Author: Charity Comms

Volunteer Opportunity – Our Gardens Need You!

Volunteers needed to maintain, restore and enhance these Historic England Grade II registered gardens near Great Dunmow.

Would you like to join a happy and friendly group of volunteers who maintain, restore and enhance these Historic England Grade II registered gardens near Great Dunmow.

Our regular day volunteering in the Gardens is Thursday when we have volunteers helping across the Gardens on all aspects of gardening: from digging and planting, to weeding, cutting back, pruning, dead heading, composting and garden maintenance jobs.

Smaller groups also come in on Mondays, Wednesdays and some Saturdays.

For further information:


Contact us on T: 01371 404525 E: volunteer@ucan.org.uk

Volunteer Opportunity: Walking Buddies

We are looking for friendly faces and people who enjoy walking and talking to come and volunteer alongside our team on a new project called ‘Volunteer Walking Buddies’ to help individuals that are battling with loss of confidence and anxiety to get back outside.

This is an exciting opportunity to get involved within your local community and give a little something back and support people who are struggling. Lack of activity can have a big impact upon people’s welfare both their physical and mental health. So getting out walking can have a very positive effect, especially when someone else is with you to motivate and support you.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for friendly faces and people who enjoy walking and talking to come and volunteer alongside our team on a new project called ‘Volunteer Walking Buddies’ to help individuals that are battling with loss of confidence and anxiety to get back outside. Loneliness and isolation are a big issue for many people, as well as inactivity. Full training and appropriate equipment will be provided.

Beneficiaries may be:

  • vulnerable people;
  • people who feel anxious about going out alone; 
  • people who are new to the area who would like to be shown where to walk.

For further information:

Contact us on T: 01371 404525

E: volunteer@ucan.org.uk

Volunteer Opportunity: Meet and Greet – Audley End House and Gardens

Meet and Greet Volunteers  provide a friendly welcome for visitors. 

Meet and Greet Volunteers provide a friendly welcome for visitors. 

Meet and Greet volunteers provide a warm and friendly welcome to visitors, including coach parties and pre-booked groups. As the first point of contact, you’ll:

  • Provide a brief orientation to the site including information about any events or activities and park closing times

  • Provide welcome information to coach parties

  • Ensure group leaders know where to pay for admission

  • Advise people where to park

  • Ensure all those visiting check in at admissions

  • Advise people on where to find guidebooks etc.

  • Assist people with disabilities to access mobility scooters or golf cart

Sessions run from 10am to 4pm (5pm in the summer holidays) every day of the week from March to November with flexible sign-up to suit your availability; there is also the option to do a half-day.

Throughout the rest of the year, there are opportunities to volunteer at the weekends when the site is open to the public.

Skills needed:


  • Confident, effective communicators

  • A team player, who have a positive attitude to working with visitors to enhance their visit

  • Volunteers in this role will have to stand for long periods and will have to spend time outside in all weathers

For further information:

 Contact us on Tel: 01371 404525  Email: volunteer@ucan.org.uk

Volunteer Opportunity: Adult Friendship Volunteer

Adult Friendship Volunteers support adults who have a range of disabilities in a variety of social and leisure activities and settings.

Adult Friendship Volunteers support adults who have a range of disabilities in a variety of social and leisure activities and settings.

The role of volunteers within this project is to befriend and support participants to access activities which will promote their self-confidence, independence, social and life skills. This can include accessing the local community in small groups and participating in activities that are of interest to the adults using this service. Regular social meetings are held in Uttlesford on a Tuesday evening where many members meet and participate in activities as a larger group.

Skills needed:

  • Supporting adults to participate in a range of social and leisure opportunities of mutual interest.
  • Using initiative to help in a situation where another member of the group, either member, staff or volunteer, may need support.
  • Becoming a member of a friendly, committed team.
  • Expressing ideas for new/different activities.
  • Attending volunteer meetings & training sessions relevant to the role.
  • To follow the guidelines and policies, including those designed to protect well-being of vulnerable adults.

For Further information:

Contact us on T: 01371 404525  E: volunteer@ucan.org.uk

To register your interest: Click Here

Volunteer Opportunity: Foodshare volunteers needed

Could you be part of a community foodshare volunteer team?

Various volunteering roles for TouchPoint Community Foodshare:

  • An extra pairs of hands needed to help at the Foodshare on Friday afternoons. Between 12.30 and 2.30pm at Crafton Green, Stansted
  • Evening volunteers to monitor what donations are available from the supermarkets using an App. They then notify our drivers when there is a collection to be had. This is done most evenings about 7pm.
  • Volunteer Drivers – collect from Supermarkets in Harlow, Bishops Stortford, Dunmow and Saffron Walden typically in the evening around 7.30- 9.30pm.

For further information:

Contact us on:

T: 01371 404525

E: volunteer@ucan.org.uk

Volunteer Opportunity: Volunteer Driver for Uttlesford Food Bank

The Uttlesford Foodbank is looking for people to become volunteer drivers.

Do you have your own car?

Do you have a couple of hours (or more) free during the day on weekdays?

Would you like to volunteer with the food bank, making a real difference to people in Uttlesford?

If so, we would love to hear from you! We are looking for volunteers to deliver food parcels to our clients in and around the Stansted, Takeley and Dunmow areas.

For further information:

Contact us on:

T: 01371 404525

E: volunteer@ucan.org.uk

Volunteer Opportunity – Family Support Volunteer

Support families by offering emotional support and guidance.

Your offer of time and support, as a volunteer, can mean the world to a family. Becoming a parent, whether it’s the first or the fourth time, can be an isolating experience.

Home-Visiting Volunteers offer families support and encouragement in their home by visiting them once a week for a period of six months. They develop a relationship with the family and encourage positive parenting and school readiness. They encourage the family to explore, reflect and come up with their own solutions. They can offer practical support within the home such as reading to a child.

Skills needed:

No formal qualifications required as full training will be given.

Parenting experience or experience of working with families and children.

For further information:

Contact us on T: 01371 404525

E: volunteer@ucan.org.uk

Volunteer Opportunity: Community Fridge Volunteer

Dunmow Community Fridge needs help with picking up food from local suppliers and stocking and maintaining the fridge.

Dunmow Community Fridge needs help with picking up food from local suppliers and stocking and maintaining the fridge.

Food waste is a big issue in the UK. It is estimated that a third of all food gets wasted. Most of this is avoidable and could have been eaten had it been better managed.

The Dunmow Community Fridge, run by Uttlesford Community Action Network, will help cut food waste and build stronger bonds within the community. Once the food has been collected from our project partners, it can then be offered free of charge to anyone wishing to visit the Community Fridge.

Community Fridge Volunteers are responsible for the collection of food from our suppliers, currently located in the Dunmow area. The Volunteers ensure the fridge is appropriately stocked, cleaned and maintained. Very basic record keeping (such as fridge temperature) is required.

Volunteers can be flexible on their availability. The fridge is open from Monday to Friday and volunteers are encouraged to co-ordinate their availability with others Community Fridge Volunteers already on the rota. The role should take no more than an hour a day. We are particularly looking for a volunteer for a Friday morning.

To find out more:

T: 01371 404525

E: volunteer@ucan.org.uk

Volunteer Opportunity: Baby and Toddler Rhyme Time Volunteer

Baby and Toddler Rhyme Time Volunteers needed at local libraries

Baby and Toddler Rhyme Time Volunteers needed at local libraries

As a volunteer at baby and toddler rhyme times, you will deliver rhyme sessions, and support the development of children by sharing your enjoyment of books and rhymes.

What will it involve?

  • Preparing the children’s library for the session – putting out chairs and selecting stories and rhymes
  • Meeting and greeting the parents/carers and children and making everyone feel welcome
  • Joining in or delivering the session and building a good rapport with the group
  • Chatting with families about the benefits of early book sharing and the importance of talking and singing rhymes with their children
  • Directing specific enquiries to library staff
  • Clearing the area once the session end

Skills:

  • Warmth and friendliness
  • Able to relate to children and their families
  • Enthusiasm to promote sharing books and reading with families
  • An enthusiasm for libraries and awareness of the range of services offered

For Further information:

Contact us on Tel: 01371 404525  Email: volunteer@ucan.org.uk

Become UCAN’s next Honorary Treasurer

UCAN has a vacancy among its trustee board for an Honorary Treasurer

UCAN has a vacancy among its trustee board for an Honorary Treasurer

Uttlesford Community Action Network is the charity at the heart of our community.    Working with VCFSE colleagues, statutory services and volunteers, we deliver a range of services to improve the quality of life for the residents of Uttlesford.   Our primary mission is to reduce loneliness and isolation amongst our population and enable people to live independent but supported and connected lives.

The UCAN board of trustees are volunteers who hold the operational management team to account, set strategy and develop policy and support the charity with compliance and governance matters.   We are now seeking to appoint a new Honorary Treasurer, as the previous post-holder has retired.

The role of the Honorary Treasurer (who is both a trustee and director of the charity) in addition to their regular responsibilities as a trustee of UCAN, is to have oversight of the financial administration of the charity.

Day to day responsibility for the financial management and administration of the charity is devolved to the Chief Finance Officer (CFO), supported by the Financial Administrator. The financial management and administration of the charity is governed by the Financial Regulations policy.

The Treasurer, in addition to attending regular trustee meetings, will also Chair Finance Sub Group meetings where they will work with the Chief Finance Officer to set and review budgets and budget performance, review the fundraising activities and funding pipeline and support the CFO with matters relating to the good financial governance of the charity. The sub group will make recommendations to the board on routine financial matters and issues arising.

  •  The Treasurer will provide support and advice to the Chief Executive Officer and CFO and through them the Financial Administrator.
  • The CFO will consult the Treasurer before committing to any non-budgeted expenditure or entering into any financial liabilities/agreements.
  • The Treasurer may be required to meet the external accountants and respond to questions from them.
  • The Treasurer will approve the annual accounts and present the examined/audited accounts to the board and at the Annual General Meeting.

 

PERSON SPECIFICATION FOR THE HONORARY TREASURER

Requirement Essential or Desirable
Financial qualification such as chartered accountant D
Financial management at a senior level E
Charity finance, fundraising and pension schemes D
Ability to analyse proposals and consider their consequences E
Willingness to be available to the SMT and trustees for advice and guidance on an ad-hoc basis E
Be eligible to serve as a trustee E

 

Your commitment as a trustee is to attend as many schedule board meetings as possible within the year.  These alternate between in-person main meetings and virtual (Zoom) online update meetings approximately every six weeks, plus participation in the finance sub group which meets two weeks before each trustee meeting.  Board meetings usually take place on a Friday morning in

If you match the eligibility criteria and are interested in taking an active role within UCAN and our community, please email your CV outlining relevant experience, and a covering letter to connect@ucan.org.uk   the Dunmow area, with virtual meetings taking place on Wednesday evenings.   This is a voluntar role, but expenses for attending meetings can be claimed.

Thank you for your interest.