Becoming a volunteer can be personally rewarding, a valuable way of gaining work experience, and can allow you to give something back to your community.
As a volunteer you will be giving your time to help others and you will also increase your own confidence whilst gaining a sense of satisfaction and achievement. It's a great way to make new friends and can help you to gain new skills and increase your future job prospects.
There are many ways to volunteer depending on how much time you can spare. Volunteering can be a one-off project-specific role or a more regular commitment.
You might want to join a local ‘Mutual Aid Group’ ready to help people in your neighbourhood with small tasks, or work with a local or national charity.
Many charities will promote their own opportunities on their website, or you can try the following links.
Volunteering opportunities
Alzheimer's Society
The Alzheimer’s Society Side-by-Side service matches people living with dementia to volunteers so they can keep doing the things they love – and try new things too.
Befriending schemes
Many organisations run schemes for volunteers who can visit adults at risk, house-bound people in their own homes to offer company and practical support.
See our page on befriending schemes for details of local organisations that run befriending volunteer schemes.
Community Champions
Depending on where you live in Hammersmith or Fulham, the Community Champions scheme may be able to give you the chance to volunteer as a community champion for your area.
The kind of work you can get involved in includes:
- organising and promoting fun days and community events
- sharing important health messages with your community
- undertaking surveys with local residents
- helping to improve local services.
Find out about the:
- Community Champion schemes for Addison, Parkview and Edward Woods
- Bayonne and Field Road Community Champions.
Family Friends
Are you a good listener? Could you give 2 hours a week to visit a family in need?
Family Friends is a charity that provides practical and emotional support to disadvantaged families with children under the age of 16 through mentoring and befriending. Parents and grandparents are especially welcome.
You'd be making a fantastic contribution to the lives and wellbeing of another family. Full training is given.
Fulham Good Neighbours
Fulham Good Neighbours run befriending and other schemes which offer you the opportunity to work with local elderly, disabled and adults at risk.
H&F Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)
H&F Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) offers information and advice to the public on debt, benefits, employment, housing, discrimination, and many more issues.
They rely on the support of volunteers to help them to provide this valuable service. Contact H&F CAB office to find out more about volunteering opportunities near you.
Homeline
Homeline at Bishop Creighton House is a free service for older, isolated people aged 60 and older.
The service provides a telephone befriending service on a daily or weekly basis, visits from a volunteer for a social chat and help with practical tasks such as filling out forms, posting letters and so on.
They are always looking for new volunteers - have a look at their website to find out more.
Humankind
Humankind is a leading charity that helps people struggling with alcohol and substance misuse across London and nationally by providing accessible support and help to end their dependency.
Much of the support they offer is provided by trained volunteers.
Independent Age
Independent Age provide advice, befriending and other support for older people. They welcome enquiries from the public about volunteering for their befriending service, or to act as a facilitator for their telephone talk groups.
Call 020 7605 4232 to find out more.
Keep Active
Keep Active is a volunteer delivered project at Bishop Creighton House.
The project helps older people to keep mobile at home and in the community, particularly after a fall or illness.
The project works closely with community rehabilitation teams and uses specially trained volunteers to help people with activities such as indoor exercise programmes, walking outdoors and using public transport again.
Find out more about Keep Active and other volunteering opportunities at Bishop Creigton House.
My Sighted Guide
My Sighted Guide is a scheme run by The Guide Dogs charity and arranges for volunteers to act as guides for people with sight loss as they get out and about.
The GoodGym Volunteering Scheme
The GoodGym volunteering scheme gives volunteers in Hammersmith & Fulham the chance to stay fit in a group exercise whilst offering the opportunity to give practical support to local people.
The Hammersmith Volunteer Centre
The Hammersmith Volunteer Centre provides information, advice, guidance and training to individuals to empower them to find volunteering opportunities that meet their skills, interests and aspirations.
The Royal Voluntary Service
The Royal Voluntary Service have network of volunteers across the country who support older people in a wide variety of ways.
Westway Community Transport
Westway Community Transport (WCT) provide a range of transport services for people with reduced mobility in Hammersmith and Fulham.
WCT are looking for volunteers, including drivers, to help them provide their services.