We are very excited to announce the launch of ‘Get InVOLved Norfolk’ – the go to website to find out about Volunteering in your Community.
  
Get InVOLved Norfolk will offer you a new and exciting way to search and apply for volunteering roles, you can contact voluntary organisations and track your progress.
 
Dozens of organisations across Norfolk have already signed up, offering voluntary activities ranging from welcoming visitors to some of the county’s most iconic stately homes to conducting befriending calls in order to tackle loneliness and social isolation.
 
There are so many wonderful organisations that need extra support, so if you would be interested in finding out more or getting involved in volunteering, please visit our website.
 
Benefits of Get InVOLved Norfolk:

• You can join a voluntary organisation and communicate directly on there with them.
• You can sign up to the volunteer bank, so that organisations can contact you if they think you are suitable for their roles.
• If you are under 18, you can search for roles that are suitable for your age.
• You will have more control over your record changes and can delete your account directly.

Volunteering is great way to improve your own wellbeing, providing a sense of purpose, whilst helping some incredible voluntary sector organisations in Norfolk. Roles are varied and if you would like to discuss how we can support you to find the right role do just contact volunteercentre@voluntarynorfolk.org.uk.

We Need You!

Green Light Trust are looking for Voluntary Clinical Supervisors who would be willing to give anything from a few hours per month upwards. Your volunteer time means that we can support more children, young people, and adults across our communities through our nature-based interventions.

You will need to be a qualified Mental Health professional for example - Mental Health Nurse, Occupational Therapist, Counsellor, Psychologist.

Click here to see the impact of our work - Spring - YouTube

Summer Reading Challenge Volunteers

The annual Summer Reading Challenge (SRC) creates a buzz around reading, it prevents a dip in literacy over the long summer break. This year we are aiming to sign 10,000 children up to the challenge. Reading for pleasure can help young people’s emotional development, academic achievement and promotes wellbeing.

Rosa Worley explains a little bit more about the roles which runs for the period of the school summer holidays. 

When did you volunteer for the Reading Challenge?
I volunteered at the Millennium Library during the summer holidays in 2019 when I was 14.

What kind of things did you do when volunteering?
I gave out stickers to children and helped them sign up to the challenge. I also helped out at workshops where we would run fun activities for the children, such as making slime.

What did you most enjoy about volunteering?
I enjoyed talking to the children and encouraging them to join the scheme. I also enjoyed working with the library staff as they were really friendly and welcoming. It was good having something to do during the holidays.

What skills and experience did you gain from volunteering?
I learnt how the library operated and got an insight into what it was like working there. It helped me develop my confidence as I had to speak to lots of different people of different ages.

Volunteer Opportunities

Carers Matter Norfolk aims to support the thousands of unpaid carers across Norfolk. The organisation can provide help with getting advice, providing advocacy, completing official forms, hiring professional carers, applying for grants, helping carers to get breaks and much more.
 
The Volunteer Service is part of this umbrella of support and we currently offer three roles:

• Digital Inclusion – help carers to develop digital skills to enable them to keep in touch with family and friends, or support their caring role.
• Step Down – befriending support for carers wishing to resume a hobby, attend a social group or get back into the community. The Step Down role seeks to work with carers to build confidence and independence.
• Carer Group – assist with running/organising a carer group around the county, providing group support to a number of carers. Volunteers can develop skills to learn how to facilitate and organise their own groups.

 
All training is provided (both online and in person) and all roles are highly flexible for both parties, meaning that they can be tailored to fit a volunteer’s schedule. Volunteers can give as much or as little time as they can, with the average session time being 30-60 minutes per week.
 
We are in need of volunteers across the county to support carers, in a variety of roles. Volunteers are not tied to a single role and can work with as many carers as they wish.

At Action for Children London Independent Visitors we match volunteer mentors with children in care aged between five and eighteen who are based across the UK, including London and the South East and Other Counties.

Our mentors are there to develop a long-term friendship with a young person, meeting at least once a month, to give them an opportunity to access hobbies and interests, gain independence skills and generally have a fun day out.

We are currently looking for an Independent Visitor for a young person in care based/living in Norfolk (Honingham & Heckingham area).

Do you have a volunteer story?

If you would like to share your experiences of volunteering in Volunteering News, please do get in touch with us: volunteercentre@voluntarynorfolk.org.uk