Volunteer Opportunities

Driving - using volunteer's own vehicle, to take elderly, disabled and housebound local people to appointments at hospital, surgeries, clinics and social groups. Need a clean driving licence and own car. Occasionally assistance is needed for the infirm,

Minibus driving is also undertaken. This generally requires DCC certification.

Shopping - for housebound elderly and disabled people. Some of this is done on a one-to-one basis, often in conjunction with befriending. However, most is undertaken as part of a group which meets at New Mills Volunteer Centre each Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning. The orders have been collected on Wednesday morning, so volunteers are only required to go out and shop locally in the town. A volunteer driver delivers the shopping by car to the clients at midday.

Befriending - assisting anyone in the locality who requests someone to help, support and be a friend to them. This may involve just chatting, doing things together such as playing games, or going out together. Or it may involve some practical assistance, such as shopping, odd jobs around the house, filling forms, etc. Usually visits are made once a week, but this is informal and up to the participants.

Escorting - helping to escort housebound elderly and disabled people on shopping and recreational trips. These trips take clients out every Thursday from 10am to 2.30pm to a local town shopping-centre within 30 miles of New Mills. Some of these people require pushing in wheelchairs, an arm to link, or befriending by volunteers. Escorting can also be undertaken as part of Befiending, Driving or Group Help, but occassionally there are individual requests from people to escort them somewhere due to som health problem.

Counselling - confidential person-centred counselling service for people who need someone to talk things over with. This is undertaken by either a female or male counsellor by confidential arrangement with the Centre Manger.

Groups Help - assisting in groups with elderly and disabled people.

Reception - reception desk and office work to help run New Mills Volunteer Centre. The reception desk is staffed by a volunteer from 10:00am to 4.00pm each weekday, to take telephone calls and assist anyone coming into the Centre.

Office - Dealing with requests for transport. At other times some help is needed with office routine, such as mailing the Newsletter - this is often combined with reception desk or office duties.

Gardening - general gardening tasks such as pulling weeds, strimming, mowing lawns, cutting hedges, for people who cannot manage through disability or infirmity.

DIY - odd D.I.Y. constructional or mechanical jobs for people who cannot manage through disability or infirmity, or for the Volunteer Centre.

Fundraising - raising funds to provide for the running and services of the Volunteer Centre. A Fundraising Committee organises a range of events, such as coffee mornings, street collection, raffles, sales, production and sale of artefacts. A wider group of volunteers help with these activities.

Committee Work - the Volunteer Centre is run by a Board of Trustees. From time to time volunteers are needed to serve on this committee, to oversee the smooth running of the Centre and to direct policy.