Christmas is a time for giving – and what better gift is there than your time?
The cost of living crisis is hitting hard, nights are getting colder, and for many people, Christmas is a difficult time.
Can you give a couple of hours this Christmas to make a difference in Hackney? From one off volunteering to Christmas activities, there are lots of ways to give back. Here are some charities looking for volunteers in Hackney this Christmas.
Many of us will only know what a trustee is if we have worked in a charity. So what is this mysterious role? Why do people become a trustee? And why are trustees so important?
Here to answer your questions this Trustees Week are Jade Tan and Rachel Linn, two of Volunteer Centre Hackney’s trustees.
‘I’ve gained a really great friend, someone that I now feel really close to and care about deeply. As humans, we just want to feel heard and supported. If all it takes to make someone feel marginally better about themselves is an hour a week, chatting, watching telly, or having a cup of tea, then I’m more than happy to partake. I really enjoy it and couldn’t recommend it more. It’s a great way to spend time with a person you may not have met otherwise.’
1-7th November is Befriending Week: it’s a chance to celebrate befrienders and the huge difference they make to the people they support. Thousands of people in Hackney are lonely or isolated, especially after the pandemic. At VCH, we run a befriending service called Community Befrienders, which pairs volunteers with people of any age and background in Hackney who are lonely or isolated.
The cost of living crisis is hitting hard; even giving an hour a month helps.
Whether you want to unwind after work, make new friends, have fun in retirement, get new skills to help with job hunting, or have fun after school, volunteering can add something to your life.
Here are just a few ways you can volunteer in Hackney this winter:
I’m Tom, the Community Befrienders Coordinator. I’ve been helping match volunteers up with isolated adults with VCH since April 2022. I’ve previously worked as a teacher, teacher trainer, and school manager, as well as a stint in TV production.
A bit about me: I’ve lived in the Netherlands and Poland as well as a few places in the UK. I play bass and other instruments in a psychedelic punk group, which I also help to record, and make music on my own (and make my own music gear)! I am obsessed with microphones, capybaras, and peanut butter.
‘Stories told about young Black people are often the same. So many stories are not being told. Through See Me on the Page, I’m trying to do something free and accessible, that brings people together.’ Crystal, Volunteer.
It’s Black History Month, and this year, the theme is Saluting Our Sisters – so we wanted to share the story of one of our amazing female volunteers who has been making a difference to the local community year-round.
World Mental Health Day 2023 highlights that mental health is a universal human right. As part of that, we want to recognise some of the inequalities around mental health. We’re also celebrating our sisters this Black History Month – as we aim to do year-round – and wanted to share some of the challenges and intersectional experiences many of us face. Acknowledging these inequalities is a key part of celebrating the achievements and contributions of our Black communities.
We are recruiting for our GP volunteering programme that works with residents living across Hackney and the City of London. We need you to be enthusiastic, energetic and really enjoy working with people, as you will be based out in the community working independently, to engage and support residents and patients to deliver their own projects to meet local needs.
Come to Volunteer Centre Hackney’s volunteer fair and discover 100s of way to make a difference in Hackney!
On Wednesday 1st November, VCH is holding a volunteer fair between 3 and 6pm at 34-38 Dalston Lane, London E8 3AZ (wheelchair accessible).
Whether you have an hour a week or half an hour a month, volunteering is a great way to give back to your community, meet new people, gain skills, develop your CV, and have fun.
Meet Richard, the manager of our Step Up service.
Step Up supports people experiencing mental health problems and focuses on volunteering as a key part of the journey towards improved mental health and employability.