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Celebrating the Fantastic Contribution Volunteers Make to their own Communities

Published on: 3 Jun, 2023
Updated on: 3 Jun, 2023

Volunteers Week takes place in June every year and its remit is to recognise the fantastic contribution volunteers make to their communities and to say thank you to them.

This year it is from Thursday, June 1 to 7, and is supported and celebrated from small grassroots organisations right up to larger, household-name charities.

Voluntary Action South West Surrey is the the Council for Voluntary Service for the boroughs of Guildford and Waverley. It is a charity that helps people find volunteer roles as well as supporting many organisations, groups and charities who need volunteers.

It has just published its yearly free booklet – Volunteering it’s for everyone, and copies are being distributed to many outlets across Guildford and Waverley, such as libraries, community centres and other public venues.

It lists a wide range of volunteer roles offered by many different types of organisations and groups.

It is also available at Voluntary Action’s office, 39 Castle Street, Guildford GU1 3UQ

Voluntary Action South West Surrey’s latest Volunteering it’s for everyone free booklet is now available.

It is an ideal taster booklet for people who wish to undertake some volunteering but are not sure what they would like to do.

Voluntary Action is grateful for funding it has received to have the A5 size booklets printed by Knaphill Print. Voluntary Action thanks Surrey County Councillors Julia McShane (Guildford North) and John Ribini (Haslemere) who gave funds from their Members’ Community Allocation, and also to the Stoughton Area Community Fund.

To celebrate Volunteers Week, Voluntary Action has invited organisations to invite their own volunteers who may like to go one of two short guided walks with a local histry theme, while recognising that people coming together for walks is good for their wellbeing, their physical and mental health,

The walks will be led by Voluntary Action’s David Rose, who is also the Guildford local historian and writer.

Voluntary Action South West Surrey is hosting two guided history / wellbeing walks for volunteers as part of Volunteers Week 2023. Anyone who volunteers for a organisation or a charity is welcome to attend.

On Monday, June 5, there will be a short walk around Guildford town centre and the Castle Grounds, starting at 2pm and finishing at Voluntary Action’s office in Castle Street. On their return there will be tea and cakes.

And Thursday, June 8, David will lead a short walk around Godalming, from Godalming Baptist Church at 2pm, going via the High Street and Phillps Memorial Park and the river, back to the church for tea and cakes.

There are a few places on each walk still available, if interested send an email to info@vasws.org.uk with your name and who you volunteer for.

Here are some of the latest volunteer roles Voluntary Action South West Surrey is promoting for organisations, maybe there’s one for you to discover?

Become a mentor with Surrey Care Trust

Mentoring is a simple but effective way for a person to give their support to someone going through a tough time or in need of encouragement to make difficult decisions. The only qualifications you need to be a mentor is a willingness to help and the ability to listen.

Volunteer mentors regularly meet and spend time (at least once a week) listening to and encouraging their mentees. They give them the support and direction they need to identify their challenges and meet their goals. They don’t judge and they respect mentees’ privacy.

Young people and adults find it much easier to open up to an independent person, someone outside of the ‘system’. Knowing someone was there for them helped them to see their value and make changes.

Surrey Care Trust is holding free training sessions on Wednesdays, June 7, 14 and 21, at Astolat, Coniers Way, Burpham GU4 7HL. This seven and half-hour course is delivered over three days and covers everything you need to become a volunteer mentor.

To book or for further information contact Orla on 075934 38142 or email orla.stleger@surreycaretrust.org.uk.

Be a volunteer driver or answer the phone for Care for Guildford

Care for Guildford is a good neighbour scheme that helps people who cannot get out and about on their own.

Transport to GP surgeries, clinics, dentists and hospitals are the main tasks Care for Guildford undertakes. But it also does shopping on behalf of a client or doing small one-off jobs in the home, such as putting up shelves or changing light bulbs.

Additional volunteer drivers and telephone organisers (duty officers) and new committee members are needed. Click here for more details.

Do you have what it takes to be an appropriate adult?

This volunteer role offers support to vulnerable adults and children who find themselves in police custody.

The role is not to provide legal advice but to offer impartial support and be a friendly face to someone who may be feeling frightened, bewildered, confused or in an unfamiliar situation.

For more details contact info@saavs.org

Volunteer as a Dose of Nature activity group leader or guide

Empathetic, compassionate people with a love of the outdoors are required to run a weekly outdoor activity group as a leader.

You do not need and specific qualification to lead a group, just an enthusiasm for a particular activity, talent or skill and joy sharing it with others while spending time in nature.

As a Dose of Nature guide, the role is to increase an individual’s engagement and connection with nature.

After completing a two-day training course, you will be matched with a client who you will accompany on weekly nature visits, for around an hour, for a period of eight weeks, in a natural space that is local to them.

You’ll explain the benefits to health and wellbeing of spending more time in nature and demonstrate activities that encourage mindful engagement with natural surroundings.

Guides are asked to support two clients at a time. You will be working with adults experiencing mental health challenges who’ve been referred to our service by their GP.

Dose of Nature is a mental health charity whose purpose is to improve the mental health and wellbeing of individuals through increased engagement with the natural world. Its work is rooted in a wealth of scientific evidence that demonstrates the physiological and psychological benefits of spending time in nature.

You can find out more and apply via Voluntary Action’s website, click here.

Or click here for Dose of Nature’s website.

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