Guildford and Waverley is a hub bustling with charity and voluntary organisations who are all striving to improve peoples’ lives.
To celebrate this support in our community we met with some local organisations during national Make a Difference Week in October. These organisations were Care for Guildford, Arvtenture and Pewley Down Volunteers (PDV). They visited us at the volunteer centre to share their stories about how they are making a difference for many people in the local community.
How are these organisations making a difference?
· Care for Guildford – this is a good neighbour free transport scheme. It is a network of volunteers helping local people who cannot get out and about on their own.
They are looking for volunteer drivers who can transport people to medical appointments and sometimes supermarkets. There is flexibility with this role and drivers can fit their volunteering around other commitments.
Care for Guildford are also seeking the help of an appointments co-ordinator to work approximately one day a month from their own home matching volunteer drivers to client requests.
· Artventure – this is a Guildford based charity helping vulnerable adults explore the visual arts and develop both social and practical skills.
They are looking for volunteer art workers to encourage the clients to draw, paint and participate in activities. A general helper is also required to chat to clients and make teas and coffees.
· Pewley Down Volunteers (PDV) – this is a local nature reserve on Chalk Downland, managed by Guildford’s Countryside Team. PDV assist the team in cutting back the scrub and conserving rare plants and insects found on its slopes.
They are seeking the help of conservation volunteers. Volunteers are needed to keep the Downs in good condition by cutting back the scrub using hand tools. PDV also welcome applications for students doing their Duke of Edinburgh Awards.
If any of the above roles are of interest and you would like to start making a difference by volunteering with them, click here for further information and details about how to apply.
We also have an extensive list of other volunteering roles on our volunteer recruitment website with a whole range of organisations from befriending opportunities to working with animals or the emergency services. You can access it by clicking here. If you would like more information about specialised Christmas volunteering roles, please give us a call on 01483 565456.
Volunteers are essential to many of the organisations in Guildford and Waverley and without the help of the local community, many of these groups would struggle to exist. Your help is valuable in making a difference.