Health and social care is one of the largest volunteering sectors in the UK. This includes organisations like the NHS and charities which improve the wellbeing of people of all ages. So what do helpers actually get involved with? The opportunities are more diverse than we imagined as our bloggers reveal.

All | Sara | Jasmine | Dawn | Sarah

Wednesday Mar 04, 2009

London Life

Hi there - it's been a while, I know! But as some of you might know, my volunteering project isn't a regular slot on a Monday night. The Community Kitchens Project visits all sorts of events and organisations for one offs and repeat projects. Which is great for me as I love a bit of variety!!

But I have to say, it's been a couple of months now since I've done any volunteering and I've noticed that the little that I've done has actually made a great impression on me. Now, it's important when you read this that you realise that I'm a) a village girl from South Wales and b) a cyclist in London. I've lived in my little corner of Islington for around two years now so I know my neighbours and the local shopkeeper - but that's about it! I get on the bus and everyone avoids eye contact. I get on the tube and everyone avoids eye contact. I get on my bike and, well, those that do make eye contact rarely do so with a smile!

When I'm volunteering though I really feel a connection to a 'community', that Islington is more than simply bricks and mortar.

So, I'm very excited to be starting a Cook and Taste course at the Stuart Low Trust, an organisation that works to promote the health of those suffering from mential, emotional or psychological illness or disease. We'll be attending as part of the Wellbeing Project, which is a space set up to get people involved in social and leisure activities - there's even a drumming workshop which sounds great!

Anyhow, I'll tell you all about it in a couple of days!!

Sara 

Posted by Sara ( 10:36 AM )
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Thursday Dec 04, 2008

Lesson No. 1

Right, I think I might have to eat my words!

For the past couple of weeks I've been helping out at a Cook and Taste session that the Community Kitchens Project is running at a youth club in Islington. If you read my first entry, you'll know that I was quite scared of volunteering with 'young people'. So what did I go and do? Volunteer for a project where you hand them some sharp knives. I know, it was such a good choice!

But, they're fab! And I'm really enjoying it. To date we've made spag bol and pizza - well, I say we but it's the kids that did all the chopping, weighing and mixing. They still insist on adding salt to everything and anything...but give me time

So on a reflective note, it's not just them doing the learning (well, I hope they are), I am too. I've done something that I wouldn't have normally, and I've learnt I can do it and that I even quite like it. It's really nice to help out at a youth club, especially as I have such good memories of the one I went to.

Oh, and I've learnt what THE insult of the moment is - fat head! And could someone please explain to me how fresh is used as an insult?? I thought it was a good thing...

Sara

Posted by Sara ( 10:31 PM )
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Sunday Nov 23, 2008

Have a Healthy Christmas...

...doesn't really have the same ring to it as Merry Christmas does it?! But it's what the Manor Gardens volunteers have been asked to think about.

The Community Kitchens Project often take a stall to local festivals and fairs to promote healthy diets and will be attendning a Winter Fair in mid-December. Now, if this was set in June I'd have plenty of ideas - but I'm at a loss. Hands up, I eat terribly in the winter!

So far, all I can think of is citrus fruits (which are currently in season and very tasty!) and moneky nuts. This is a call for help!

Posted by Sara ( 9:00 AM )
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Monday Sep 29, 2008

Finding the perfect partner!

 

As the majority of people know, good relationships are hard to find; there's a lot of false starts, sometimes one person wants it more than the other, and often you find that they're completely wrong for you! Well, in my opinion finding the perfect team to volunteer for isn't that different.

I spent a good year or so looking for the right opportunity. I didn't really want to commit to something that I wasn't 100% into; that when they asked 'can you do every Saturday evening?' I could say with confidence 'yes!' And some opportunities just didn't appeal to me, like mentoring kids – I feel quite bad admitting it but I just could not do that job, hats off to everyone that does! I nearly gave up on the whole volunteering thing altogether, and then two come along at once which I quite fancied!!

So...I am now (pending a CRB check and paperwork...) a volunteer at the Community Kitchens Project in Islington, it's a great little project at the Manor Gardens Centre in Holloway which I found through do-it.org.uk. The project works to promote healthy eating and healthy lifestyles which leads to a reduction in heart disease, which is always good.

And then I hear that do-it.org.uk are looking for some bloggers! I've always been intrigued by this blogging malarkey so now I'm going to give it a proper go. I'm going to tell you all about the trials and tribulations of volunteering on a community health project, and I really want it to be interactive so please feel free to comment!

Bye for now,
Sara

 

Posted by Sara ( 11:32 AM )
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