volunteer can book for a period between 1 week and 4 weeks, all year round.

 

British Red Cross - First Aider

After first aid skill training, members may attend to members of the public at events such as WOMAD, Newbury Races, Reading Speedway, school fêtes and carnivals.

First Aid is a very useful skill - you never know when you could save someone's life.

 

Save the Children Fund

Could you "speak out" on behalf of the Save the Children Fund?

SCF offer public speaking training to enable speakers to give educational talks to Brownies, Cubs, clubs, etc. Volunteers can be accompanied for initial talks and supporting materials are supplied. Some speakers work in pairs to give support and feedback.

 

Volunteer Newsletter

The 'Volunteer' is a newsletter which is circulated to several hundred voluntary organisations 4 times a year.
A group of people with desktop publishing skills is needed to arrange the articles and illustrations into a pleasing format.
Volunteers need to have use of a PC and desktop publishing package.

 

Befriender<ÿsmb align="center">Volunteers are needed to befriend elderly people living in sheltered accommodation in Lower Earley.

This involves popping in once a week for a cup of tea and a chat, perhaps doing some shopping or helping read letters, etc.

 

Bingo Caller

Could you, and perhaps one or two friends, organise a weekly bingo session for a group of elderly people living in sheltered accommodation?

The residents live in Lower Earley and usually play on Wednesday evenings, but this could be re-arranged if necessary.

 

Assistant Youth Leader

To help out at a youth club for 9 -12 year olds held at Earley Centrepoint on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 pm - 9 pm. Volunteers help with a varied programme of activities.

 

Fundraising

Have you and some friends got any bright ideas to raise money for a charity of your choice? Fundraising can be fun and can involve lots of people, but does need planning and commitment. With the support of staff, it may be possible to run a lunchtime event at a school or college.

WDVDA is happy to give advice on planning an event or choosing a local charity who need help.

 

Teenage Relationship Mentor

The mentoring scheme is organised by ARC Information and Counselling for Young People in Wokingham to enable young people to deal with difficulties in their lives. Relationship mentors (age 16-19) are the first point of reference for information on sexual health and contraception and will provide information on facilities and services in the area. Volunteers must have good listening skills and be open-minded.
Full training and ongoing support is provided.

 

Ward Helpers

Ward Helpers work within the Royal Berks Hospital helping staff by doing various tasks, such as serving drinks, sorting out flowers chatting or reading to patients.
Volunteers must be 17 or over.

 

Tea Bar Helpers

Volunteers are needed at the Royal Berks Hospital to greet customers, serve tea, coffee, sandwiches, etc. (no food preparation) and operate the till. Tea bars are open at the weekends. Volunteers must be 14 or over.

 

Group Tasks

'Keep Mobile' is a Wokingham-based organisation which provides transport to elderly or disabled clients. They have 9 specially adapted buses which need cleaning.
'Keep Mobile' has all the cleaning equipment and welcomes energetic groups of volunteers who could spare a Saturday morning to keep their buses looking spick and span.

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