Voluntary Action South West Surrey

Description :

Volunteers are needed to help and encourage the clients of the Artventure Trust to:

• draw, paint, create recognisable objects using a variety of materials

• participate in simple physical activities such as walking, movements to music, drama, gardening etc.

Groups of up to 10 learning disabled participants attend the group each day.

Volunteers can be flexible in the days they come, but commitment is appreciated.

When Required :  Monday-Friday

Sessions run from 9:30-2:30pm Monday to Friday during term time.

Commitment: Part Time

Areas of Interest :  Art and Culture, Disability, Mental Health

Types of Activity :  Art, Community Work, General and Helping

Skills and Qualifications :

Volunteers should be interested in visual arts and caring for disadvantaged people. However, artistic skill is not essential - a caring approach is much more important, as is flexibility, initiative and a willingness to 'muck in'. Volunteers carrying out this role will be required to have a DBS check.

Additional/Specific Suitabilities :  16+

 Expenses:    Reasonable travel expenses

Training:    Initial supervision

 Directions :

At St Peter's Comprehensive School, located on Horseshoe Lane off the Epsom Road A246 in Merrow. Artventure occupies an artistically decorated building to the left side of the campus as viewed from Horseshoe Lane. The site is easily accessible by public transport.

Recruitment Method :

DBS Check, Informal Discussion, References

If you are interested,have any questions or would like to apply contact Mariann by completing the online application.

Guildford Action, with its homeless day service and family outreach team based at in Guildford, now has a garden allotment for the people it helps.

A couple of volunteers are needed to help get it up and running and then to look after it all with assistance by staff at Guildford Action.

The allotment is at the new site at North Moors, Slyfield.

To apply, or for more details, please fill in the application form on the right and we will get back to you.

🎨 We’re looking for a creative soul!

Love getting crafty? Want to share that joy with others in a relaxed, friendly space?

We’re on the lookout for someone who can help us run arts and crafts sessions for people who come to our day service. Whether you love painting, collage, knitting, card-making, seasonal crafts or just getting stuck into something creative – we’d love to hear from you!

👐 What you’ll be doing:

• Helping plan and run chilled, creative sessions

• Encouraging people to have a go – no experience needed!

• Being a friendly face, supporting others to express themselves

• Setting up and tidying away (we all know crafts can get a bit messy!)

• Most importantly – creating a space where people feel welcome and valued

🧶 What we’re looking for:

• Someone who enjoys being creative

• A good listener who’s kind and patient

• You don’t need to be a professional artist – just happy to share and connect

• Willing to get involved and have a giggle along the way!

💛 What’s in it for you?

• A chance to brighten someone’s day

• Be part of a warm, welcoming team

• Make new connections and maybe pick up some crafty skills too

• That great feeling of doing something that really matters

• Free Lunch & Travel Expenses

All our volunteer roles are about making people feel seen, supported and valued while they’re with us – your time, your creativity and your kindness really can make a difference 💫

Interested? Give us a shout – we’d love to have you on board!

Location: Remote (Work from Home)
Time Commitment: Flexible; events run at a variety of times including Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 10 AM and other monthly events (weekends/evenings).
Minimum Age: 18+

About Us:
The Harry Edwards Healing Sanctuary is a charitable organisation dedicated to holistic healing and well-being. We offer both in-person and online healing events, ensuring accessibility to all.

Role Overview:
We’re looking for tech-savvy volunteers to help run our live online healing events via Zoom and Facebook Live. You’ll ensure smooth streaming, support hosts, and troubleshoot technical issues. No prior experience in healing is needed—just a passion for helping and a knack for technology!

What You’ll Do:

• Set up and manage Zoom meetings and Facebook Live sessions
• Provide real-time technical support during live events
• Monitor audio, video, and streaming quality
• Save and organise event recordings for future use

Skills & Requirements:

• Confidence using Zoom and Facebook Live (training provided)
• Ability to problem-solve technical issues quickly
• Clear communication skills to support event hosts
• Reliability and attention to detail

What We Offer:

• Full training and support from our friendly team
• The chance to be part of a meaningful cause
• Flexible volunteering you can do from home
• A great way to develop tech and event production skills

Interested?
We’d love to hear from you! 

Join us in bringing healing to more people, wherever they are!

What will I do?

· Our community engagement volunteers attend community events and fairs to talk to local people about the work of Healthwatch Surrey.

· They also meet local people through engagements arranged by Healthwatch Surrey. They listen to what local people have to say about health and care services, and accurately record their views, both good and bad. They signpost people to other organisations that can help them where necessary.

· Volunteers help us to identify local community groups such as carers groups, veterans’ groups and faith groups who are meeting in Surrey. They inform our Volunteer and Engagement Officer about these, who will contact the group and arrange a suitable time for us to attend and listen to people’s experiences.

How does this make a difference?

Healthwatch Surrey work closely with the Care Quality Commission, Surrey County Council, and those planning and delivering NHS services in Surrey to provide feedback from patients, escalate concerns and work to improve services based on the feedback our volunteers have listened to. We particularly want to hear from communities especially at risk of health inequalities to ensure everyone has a say in the care they receive.

This role will suit someone who:

· Is interested in health and social care

· Enjoys talking to people and is a good listener

· Has a caring attitude

· Enjoys working as part of a team

· Is organised and reliable

We would especially like to hear from you if you are already linked up with voluntary, community and/or faith groups in Surrey.

Where will I be volunteering?

Our volunteers go to a range of places throughout including hospitals, care homes, GP surgeries and other community settings in their local area to hear their views. You are able to stay local to your home, or if you don’t mind travelling then you can attend engagements in other areas of Surrey as well.

Will my expenses be paid?

We reimburse volunteers for travel expenses including petrol.

What time commitment will I be expected to make?

Volunteering with us is flexible and it is your choice how often you come out with us on engagement. Our volunteers typically give 2 to 3 mornings or afternoons a month, however you can give more or less of your time if you wish.

Some community groups may meet evenings and weekends and you can go to these if they fit in better with other commitments.

What training will I need?

Online training in safeguarding and GDPR will be provided for this role, which can be taken at a convenient time for you. You will also be supported by a member of our team at each engagement, as well as receiving ongoing support from our Volunteer and Engagement Officer.

Additional training and support may be offered depending on what type of engagement events you volunteer for.

Home-visiting volunteers come from many different backgrounds and vary in age but all are either parents themselves or have parenting experience and are carefully selected for their friendliness and understanding. They provide informal, friendly emotional support and practical help to families. 

All our home visiting volunteers attend a preparation course, undergo an enhanced DBS check and provide two references before being matched with a family who they will visit once a week, for approximately 2-3 hours.

Volunteers take their own individual skills and experience to the families they visit. Talking and listening can empower families to overcome their difficult situations. Visits might include holding the baby while mum has a shower, playing with twin toddlers while mum has a sleep, taking parents shopping and showing them how to budget, being a listening ear to relieve isolation, modelling positive parenting and play.

Volunteers are offered on-going training and support activities including specialist speakers, as well as informal social gatherings.

What we offer you:

• An ongoing commitment to help volunteers fulfil their roles to the best of their ability
• Comprehensive and up-to-date information about Home-Start
• Individual interview with one of our co-ordinators before commencing training
• Free initial training before you commence as a home-visiting volunteer
• Opportunities for regular ongoing training
• Appropriate support and supervision, both individually and at volunteer support group meetings
• A thorough matching service when matching volunteers to new families 
• Re-imbursement of travel expenses
• Annual volunteer social events 

What we ask from you:

• To be familiar and committed to the Home-Start ethos
• To attend the preparation course, ongoing training and individual / group support meetings
• To reliably visit and support at least one family on a regular basis (minimum 2-3 hours per week), for a period of at least one year
• To keep and return Home-Start records promptly 
• To abide by Home-Start guidelines on confidentially
• To complete annual safeguarding training and to annually sign the Code of Conduct
• To be aware of and work within Home-Start's guidelines on Child Protection
• To understand and implement Home-Start's polices on Equal Opportunities and Health & Safety
• To ensure your car is adequately insured, if transporting families

If you would like to find out more, to make an enquiry, please fill in an application and someone will be in touch with you. 

Family Support Volunteers for Ash and Ash Vale with Home-Start Guildford

Being a parent is hard for everyone and for some it can be overwhelming.  With your knowledge and experience as a parent, you could be the vital support a family needs in their child’s early years and make a big difference to their lives.

Can you spare 3 - 4 hours per week to help a family with young children?

Our friendly FREE Preparation Course will give you the skills to use your knowledge and experience to go into a family home once a week to give a family the additional support they need to thrive and enjoy family life.

Our 6 session Autumn Prep Course starts on: Wednesday 16th October in Guildford.

For more information, visit our website www.hsguildford.org.uk or fill in the application form and a member of staff will contact you.

Are you are keen to help local people living with Motor Neurone Disease in the Guildford and surrounding areas?

We are seeking people who are able to provide support to families living with MND in Guildford and the surrounding areas. Support volunteers can provide face to face home visits, email and phone support, helping people to have the best quality of life for as long as possible.

You'll need to be caring, reliable and able to carry out home visits on your own. This is a challenging but rewarding role and you will be supported by your local branch and regional staff team.

We will do a DBS check, reimburse expenses and provide training and support.

If you would like to have an informal chat about this role please click on the application tab and we will be in touch asap. 

PeerTalk groups are attended by people who live with depression, anxiety and similar emotional distress

Helping out means being part of a volunteer team to facilitate the peer support group meetings. The role does not involve offering advice, counsel or trying to ‘fix’ people but it does involve listening to people’s concerns and facilitating the meeting so that the attendees are able to support one another by sharing coping skills, encouragement and understanding.

“Talking to other people who have experienced the same mental health problems as you is really helpful. It resets my week so I can start again. I am so happy that I have found this group, it helps me in ways I cannot explain. It has changed my life for better : ) Thank you”.  - a PeerTalk attendee.

PeerTalk groups are attended by people who live with depression, anxiety and similar emotional distress

Helping out means being part of a volunteer team to facilitate the peer support group meetings. The role does not involve offering advice, counsel or trying to ‘fix’ people but it does involve listening to people’s concerns and facilitating the meeting so that the attendees are able to support one another by sharing coping skills, encouragement and understanding.

“Talking to other people who have experienced the same mental health problems as you is really helpful. It resets my week so I can start again. I am so happy that I have found this group, it helps me in ways I cannot explain. It has changed my life for better : ) Thank you”.  - a PeerTalk attendee.

About the Charity

The Cedar House Charity was set up for mothers experiencing prenatal and postnatal depression in 2004 and offers support to mothers by holding free weekly group therapy sessions. The groups provide a safe, supported, and confidential environment where mothers can get together with others who may be feeling similar to themselves and are facilitated by our specialist postnatal depression counsellor, Liz Wise. Liz has thirty years’ experience in facilitating groups, providing counselling and has personal experience of the illness. The groups aid their recovery by making them feel normal and reducing the sense of isolation that postnatal depression can bring.

​The charity has been running since 2004 in Surrey, and now also provides a support group in South London. Each group provides creche facilities and both this and the group are free of charge. We get no funding from the NHS or local authorities and rely solely on private donations, grants and fundraising events.

Charity Trustee

Purpose of role:               

Key purpose of the charity trustee role is to function as one of the key decision makers of Cedar House, providing leadership, guidance, support and making decisions for the benefit of the charity and the work that it does. The charity trustee’s will safeguard the charity's assets – both physical assets, including property, and intangible ones, such as its reputation. Cedar House is a small charity, and we rely on the time given generously by our volunteers, including our trustees. These roles require a positive, active input to the shared responsibility of overall governance and fundraising efforts, vital to keeping the charity going.

Key Responsibilities:      

Cedar House Charity Trustees are required to attend 3 board meetings per annum, where the financials including accounts, funding/grant applications and other related topics will be discussed. All trustees must be an active member of the board as it is small. The board members may also share the board roles including Treasurer, Secretary, Chair, safeguarding and communications/fundraising.

Key duties include:

• Ensure the charity is conducting its purposes for the public benefit
• Comply with the charity's governing document and the law
• Acting in the charities best interest
• Managing the charity's resources responsibly (including finances)
• Acting with reasonable care and skill
• Ensuring the charity is accountable.

Eligibility criteria:             

• Must be at least 18 years old
• Must not have been previously disqualified
• Fit the criteria of ‘fit and proper person’ under Finance Act 2010 HRMC
• Can undertake and pass Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
•  Able to travel to Guildford, Surrey for the 3 Trustee Board meetings per year

Key Experience:  

•  Worked in teams of people
•  Experience of making objective decisions, based on factual evidence
•  Understanding of financial information

If you are interested in supporting Cedar House and you are able to provide some time by volunteering, please click on the Fill in an Application button to volunteer or if you wish for further details.   

About the Charity

The Cedar House Charity was set up for mothers experiencing prenatal and postnatal depression in 2004 and offers support to mothers by holding free weekly group therapy sessions. The groups provide a safe, supported, and confidential environment where mothers can get together with others who may be feeling similar to themselves and are facilitated by our specialist postnatal depression counsellor, Liz Wise. Liz has thirty years’ experience in facilitating groups, providing counselling and has personal experience of the illness. The groups aid their recovery by making them feel normal and reducing the sense of isolation that postnatal depression can bring.

​The charity has been running since 2004 in Surrey, and now also provides a support group in South London. Each group provides creche facilities and both this and the group are free of charge. We get no funding from the NHS or local authorities and rely solely on private donations, grants and fundraising events.

Charity Trustee and Secretary

Purpose of role:               

Key purpose of the Charity Trustee role is to function as one of the key decision makers of Cedar House, providing leadership, guidance, support and making decisions for the benefit of the charity and the work that it does. The charity trustee’s will safeguard the charity's assets – both physical assets, including property, and intangible ones, such as its reputation. Cedar House is a small charity and we rely on the time given generously by our volunteers, including our trustees. These roles require a positive, active input to the shared responsibility of overall governance and fundraising efforts, vital to keeping the charity going.

The Charity Secretary's overall role includes secretarial duties such as organizing board meetings, taking the minutes, managing correspondence, managing updates and background information required by the board of trustees, keeping records of membership, and other similar administrative responsibilities

Key Responsibilities:      

Cedar House Charity Trustees are required to attend 3 board meetings per annum, where the financials including accounts, funding/grant applications and other related topics will be discussed. All trustees must be an active member of the board as it is small. The board members may also share the board roles including Treasurer, Secretary, Chair, safeguarding and communications/fundraising.

Key duties include:

• Ensure the charity is conducting its purposes for the public benefit
• Comply with the charity's governing document and the law
• Acting in the charities best interest
• Managing the charity's resources responsibly (including finances)
• Acting with reasonable care and skill
• Ensuring the charity is accountable.
• Arranging 3 board meetings per annum to ensure all trustees are able to attend.
• Take minutes at board meetings, including any actions or follow up activity and share with the board after meetings.
• Arrange necessary paperwork for new trustees and leaving trustees.
• Update information packs for new trustees so they understand responsibilities.

Eligibility criteria:             

• Must be at least 18 years old
• Must not have been previously disqualified
• Fit the criteria of ‘fit and proper person’ under Finance Act 2010 HRMC
• Can undertake and pass Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
•  Able to travel to Guildford to attend the 3 annual trustee board meetings.

Key Experience:               

• Worked in teams of people
• Experience of making objective decisions, based on factual evidence
• Understanding of financial information

If you are interested in supporting Cedar House and you are able to provide some time by volunteering, please click on the Fill in an Application button to volunteer or if you wish for further details. 

We are looking for volunteers to work alongside teenage students and adults who suffer from a wide range of physical, psychological and developmental difficulties.

You will received great support from the team and a full induction.  No gardening experience is required, just a desire to be outdoors, have lots of fun and help people.

 Please click on the 'Sign up button' for more information

Guildford, Farnham,Ash, Aldershot, Pirbright, Woking, Godalming

We are looking for a volunteer to help out in our office between 8.30 and 10.30 every Friday morning to answer the phones and emails.

The Therapy Garden works to have a positive and significant impact on the lives of people facing challenges in life. Whether by giving a sense of purpose to children with special needs; or by reducing the isolation of a young person living with autism or someone older living with dementia. Whether by building confidence in adults recovering from a stroke; or by helping to equip young people who have additional learning needs for a possible future in the workplace. We change lives for the better and we do this by creating a safe place to enjoy the power of gardening and to connect with nature.