Author: Susan Dennison

Little Dunmow Community Buildings Trust is looking for an enthusiastic volunteer to organise fundraising events to raise funds for their new community building in Little Dunmow.

As an Events Coordinator, you will play a pivotal role in planning, coordinating and executing events.

Activities could include:

• Plan and maintain a calendar of virtual and in-person events for community participation
• Organise and ensure the successful delivery of at least four events per year
• Create ‘in-house’ events or source ‘off-the-shelf’ events within defined cost limits
• Send communications and materials to participants prior to each event
• Coordinate logistical tasks in advance of each event
• Coordinate each event on the day, organising volunteers and participants or leading activities
• Provide participants and volunteers with a great experience
• Ensure collection of all the due funds

This role will be home based. Events to be held in the Uttlesford area.

Skills needed:

• Experience of organising fundraising events is desirable but not essential
• A commitment to the aims of the Trust and the role
• A willingness to devote the required time (estimated an average of two days per month) and effort
• Excellent communication and organisation skills
• An ability to think independently
• Actively want to learn and develop your skills
• A desire to meet people

For further information:

Contact us on T: 01371 404525

E: volunteer@ucan.org.uk

Uttlesford Community Action Network (UCAN) in partnership with, The Active Wellbeing Society are setting up a mobile community supermarket, to support local residents. We are looking for volunteers to make this possible.

Along with a supervisor, Community Supermarket Volunteers will support the smooth running of the mobile supermarket and operation of a mobile shop-like model where customers pay a small fee for the food they purchase. Volunteering will involve a range of tasks:

• Sorting food/surplus stock.
• Setting up the mobile supermarket.
• Welcoming and serving customers.
• Clearing away.
• Engaging with the service users.
  

The mobile supermarket will visit 8 locations across Uttlesford over a two week period. We are looking for volunteers in/near Elsenham, Thaxted, Hatfield Heath, Hatfield Broad Oak, Felsted, Little Hallingbury, South Dunmow and Takeley. Volunteers will be needed for approx. 2 hrs.

We are looking for volunteers who:

• Love food and helping people.
• Are creative and like thinking on their feet.
• Enjoy being part of a hard-working team.
• Enjoy a fast-paced environment with a healthy buzz
• Be involved in the heart of the community.

For further information:

Contact us on T: 01371 404525

E: volunteer@ucan.org.uk

Be part of Girlguiding and help run meetings for our young members.

We are looking for volunteer leaders, for our Guide and Brownie Groups in Saffron Walden.
Girlguiding offers opportunities for learning many transferable skills; organisation and planning, completing risk assessments and first aid to name a few.
It also gives the opportunity for exploration and magical moments as you share the fun that our young members have.

Skills needed:

• Enthusiasm to inspire
• A desire to learn and experience new things
• Time – evenings once a week during term time.

We also offer flexible Guiding where any time is valued and can contribute to role sharing.

For further information

Contact us on:

Telephone: 01371 404525

Email: volunteer@ucan.org.uk

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

Saffron Walden Museum is one of the oldest purpose-built museums in the country. We are looking for volunteers to help staff at Saffron Walden Museum with keeping the museum in a good condition so that it is tidy, organised and welcoming for visitors.

Tasks would include:

• Helping to paint walls and exhibition display equipment
• Helping to fix fixtures, fittings, furniture and other equipment
• Helping out with practical and technical tasks
• Carrying out tasks as directed by Museum staff
• Referring to Museum staff when uncertain of a situation
• Notifying Museum staff of any potential health and safety issues

Skills needed:

• Good customer service skills – you need to be friendly, outgoing and have good communication skills
• Enjoy working as a team
• DIY practical skills e.g. carrying out basic repairs, painting and decorating, using tools
• Good Attention to detail
• Ability to work to set guidelines
• Enjoy working independently
• Security and health and safety conscious
• Good physical health – the role would include activities such as lifting materials and equipment and using ladders

For further information:

Contact us on T: 01371 404525

E: volunteer@ucan.org.uk

Are you looking for a rewarding way to give back to your community? Consider becoming a hospital car driver with Uttlesford Community Travel. Their hospital car service plays a crucial role in ensuring that individuals who are unable to access regular transport can still attend their medical appointments with ease.

As a hospital car driver, you’ll have the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others by providing essential transport to medical facilities. Whether it’s driving patients to routine check-ups, treatments, or surgeries, your support can alleviate the stress and uncertainty often associated with accessing healthcare services.

Flexible volunteering hours to suit.

Skills needed:

• Driver with a clean licence
• Caring and compassionate
• Friendly and helpful

For further information:

Contact us on:

T: 01371 404525

E: volunteer@ucan.org.uk

Volunteer Gardeners are needed for weekly sessions that take place on Monday & Thursday mornings (weather dependent). No experience is necessary just an interest in helping out with various tasks such as watering, sowing seeds, weeding and much more…

Dig It Community Allotment is located at the Byrds Farm Lane Allotment site which is tucked away just behind Crocus Fields road, just off Little Walden Road at the north end of Saffron Walden. It was launched with the purpose of enabling anyone to be able to come and learn how to grow their own fresh, fruit and veg in a friendly social atmosphere. The site has been made wheelchair friendly and has several raised beds with plans for more, so it’s easy for anyone of any age or level of fitness to join in!

Gardeners are needed for:

• Maintaining our community allotment and ensuring it is clean and tidy.
• Carrying out small maintenance and repair jobs on the allotment.
• Helping with planting and harvesting of produce
• Assisting with composting and soil maintenance.
• Maintaining the safety and cleanliness of the allotment.

The above list is not exhaustive, and volunteers may be asked to take on other tasks to support and assist the smooth running of the allotment.

Volunteers should wear suitable clothing/footwear for the garden and wear garden gloves.

Skills needed:

No previous experience is required but you must be enthusiastic, friendly and enjoy working outside and working with people.

For further information:

Contact us on T: 01371 404525

E: volunteer@ucan.org.uk

The disability benefits team are specially trained volunteers who visit people in their homes to help them to complete complex disability benefit application forms. Last year they helped 563 clients apply for disability and carer’s benefits worth over £1,548,000 a year!

What will you be doing?

As a home visit volunteer, you will help people who, because of limited mobility, pain levels, confusion or caring responsibilities, are unable to attend the office. Undertaking one visit a week, on average, you will receive specialist training so that you can help clients to complete disability benefit applications and provide support and advice on fall prevention, social transport, care options, befriending and support groups, handyman services, access to priority registers, warm homes or budgeting advice, which can vastly improve the quality of life of disabled people and their carers.

This is a flexible role that works very well around other commitments.

Skills needed:

You don’t need any specific qualifications or experience; you will receive full training for this role. But you should:

● be friendly and approachable

● be non-judgmental and respect views, values and cultures that are different to your own

● have good listening skills

● have excellent verbal and written communication skills

● be able to understand information and explain it to others

● be willing to learn about and follow the Citizens Advice aims, principles and policies, including confidentiality and data protection

● be willing to undertake training in your role

● have access to a car, as travel around the district is required. Travel expenses will be reimbursed.

For further information:

Contact us on:

T: 01371 404525

E: volunteer@ucan.org.uk

Audley End House and Gardens are looking for outgoing and enthusiastic people to join our team of Storytelling Volunteers to help bring their site to life. You will be dressed in a relevant historical costume.

Dressed in replica costume you’ll interact with visitors and share stories of life from the era.  This role isn’t about acting, or portraying a particular individual, it’s about using your costume to engage with visitors to help them connect with the site’s past.

Each interaction you have with visitors can be different and no two conversations will be the same. To help visitors get the most from their visit you could be:

• Describing what life would have been like living or working at the site
• Answering visitors’ questions and providing accurate information in a lively and engaging way
• Using handling objects or demonstrating historical activities

Skills needed:     

• You’ll need to enjoy meeting and talking with people of all ages and backgrounds
• Have a passion for sharing historical stories and information
• Some historical knowledge would be beneficial, but we will provide you with all of the information and training you need
• A desire to learn and a want to share your knowledge with our visitors

For further information:

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

Audley End House and Gardens are looking for Buggy Drivers to take visitors around the site.

Buggy Drivers are there to offer this transport whilst providing a warm and friendly welcome.

What will I be doing?

• Making sure that the buggy is clean and safe to drive by carrying out a driver’s daily checklist and giving the vehicle a clean at the end of your shift
• Driving the buggy around the designated route
• Inspiring visitors with stories about the history of the site and the various features of the garden
• Helping visitors orientate themselves around the site and provide recommendations of interesting parts of the garden to explore
• Keeping an eye on the site to ensure visitors are enjoying the garden in a safe and responsible manner and reporting any issues to the site supervisor
• You might also be asked to provide ad hoc support to the Visitor Operations, Hospitality and Events staff as required. This could range from transporting guests around the site through to conducting the evening sweep (checking and closing garden buildings) to ensure all visitors have left.

Skills needed:

• Driving Licence
• Practical experience driving a similar type of shuttle or golf cart vehicle is desirable but not essential
• Shuttle Drivers will need to be confident engaging with the public and enjoy chatting to visitors throughout the day

For further information:

Contact us on T: 01371 404525

E: volunteer@ucan.org.uk