If volunteering was your New Year Resolution, it’s not too late to start! You really can make a positive difference to your community and your own life, whatever your age.
Saint Michael’s need your help
Saint Michael's Hospice offers a range of specialist services to help local people living with terminal illness achieve the best possible quality of life. The team of professionals could not do their work without vital support from volunteers and in 2021, Saint Michael’s are looking for new volunteers for a variety of roles.
The clinical team need help with reception duties and practical tasks, ideal for anyone who wants to support patients and their families. Alternatively, you could support the catering team by taking orders, serving food and clearing up.
If you’re more of a behind-the-scenes person, consider volunteering with the admin team, who need help with data input and organisation. Or if you’re more practically-minded, join the facilities team to help maintain the hospice and its grounds.
Whatever your interests or skills, Saint Michael’s will appreciate your time.
Keeping Connected
Sadly, Covid19 has massively increased the number of people across the district experiencing social isolation. Telephone befriending services have been an absolute lifeline for many; if you’re living alone, a phone call once or twice a week can make a huge difference to your wellbeing. HELP, MHA Communities and Supporting Older People are recruiting more Telephone Befrienders and this is an ideal role if you or a family member are shielding/maintaining strict social distancing.
If you’re more creatively minded, consider supporting Orb Community Arts in their delivery of online arts sessions to people who would benefit from a wellbeing boost. Whilst Orb usually run sessions in person, they’ve gone the extra mile to reach out to people in their homes and would value your help with this. Girlguiding North Yorkshire have also moved all their sessions online and are looking for new leaders to help plan and deliver activities. They create a safe space for young women and contribute to their personal development.
Make It Wild
Whether you’re a seasoned conservationist or looking to get your hands dirty for the first time in 2021, Make It Wild would love your help. They manage several sites around Harrogate and will be busy managing invasive species, planting trees and monitoring their Exmoor ponies and Belted Galloway cattle. They have regular volunteer weekends and welcome new volunteers of all ages as a one-off or a regular commitment.
Keeping our Attractions and Services running
It’s been a difficult year for some of our wonderful local attractions and services, but with the help of their volunteers, most have been able to provide some services in recent months. Several are looking for more help in 2021 and there are plenty of ways to get involved.
Where possible, Ripon Museums Trust are hoping to welcome members of the public and are relying on their team of 140 volunteers to do this. Whether you’re interested in finance, cleaning, staffing the shop or being a museum guide, there’s a role for you.
Ripon’s wonderful cathedral attracts visitors from near and far. Why not volunteer as a Welcomer or Guide and share our city’s history?
Our local libraries have been working hard to provide books and resources to local people despite difficult circumstances. You can support the team in the library itself or by delivering books to people at home who can’t make it to the library in person.
Share Your Skills
Zero Carbon Harrogate are currently looking for a Safeguarding Officer and a Health and Safety Officer. They are working to ensure that Harrogate leads the transition to a low-carbon economy and want to make sure they have the right policies in place to keep everyone safe. They’re also seeking a Treasurer to take the lead on managing the group’s finances.
Knaresborough Community Land Trust are looking for an experienced accountant to help them create the town’s first community-owned affordable housing scheme. Ripon Museums Trust is seeking a Finance Volunteer with basic bookkeeping skills.
Maybe you’re a savvy online shopper? Then put your skills to charitable use by helping run Yorkshire Cancer Research’s online shop; another great role for anyone seeking to minimise contact with others.
If you’ve made New Year Resolutions and want to keep motivated getting active, connecting with people or learning new skills there is no better way than to volunteer with other like-minded people. Take a look at our searchable HADCA Volunteering Directory for details on the roles above and for more inspiration at www.hadca.org.uk/volunteer
updated 14 January 2021
