Volunteering Opportunities

TCV GREEN GYM

TCV (The Conservation Volunteers) are aiming to set up a TCV green gym based at Wealden Crematorium (Horam) and are looking for volunteers.

Activities will include removing old tree guards on established planted areas, mulching trees, weeding and tending to formal planted beds and borders, woodland management tasks and footpath maintenance. The tasks will be running every Tuesday and Thursday 10am-1pm.

No previous skills needed as all training will be given at the start of each task. Tools and gloves/PPE provided where necessary. Toilets and refreshments available on site. Would suit anyone with an interest in wildlife or horticulture.

ABILITYNET

AbilityNet’s friendly tech volunteers provide free IT support to older people and disabled people of any age, anywhere in the UK.

If you have a passion to help others, good IT and computer skills, ability to communicate well, patience and empathy and be able to travel if providing face-to-face support then this could be the role for you.

Upon a referral via AbilityNet you would contact clients to arrange a date/time to support. Carry out IT support to the client. Feed back on progress via an online system. Also opportunities to support your local Coordinator with promoting the volunteer service in the local area, for example leaflet dropping or displaying some posters in your local area.

EASTBOURNE MENCAP

This is a local charity which supports people with learning disabilities in Eastbourne and the surrounding area.

They are looking for volunteers to drive their minibus, to take their service users to their activities/workshop or to pick them up/drop them off to their care homes or families.

A driver will support and facilitate the charity services and it will have a great positive impact on their service users daily routine.

LAUGHTON GREENWOOD

Their mission is to involve nature and conservation enthusiasts in their long term commitment to manage this ancient, semi-natural woodland. There are lots of opportunities available whether you want to be outdoors or inside assisting with the more admin based tasks.

Take a look at what’s on offer and they’d love to hear from you.

Full list of volunteering opportunities

CARE FOR THE CARERS

Looking for volunteers to join Carers in Touch project. Providing telephone calls to isolated unpaid carers in East Sussex. A chance for carers to have a chat about their day and provide some respite from their caring responsibilities and aim to reduce loneliness.

Volunteers need basic IT skills and access to own tablet or computer as calls are logged on web based database.

Commitment is 2-3 hours a week. Full training and support given.

SUSSEX PRISONERS FAMILIES

Volunteers to attend court on an agreed day once a week or fortnight to promote the organisation and their services to Court staff and legal professionals. Also to provide vital practical information and emotional support to families and friends when someone close to them is sentenced or remanded to custody. Training given.

https://www.sussexprisonersfamilies.org.uk/volunteering/

FANFIELD FARM

Volunteers wanted to help plant out, seed, weed, water, maintain and help develop other areas of the farm for the community.

They grow vegetables and provide veg boxes on sliding scale (based on income) to people in Hailsham, Eastbourne, Seaford and surrounding areas.

Based at Arlington (25 min walk/10 min cycle from Berwick station)

SACRED EARTH

Volunteers wanted to help develop their community gardens and polytunnel.

If you love being outdoors and want to learn more about growing and get your hands in the soil this could be for you.

Based at Horebeech Lane, Marle Green.

SPORTING MEMORIES

Sporting Memories clubs are open to anyone over 50 who enjoys reminiscing about their experiences of watching or playing sport. These weekly clubs are friendly and welcoming, offering the chance to get together with like minded people and share a love of sport.

Volunteer needed to help meetings flow and encourage some really interesting discussion and plenty of laughs.

Polegate Community Centre Wednesdays 10-11.30am

East sussex fire & rescue service

2 Community Volunteer roles available.

To support ESFRS in getting road water and fire safety messages out to the local community and to participate in initiatives and campaigns in the local area.

To support individuals by telephone befriending to provide contact with a volunteer to reduce social isolation (weekly/fortnightly calls).

Training given for both roles.

PRISON SERVICE

We are looking for volunteers to support prisoners resettling back through practical and emotional support. Volunteers will be working in prison before release, then after release in the community to continued engagement with services.

Location: Sussex. Hours of work: Mentoring opportunities take place Monday-Friday only, between 9am and 5pm. A minimum of 4 hours per week for a minimum of 6 months is required. Full training given.

WORK AND HEALTH PROGRAMME

Support the delivery of this employability programme that supports individuals into sustainable employment.

Offer support with skills such as job applications, interview practice, practical skills and identifying transferable skills.

A commitment of 4 hours minimum a month with reasonable travel costs paid for.

ENVIRONMENT HAILSHAM

Help to keep Hailsham looking beautiful.

Help is needed with the ongoing planting and watering of the town centre floral displays and various other related projects.

Help is needed with the ongoing planting and watering of the town centre floral displays and various other related projects.

PARK WOOD

A great opportunity if you like being outdoors.

The Conservation Volunteers Maintenance Program at Park Wood would love volunteers. If you are reasonably fit, have a pair of wellies or walking boots then any contribution will be helpful.

Hailsham Health Walks

If you’d like to join the Hailsham Health Walk team and help people to improve their health and fitness with regular, gentle walking, email Lorna at lorna.neville@tcv.org.uk to find out more.

This is a perfect way to help others while staying active and enjoying some fresh air!

Chiddingly Village Shop & Cafe

Chiddingly Village Shop & Cafe have many volunteering opportunities such as opening up the shop, taking in deliveries or even learning how to be a barista.

Weekday or weekend hours available.

CPRE Sussex

From organising litter picks, planting trees, donating photographs or assessing planning applications, CPRE Sussex is a great volunteering opportunity for anyone with a love for the environment.

No requirements other than an enthusiasm for the countryside necessary!

Raystede centre for animal welfare

Raystede are a friendly team dedicated to the welfare of animals. They are looking for car park marshals and volunteers to help their visitors. If you’re someone with a love for animals and good communication skills, this is a great opportunity. Flexible shifts and full training will be provided.

Gig buddies

Gig Buddies want to enable people with learning disabilities and/or autism to enjoy all the great things going on in their community, especially live music. They pair up people with and without learning disabilities (and/or autism) to be friends and to go to events together. They enable volunteers to go to gigs they’d already probably be going to anyway, but with someone with a learning disability.

Warming up the homeless

Warming up the homeless is recruiting home cooks based in the Eastbourne & Hastings area. You will be required to cook hot meals to supply to the charity once a week/fortnight. All ingredients and disposable containers will be provided and these will need to be picked up and food dropped off by you, so you will need to have a driver’s license and access to a car.

You will need to ensure meals are produced in a kitchen that is registered with your local authority, this can be done at your home address! A level 2 food safety training course and allergens awareness course will be provided as well as all of the resources in order to comply with food safety standards.

South Coast to East Sussex Wildlife

More volunteer rescuers are urgently needed for the summer season to help cover the areas of Hastings, St Leonards and Eastbourne. This would involve simply getting a bird out of harms way ready for assessment before getting it to the most suitable place for rehab.

South Coast to East Sussex wildlife (Bird/Gull) online resource. | Facebook

Agewecare Group (Horam)

This fabulous group which meets at the Christchurch in Horam a couple of times a week, hopes to open again as soon as restrictions allow, providing older people with the opportunity to meet new friends and have fun in a safe and happy environment.

Agewecare are looking for the assistance of a fundraiser who will write bids and apply for grants and funding to enable the club to continue to thrive.

cuckmere community buses (berwick)

Cuckmere Community Buses are a busy organisation and are always looking to increase their team of drivers. Full training and support will be given and you will work with a great team of people!

Suitable for anyone with a standard D1 driving license – all licences pre-1997 have this qualification (PCV licences are not required).

st wilfrid’s hospice (eastbourne, Hailsham, Heathfield and communities)

Community Support volunteers are required to visit individuals in their own homes, offering practical, emotional and social support. These roles provide vital companionship to those with a life-limiting diagnosis.

Suitable for anyone over 18.

Bird aid (hailsham)

Bird Aid are a small charity which specialises in the rehabilitation of gulls. They work with the local community and offer supported volunteering opportunities in their Hailsham charity shop, particularly to learning disabled or autistic adults.

Suitable for anyone over 16 who is learning disabled or autistic.

association of carers (east sussex)

The Association of Carers support unpaid Carers in East Sussex to help them continue their caring role by providing free, volunteer-led services that encourage independence and reduce isolation. They offer many different volunteering opportunities and roles can start from as little as 3 months per month – will all expenses paid and free training provided.

Suitable for anyone over 16 who can commit to a minimum of 3 hours per month.

Mediation Plus (Hailsham)

The Hailsham charity Mediation Plus are looking for volunteer mediators to give their time to help people resolve their disputes. Their volunteers come from all sections of the community and all walks of life. In exchange for your time and commitment, you will receive full support and accredited training – certainly something CV-worthy.

Suitable for anyone over 18 who can commit to a long-term volunteering role.

Girl guiding leaders & helpers (east sussex)

Our local community guiding groups need volunteer leaders and helpers. Girl guiding is the leading charity for girls and young women in the UK – inspiring girls to have a voice and be their best. These roles would be perfect for anyone looking to improve their CV, add volunteering to their UCAS applications or if you have enjoyed guiding yourself and just want to help. They offer training, support and development.

Suitable for anyone over 16 willing to commit to helping several hours a month.

healthwatch secret shoppers (east sussex)

The charity Healthwatch East Sussex are an independent voice for healthcare users in our county. Mystery shopper volunteers act as a real patient or client would. This would include using the phone, internet and email (and in some cases, visiting agreed locations across East Sussex).

Suitable for anyone over 18 & interested in improving the health and care services used by the community.