Volunteering is good for you:

We will let you know about as many volunteering opportunities as we can    Many of you will belong to a Seniors Forum and will be aware of other opportunities.  So - if you have any time to spare - why not contact your selected organisation and volunteer to help!  You will enjoy the experience!  Volunteer NOW

We invite Charities to use these pages (free) to look for volunteers! 

 The government-backed Year of the Volunteer has finished but you can always volunteer via one of the organisations below:

Become a Walk Champ for Breast Cancer Campaign

National Centre for Volunteering offers a range of services designed to support volunteer managers and organisations that involve volunteers.   They  believe that increasing the quality, quantity, contribution and accessibility of volunteering will benefit both individuals and the community at large.  Their web site is packed with information for volunteers and contact addresses.

Contact the Elderly is a national charity that offers friendship and a monthly outing to acutely isolated elderly people.

Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA) is an independent charity which promotes better patient safety and justice for people who have been affected by a medical accident or error. AvMA offers free and confidential advice, information and support for individuals through our casework, helpline and support network services.
We currently require dedicated volunteers to help man the helpline which is run from our office in Croydon, Surrey. We welcome volunteers with an interest in healthcare issues or who have directly been affected by a medical accident and wish to support others. Full training will be provided which includes helpline skills training.  For more information please contact: Gillian Savage, Helpline Development Officer, Tel: 020 8688 9555 or email: support@avma.org.uk

Age Concern cares about all older people and finds effective ways to make later life more fulfilling and enjoyable for them.  Locally a network of 14,000 groups and 250,000 volunteers provides community based services such as lunch clubs, day centres and home visiting.   Nationally, Age Concern campaigns on ageing issues, undertakes research, provides information and advice and offers a wide range of training.  For information on you nearest group contact:
E-mail: ace@org.uk  www.ace.org.uk

British Red Cross The British Red Cross gives skilled and impartial care to people in need and crisis - in their homes and in the community, at home and abroad, in peace and war.  In the UK the British Red Cross' primary purpose is to support statutory services, by providing care in crisis situations.  Volunteer roles range from working alongside the emergency services to providing assistance for sick and disabled people.
E-mail: hkalap@redcross.org.uk  www.redcross.org.uk/

Cancer Research UK  was formed as a result of the merger of The Cancer Research Campaign and Imperial Cancer Research Fund. They are now the largest volunteer-supported cancer research organisation in the world. Cancer Research UK  offer a variety of volunteering opportunities including work in their shops, offices or in fundraising or events. Provide full training and support to volunteers. Cancer Research UK is a diverse organisation, which welcomes volunteers from all ethnic groups.If you are interested in helping please email:  volunteering@cancer.org.uk Tel: 0800 226237 www.cancerresearchuk.org/

Childline is a free, national, 24-hour confidential telephone helpline for children and young people in trouble or distress.  Volunteer roles include help with fundraising, administration and work as counsellors.  Full training and supervision is provided. Counsellors are required to offer a weekly 4-hour counselling shift. www.childline.org.uk

Councils for Voluntary Service often act as a volunteer bureau if there is no local bureau. They are sometimes known by a different name, so look in the telephone book or Yellow Pages under "Council", "Volunteers" or "Voluntary".  Visit the National Association of Councils For Voluntary Service web site for details of your nearest CVS. www.nacvs.org.uk/

Edinburgh Cyrenians  Volunteers needed to help project helping people to avoid or escape homelessness. Edinburgh Cyrenians, is seeking people from all walks of life to offer half a day a week (or more!) to assist with our SmartMove project. SmartMove helps people in a very practical way to avoid or escape the terrible trauma of homelessness. People who cannot get a flat from the Council and who dont have money for a deposit are often left with no other housing options. SmartMove provides help and a rent deposit guarantee for people in these circumstances and arranges with private landlords for people to access tenancies.  www.cyrenians.org.uk

DIAL UK promotes the independence of people with disabilities by supporting a network of local disability information and advice services, which are run by disabled people.  Volunteer roles include: clerical, admin and advice work across the UK.  Tel: 01302 310 123  E-mail: dialuk@aol.com

Macmillan Cancer Relief Macmillan Cancer Relief helps over 200,000 new people with cancer and their families throughout the UK. Volunteers can: help raise funds, staff telephone lines, support people with cancer and do administrative work. www.macmillan.org.uk/

Oxfam works with poor people in their struggle against poverty and suffering throughout the world.  There is a wide variety of volunteer roles in shops, offices and campaigns groups - from administrative to project work.
E-mail: oxfam@oxfam.org.uk    www.oxfam.org.uk

REACH helps voluntary organisations benefit from the business, managerial, technical and professional expertise of people who want to volunteer their career skills. It recruits and supports experienced men and women and places them in part-time, expenses-only roles with nearby voluntary organisations throughout the UK - for free."  www.reach-online.org.uk 
email: mail@reach-online.org.uk

RSVP, the senior volunteer programme of Community Service Volunteers
( CSV Homepage), exists to encourage the growing number of those aged fifty plus to participate in their local area in England, Scotland and Wales.  It taps into the wide range of skills and experience of mature people and puts them to work for the benefit of all.  E-mail: CSV_RSVP@compuserve.com  www.csv-rsvp.org.uk/

Samaritans  The Samaritans provide confidential emotional support 24 hours a day, seven days a week to those who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair,including those which may lead to suicide. The Samaritans has nearly 20,000 volunteers across the UK and needs more volunteers to maintain this service. There are opportunities for people interested in becoming listening or fundraising volunteers and there may be other ways to help depending on your local Branch. www.samaritans.org Tel: 08705 627282
or look up your local group in the telephone directory.

Saneline provides accurate and up-to-date information to give callers options for action and encourage them to benefit from whatever network of care exists in their own area.  It also offers emotional and crisis support to people with mental health problems, their families, friends and information to professionals and organisations working in the mental health field.

We currently require dedicated volunteers to work on the helpline which is run from offices in London, Bristol and Macclesfield.  Potential volunteers should be within travelling distance of one of these sites.  For more details please contact Claire on 0207 375 1002 or check our website
www.sane.org

Volunteer bureaux act as a volunteers' "job shop". They can tell you what voluntary work is available locally and put you in touch with local organisations. You can also discuss with them what you want to do and get advice.  Visit the National Association of Volunteer Bureaux web site for details of your local bureau.  www.navb.org.uk

Victim Support offers a comprehensive service of emotional support, practical help and information to people affected by crime, through a network of local schemes and Witness Services based in crown courts.  Volunteers based in schemes visit victims in their own homes.  Witness Service volunteers support victims, witnesses and their families attending court.   Volunteers also help in other ways - e.g. by serving on management committees, fundraising and interpreting.  e-mail: contact@victimsupport.org.uk   www.victimsupport.com

Womens Royal Voluntary Service - WRVS
WRVS is one of the UK's largest voluntary services dedicated to tackling social isolation or deprivation in communities throughout England, Scotland and Wales. They have over 100,000 volunteers, including 13,000 men, who give their time to help others

Cruse Bereavement Care has unparalleled experience in supporting anyone bereaved by death and aims to help other organisations ensure that they treat bereaved people with sensitivity and care.  They need volunteers to help.Day by Day Helpline 0870 167 1677  Administration Tel: 020 8939 9530
Email: helpline@crusebereavementcare.org.uk

Web Site: http://www.crusebereavementcare.org.uk/