News

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

Christmas and New Year Opening Times

We will be closing for Christmas on Tuesday 23rd December 2025 and will
re-open on Monday 5 January 2026. A Community Responder will be available for urgent prescriptions on the mornings of Monday 29 and Tuesday 30 December.

Please call 01371 404474 for help on those days.

Thank you for all your support this year. We wish you a very Merry Christmas!

Volunteer Opportunity: Café assistant -The Old School Community Café Takeley

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

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

Have you had your flu jab?

The flu season is upon us and the number of people infected is higher than we usually see at this time of the year. A strain of ‘Influenza A’ is the main type of flu people are catching and unfortunately it’s associated with more severe illness and higher death rates than other types, particularly among the elderly.

Flu is highly infectious and can lead to serious illness. Experts nationally are predicting that we are likely to see a worse flu season than we have experienced for many years. 

The flu vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and others around you.

People most at risk of serious illness can get a free vaccination – here’s how you can book your free flu vaccine today:

  • Speak to your GP practice
  • Online, search ‘NHS pharmacy vaccine’
  • NHS app
  • Call 119 (translator available)

If you are not eligible for a free vaccination, you can pay for a flu jab from a participating local pharmacy.

Let’s keep each other safe this winter.

To see who is eligible for a free vaccination, visit:  https://www.hertsandwestessex.ics.nhs.uk/your-health-and-care/vaccinations/flu-vaccines/

It takes about two weeks following the flu vaccination to build up immunity against the virus, so it’s important to book in as soon as possible and well ahead of the festive season.

Vaccination against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and COVID is also important for those eligible. Information here RSV vaccine – NHS and here COVID-19 vaccine – NHS

Free Bid Writing Workshop in Uttlesford

Charities and voluntary groups are invited to join us for an interactive session on mastering the art of bid writing.

Delivered by the Active Essex Foundation and hosted by UCAN, charities and voluntary groups are invited to join us for an interactive session on mastering the art of bid writing. Learn tips and tricks, and strategies to help you stand out from the competition.

Fundraising has never been more challenging for community and voluntary organisations across Essex. There is huge demand on grant givers like National Lottery Community Fund and Sport England. There are less grants available from local authorities and NHS. Your fundraising plan needs to think of different ways to bring in income, know where to look for available and relevant grants, and make sure your bids and grant applications stand out.

This in-person workshop is aimed at organisations who want to improve their fundraising and bid writing knowledge and confidence to strengthen income generation.

Tuesday 25th November 2025

9.30am – 12.30pm

Foakes Hall, Great Dunmow

To book your free tickets visit:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/introduction-to-fundraising-and-small-grants-bid-writing-workshop-tickets-1933039466079

Sell out for Town Mayor’s Fundraising Quiz!

The Saffron Walden Town Mayor’s Quiz Night last Friday 17 October at Jubilee Hub was a huge success! It was a sell out evening with 74 people attending, making up 13 teams. The event was held to raise vital funds for Cllr Ahmed’s chosen charity, Uttlesford Community Action Network (UCAN).

The evening was full of fun and laughter with a touch of competitiveness! And after eight rounds of brain-teasing questions, the winners were announced – congratulations to ‘The Golden Moons’ who won eight bottles of wine to share. In second place came ‘The Pacemaker’ and ‘The team with no name’ came a respectable third – a team member said, “The quiz was a fantastic evening of fun, laughter and (friendly) competition – we thoroughly enjoyed it. A huge thank you and well done to the organisers for making it happen!”

Complementary Indian snacks were kindly provided by the Mayor and a wonderful selection of donated raffle prizes aided the fundraising efforts. Town Mayor, Cllr Ahmed said, “Thank you to everyone who came for the Quiz night – what a fantastic evening of fun and community spirit! Together we raised vital funds for UCAN, your support means so much.” Clive Emmett, UCAN Chief Officer, added “The feedback has been positive – thank you to everyone for supporting this event and the work we do in the community. I would also like to extend our thanks to volunteers on the day; UCAN staff, Town Council Officers, Cllr Jeanette Curtis, and family of Cllr Ahmed.”

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 – 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

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

🌐 Your Essex Community – E-Portal Awareness Training 🌐

We’re excited to share an opportunity to learn more about the Your Essex Community E-Portal – a valuable online space for connecting and engaging with local community resources.

📅 Next Session: Monday 16th September at 1:00pm

✅ Free to attend

🔗 Book your place here: Click to register

This awareness training will guide you through the features of the portal, showing how you can make the most of it for your organisation, group, or personal use.

https://mdcvs.aidecrm.co.uk/surveys/respond/deRLcxBQHy7nZk1oM1QZtTp0JlIcjoiGu5yoWL3Y

Don’t miss out – secure your spot today