Voluntary Action South West Surrey

If you have ever wanted to make a difference for the environment but not known how volunteering in the new Zero shop is one of the best things you can do.

Help create and run a beautiful shop where customers fill their own containers with dried foods, cleaning products and toiletries.  No plastic, no packaging and no waste going into landfill.  

Zero is a community eco hub in Guildford Town Centre and we would love to welcome you to the family of volunteers making a difference in our town.

We are looking for people who are able to commit to doing a regular shift of at least half a day a week.  No previous experience of shop work is necessary as training will be given.

Duties will include: 

• Talking to customers and other volunteers about environmental issues and the changes they can make
• Serving customers and operating the till
• Ensuring the space is tidy, well-presented and safe
• Restocking products

If you would like to find out more about this role and how you can help please complete the application form below and we'll be in touch soon. 

The Zero shop is part of Zero Carbon Guildford; a registered charity promoting education and solutions for climate mitigation and adaptation, we're bringing together the work happening locally to help the borough adapt to a changing planet. Our aim is to  is to help the borough of Guildford reach carbon neutrality by 2030. 

A community fridge makes use of surplus food from supermarkets to make sure it reaches people who can use it rather than have it go to landfill.  In partnership with Mid Surrey Community Fridges we have recently launched a community fridge in the centre of Guildford. We are aiming to keep the fridge operating for as many hours a week as possible, but we can only do this if we have enough volunteers to keep it staffed, so get in touch today if you can help with this incredibly worthwhile project.  The role will involve: 

Ensuring the fridge is kept clean, tidy and that all food is handled correctly.

Helping to serve customers and talk to them about environmental issues

Clearing left over food at the end of a session

In addition to our specific volunteering roles we are always looking for people who would like to get involved and help out.  If you are interested in any way we'd love for you to get in touch by applying for this 'general interest' role.  There are all sorts of things that you might do but here are some ideas: 

• Event organising
• Running events or organising displays on a particular area of interest
• Social media
• Art
• Indoor gardening

A Volunteer Event Steward is part of a team who are responsible for ensuring larger events at ZERO (our building in the Centre of Guildford) run smoothly.

The responsibilities of the Volunteer Event Steward team may include:

• Setting up ZERO for an event.
• Directing guests around the building.
• Providing information to guests.
• Serving refreshments.
• Clearing down ZERO after an event. Events Stewards will work with the on-duty Venue Custodian to help ensure the smooth running of ZERO.

What this role offers:

• An opportunity to be part of a team making an exciting new community project happen.
• The chance to build contacts and friendships with like minded people in the Guildford environmental community.
• A reference from one of the Trustees of ZERO Carbon Guildford for your future development.

Desirable skills, experience and qualities (Ideally, the candidate will possess at least some of the following skills, experience and qualities):

• Reliable and trustworthy
• Friendly attitude when dealing with others
• Willingness to be a proactive part of a team
• Desire to be part of the ZERO team
• Interest in environmental, climate and ecological matters.

Hours: Ad-hoc, depending on availability and ZERO event programme

Location: ZERO - Guildford town centre

Expenses: Reasonable travel expenses via public transport

Date posted 9/9/21

Zero is a new environmental hub in Guildford Town Centre.  The Guildford Environmental Forum will be operating a desk within the hub for people to find out about our work and how they can help make a difference to reducing the impact of climate change

As the post is a new one and voluntary the specific responsibilities will develop over time and recommendations to improve the role will be welcomed.

The role’s primary responsibilities will include:

• Welcoming visitors and introducing them to the GEF desk within the Zero.
• Explaining how GEF operates and giving examples of how GEF and ZCG are working together to achieve their similar missions.
• Giving further information about the various volunteering opportunities that GEF or ZCG can offer to those who wish to know. A display will be provided.
• Helping visitors to understand their carbon footprint and reduce it helped by tactful suggestions.

What this role offers:

We are looking for a motivated volunteer, passionate about our natural environment, to contribute towards raising the profile of GEF (and ZCG’s) work. A lead volunteer will be appointed, to whom volunteers will be able to raise any queries.

Desirable skills, experience and qualities:

(Ideally, the candidate will possess at least some of the following skills, experience and qualities)

• Knowledge of or willingness to learn about GEF and ZCG and their projects, events and mission. Full training and supervision will be provided.
• Enjoyment of communicating with members of the public who are curious to learn more about GEF and ZCG.
• An aptitude for working as part of a team of like-minded volunteers.
• A wish to support our drive for reducing climate emissions and/or stemming the loss of biodiversity near Guildford.
• Good verbal communication skills.
• Ideally, the ability to access the GEF website on a laptop and help those interested, who would like to join GEF on-line.

We are looking for a motivated volunteer, passionate about our natural environment, to contribute towards raising the profile of GEF’s work with the aim of growing our membership (280 currently), recruiting volunteers and making the most of our successes, especially our current projects.

Ideally, you will possess the following skills and experience:

• Experience working in the field of communications and marketing
• Experience of updating and managing webpages
• Strong understanding of social media platforms and management tools (e.g. Hootsuite); and of email marketing tools (e.g. MailChimp)
• Good verbal communication skills
• Good copywriting and editorial skills
• Experience in using digital graphic design programmes such as Photoshop, InDesign or similar

As the post is voluntary the specific responsibilities within the role will be negotiable, but would ideally include:

• Managing social media accounts, posting up-to-date information on our activities to promote events and membership
• Attending quarterly meetings of the GEF executive committee (optional)
• Prepare all external communications including press releases, leaflets, events promotion so as to make GEF better known locally (reporting to the GEF Chair).
• Identifying and pursuing new opportunities to advertise our activities through local publications, radio, partners or events
• Work alongside existing volunteers to maintain the GEF website and help with producing a quarterly newsletter, which is read by over 1,000 in the area.

The minimum time commitment we are looking for would be 2-3 hours per week. Specifics of the role will be negotiable.  Reasonable out of pocket expenses will be reimbursed. 

If you are interested and able to volunteer for GEF in the above capacity please fill in an application form and we will get back to you.

Posted                                21.10.2021

We are looking for a motivated volunteer, passionate about our natural environment, to contribute towards raising the profile of GEF’s work with the aim of growing our membership (310 currently), recruiting volunteers and making the most of our successes, especially our current projects.

Ideally, the candidate will possess the following skills and experience:

• Experience of working with data bases and related software (we use membermojo)
• Experience of updating and managing databases
• Strong understanding of email marketing tools (e.g. MailChimp)
• Good verbal and written communication skills

As the post is voluntary the specific responsibilities within the role will be negotiable, but would ideally include:

• Supporting the GEF Membership Officer in monitoring and adapting our membership software (membermojo)
• Regularly updating membermojo data base into mailchimp
• Quarterly mailchimp to chase overdue subscriptions
• Occasional one off mailchimps on GEF matters including membership
• Attending quarterly meetings of the GEF executive committee (optional)

The minimum time commitment we are looking for would be 2-3 hours per week.

Specifics of the role will be negotiable, dependent on the applications received. All expenses will be covered, subject to executive committee approval.

If you are interested and able to volunteer for GEF in the above capacity then please do click on the "Fill in an Application" button and I will get back to you for a chat.

Adrian Thompson

21/10/21