Volunteering

  Last updated  02.05.12

Volunteering Opportunities for Young Adults with Learning Disabilities

A Volunteering Opportunity at the Christians Against Poverty Centre, Derby

Chesterfield Child Contact Centre

Befriending scheme for people living with dementia in Derby 

Amber Trust Health Champions

"How to" guide micro-vounteering

Monitoring and Evaluation on a Shoestring

Volunteer Centres reach out to local groups

Derbyshire Autism Services Group

What makes people volunteer for public roles?

Research on the impact of the recession

Policy Update looking at Bills, Papers and Strategies 

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Volunteering Opportunities for Young Adults with Learning Disabilities

If you can offer volunteering opportunities to young adults with learning disabilities in South Derbyshire can you please contact Chris Wagstaff, Office Manager South Derbyshire CVS: tel: 01283 550163.  They currently have 2 volunteers 1 from Overseal and 1 from Newhall who are looking for an opportunity. Other volunteer bureaus exist across the county see http://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/social_health/services_for_children/childrens_trust/vcisector/cvs/default.asp  or go to http://www.communityactionderby.org.uk/volunteering for Derby.

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A Volunteering Opportunity at the Christians Against Poverty Centre
An opportunity has arisen at  St Peter’s City Centre Church, Derby centre, which has been open since May 2011, for Befrienders to support the work of the Christians Against Poverty (CAP) clients in the Derbyshire area.  We are looking for dedicated and compassionate people with whatever time they can give to supporting and befriending our clients. Support may include listening, going for a coffee, shopping trips, pub visits, texting or calling on a weekly or monthly basis.  This support makes a huge difference and can be life changing for our clients.  If you want any further information please telephone Anthea Peters on 07411376109 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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Amber Trust Health Champions

Currently recruiting Health Champions to support their Health Trainer Service.  Do you have experience of using mental health services, or have an understanding of the issues surrounding mental wellbeing and physical health? Could you encourage and motivate people to lead healthier lifestyles?
The role of a Health Champion is varied and could include:
• Maintaining stock levels of health related information and leaflets
• Researching and ordering health related information and leaflets
• Buddying/accompanying people who use the service to appointments / activities
• Leading groups and activities
• Marketing the service, for example, at presentations, meetings, trade stands
For more information contact: Tracy Litchfield on 01773 599599 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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Chesterfield Child Contact Centre

If you have spare time on Saturdays the Centre needs people to help children from separated families to spend time with their Mum or Dad.  They also need people who can help 'behind the scenes' with publicity, fundraising or being a committee member.  For more information, contact Sue, the centre co-ordinator, on 01246 277422 or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

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Befriending scheme for people living with dementia in Derby

Alzheimer’s Society in Derby is piloting a volunteer befriending scheme for people with dementia.  A volunteer will be matched one-to-one by similar interests, skills, etc.  The service will be offered as soon as volunteers are available and any referrals will be considered.  For further information contact Jean Eckman, Befriending Manager, Derby Office, Building 20, Mason’s Place Business Park, Nottingham Road, DE21 6AQ.  Tel: 01332 208845; email:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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Monitoring and evaluation on a shoestring

Free download from the Charities Evaluation Services (CES) weblink:  http://www.ces-vol.org.uk/index.cfm?pg=763

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“How-to” guide micro-volunteering platform launched 

E-learning charity KnowHow Non Profit has launched an online micro-volunteering platform, providing free ‘how-to’ guides, which allow the VCS to share knowledge by writing guides or learning from guides contributed by others.

Contributors do not need to be experts but should be willing to volunteer their time and experience to share useful ideas to help others in the voluntary sector.

The platform, which includes guides on communications, social media, fundraising, PR and corporate giving, responds to the Government’s Giving Green Paper calling for technology to enable micro-volunteering.

Funded by the Big Lottery Fund, KnowHow NonProfit aims to improve the efficiency of non profit organisations by increasing knowledge and skills of people working in the voluntary sector.

For further information visit www.knowhownonprofit.org/how-to.

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Volunteer Centres reach out to local groups!  Volunteer Centres Derbyshire

Have a new Outreach Project aimed at connecting rural and sports groups with their local Volunteer Centres.  Your group might use (or want to use) volunteers in a variety of ways, such as fund raising, administration or publicity.  This project and your local volunteer centre can offer you free, informal and friendly help and support by:  publicising your volunteering opportunities & attracting more volunteers; providing advice and information on volunteer management issues – e.g. assistance in putting together a volunteer task description, or a volunteering policy; inviting you to free training sessions, e.g. attracting/recruiting volunteers, support and supervision or local networking groups and workshops.  There are two Outreach and Involvement Workers providing county coverage:  Sam Tock for North Derbyshire, and Debbie Webster for South Derbyshire.  They will help your group to harness and capitalise on the services available in your area.  For more information about the project, or your local Volunteer Centre, contact Sam Tock:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , tel: 07925 558786 (North Derbyshire), or Debbie Webster:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; tel: 0774 3494186 (South Derbyshire).

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Derbyshire Autism Services Group

Search for volunteers all over the County and City and are always seeking new opportunities to promote volunteering roles. Do you distribute a church or parish magazine and would you accept a volunteer advert in a forthcoming issue? Please contact Toni Shepherd, Volunteer Coordinator  Tel: 01773 74122;  Email:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; Web:  http://www.autismsupport.co.uk/.  Also Toni would like to know of any local groups that might want a presentation about volunteering for the DASG.

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From Community Development Foundation

What makes people volunteer for public roles?
Report commissioned by Take Part programme is available:  Download the report at http://www.cdf.org.uk/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=87c1792c-63e5-496a-ab06-f529c390baba&groupId=10128

New research looking at the impact of the recession and how it affects community cohesion and community empowerment
Download the summary report at http://www.cdf.org.uk/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=0e6a3b67-9ab7-4b34-b918-c2c84911b7a2&groupId=10128

Policy update
This update summarises the key announcements coming out of government that are relevant to community development and the voluntary and community sector (VCS). In particular, it looks at the following bills, papers and strategies:
• The Office for Civil Society (OCS) strategy for Building a stronger civil society
• Localism bill
• The Decentralisation and Localism Bill: an essential guide from the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG)
• OCS’ Giving green paper
• OCS’ Modernising Commissioning green paper
• Public Services bill
• Local Enterprise Partnerships
• Equality Strategy
Each section gives you a summary of the key aspects of the policy, links to where you can find more information and opportunities for you to get involved.
Click here to download  http://www.cdf.org.uk/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=fed8927f-f76d-4b26-8f2f-1c16069447af&groupId=10128

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