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Abbot's Hospital - helping people in need
Abbot's Hospital - local Almhouse providing much needed affordable homes
Abbot’s Hospital is a local charitable almshouse providing homes to 21 households in need, within a supportive and caring environment. The almshouse, opened over 400 years ago in the Grade 1 listed historic building fronting the High Street in Guildford. It is one of the few buildings in the town that has been used continuously for its original purpose since being built and is now a very special place in the town.
We are looking for volunteers to join our great team who not only support our residents but help safeguard the building for future generations. We have a variety of opportunities available for anyone wanting to make difference to peoples lives.
If any of the opportunities below interest you, do get in touch to find out more using the application link below.
Website : Abbot's Hospital
Abbot's Hospital - volunteering opportunities
Tour guide
Volunteer Tour Guide
Abbot's Hospital have been running tours of our Grade I Jacobean almshouse for nearly 20 years and we couldn’t do it without our team of volunteer tour guides!
Our tour guides are passionate volunteers, coming from all walks of life and bringing with them a wealth of knowledge and experience. They all have a love for the building and sharing their passion with the many visitors we receive every year. It is truly one of the town jewels
- Tours generally run between April and October - twice a week 11am to 1pm.
- Knowledge of local history would be an advantage, but it is not essential. Training is provided.
Buckinghamshire & Surrey Trading Standards
Mission Statement
The Trading Standards service exists to:
- Protect individuals, communities and businesses from harm and financial loss
- Help business to thrive by maintaining a fair trading environment
- Improve the health and wellbeing of people and communities
- Fulfil our statutory responsibilities to deliver consumer and public protection services across Buckinghamshire and Surrey
Voluntary Roles
Mystery shoppers
Love browsing stores?
This role is for you!
Help us check products by buying specific items. There will be a small amount of paperwork involved.
You will find, look at and sometimes buy items that Trading Standards want to check for safety or food safety.
Each visit will need to be recorded but please note that you would not be telling businesses what they are required to do.
You will be helping to keep others safe by spotting goods that could be dangerous.
This role is flexible, with no set times for carrying it out but tasks would need to be completed during the hours the businesses were open and within a set timeframe.
The items that you will be looking for and the problem features to look for will be explained to you.
Cranleigh Heritage Trust CIO
Wellbeing, Learning and Heritage
Reimagining the UK's first cottage hospital as a space for wellbeing, learning and heritage.
General Interests
Halow project (Guildford)
Mission Statement
To make a difference
About us
The halow project is a growing community-based charity, situated in Guildford, Surrey. We support young people, aged 16+, with a learning disability on their journey into adult life.
The young people we work with want the opportunity to:
- Build relationships
- Become part of the community
- Find meaningful employment
- Have a home of their own
We believe that the young people we support have the right to be part of and respected in their communities and are entitled to a life they choose in ways which best suit them. halow is committed to developing creative opportunities and removing social barriers.
General Interests
Home-Start Guildford
Mission Statement
"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.
General Interests
Could you be a Home-Visiting Volunteer?
Become a Home Visiting Volunteer and Make a Difference
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. Whether it’s holding a baby so mum can shower, playing with toddlers so a parent can rest, or simply being a listening ear - your time and empathy can change lives.
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.
Why Volunteer With Us?
- 🤝 Make a real difference in your local community
- 🎓 Free training and ongoing support
- 🚗 Travel expenses reimbursed
- 🧠 Learn new skills and build confidence
- 💬 Join a warm, supportive volunteer network
- 🎉 Enjoy social events and specialist talks
Requirements and Commitment:
- You must be a parent or have parenting experience
- As a Home-Start volunteer you will support a family by visiting them at home for around two to three hours once a week
- You should be able to commit at least one year of your time to Home-Start
- You should have a non-judgmental attitude and understand about the pressures of bringing up a family
- Be able to attend our free Volunteer Preparation Course with other new volunteers
- Have an understanding of and abide by our Confidentiality and Safeguarding policies
- Be able to undergo an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check
We’ll support you every step of the way - with training, supervision, and thoughtful matching to a family who will benefit from your unique experience.
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.
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
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.
Digital Content & Media Volunteer
Help Home-Start Guildford raise awareness of our work with local families by supporting our digital presence. This is not a family-facing role – instead, you’ll be helping our small team by creating simple social media content, keeping information up to date, and helping us share stories and events with the wider community.
You’ll be supported by the Business & Administration Manager, who will guide priorities, approve posts, and provide support.
What the role involves
(Tasks are optional, flexible, and matched to the volunteer’s interests)
- Helping to maintain a warm, consistent presence on our social media channels
- Sharing posts from partner organisations, funders, and local community groups, adding a short caption where appropriate
- Creating simple posts in Canva or similar tools — quotes, photos, news, events, volunteer spotlights
- Updating small sections of our website (training will be provided)
- Attending occasional events to take photographs or short video clips
- Creating short promotional reels or videos about our services
- Uploading short videos to YouTube and sharing them appropriately
- Helping to keep our online information accurate and up to date
What the role does not include
- Providing support to families
- Communicating directly with families or volunteers about support matters
- Running any digital activities independently of staff oversight
Who this role suits
- Someone creative who enjoys social media or simple design
- Someone who wants experience in digital communications or marketing
- Anyone who wants to support local families but prefers a behind-the-scenes role
- Students looking for portfolio pieces, or people looking to gain workplace skills
Time commitment
Flexible – typically 1–2 hours per week, but open for discussion. Following an induction and short period of office based working, much of the role could be done remotely if preferred.
Training and Support:
- Volunteers are the heart of Home-Start Guildford. In joining our dedicated and friendly team, you will:
- receive a full induction
- meet other likeminded people
- meet regularly with, and be supported by, one of our members of staff
- have access to training activities including specialist speakers
- be invited to volunteer social events (including a free Christmas Lunch event)
- receive regular updates and newsletters
All our volunteers are required to sign the Safeguarding and Protecting Children Code of Conduct, which is introduced to volunteers as part of their induction and indicates that they fully understand and are committed to Home-Start’s Policy and procedures for Safeguarding and Protecting Children.
All volunteers are also required to undergo a Disclosure and Barring check, at a level relevant to the position.
Joyfull Greens - Community Cookery School
Mission Statement
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.
Volunteering with Joyfull Greens
Admin Volunteer
Are you an organised, reliable individual, with a few hours a month to help Joyfull Greens remotely and flexibly.?
Joyfull Greens is a fairly new Community Interest Company, we are still in our first year.
We need help with general admin. So if you are good at word, email, telephone calls, you are the person we are looking for. We use Google Docs, so experience with that is helpful.
Qualities
- Friendly, reliable and professional.
- Excellent computer skills, admin skills etc.
- Ability to communicate clearly
You would benefit from complimentary invites to cooking sessions and helping to make a lasting difference to your local community.
Corporate Fundraising Volunteer
Are you a corporate fundraiser and networker? Have you experience to interacting with corporate organisations and local companies to fundraise? Just a few hours a month need to help Joyfull Greens remotely and flexibly.
Joyfull Greens is a fairly new Community Interest Company, we are still in our first year. This is a new role, so you can shape things for the future.
We need help with developing corporate fundraising and yearly partnerships (often called charity of the year partnerships). We use Google Docs, so experience with that is helpful.
We expect developing partnerships with food, cooking, health and sports organisations, etc.
The role may incorporate finding items for raffles and cooking sessions and creating sponsorship agreements with corporates.
Qualities
- Friendly, reliable and professional.
- Excellent computer skills, admin skills etc.
- Ability to communicate clearly
You would benefit from complimentary invites to cooking sessions and helping to make a lasting difference to your local community.
Museum of Farnham
Mission Statement
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.
General Interests
Puttenham Barn
Mission Statement
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.
Volunteering Opportunities
Sime gallery CIO
Mission Statement
Sidney Herbert Sime (1865-1941), Sime Gallery at Worplesdon Memorial Hall GU3 3RF.
A talented illustrator, oil painter, landscapes and caricatures of the late 1800s and early 1900s, the Sime Gallery is a unique collection of 800 pieces of his work. He lived from 1904-1941 in Worplesdon and after his widow Mary's death in 1949 his works were bequeathed to the trustees of Worplesdon Memorial Hall. Today, the collection is known as Sime Gallery, a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO). The objective is to preserve the collection and make it available for the public to view.
General Interests
Smart Cranleigh
Mission Statement
SMART Cranleigh is a village initiative focused on promoting good quality of life for local people by enabling local organisations to work together more effectively. We aim to support community led projects that make a positive difference to the lives of local people. Our vision is to help local people connect with their community and empower them to find the local support they want. We are non-political, non-denominational and non-governmental.
General Interests
Surrey Remap
Mission Statement
Surrey Remap is the local group representing the national charity Remap (www.remap.org.uk).
The objective of this charity is to design and make custom equipment for the disabled when such equipment is not available commercially.
A visit to the website will demonstrate that this often involves quite simple devices, modifications to existing equipment, and even some quite complex projects. Remap comprises a very small Head Office and a countrywide network of volunteer 'engineers' and handymen, who work from their own home workshops.
General Interests
The Guildford Institute
The Spike Heritage Centre (Guildford)
Mission Statement
The Spike Heritage Centre is one of the few buildings remaining from Guildford's Workhouse in the Poor Law era, which housed the forgotten classes of Victorian England. The Vagrants and Casual Ward, known as The Spike was built in 1906 to house vagrants and low paid workers. After the Poor Laws ended in 1929, it continued as a night hostel until the mid 1960s. The NHS took over the site becoming St Lukes Hospital, operational until the mid 1990s when the new Royal Surrey hospital was opened. The majority of the workhouse site was redeveloped, but due to the efforts of local campaigners, the Casual Ward was saved and remains as a historic building with lots of stories to tell. Individual visitors and groups are welcome to explore this unique building with guides providing the insight about how the poor were treated in a bygone age.
