Category: Volunteering

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

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

The café is housed in the Takeley Community Hub – Providing a warm and welcoming venue serving food and drink at low prices.

Volunteers are needed to provide great service to our customers at the Community Café.  The role includes greeting customers, taking orders, preparing drinks and serving food. As with any café job, there will be table clearing and simple light cleaning tasks (wiping tables for example) and we all muck in with the washing up as and when that is needed too. You will not be asked to prepare food.

The café is open Thursday 11am until 2 pm, Friday 9.30 until 1.30pm

Skills:

We are looking for someone to give all our customers a friendly welcome. You need to enjoy working as part of team and be willing to help with all aspects of the role.

No formal qualifications are needed but we will give you some basic training in food safety and in the ‘front of house’ role.

Understanding the importance of hygiene is crucial and we are required to follow standard guidance as a food business. Most of this is common sense but we will go through the basics with you.

For further information:

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

To register your interest:  Click Here

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

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

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

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

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

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