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How to get involved with volunteering from home

As much of our country has turned to working from home, many volunteering opportunities have gone digital too. Volunteering from home and micro-volunteering are not new concepts, however, they have become even more popular in recent months.  

Micro–volunteering is a bite-sized task or activity, often on a one-off basis and no strings attached, allowing volunteers to donate their time in short, efficient bursts. It could be anything from signing a petition, donating food to a food bank, creating something crafty for a cause in need, taking part in a #twominutelitterpick … the list of possibilities is endless.  

In a time when outside activities are limited, volunteering from home has never been as important and rewarding. Here’s why: 

  • It’s accessible – anyone can volunteer from the comfort of their own home. 
  • It’s achievable – you can give just a few hours, without the worry about travelling or over-commitment. A small act of generosity goes a long way. 
  • It’s flexible – your volunteering can easily fit in around other commitments, it’s a good option for people who work full time and/or have families or caring responsibilities. 

We want volunteering to be accessed by as many people as possible. There are plenty of easy ways to start volunteering from home, here are just a few ideas: 

  • Consider supporting or starting an online campaign for a cause you feel strongly about. Help create social media posts to help spread the word. 
  • If you speak more than one language, offer your skills to organisations that may need support with translation, teaching and training.  
  • Become a befriender! Offer to call someone who may be isolated once a week for a friendly chat. This can be done through organisations such as Age UK or simply with a neighbour or friend. 
  • Dust off your knitting needles or sewing machine and support various causes in need. The NHS is currently in need of scrubs. 
  •  Volunteer for an organisation you care about. You can offer to support them from home with admin, phone calls or social media. 

Have a look at these websites for more ways to volunteer from home 

  • The United Nations has a whole host of online volunteering opportunities, including translation, art and design, teaching and training roles.  
  • Support blind and low-vision people by providing visual assistance through Be My Eyes app.  
  • Join Loving Hands to donate blankets for new-borns, shawls for the elderly or coats for dogs.  
  • The Wildlife Trust is promoting 30 days of random acts of wildness. Download your free pack and do one wild thing a day throughout the whole month of June. 

Volunteering Kingston will be sharing micro-volunteering activities to take part in throughout the week on our social media pages. Follow @vol_kingston for daily ideas for you to get involved. Let us know what you’re doing at home this week Volunteers’ Week using the hashtag #IVolunteer. 

This post is part of our Volunteers’ Week blog series, words by Alice Gray. Alice is a Volunteer Brokerage Coordinator at Groundwork London.

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Kingston Volunteers’ Week – Our time to say thanks 

National Volunteers’ Week is a chance for organisations across the country to recognise the contribution of their volunteers. This Volunteers’ Week Volunteering Kingston are saying Thank You to all the volunteers who have stepped up to support the Kingston community response to COVID-19, as well as the many dedicated volunteers who have contributed many hours of volunteering to local charities and organisations over the years who would love to be helping at the moment but aren’t able to do so because of social distancing guidance. We will be sharing stories about the fantastic Kingston volunteers throughout the week on our social media pages Twitter: @Vol_Kingston Facebook /VolunteeringKingston use the hashtags #TimeToSayThanks and #KingstonStrongerTogether.

The Volunteering Kingston team want to say a huge thank you to all the volunteers supporting the most vulnerable members of their communities: from communities and faith groups coming together and communities setting up neighbourhood volunteer initiatives, neighbours checking in on each other and kids transforming their windows into beautiful artworks to brighten up the commute of a key worker.  You are all making a huge difference!

If you are one of the 1200+ people who signed up as a volunteer to support the COVID-19 response, Thank you! If you have been unable to get onto a shift because of the high number of volunteers wanting to help, there are still many things you can do, simply calling a friend or relative who may be isolating goes a long way. Throughout the week we will be sharing ideas of how to volunteer from home so keep an eye on our social media pages for that. And remember that by simply staying at home you are also doing your bit to keep others safe.

Watch our Volunteers’ Week Thank You video.

Thank you from everyone at Volunteering Kingston and Kingston Stronger Together.

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Ailsa’s life-changing experience as a KCAH volunteer

Ailsa lives in Thames Ditton and had worked in the hospitality industry for eighteen years since she left school. Having fallen out of love with working in pubs, she wanted to do something rewarding. She registered with Volunteering Kingston and then learnt, through the newsletter, about the Volunteers’ Fair in during Volunteers’ Week 2019. 

She found all the organisations she spoke to interesting, but she was most impressed by Sophie and Megan at Kingston Churches Action on Homelessness. She thought they were the most inspiring because they were so clued and passionate about supporting vulnerable people. She hadn’t really thought much about homelessness before, but now she was excited to start volunteering. 

Before the Night Shelter opened in September Ailsa volunteered supporting Sophie with the preparations. She emailed potential volunteers and sought donations for food and sleeping bags. Her biggest achievement was managing to source a meal from a different restaurant each night for the thirty guests who attend the shelter. She was excited to get involved and looking forward to meeting the guests and making a difference. 

As she says, coming to Volunteering Kingston’s Volunteers’ Week Fair changed her life. She quit her job the day the night shelter opened and was offered work with KCAH as the Office Coordinator. 

Volunteering as the Night Shelter Assistant was Ailsa’s first time, but now she’s a convert, encouraging friends and family to volunteer. She’s found that volunteering was the only thing that helped her move on from a low phase. She describes it as ‘food for the soul’. 

During the COVID-19 period working with KCAH, she’s had some of the most stressful days of her life, as well as the most rewarding. She now coordinates volunteers, and they’ve been driving, putting food parcels together and staff the hotel where 60 rough sleepers are now staying.  

When asked about the best thing about volunteering, she says that it’s “meeting a lot of people who are trying to make a positive change in the world. It’s upped my faith in people.” Asked to sum volunteering up in three words, she says: “incredible; life-changing.” 

If you’d like to learn how volunteering can change your life, find out more here.

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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. 

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How to include volunteers at home

Most regular volunteering activities will have stopped during this time as a result of social distancing precautions. Please check in with your volunteers regularly, especially if they are living alone. 

If you are able to include volunteers in some way, please ask them if they’d like to be involved. Having something to do and feeling useful is really important for good mental health, especially during this period of social distancing. 

Here are some ideas of things they can do to stay involved: 

  • Proof reading of documents or other admin tasks that don’t involve sensitive data. 
  • Undertake free online training for something that will be useful when current precautions end. 
  • Supporting with social media. 
  • Researching advice, resources and positive things to share with service users during the current crisis. 
  • Film themselves providing training for a skill – for example cooking, home-based exercise or basic DIY. This could be shared with service users if appropriate. 
  • Film themselves talking about the value of being a volunteer and ask others who can volunteer to give their time. 
  • Volunteer by video call. 

 

If your volunteers don’t use the internet or are not tech-savvy, they could: 

  • Write about being a volunteer and encouraging others to volunteer. 
  • Come up with ideas for future fundraisers, trips, activities etc for when the current precautions end. 
  • Write thank you cards (obeying hygiene precautions) for funders or people volunteering now. 
  • If they have been volunteering for a long time, they could write a history of the organisation and how things have changed. This could be posted on the website. 
  • Become a penfriend or phone buddy. 

 

Volunteering with other organisations: 

  • If you can’t involve them and they want to volunteer, advise them to contact Volunteering Kingston and we will try and find the right role for them. 

 

Let us know if you have any other ideas or would like any support. 

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Staying safe when supporting others

If you are going to volunteer either as part of an organised volunteer response team, with a local or mutual aid group, or running errands for a friend or neighbour it’s important to take the following precautions for your own safety but also to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

 

  1. Let family and friends know what you are doing 
  2. Maintain a safe distance of at least 2 metres – about 3 steps – from the people you are helping 
  3. If you are dropping off shopping for someone please don’t go inside the premises
  4. Try to volunteer during daylight hours
  5. Follow social distancing guidelines and don’t volunteer in large groups
  6. If possible, volunteer in pairs but staying 2 meters apart
  7. Support friends and family by phone or video call
  8. Keep washing your hands regularly and for 20 seconds
  9. If you are volunteering outside use hand sanitizer as frequently as possible
  10. If you join a local group supporting others be careful when sharing your personal data 

 

If you have any questions, concerns or you are worried about any individuals, please get in touch with us and we will be happy to support you and make referrals.

Other precautions you should take to prevent the spread of COVID-19 when volunteering are:

  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
  • Put used tissues in the bin straight away
  • Try to avoid close contact with other people
  • Avoiding public transport where possible

 

The most important thing to consider before volunteering is to make sure you are healthy enough to volunteer. You also don’t want to risk making someone else unwell. Please follow NHS advice and stay home if you have either:

  • A high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
  • A new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)

Stay safe, stay healthy!

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Coronavirus Information and Advice

Coronavirus (Covid -19) is making the headlines world over. Here is some information about what we are doing in light of the pandemic.

We are taking steps at Volunteering Kingston to prevent the spread of Coronavirus and advice on how you can keep yourself and others safe.

As a preventive measure, we are suspending all our Volunteer Advice Sessions for the time being. We will keep you informed of the latest updates and developments in the coming weeks.

Our other services are still very much up and running, the best ways to reach is to email: enquiry@volunteeringkingston.org.uk

We will keep you updated with what volunteering opportunities there are available at this time through our website, social media and volunteer newsletters.

It can be overwhelming to assess all the information coming from various sources. For credible information, we strongly recommend you to follow instructions and guidelines issued by verified sources such as Coronavirus (COVID-19): UK government response and NHS

The uncertainty around this pandemic might cause stress, anxiousness and social isolation. If you feel coronavirus is affecting the mental health and wellbeing of yourself or someone you know, please read the following guidelines for some advice.

What can I do to help?

Register on our volunteering platform if you’re looking to get involved in supporting others. Shortly we will be introducing a search function where volunteers can register their interest in volunteering specifically to help with the COVID- 19 response.

Alternatively, think about supporting your local food bank by donating items. Or donate to a charity who are already helping those in need of extra support such as #helpinghands

Informal or Micro volunteering

Call or Skype a relative or friend who you know is on their own or maybe worried.

Do you have a neighbour or relative who might be having to stay at home? Could you drop off a roll of toilet roll or essential items? Use this printable ‘Kindness card’ and post it through a trusted neighbour or relative’s door. Please be sure to take sensible hygiene precautions as well as taking care of your own health and safety.

We understand that people will be taking informal volunteering action and you may want to get involved with  small local action groups that are popping up in local communities across the country. If you do want to get involved with a local action group we would again encourage you to do so taking sensible precautions and responsibility for your own health and safety. Please read our advice on how to stay safe while volunteering.

Before volunteering, please make sure you have considered your own health, any caring commitments you may have and who you need to make aware that you are volunteering.

If you know of something happening locally or want to set something up yourself please let us know.

How can you help as a business or workplace?

Consider printing off some of the ‘Kindness cards’ and give them out. If possible, allow some flexibility if staff are volunteering – e.g. allow staff a longer lunch break to check in on a neighbour. Or consider holding a food bank donation drive in your workplace.

We will be reaching out to you in the coming weeks with further service updates and developments. Stay connected, stay safe.

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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.

 

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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

 

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Princess Alice Hospice

Princess Alice Hospice is a Kingston based charity that believes that everyone has the right to skilled, compassionate end of life care. Their services are free of charge, although reliant on the support and fundraising efforts of the local community.

They provide a comprehensive range of services that respond to the individual needs of patients and their families, so that they can live life to the full, create memories, share special moments and when the time comes, support them through, before and after the death of a loved one.

The roles they offer are varied, ranging from community fundraisers, allotment volunteers and charity shop assistants.

Ingrida is the Volunteer Recruitment Officer at Princess Alice Hospice. She’s been involved in the organisation for over six years; initially a volunteer herself in a charity shop, before moving up to supervisor, and then manager. She’s now in charge of finding new volunteers.

“I find the most effective way to get new volunteers is to reach out to them through the database. I particularly like the filter functions that enable me to get in touch directly with the volunteers based on their skills and location”.   – Ingrida Tusaite (Volunteer Recruitment Officer)

The most popular roles that Princess Alice Hospice advertises are the Event Assistants. Ingrida explains the flexibility appeals to people – most of them are on an ad hoc basis and are often at the weekends. They have a few Santa Fun Run events coming up in December that Ingrida is advertising through Volunteer Connect. Specifically, they are offering family volunteering roles, allowing parents and children to volunteer together at the festive events.