Arts Project Volunteer
Volunteer Role Profile:
Art Project Assistant
About the role
Islington Council has secured funding from PHE’s Prevention and Promotion Fund for Better Mental Health to run an intergenerational art project at Caledonian Park. This fund is part of the government’s Mental Health Recovery Action Plan 2021/22, which seeks to ensure the mental health impacts of COVID-19 are rapidly addressed, services can respond quickly and pressures on the NHS are reduced. The project has the following aims:
Improve the mental health of local residents, notably older people and BAME communities, following the recent Covid pandemic through stimulating activities
- Work in partnership with key local organisations to deliver each project
- Connect people to their local park and encourage life-long use
- Connect people with nature and the benefits that come from spending time in nature
- Deliver activities within agreed budget
We’ve appointed an arts facilitator to run the project and we are looking for volunteers to assist her in delivering our objectives.
What’s involved?
- Help prepare resources and other materials for activities.
- Assist participants with their project work
- Help set-up and pack away resources for activities.
- Assist the facilitator with running
What skills and qualities we are looking for?
- Friendly and enthusiastic with good communication skills.
- Enjoy working with or have experience of working with children and older people
- An interest in local history, nature, art and/or education.
- Willingness and ability to attend training sessions.
- Keen to learn new skills and gain new knowledge.
What we would like from you?
- To follow our volunteering policies and procedures.
- To arrive punctually for your volunteering session
- To let us know in advance if you won’t be able to attend your session
- To give us regular feedback about your volunteering experience
- To treat all staff and volunteers with respect
What we can offer you?
- A welcoming and enjoyable experience
- Training, information and support to help you carry out your role
- Regular opportunities to provide feedback about your volunteering role en seriously
- To be treated fairly and with respect
- Recognition for your contribution
- To be covered by the Islington Council’s Insurance and Health and Safety policies
Time commitment
The project runs from October 2021 to March 2022 and consists of 10 sessions. Each session will be around 2 hours long. Ideally, volunteers should attend each session if they’re able.
About us
Islington Council manage Caledonian Park and it is looked after by the Parks Service who manage the local parks and green areas. Islington Heritage Service and Parks Service manage the Clock Tower and Heritage Centre in partnership. Our vision is of an accessible and inclusive Service, centred on increasing local cultural participation, exploring and celebrating local heritage and making a valuable contribution to local priorities.
Caledonian Park is a popular site full of history. The centrepiece of the park is a 155ft (47.5m) high grade II* listed Clock Tower built in 1855. The National Lottery Heritage Fund confirmed a grant award of £1,873,300 in December 2016. This funded our vision to revitalise Caledonian Park and secure the future of its clock tower.
Essential repairs have been made to the clock tower to ensure it is preserved for future generations and to allow it to be open to the public on a more regular basis. The renovation includes work to the original bells, balcony and staircase. The original market railings on Market Road and Shearling Way have also been repaired and restored, and a small heritage centre built (the ‘Cally Clock Tower Centre’) with space for community and education activities. The café and toilet facilities are also new.
This role is purely voluntary and this arrangement is not a legally binding one or an employment contract.
If you would like to find out more please contact us on callypark@islington.gov.uk
