Voluntary Action South West Surrey

Guildfordians Rugby is a community focussed rugby club based in Stoke Park within the Borough of Guildford.  We provide a wide variety of rugby playing opportunities and are a club that is fully open to everyone, regardless of their ability, age, ethnicity or gender and sexual orientation.  Through the provision of adult contact rugby (for both men and women), touch rugby, walking rugby and children’s rugby we offer sporting activity for all genders and all ages – our playing members range from four years old to eighty.  In addition to on field volunteering roles there are a wide range of volunteering opportunities behind the scene – accordingly an interest in rugby or sport is not necessary to support Guildfordians Rugby and to enjoy its community.  We have a number of different roles and would be delighted to hear from you.

"There for parents when they need us most, because childhood can't wait"

Parents Supporting Other Parents - a simple idea that really works!

Home-Start Guildford has been supporting local families across the Guildford Borough for over 25 years. 

We're a non-judgemental organisations that helps local parents who are struggling, for any reason. Some of those reasons may include; multiple births, mental health, an abusive partner, isolation, mental or physical handicap, or the pressure that loss of employment brings to a family.

What we do

Our charity provides a preventative service that aims to support families who are struggling by offering regular volunteer support to parents with at least one child under the age of 5, usually referred to us by Health Visitors.

We provide one-to-one support for parents:
Our volunteers visit the family’s home for a couple of hours every week.  They tailor-make their support to the needs of the parents and children. Volunteers are very committed and will keep visiting until the youngest child turns five or starts school, or until the parents feel they can stand on their own two feet.  Parents and volunteers often develop a deeply trusting relationship which can lead to powerful change within the family.

We also run two family groups for referred families, one in the Pirbright Community Centre and the other in the Guildford Family Group, Hazel Avenue.

Our values

• We offer families choice
• We work in partnership - with each other, with families and with other agencies
• We work in a spirit of openness, encouragement and enjoyment
• We are flexible and responsive to the needs of families

Volunteering Opportunities 

There are several ways that you can help in a voluntary capacity:

• by supporting a family as a Home-Visiting Volunteer
• by helping at one of our Family Groups
• by joining the Trustee Board
• by becoming a Friend of Home-Start Guildford
• by supporting us as a Digital / Office Volunteer

Please see the volunteer roles listed for more detail.

Better Food, For People, Health, And Planet 

We are a new local community project dedicated to creating a better food culture. Our mission is to inspire individuals and communities to access and enjoy better quality, plant-rich food—leading to healthier, happier, more connected, and sustainable lives.

We:

• Inspire healthier, more sustainable lifestyles through the art and science of plant-based cooking.
• Connect people across cultures, ages, and backgrounds through shared food experiences.
• Empower communities with practical skills in nutrition, cooking, and mindful living.
• Celebrate diversity, sustainability, and the cultural heritage of plant-based cuisine from around the world.

Our vision is that every child receives one daily meal in their place of education and that all those who have more than they need, share with those who lack even the most basic things. Working together with those who share our vision, we believe there is no good reason why this cannot be realised.

Mary’s Meals is a global movement supported by people from many walks of life and different backgrounds. Our mission is to enable people to offer their money, goods, skills, time, or prayer, and through this involvement, provide the most effective help to those suffering the effects of extreme poverty in the world’s poorest communities.

Puttenham Barn is run by a small environmental charity called Project Oasis North Downs (POND).

Its mission is to provide simple inexpensive overnight accommodation in a 250 year old barn, in an environmentally responsible way.

It is aimed at walkers, cyclists & people enjoying the surrounding beautiful countryside.

The Barn has many environmental features including solar panels (on its bike shed!), rainwater harvesting & local varieties of apple trees in the garden.

We aim to open at weekends, during school holidays and on as many other nights as we can between Easter & October.

Rainbow Trust provides emotional and practical support for families who have a child with a life threatening or terminal illness.

 This support comes from Family Support Workers who perform a role most people couldn’t imagine.  They maintain a sense of normality for the family by helping with hospital trips, performing household duties, taking the siblings to school and in many cases providing care during the final stages of a child’s life, helping with funeral arrangements and bereavement support.

Rainbow Trust has nine care teams across England in Surrey, North East London and Essex, Central London, West London, County Durham, Cumbria, Manchester, Swindon and Southampton. Last year they supported 1,361 families.

Rainbow Trust's vision is that one day all terminally ill children and their families will have access to a Rainbow Trust Carer.