Dates-n-Mates is a friendship and dating agency for adults with a learning disability. They run lots of social events and activities, helping people to meet others and to build friendships and relationships. Their work is underpinned by a human rights-based approach and believe it is people’s right to live life free of discrimination and to develop friendships and relationships of their choosing, to love and be loved. As an Events Volunteer, your role is to help their members enjoy socialising in safe and friendly environments. THe events include going to restaurants, pubs, cinema, tenpin bowling, day trips and walks. The events are sociable, great fun and your role is very rewarding. You will initially shadow a volunteer or member of staff to help you get to know everyone and see what is involved. Events take place afternoons and evenings and usually last 2 hours. Dates-n-Mates asks their volunteers to commit to a minimum of 1 event per month. Dates-n-Mates also offers a variety of training and support to their volunteers. It is a requirement for all volunteers to join the PVG scheme but there is no cost to yourself. All expenses including travel will be covered.

Muscular Dystrophy UK (MDUK) is the only charity the UK to provide support to the more than 60 types of muscle-wasting conditions. Support muscle-wasting conditions which is a life-limiting condition affecting 110,000 children and adults in the UK. This is a flexible opportunity to fit with your schedule as and when you can support. You can do a few hours a month or give more time of support at set times. It is a great chance to meet new people in your community and build on your fundraising, management, organisation and communication skills. As a Volunteer Collection box Co-ordinator you will support the Regional Development Manager in your region to raise awareness and funds for the charity by placing and managing collection boxes within businesses in your local community. All help makes a real difference and is greatly appreciated. For more information please contact Jodie Whitham, Regional Development Manager at email j.whitham@musculardystrophyuk.org or telephone 07771374839.

Could you support unpaid carers or people with disabilities to access benefits? Could you help someone find local services? Could you help someone understand the information they have been given about their care and support? Could you support or lead a group of people on a topic of interest? You could help improve the quality of someone’s life. This role is ideal for social work students, an interest in the care sector or retired professionals. Support Session Volunteers help our clients with general advocacy, supporting people with a variety of challenges. This helps us to reduce waitlists and support more individuals by: • Helping clients understand about advocacy • Supporting clients to self-advocate with our tool kits • Signposting clients to other services where required • Supporting the service to deliver “collective” advocacy sessions • Light Touch Advocacy • Supporting advocates with casework • Promotion of services and the organisation • Logging activity onto our systems Volunteer, Ben’s priorities changed after a serious illness. “I wanted to give something back. It’s really rewarding as you get to use your knowledge and skills for a really good purpose.” You’ll develop skills in communication and confidentiality, add experience and knowledge to your CV, and know you’re making a genuine difference to people’s lives.

How would you like to be part of the Guide Dogs family and help people with sight loss live the life they choose? We would love to have you onboard to help with our ambition of a future where every person with sight loss has the confidence and support they need to live their lives to the full. Did you know that we don’t just provide life-changing guide dogs, we also provide advice, skills, emotional and practical support for children, adults and their families living with sight loss to help them live actively, independently and well? To do all this we need the support of amazing volunteers like you! What does the role involve? The Merchandise Coordinator role involves looking after all of the stock for your group (including the cuddly toys!), ordering more stock when levels get low and organising for it to be transported to fundraising events to be sold! Main Responsibilities- • Letting the group know about new stock items • Keeping an eye on stock levels, ordering all trading goods for the group and getting things ready to sell at events • Receive, check and price goods • With your group Treasurer, banking money raised through the sale of trading items using the trading paying in book • Organising the storage of goods, this may include storing at your house or at other group members’ homes. • Where required keep local shops supplied with goods and code as appropriate • In January carry out a complete stock take