Category: Uncategorized

Posted on

Organisation Spotlight: Barnfield Riding for the Disabled

org spotlight barnfield riding for the disabled

This week’s organisation spotlight is on Barnfield Riding for the Disabled, an organisation that helps disabled children and adults experience the therapeutic benefits of horse riding.

Hello, please could you introduce yourself and tell us a bit about RDA?

We’re Barnfield Riding for the Disabled, and we’re a registered charity that has been going for 40 years. We set up because we recognised there was a shortage of this kind of therapy in the area. Over the years, many riding opportunities for disabled people have closed down. We’ve got about 85 disabled riders a week that use this facility, so from a volunteer’s perspective we need an army to deliver the facility. 

We’ve got a total of 15 horses, 10 of which are working horses and 5 of which are in training. We’ve got one of every size because our riders are from 5-75 years old so we have a variety of horses in all sizes to cater to child and adult riders. When we look for horses to do this job, there are specific requirements. Horses have to be of a very special nature to look after disabled riders – they have to be calm and kind. That’s something that can’t be taught. 

On top of that temperament that they have to have goes a lot of training and time. We have to have confidence that they will do the job well. What you have to remember is that horses are, well, horses – they’re prey animals. 

We’re surviving in an environment where every inch of land is being squeezed out for housing. Right now, we try to work quite closely with local schools and nurseries and brownies.  We will tell the children a story about each horse, and at the end of the session we’ll get the horses out and teach them how to groom them. 

These may be working ponies but they’ve got the life of luxury. At the moment we’ve got a new little pony that’s causing a stir. She is called Peggy and she is the most beautiful thing you ever saw and was abandoned by the roadside, and I got lots of requests to rescue her. I trekked all the way over to Cambridge to find this little pony. She could’ve been abused, she certainly was starved. This little pony – talk about life lessons – is the most grateful little pony, she is so well behaved, well mannered. She’s got a new best friend called Annie. Peggy has taken Kingston by storm! 

peggy, a pony at BARNFIELD Riding for the disabled. She is a black and white pony with blue eyes.
Peggy! Photograph by Barnfield Riding School

Could you tell us a little more about the project? How might a volunteering session go at Barnfield Riding for the disabled?

In terms of volunteering we have a whole host of different roles. The principal roles are to facilitate these sessions. These could be a riding session, a therapy session or a horse care session. Anything to do with horses requires training so we have to offer a horse training package for each volunteer, to get accustomed to horse behaviour. Volunteers are trained to side-walk. Each person riding a horse will need two side-walkers in case they lose their balance, and one person to lead the horse. In total, we need three people to help with the horses. A lot of volunteers love coming to us because they’re learning such a wonderful skill – taking care of horses.

Some volunteers just want to come and care for the horses – get involved with feeding, grooming and preparing the horse for sessions. Other people might want to come and be at the stables – doing maintenance work, DIY, gardening or cleaning tack (bridles). People also like to get involved in fundraising or help with the website. The list just goes on – people forget that it’s not just about looking after horses. The deliverance of what we do is so wholesome – people want to be outdoors, the community gets so involved with what we do. For example, we have an annual open day to come together and learn about what we do, and how you can join us to make this organisation even better. 

What can volunteers learn by volunteering with Barnfield Riding for the Disabled?

On top of learning about horses – and there’s a hell of a lot to learn about horses – we also learn about life skills. Animals have an uncanny way of grounding you – the life skills that you learn from being around horses are things like patience, caring, equality, not being judgemental, never ever getting angry. You learn so much about honesty – animals are so honest, and they know when you’re not being honest. They just teach you to be a good person.

I work as an animal communicator – animals have a fantastic way of communicating with you, they can’t speak but they have a fantastic way of knowing how you feel. They were born very innocent like people – but people only change through their life experiences, and animals stay very kind. 

Finally, any funny stories?

 I had a group of children come to visit from the local nursery, and this boy put his hand up at the end of the session. He said: “my dad says he’s really worried about losing his job because the computers are taking over, but you must not be worried because the only person who could take your job is a robot horse”.

Thank you so much to PatsyAnn from Barnfield Riding for the disabled for your time! Interested in teaching the next generation to take a stand against climate change? Become a volunteer for Barnfield Riding for the disabled here ! Want to find out more? Check out their website and Facebook page.

Not sure where to begin with your volunteering journey? Check out our resources page here. 

Posted on

Organisation Spotlight: The River Thames Boat Project

org spotlight river thames boat project

Today we’re speaking to Hannah Bottomley, Education Manager at The River Thames Boat Project. The Thames Boat Project is dedicated to making the River Thames accessible for people of all ages and abilities, providing cruises and educational activities along the river.

Hello, please could you introduce yourself and tell us a little about the River Thames Boat Project?

My name is Hannah Bottomley and I’m the Education Manager at the River Thames Boat Project. The project has been running since 1988. We have two boats which are used for the two arms of the charity – one for cruising, generally for elderly or vulnerable clients, like groups from care homes, veterans, disability support groups and young carers too. Our other boat is used for education – we run a couple of primary school educational programmes so we get classes to come for a day session and we teach them about the river and environment. Our aim is to connect people with the river – and we want to work with people who might not have this opportunity. 

Could you tell us a little more about the project? How might a volunteering session go at the River Thames Boat Project?

Our two boats are very different – the one we use for education, Thames Venturer, is a converted dutch barge – a big boat, the most iconic of the two. It’s been modified for accessibility, and now features a lift for wheelchairs. A volunteer on the education side of things might begin at 9am, setting up equipment for science experiments. The classes tend to arrive at around ten. Our volunteers will take the roles of teachers or teaching assistants, working with the children to complete basic science experiments. Volunteers are supported by the adult visitors that come with the school children. They are normally with us 9 until 3.

Our other boat, Thames Discoverer, is used for cruising and is the smaller of the 2 boats. It’s got large windows so all our clients, including people in wheelchairs, can enjoy the scenery. We provide half day cruises for 3 hours, or full day cruises for 6. Volunteers will arrive an hour before the client to ensure everything on the boat is ready and the engine is running smoothly. We’ll then collect the client from the departure point. Our volunteers have a mix of duties – crewing (working with the ropes and fenders e.g. when passing through a lock) and hosting the clients. Many of our clients might not have had a conversation outside their care home, so hosting is all about making them feel valued. 

A lot of our cruises focus on the therapeutic value of being by the river. There is some science to suggest that being on or by the water is even more relaxing than being in woodland or other clam spaces. Our cruises allow guests to really take in the river from an angle they might not have seen before. Volunteers are welcome to talk about sites on the river with the clients, like Hampton Court Palace. Sometimes we’ll provide activities for the clients, especially if they’re young children. A firm favourite is clay modeling – the activity is linked to the river which has a bed of clay, and the groups often make lots of fish. In the past we’ve had nursery school groups make boats out of recycled materials, encouraging learning about the river in a sustainable way.

A lot of our volunteers might not know anything about boats, but we provide full training – volunteering with us is a learning opportunity. Volunteers can choose what they get involved in, some only do cruising, some only do the educational side of things, some do both. There’s a lot of flexibility, because training relates to both education and cruising. 

What can volunteers learn by volunteering with the project?

Teaching and teaching assistant roles allow volunteers to learn some of the (science, geography and environmental) education that we share. They’ll also learn public speaking skills, some volunteers really come out of themselves. Volunteers will also learn people management, especially when dealing with 8-10 children on board!

When it comes to cruising, learning opportunities are endless. You can learn to be a deckhand, a starting level in crewing – you’ll learn to use fenders, to tie the ropes. You can also learn to be a skipper (boat driver). We also do a lot of inhouse maintenance – for those who are interested, there are loads of opportunities to learn how to fix things. 

Any funny stories?

We get a lot of really nice feedback – we’ve had kids that come up to us at the end of the day and will say “i’ve had a fantastic day” completely unprompted. We also get children asking if there are sharks in the Thames at Teddington – one of the team will often suggest that we test by feeding some children to them. An idea that normally receives squeals of delight!

Are you interested in volunteering with the River Thames Boat Project? Apply to be a cruising volunteer here or an education volunteer here. 

Want to learn more about the project? Check out their website here, or like their Facebook page!

Not sure where to begin with volunteering? We have a wealth of resources to help new volunteers available here. 

Posted on

Eggs, in many baskets.

Easter, with its moveable dates, its complex mixture of general holiday, sporting weekend, chocolate centric themes and occasionally the first sign of proper spring weather, is a reflective time. This year’s Easter weekend was no exception. In volunteering terms, Easter does not have the focus that Christmas and New Year period can generate. Nevertheless, Easter is a good representation of the wide range of volunteer opportunities that take place or are available.

Flexible Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteering is no longer just turning up twice a week at the same place and performing a regular service. Today, volunteers want more variety, Volunteer Involving Organisations (VIO’s) are interested in more flexible volunteers, the range of skills required and experience needed is so much more eclectic than was the case even just five years ago. Volunteers don’t put all their eggs in one basket anymore.

Whilst the 2020-2022 Covid centric experience wasn’t where groups like GoodGym were formed, it was where that flexible responsive nature had a positive light shone on it. Likewise with bite-size and micro volunteering, it was the ability to positively contribute without having to commit to set hours/days which attracted a new cohort to the positives of volunteering. As articulated in blogs past, the age dynamic for volunteers has shifted markedly since 2019, whilst it is easy to just note the decline in “time-rich” older volunteers it is a mistake not to acknowledge the balancing that has taken place with younger, more pro-active volunteers stepping up.

Like all supply and demand situations, there is always a slight lag between the request for flexible volunteering opportunities, or multi-micro volunteering, and the availability to meet those requests. VIO’s however do seem to want to meet the expectations of a new approach, however it tends to be the traditional structures, delivering for communities already, that get priority. Balancing the two is key to ensuring volunteering stays relevant and popular – taking for granted that there will always be volunteers waiting would be a mistake. As anyone who checks in regularly at www.volunteeringkingston.org.uk the evolution of opportunities, from static to organic, will continue in 2024, and the more the merrier for this new approach.

Posted on

Huge boost for volunteers and good causes as council recommissions Volunteering Kingston project

Residents, charities and community groups across the Royal Borough of Kingston will continue to benefit from a bespoke volunteer matchmaking service as Kingston Council recommissions Groundwork London to deliver the Volunteering Kingston project.

The project will continue to run from April 1st 2023 to 31st March 2026 with options to go to 31st March 2027 and 2028, bringing even more local volunteers and organisations together.

Groundwork is a federation of charities mobilising practical community action on poverty and the environment across the UK. It shares the council’s focus on creating vibrant, green neighbourhoods and strong communities.

Between 2018 and 2023, the Volunteering Kingston project built strong and lasting partnerships with local groups across the borough. It was instrumental in supporting the invaluable work undertaken by volunteers during the pandemic. Leveraging these strengths, Volunteering Kingston will be introducing more innovative and tailored services to enable people in every corner of the borough to participate in volunteering and serve the communities they call home. Some of these new developments include:

  • New training opportunities for new and prospective volunteers
  • ‘Pop-up’ and outreach activity in new areas
  • One-to-one training and best practice advice slots for organisations working with volunteers
  • A multi-partner approach to annual events and volunteer appreciation
  • Involvement in the borough’s Community Hubs project
  • A four-year volunteering strategy, co-produced with stakeholders

Sarah Whitby, Community Operations Manager at Groundwork London said:

“Volunteering Kingston is committed to creating a positive impact by continuing to play a vital role in bringing the community together and creating meaningful connections through volunteering. We’re delighted our stewardship of Volunteering Kingston since 2018 has been recognised by the new commission, and we look forward to further expanding opportunities and enhancing the experience volunteering gives all those who get involved.”

Leader of Kingston Council Andreas Kirsch said:

“Empowering people and strengthening our communities is a key focus for the council, and volunteering can play a vital role in this. The power of volunteers and volunteering has been clearly demonstrated in the local response to both the Covid pandemic and the current Cost of Living crisis. We are committed to supporting Kingston to be a thriving borough where opportunities to get involved in volunteering and make a real difference to your local community are accessible to all.”

If you live, work or study in the Royal Borough of Kingston, you can find a volunteer role by browsing our current opportunities.

Posted on

Volunteering Kingston’s Community Impact Continues: Renewed contract brings exciting new opportunities in the Borough

Groundwork London is pleased to announce that the Volunteering Kingston project has been recommissioned from April 1st 2023 to continue providing a Volunteer Centre service within the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames.

Building on the strengths of the experience garnered between 2018 and 2023, including the work undertaken in the pandemic, Volunteering Kingston will be cascading out new services tailored to ensure all parts of Kingston Borough can volunteer and serve the communities they live in.

Sarah Whitby, Community Operations Manager at Groundwork London said “we are pleased our stewardship of Volunteering Kingston since 2018 has been recognised by the new commission, we look forward to further expanding the opportunities and enhancing the experience volunteering gives.

Browse our current volunteering opportunities!

Posted on

Got an idea for a group or club?

There is a great opportunity emerging from the RBK Library Service. They are inviting individuals and groups to use their library spaces to share skill sets and passion that others would find useful or enjoy. If you have an idea that you would like to share with others but are unsure how to go about it or where to hold it, then read on further to find out more.

The RBK Library Service can offer you the space for free and support you with the setting up and promotion of your idea. Whether it is learning new skills, sharing passion, a one-off or a long term venture, they are keen to hear from Kingston residents who are fourteen and over.

As social distancing is the present priority, initially they can offer a virtual room to develop your idea with the intention of bringing it into the physical space once it is safe to do so.

Some examples of groups that have been set up are craft groups, a book club and Ki Gong. You could also set up a group to support a cause that is important to you, such as the environment or tackling loneliness. Whatever your idea, please contact Giselle at giselle.monbiot@kingston.gov.uk to speak further about this.

Posted on

Doing good makes you feel good

Mental Health Week 2020 is upon us and with everything going on in the world, it is important we take some time to reflect on our mental wellbeing. 

The theme for this Mental Health Awareness week is Kindness. Acts of kindness like simply checking in on an isolated friend or neighbour is time well spent.  

It is also important to remember to be kind to yourself. The NHS recommends 5 top tips to look after your own mental wellbeing: 

  • Connect with others 
  • Keep a regular routine and set goals 
  • Manage your social media and news intake 
  • Do things you enjoy & try something new 
  • Look after your body by staying hydrated, eating well and getting daily exercise 

Volunteering is another excellent way to boost our mental wellbeing as it: 

  • Provides routine and structure. 
  • Increases self-esteem and confidence 
  • Imparts a sense of fulfilment 

     

There are so many ways we can help ourselves by helping others, this is a great opportunity to volunteer to support the most vulnerable members of our community. Whether that is with a local organisation through the Kingston COVID volunteering scheme or simply picking up the phone and calling a friend or relative to see how they are feeling. Find out more about how you can get involved in volunteering in your borough. 

Posted on

Kickstart your Career by Helping your Community

 

University culture is historically entwined in philanthropy, charity and activism. Students play a focal role in the promotion of social improvement and empowerment; this new generation of leaders have the power to shape the world through social change. Students may not have the monetary means to contribute to charity, but it would be a mistake to believe that financial contribution is the only way to help a cause. How about volunteering? The unique characteristic of volunteering is that it is mutually beneficial:

1. Stand out in a competitive world. Volunteering helps develop practical skills which go a long way in ones’ career. Soft skills and organisational skills are essential in every field, whether that’s communicating the importance of environmental protection or acting as CEO in a third sector organisation.

2. Become part of a community. There is such meaningful difference bought about by the local frontline and this can inspire students to continue to support the community after their academic years.

3. Supplement your learning. Volunteering is a practical way for students to start thinking critically about environmental, economic or social issues.

4. Increased health and happiness. Youth loneliness is on the rise; young people feel less connected to their friends, community and the world around them. Volunteering provides the opportunity to connect with people while making a positive impact.

If you have questions about volunteering, contact us or come and meet us at one of our volunteer advice sessions.

If you are an organisation and believe that a student volunteer would be valuable to you, we can help you with the recruitment and management of volunteers.

 

Posted on

Sending Thanks

To the wonderful people of Kingston,

One of the best parts of my role as Volunteer Brokerage Coordinator has been visiting the organisations we support to see the great things they are doing. My highlights of this year include; lunch with the guests of The Vintage Banquet, poppy making for remembrance Sunday at Kingston Eco-op, coppicing trees at Berrylands Nature Reserve and getting to take home delicious courgettes grown at Hogsmill Community Garden after a morning of volunteering. There are so many other wonderful organisations doing great things in Kingston.

We began 2019 by launching a new volunteer advice session at New Malden and by October we had added another venue at Tolworth Library, meaning we are now present in each of the four neighbourhoods. In June we celebrated Volunteers’ Week with the first ever Kingston Volunteers’ Fair which included an award ceremony presented by Leader of the Council, Liz Green. It was a pleasure to meet so many of you last year and help you discover volunteering as a pathway to your potential; allowing you to share your unique contribution with your community and develop life changing skills.

I’m excited to announce that this year brings some changes to the team! A new Volunteer Brokerage Coordinator began work in the New Year, as I take a new role as Training, Development and Events Coordinator. I’m certain that the new broker, Molly, is going to fit in really nicely to the Kingston volunteering community and I know that she cannot wait to meet all of you.

Thanking you all and wishing you happy volunteering in 2020!

Susie

 

Posted on

Micro Volunteering Day 2019

So, what is micro volunteering? This flexible model of volunteering constitutes of small acts of kindness which can take many different forms. Micro volunteering is a way to give back to your neighbours, local or global community, or environment. There is no ongoing commitment or training necessary and these roles can be virtual, remote or in person.

To celebrate Micro Volunteering Day 2019, we made and dispersed seed balls! These balls of clay and compost are coated in seeds and thrown or planted in green areas. Sometimes known as ‘seed green-aides’, this environmental activism emerged from the Guerrilla Gardening movement in New York, ‘Seed Bombing’ or ‘Aerial Reforestation’ aims to populate urban areas with flora, providing food for bees and other insects.  

Some other micro volunteering ideas are: 

  • Offering to do the food shopping or pick up some essential items for a neighbour  
  • Two-minute litter pick  
  • Clearing up a local community green space  
  • Donating unwanted items to a charity shop  
  • Buying a homeless person a hot drink or sandwich  
  • Signing an online petition  
  • Research surveys and questionnaires like Zooniverse  

Volunteering is valuable and every minute counts; it’s important that we value every selfless contribution whether that take place over seconds, minutes, days, weeks, months or years.