VOLUNTEER COLUMN: Variety of volunteering opportunities available

Viridian Housing Association have around 16,000 homes and work in partnership with local authorities, organisations and residents to create safe, sustainable communities.
New scooters being collected from Littlehampton Shopmobility L25571H13New scooters being collected from Littlehampton Shopmobility L25571H13
New scooters being collected from Littlehampton Shopmobility L25571H13

They aim to support their residents and help them to make the most of opportunities in their lives.

The Money Mentor programme is a six month structured volunteering programme, which offers volunteers work experience, specialist training and qualifications so that they can help some of Viridian’s most vulnerable customers manage the effects of the government’s welfare reforms.

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The volunteers will work with the financial inclusion officers to provide additional advice and support to customers, to enable them to make informed decisions around managing their money, spending and saving, maximising their income and welfare benefits.

This could directly help lessen risks of homelessness, rent arrears, debt and poverty.

New volunteers are required to join the Independent Monitoring Board within HMP Ford prison, to help to ensure that proper standards of care and decency are maintained.

You do not need any special qualifications or experience as all necessary training and support will be provided.

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Candidates need to live within approximately 20 miles of the prison, and you need to be enthusiastic, open minded, possess effective communication skills and have the ability to exercise sound, objective judgement.

New volunteers will join the existing members of the board monitoring the prison.

They visit the prison regularly, talking to prisoners and staff and attend a monthly board meeting.

Typically, this will take up to four or five days per month during the probation year, which then reduces to three to four days.

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Our board meetings are on the second Wednesday afternoon of each month.

The work is unpaid but expenses will be covered.

The Arundel Museum Society is looking for more volunteers to act as stewards in the museum.

The front of house steward is responsible for meeting and greeting members of the public, dealing with tourist information enquiries and taking money for admissions and items sold in our shop.

The till is touch screen and quite simple to use, but training will be provided. The steward in the museum is responsible for meeting and greeting visitors to the museum, checking their ticket and giving information with regard to the exhibits and answering any other questions they may have. Training will be given.

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The museum is open seven days a week and volunteers cover two sessions a day: 9.50am to 1pm and 12.50pm to 4pm.

They aim to have two people on duty front of house and one in the museum, and there will always be either the manager or deputy manager on duty.

Littlehampton Shopmobility exists to ensure that people with mobility problems enjoy their shopping experience and help to maintain their independent lives.

They have a range of manual wheelchairs and powered scooters that require maintenance and repair.

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Some of the tasks are: checking and repairing wheelchair/rollator brakes, replacing tyres, charging of batteries and cleaning.

They are looking for someone who enjoys working with the public, and is reliable and flexible.

Some basic knowledge will be required although training will be given.

Some heavy lifting may also be required.

For more information on any of the above roles, please call Volunteer Now! on 01243 864220, or visit www.do-it.org.

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For bite-sized volunteering of ten days or less please visit http://skillshare-westsussex.org.uk/

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