Tag: Case Study

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Case Study: Hazel, an organiser at Square 1 Café

Today’s volunteer case study is inspired by Hazel, an organiser at Square 1 Café in New Malden. They saw the advertisement and signed up, running the Café for two Saturday’s a month. Hazel has since completed a First Aid Course, learnt how organise events, earned food hygiene certificates and made heaps of new friends and memories through volunteering.

Volunteer Role and Organisation

Organiser at Square 1 Café in New Malden

How did you find out about the volunteering role?

I saw the advert for Square 1 Café and I thought what a lovely idea. I had volunteered during covid for vaccinations and I enjoyed that very much. Square 1 seemed like a wonderful place to meet and help people through chatting and playing games in a friendly atmosphere.

Tell us about your volunteering role(s). Brief synopsis of the role, what you do/did day to day. What training did you receive/are you receiving? What are you enjoying/did you enjoy most about your volunteering role?

I am an Organiser for Square 1 Café and I set up and run the café on two Saturdays per month. This includes shopping for the sandwiches we make, and setting up the venue ready for customers who arrive at 12pm. We have around three of us that help on the day and we al share making tea and coffee, sandwiches and chatting and playing board games with the regular customers we have. I have since started to organise the rota.

I was trained by Tony Williams who started the café. I had an online induction and also a Saturday where I shadowed him and he taught everything I needed to do. I have since done a First Aid Course and there was also online training including food hygiene certificates.

I absolutely enjoy every moment of the café we run and I know three customers very well now and it is such a lovely friendly place where people come and enjoy chatting, playing board games, sitting in the garden and eating a healthy sandwich and cakes which are donated by supermarkets.

What has been the best thing about your volunteering experience?

I think every Saturday seeing friendly faces and to see how happy it makes people and also to chat to everyone.

Can you sum up your experience in three words?

Fun, Fulfilling, Rewarding

A massive thank you to Hazel for completing our volunteer survey. Keep up with our social media channels for more opportunities. Check out our website, Facebook, and BlueSky.

Fancy getting involved in volunteering? Not sure where to start? Check out our resource page here.

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Balancing kids, work and volunteering

I volunteered, many years ago, then kids came along and there didn’t seem to be much spare time anymore. As the kids grew up, I’d got into the habit of work filling the time available, so I still didn’t seem to have a lot of time. It was after the covid lockdowns that I realised that I did have time, I just needed to organise myself better and remember what I got out of volunteering. 

 I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do; I knew regular weekly slots was best for me rather than ad-hoc. I also knew I’d prefer something that got me out of the house. I’d heard of Anstee Bridge previously and been to a couple of their ‘tea parties’ so when I saw them asking for volunteers on Volunteering Kingston, I got in touch with the project manager, Katherine. 

She and Laura were warm and welcoming from the start and always immensely thankful to all their volunteers. Anstee Bridge works with teenagers who have social, emotional and mental health issues. They are referred by their school and usually attend one or half a day a week to do creative workshops. 

I go in for half a day a week and stay with the same young people for the year. I get to know them and see them bloom as their self-esteem increases, and I get to take part in great workshops like candle making, circus skills and painting. I have the simple role of making these fantastic, but troubled, youngsters feel good about themselves through learning new skills in a safe environment. I am well supported by the staff if there are concerns, but that is rare.  

I really enjoy volunteering at Anstee Bridge. I know I help the young people, but I also help myself by giving myself time away from work emails and stresses of general life. When I’m there, it’s not about me or my worries, so they drift away for a few hours, and I feel better at the end of it. 

I’ve also worked with others to start a charity – Friends of Anstee Bridge – to help raise funds for the projects and artists Anstee Bridge use to help the young people. As the chair of trustees, I can say that trustee volunteers work so hard, but it is also rewarding. It suits me to be involved in both, but whoever you are giving time to you will get so much in return. 

 

Liz Green, Volunteer in Kingston 

Become a volunteer! Browse current opportunities with Volunteering Kingston

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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.