Volunteers are invaluable to our organisation and many of our groups and activities wouldn’t exist without support from our valued “Volunteers”.  It is also a great way to learn new skills, maintain skills or open doors to new opportunities, meet new people and make friends!

You may have suddenly found yourself in a new situation, perhaps moved to a new area, no longer working, or a care giver.  If you have time to give whether it’s minutes or hours we have opportunities to suit you – see below.

Full induction and training will be given and you will always be supported by the Volunteer Coordinator and Project Worker.  We also hold volunteer meet ups which is a great way to meet new people, make friends over a cuppa and find out more about the role they play in our organisation.

If you would like to find out more about volunteering with us please look at our website derbyshirecarers.co.uk/volunteering or call 01773 833833.

 

FUNDRAISING with our fantastic fundraiser Jo Askew, who works tirelessly organising events around Derbyshire to raise awareness and funds for carers.  We support carers from the age of 5 and funds raised can be used to support activities, Easter or Christmas hampers and in many other ways which brighten up a carers life!

Jo is always finding new fun ways to raise funds, so if you have a great imagination, pro-active and passionate in supporting unpaid carers, maybe a carer yourself who would like to be more involved but with limited time to spare, this volunteering opportunity maybe for you.

We have previously raised funds through cake sales, Bingo, skipathons linked with local primary schools, fun runs to a quiz night or you may even have an exciting idea of your own! 

ADMIN we currently have opportunities working from our Ripley or Mansfield office with the possibility of some home working providing admin support to staff. A good knowledge of Microsoft Office, Excel and Word is essential, a good telephone manner and being able to work on your own initiative.  You will be a valuable asset to our organisation.

 

GROUP FACILITATORS are extremely valuable to the continued support and running of our groups across Derbyshire, which provide the opportunity for carers to meet once a month, to meet other carers and have time out to enjoy an activity, and a cuppa!

This may be the only opportunity a carer has to meet others and leave the person they are caring for, so our aim is to make it a relaxed and welcoming environment. We support carers from the age of 5 so you could be supporting the young carers on a day trip during half term to the cinema, farm or bowling.  This is just a few of the fun things that take place!

If you have a few hours to spare once a month this opportunity may be for you! You may already attend a group or have previously attended and now like to volunteer or have experience of a caring role but the only skills required is to be approachable and have a good sense of humour!

 

TELEPHONE BEFRIENDING –  8/10 carers experience loneliness and isolation as a result of caregiving responsibilities, as many carers are unable to leave the person, they are caring for, have no other family members, lost contact with friends and family due to caring roles, or live in rural areas with little or no access to transport.  The issue is particularly more prominent among carers providing more than 50 hours of care per week. 

Whatever their reasons, you can help make a difference!

All you need is access to a telephone and have 20 mins to spare each week. Calls can made from your own home or even in your lunch break!   See below for the difference you can make.

“My befriender means the world to me.  I can speak openly and not be judged.  We have a great friendship even though we’ve never met.”

“My telephone befriender really brightens up my day.  She’s the light at the end of my tunnel and I’d be lonely without the calls.”

“My TB is one in a million.”

 

EVENTS - this volunteering opportunity is ideal for someone with flexibility, as we have events that run throughout the year including annual events such as Carers Week, our annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlighting the challenges unpaid carers face and recognising the contribution they make to families and communities. 

This campaign is held in June – please see our website and facebook page to find out more about Carers Week and how you could help in the future. 

We also have activities running throughout the year which Katie Matkin our Event’s Organiser arranges for the benefit and well-being of carers.  It could be helping to organise and run an event such as above,  crafting, making refreshments or helping on a day trip. 

Recently, we have had a trip to Bolsover Castle and a canal boat trip which was a fabulous day out for all involved but always requires support from volunteers or these outings could not go ahead.