News

Volunteer Opportunity: Can you help a local scouts group?

Volunteer Opportunity: Can you help a local scouts group? District Chairperson and Treasurer needed

A local district scout group is looking for a District Chairperson and Treasurer. Do you have a few hours spare to support them?

This would suit someone looking to put their skills and experience to good use to support the young people of the Hatfield Forest District, which includes Scout groups from Henham & Elsenham, Stansted, Hatfield Broad Oak, Hallingbury, Takeley, Dunmow and Stebbing. Financial skills preferred for the Treasurer role.

For further information:

Contact us on:

T: 01371 404525

E: volunteer@ucan.org.uk

Volunteer Opportunity: Treasurer needed!

Do you have financial experience and a passion for your community?

Do you have the skills and background to become a Treasurer?

As a trustee of Uttlesford Citizens Advice you could use your experience, together with your knowledge of the local area, to make a positive impact by ensuring our charity is sustainable and continues to meet the needs of the community. Evening meetings are usually held in Saffron Walden, 8 times a year. In addition, there will be some ad hoc meetings.

Skills Needed:

  • understand and accept the responsibilities and liabilities as trustees
  • have financial qualifications or experience
  • some knowledge or experience of charity finances, fundraising, financial consequences and pension schemes
  • be non-judgmental and respect views, values and cultures that are different to your own
  • have good listening, verbal and written communication skills
  • be able to exercise good independent judgment and if necessary to make difficult recommendations
  • excellent good numeracy skills to understand accounts
  • be able to explain complex financial information in an accessible way
  • be willing to learn about and follow Citizens Advice aims, principles and policies, including confidentiality and data protection
  • be willing to undertake training in your role

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

Volunteer Opportunity: Do you like chatting to people?

Would you like to help us promote the work of UCAN?

We are looking for a volunteer to help us promote the work of UCAN to library users. This would involve a 2-hour session once a month Dunmow library.

You would have a ‘Pop-Up’ desk with UCAN leaflets and would engage with the public coming into the library.

Full training would be given, and you would shadow a UCAN employee for a couple of sessions first.

If this sounds like something you would be interested in, do please contact us!

For further information:

Contact us on T: 01371 404525

E: volunteer@ucan.org.uk

Volunteer Opportunity: Community Response Hub Volunteers

Due to demand for help, we need to grow our team of dedicated volunteers who can help out with occasional tasks for neighbours.

Your Community Needs You! Uttlesford Community Response Hub supports isolated and vulnerable residents by providing assistance with:

  • Prescriptions
  • Basic Gardening
  • Befriending
  • Walking Buddies
  • One-off help requests

Due to demand for help, we need to grow our team of dedicated volunteers who can help out with these jobs, in Great Dunmow and Saffron Walden, but particularly in some of the outlying villages like Stebbing, Felsted, The Rodings, Newport and the Hatfields.

For further information:

Contact us on T: 01371 404525

E: volunteer@ucan.org.uk

 

Volunteer Opportunity: Do you enjoy socialising?

Make a difference at the Jubilee Hub Saffron Walden

In partnership with Saffron Walden Town Council and Enterprise East we are bringing to life the Saffron Walden Garden rooms in a new community hub ‘Jubilee Hub.’ from the hub we will be holding activity groups.

As part of this role, you will be supporting with light refreshments, teas and coffees, engaging with guests and supporting the team.

If you are a sociable person, like meeting people, enjoy getting involved or just want to be part of something new then we would love to hear from you. We are especially needing volunteers to support our Thursday Warm Welcome Hub between 12.00 – 15.00.

For further information:

Contact us on T: 01371 404525

E: volunteer@ucan.org.uk

Bandstand Season 2025; Every Saturday from 21 June – 06 September 2025

It’s not long now until Saffron Walden Town Council’s (SWTC) Bandstand Season.  It starts on 21 June and will run weekly every Saturday until 06 September, between 12 noon and 2pm from the bandstand in Jubilee Garden, CB10 1EH. 

A selection of music genres will entertain over the season; from pop / rock to folk and brass bands to contemporary choirs.  The bandstand will be alive for 12 consecutive Saturdays -and it is FREE to attend – just drop in, sit back and enjoy the music.

Said a SWTC spokesperson, “ following on from last year’s success, we are pleased to be offering the bandstand season again, throughout the summer – and are thrilled that Arkwright & Co are backing the Bandstand Season for its third year”, Tom Arkwright added, “Arkwright and Co are delighted to continue to support our local community and look forward to working with SWTC with the upcoming Bandstand Season. We look forward to seeing everyone there over the coming weeks.”

SWTC welcome the financial support from local businesses (Arkwright & Co and De Rosa Music Academy) and Uttlesford District Council (UDC).  Their sponsorship contributes to the well-being of arts and culture in Saffron Walden.  Arkwright & Co are backing the Bandstand Season for its third year.  Said Managing Director, Tom Arkwright, “Arkwright and Co are delighted to continue to support our local community and look forward to working with SWTC with the upcoming Bandstand Season. We look forward to seeing everyone there over the coming weeks.”  De Rosa Music’s Managing Director, Casey Dawkins added,
De Rosa Music Saffron Walden are proud sponsors of the bandstand season. Whilst offering high quality musical tuition, instruments & repairs, playing a wider role within supporting the musical community within Saffron Walden is imperative for us”.  And UDC’s Cllr Richard Freeman added, “I am delighted to make a donation from my Ward Members Initiative Grant – which supports the arts and makes music accessible to all in Saffron Walden over the summer months”.

The Jubilee Hub will be open throughout the Bandstand Season, every Saturday 12 noon – 2pm – with Uttlesford Community Action Network (UCAN) volunteers serving tea, coffee and cake / biscuits.  Said UCAN’s Lead Officer, Clive Emmett, “UCAN are excited to be able to support Saffron Walden Town Council’s Bandstand Season with the help of our local Volunteers. Our Volunteers are so critical to so many projects and events we are involved in and bring the added value element to us as a charity and the community as a whole”.  A SWTC spokesperson added, “as the Mayor Cllr Ahmed’s chosen charity, all funds raised will support the vital work UCAN do, of reducing loneliness and isolation within the community”.

Volunteer Opportunity – Hospital Car Service Driver

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.

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

Great support for Volunteer Fair

Thank you to everyone who attended the Volunteer Fair at Saffron Walden Town Hall on Tuesday 3rd June 2025.

Particular thanks to the team at Saffron Walden Town Council who were instrumental in bringing the community together for this dual event celebrating the value of volunteering this #VolunteersWeek2025 and supporting local voluntary sector organisations to increase awareness of volunteer opportunities currently on offer.

Amongst organisations in attendance were: 8 Day Weekend, Action for Family Carers, Audley End House, Citizens Advice Uttlesford, CraftAbility, EACH, Home Start, Mind in West Essex, Saffron Hall, Saffron Cricket Club, Saffron Walden Museum and Uttlesford Community Travel.

For information on current volunteering opportunites with UCAN and other charities in Uttlesford, take a look at the Volunteer Essex website.

This event was our first collaboration with the new Mayor of Saffron Walden, Cllr Ahmed, who has chosen UCAN as his Charity of the Year 2025-2026, and we are looking forward to working with the Mayor’s team across the next twelve months.

Pictured above (L to R) are Richard Boyce, Chair of UCAN Trustees, the Mayor Cllr Ahmed, Deputy Mayor Cllr Jeanette Curtis and Clive Emmett, Lead Officer of UCAN.