As we move on from 2021 and look ahead to what the New Year will bring, why not let us help inspire you to make those changes that you’ve been contemplating throughout the dark winter months. Let us enthuse you to take those first steps, small or large, towards making positive change, towards learning new skills, towards becoming more active and connecting with your community.
Volunteering is about much more than just helping people or supporting worthy causes; it’s also about doing things you enjoy, meeting different people, increasing your skills – and having fun! Research shows that, if you make a resolution which has a positive effect, you’re far more likely to stick to it. Deciding to volunteer could be the best New Year’s resolution you’ve ever made.
When asked what people found most rewarding about volunteering they said ‘seeing others achieve something’ and ‘knowing that someone’s life has been made better’.
If you’re between age 13 and 17 years old (or know someone who is), why not head over to our Young Volunteers website for the latest opportunities, tips and advice specifically designed to help younger people get volunteering.
So, whether you’re looking for a new project, big or small, long term or one off, have a look below at some of the hundreds of roles in your local area that are waiting to inspire you.
Welcome to 2022, your year to volunteer!
Get Active
How many of us make a New Year’s resolution to get a bit fitter or be more active? Why not start here by combining it with volunteering too. What better motivation to get moving than helping out at a local club or group, meeting up with others is also a great motivator to sticking to those New Year goals. Why not have a look to see what you might enjoy?
Wellbeing walks take place across the New Forest, Fareham and Winchester on a regular basis, some weekly, some monthly. They are run by volunteer walk leaders who lead the walk and act as back markers for the group, plan routes and ensure all walkers are catered for.
Volunteers have the opportunity to attend a free half day training course to become a qualified walk leader and receive regular support form the Healthy Walks Coordinator. This is a great opportunity to get out and enjoy your local area as well as to help others to get walking and improve their fitness.
Do you enjoy spending time in the great outdoors and want to share that enthusiasm with all those who visit Fairthorne Manor? We would love you to get involved in our range of programmes supporting the delivery of activities ranging from ecology sessions in our water environment through to high ropes and water activities. All activities are delivered by appropriately qualified staff, and you can help this run smoothly by helping to organise groups, providing encouragement to participants and help out where requested by instructors.
Street Reach run a drop-in football project on Friday evenings from 5.45pm-7.15pm. They are looking for volunteers who are enthusiastic about football and can help with the session. Previous experience of working with young people or football coaching would be desirable but is not essential.
Duke of Edinburgh Trainers and Expedition Leaders
Do you get a buzz out of helping young people improve themselves? Do you enjoy the outdoors? Can you inspire young people at each stage of their DofE adventure? We are looking for volunteers to help young people ages between 14 and 25 undertake their Duke Of Edinburgh Award. Alongside inspiring young people to choose their options within the programme, Leaders keep a close eye on the participants progress, assist with any issues through regular meetings (normally once a week during term time, often evenings) and help them stay on track to complete their DofE programme.
Learn a new skill
Do you ever wonder what it would be like to learn a new skill, something you’ve maybe wanted to do for a while but not had the opportunity? Perhaps there’s a hobby or activity you used to be involved in but it’s fallen by the wayside. Well, why not dust off those skills and bring them back to life through volunteering or, help out in a group where you’ll be learning something new alongside helping others? Whatever your skill, we’re confident there’s a volunteering role out there that it would be perfect for. Here are just a few ideas.
The Brickworks Museum, Bursledon, is a volunteer run museum located by the river Hamble between Southampton and Portsmouth. It’s a unique site and the only remaining steam driven brickworks in the country. The museum is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and they are looking for volunteers to help maintain and run the historic steam engines, as part of a team, and to talk to visitors about them.
The Treloar Trust provides education, care, therapy, medical support and independence training to young people with physical disabilities from all over the UK and overseas. Our aim is to prepare these young people for adult life, giving them the confidence and skills to achieve their full potential.
At Treloar’s, after classes finish, other activities and learning takes place in a residential setting. Students can plan meals to cook with their friends, take part in sport, arts and craft, play board games or video games or just take time to socialise and chat about their day. Voluntary Helpers are needed to support students in all these tasks under the guidance of members of staff. Let us know your talents and interests and we may be able to incorporate them into the activities!
We are aiming to make hedgehog and bug houses for every school possible. We want to create habitats for wildlife that are in need in our ever growing cities whilst educating children that local animals are endangered and need our help. Wildlife homes will be put in schools so that children can check on the homes and feel responsible for saving British wildlife that are on the endangered list.
Come and be a part of our exciting new venture in Leigh Park Community Centre. You could make a valuable contribution towards Park Play & Café. No experience needed as training and ongoing support will be provided. This is a fun and rewarding role where no two days are the same.
Inspire Others
HYP support young adults with physical and/or mild – moderate learning disabilities aged 13-25 years. There are weekly activities, usually held on a Saturday, with a programme of sessions that their young people design empowering them to make choices and gain new experiences. In doing so, they hope to develop the independence and social skills that they believe are so vital.
Their sessions range from fun leisure activities, like laser quest and a Subway meal; skill-based sessions, such as baking & cooking; historical visits & naval tours; and big experiences: indoor skydiving, Portsmouth Summer Show and Star Wars Celebration are recent examples.
The White House (Curdridge) Ltd. are looking for Dementia Companions to join their team, spend quality time with their residents offering them activities both individually and as a group. They have a pub to enjoy a drink (non-alcoholic) and some fun pub games, they have beautiful grounds to walk around and enjoy the animals, they have a lovely gardening area so green fingers are welcome. Many of the residents enjoy outdoor activities, for example football and tennis, along with many other outdoor games. Some residents would prefer a sit down with a cup of tea and a chat. They have many activities, including reminiscence, dementia friendly technology and dementia friendly games.
Do you have a few hours to spare on a weekly basis? Do you want to support Older People in your local community? If so, this is the role for you!
MHA’s Volunteer Befrienders help improve the quality of life for older people who are socially isolated and may feel lonely. Their Befrienders are introduced to a member with the purpose of accompanying them on a short walk whilst spending time each week to bring companionship, and a chance to chat. The walks may be just to post a letter, or walk in the park. The aim is to help increase the confidence of the older person to enable them to venture outside after being at home during this pandemic. The areas covered are Havant Borough and Portsmouth.
The role of the Tools with a Mission (TWAM) speaker is to talk to groups in their local community leaving them with the challenge to support TWAM through tool collections, financial provision or by volunteering. The groups you speak to will be diverse in nature and could include churches schools, Rotary Clubs and many others.
The role is available throughout England, Wales and Scotland as they seek to grow their speaker network. You will be speaking in their general geographical area but how far you go is up to you as you are free to accept or decline talk requests as you wish. The role will generally be needed for the dates and times the group is looking for so could be daytime, evening or weekends, although there may be some flexibility and you do not have to accept a speaking engagement.
Get to know your community
Did you know we work with over 700 charities and non-profit organisations across Hampshire? That’s great news for volunteers as it means we have hundreds of interesting, diverse and absorbing roles from specialist involvement to one off events. What better way to explore your community than by signing up to volunteer with some of the amazing services across the county.
Conservation, Gardening and Outdoors
Various roles, including: experienced and amateur Gardeners, Activity Helpers, Rangers and Maintenance Volunteers.
Friendly and enthusiastic volunteers required to help out at events supporting The Rainbow Centre. Events include Fetes, Street Collections and Sports Events amongst others. Events are held throughout the year and locations vary – volunteers can select events most suitable for them. Time commitment is dependent on the volunteer (as much as desired). The role would vary from event to event.
Hammersley Homes is launching a Community Visiting Home Support Service for people who suffer from enduring mental illness, and they are looking for volunteers willing to visit these vulnerable people in their homes, to enrich their lives with companionship and support, to help them live their best life.
As the name suggests, a Community Visitor has a friendly disposition and supports the beneficiary with company, tactful guidance, presenting options for the person to make informed choices and encourage: Independence; Self care; Happiness and contentment; Social contact and integration where possible; Guidance and referrals for other support when desired/required.
Volunteer Police Cadets (VPC), supported by Hampshire Constabulary, has been designed as a youth engagement and diversionary programme. The scheme aims to promote a practical understanding of policing among all young people and encourage the spirit of adventure and good citizenship through volunteering amongst the community.
This is a varied volunteer role offering personal development as well as the opportunity to really enhance and change a young person’s life for the better; volunteers will be required to assist the Unit Leader in the delivery of the scheme. There are 14 units around Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
Community Fundraising Group Member
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) want to beat heartbreak forever from the world’s biggest killers. Their Community Fundraising Groups consist of volunteers who come together in their local communities to hold exciting fundraising events, raise awareness and have a lot of fun while they do it! Fundraising Groups are the face of the BHF in their local community; when volunteering in a Fundraising Group, you will have fun and make new friends, all the while raising money for life saving research.
By becoming a Fundraising Group member in Wessex, you are joining an empowered network of dedicated volunteer fundraisers who help the BHF to keep hearts beating. BHF aim to invest £100 million each year into lifesaving research and they could not do this without their dedicated volunteers.
Finally, if you’re still undecided about what you’d like to get involved with, why not look at things a bit differently by checking out our roles that enable you to work from home or, for a taster of volunteering, try our events and one off link to see what’s happening near you.
Working From Home – volunteer from your living room or just outside your front door.
Events and One Off Volunteering – help by volunteering short-term or to support special events.