Voluntary Action South West Surrey

Amphibian and Reptile Conservation is a national wildlife charity (Registered Charity 1130188) committed to conserving amphibians and reptiles and saving the disappearing habitats on which they depend.

Our vision sees amphibians and reptiles thriving in their natural habitats, and a society inspired and committed to their conservation.

As a mental health charity, we aim to promote mental health and wellbeing throughout the Coast West Sussex area.

Respecting individual needs and the rights of individuals to have control of their lives, we aim to empower people with mental health needs to be as independent as possible and help them to benefit from optimum support and activities in their community.

We are committed to challenging stigma and barriers in the community, for people with mental health needs.

We provide or support 7 projects throughout the Chichester area helping people to:

•  Strengthen their self-esteem and self-confidence.
•  Build and maintain strong personal and social relationships.
•  Enjoy positive community experiences.
•  Achieve their personal and social goals.

Our projects in the Chichester focus on these areas:

•  Work with older people
•  Work with young people
•  Work in the community

“Fostering cross-cultural understanding and friendship by providing young people with quality opportunities for international volunteering, work experience, education and training”

Girlguiding is the largest organisation for girls and young women in the UK.  The aim is to sustain and promote a stimulating and enjoyable programme of activities.  These will help girls and young women develop their potential and enable them to play an active role in their community.

Surrey Lifelong Learning Partnership is a local charity based in Knaphill. We provide support to people of all ages who are seeking meaningful employment but haven't been able to find it for various reasons. It could be illness or disability, redundancy or simply a lack of confidence in general. Whatever the reason, we will work with the individual to rebuild their confidence and give them the skills they need to get back into the workplace.

The Guildford Mukono (Uganda) Link was established in 2003 to foster an understanding between the communities of Guildford and Mukono. It is through friendship that we have found many ways of working together.

In Guildford, there are 10 Linked schools, Surrey University and individuals are involved in various projects. Some initiatives have arisen because a need has been identified, others have resulted from spontaneous ideas from chance meetings.  All are based on respect for each other’s culture and institutions.

We have an active committee of 10 people and have 200 supporters. There are regular visits to Mukono and reciprocal visits to Guildford.

The Museum of Farnham is housed in Willmer House, a Grade I listed building with many original features and a delightful walled garden.

Here you can discover the tales of William Cobbett and George Sturt whilst marveling at the inventions of John Henry Knight. Over the years Farnham has been home to many artists and craftsmen and the Museum has a fine collection by local artists including Stephen Elmer, WH Allen, Harold Falkner and Sir John Verney, as well as Farnham Greenware.

Our local studies library is a treasure trove of information on Farnham which cannot be found anywhere else. We have maps, census data, parish records, electoral rolls, street directories, newspapers, a photographic archive and more.

The walled garden is a hidden treasure of Farnham, with a tranquil and serene feel year round. Our Garden Gallery is a popular venue and available for hire for parties, exhibitions, talks and much more.

Oakleaf Enterprises is an independent registered charity whose purpose is to support people with mental health issues to lead independent, productive and fulfilling lives.

We do this by encouraging the development of their interpersonal, practical and academic skills to gain and sustain mainstream sheltered employment.  

This charity also provides advice and support for those who wish to access further education or training.  

Pewley Down is your Local Nature Reserve, owned and managed by Guildford Borough Council.  Pewley Down is chalk grassland, renowned for its unusual flowers, and the butterflies which depend on these.

The volunteers work under the guidance of the countryside team.

We meet on the first Saturday of every month throughout the year, at 10:00, by the Pewley Hill entrance. Work parties go on till 1400. Drinks & biscuits provided. Volunteers should wear strong boots as the ground is uneven, with lots of rabbit holes. Participation by Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Candidates is encouraged. The main work is to keep the scrub under control, using saws, rakes and loppers. We also monitor plants and insects on site.

Plant Heritage - safeguarding cultivated plants through the National Plant Collections scheme for everyone

Puttenham Eco-Camping Barn is run by a small environmental charity

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 Eco-Barn has many environmental features including solar panels (on its bike shed!), rainwater harvesting & local varieties of apple trees in the garden. It is now in its 11^th year of operation.

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

To provide an outdoor learning centre for use by schools and other groups at which an individuals' awareness of, and concern for, the natural environment is increased.

We aim to provide a safe and secure residential facility,offering quality first hand outdoor experiences through promoting;

Environmental appreciation and understanding

Social cohesion through shared experience

Individual self confidence and self awareness

Sustainability of the environments

The Surrey Arts Wardrobe is a theatrical costume hire department run by Surrey County Council. Initially set up in the late 1970s as a community resource housing costumes for various groups and schools the collection now all belongs to Surrey County Council and is available for hire.

Tackle disadvantage, social exclusion and hardship in local communities and to help people improve their life chances. We will reach out to people to equip them with the skills to improve their economic situation, to reduce their social isolation and to convince them that they have a valuable contribution to make to society.

Amongst the ways this is achieved are:

Helping people to help themselves for the longer term by providing life-changing opportunities through education and training.

• Running innovative programmes designed to keep disaffected and vulnerable young people in education, either at mainstream school or at one of our own learning centres, so that they achieve the skills and self-confidence they need for a successful and fulfilling life.
• Offering second chance learning and training to people of all ages whose lack of skills limits their opportunities and leaves them economically vulnerable.
• Making training and education programmes available to offenders and ex-offenders, both to improve their own life chances and to create safer communities by helping to reduce re-offending.

With a population in excess of one million people over an area of 1,676 square kilometres, Surrey Fire and Rescue Service covers a diverse range of risks from large urban areas such as Guildford, Redhill and Woking with their mix of residential, commercial and industrial premises to large areas of common and heath land.

To assist the operational firefighters, Surrey Fire and Rescue has developed a network of volunteers to help stations and departments to engage more effectively with local communities and deliver community safety initiatives.

Fire Volunteers come from all backgrounds and walks of life, and can offer their skills and support to initiatives and events, often helping to remove the barriers which sometimes a uniformed service can face.

SFVS volunteers are representative of the communities we serve, and therefore often have cultural knowledge, language skills and other skills which can help when engaging hard to reach communities.

If you would like to make a difference to your community, develop new skills, gain work experience, and meet new people, please read on.

Volunteering is a long term development and we are here to compliment the services provided by Surrey Fire & Rescue Service professionals.

The Rural Life Centre is a museum that focuses on life in a rural village. This includes static and moving displays, many preserved buildings and rural crafts. We hold many events and courses to preserve the old skills and crafts. Please see our web site at www.rural-life.org.uk for more details. 

To promote the benefit of the inhabitants of Charlotteville and the neighbourhood (hereinafter called ‘the area of benefit’) without distinction of sex, sexual orientation, race or of political or religious or other opinions, by associating together the said inhabitants and the local authorities, voluntary and other organisation in a common effort to advance education and provide facilities in the interest of social welfare for recreation and other leisure-time occupation with the object of improving the conditions of life for the said inhabitants.

To establish or secure the establishment of a Community Centre and to maintain the same, whether alone or in co-operation with any local statutory authority or other person or body in furtherance of these objects.