Volunteering

Can you use your experience to help others?

ICANN are looking for people just like you across Lancashire, including Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool, to volunteer with them.

They have a range of roles, including a Volunteer Advocate and a Community Engagement Volunteer.

You can find all information about volunteering with them, as well as filling in an expression of interest form, here.

Posts open until advised.

Reading Coach 

Read Easy UK is a registered charity that works through affiliated local groups to provide one-to-one reading coaching to adults, using trained volunteers. 

As a volunteer Reading Coach, you will receive two one-day training sessions. Reasonable expenses are  available for the sessions with your Reader when you begin your work. 

Personal qualities required to be a Reading Coach:
● an ability to talk and listen to the person you coach in a patient, positive, encouraging
and purposeful way;
● a non-judgemental attitude and a positive respect for others, regardless of abilities,
ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation or age;
● an ability to focus on your Reader and his or her needs;
● an ability to work alone, seeking support when necessary;
● a willingness to work within the guidelines and policies of the project
● reliability and consistency;
● an ability to handle disappointment;
● a commitment to maintaining confidentiality;
● willingness to undergo an Enhanced DBS check, if required;
● the ability and confidence to work on a computer and access documents online, or the
willingness to learn to do so.

If you think that this role is for you, please email prestonrecruitern@readeasy.org.uk for more info. 

Closing date: Open to applications until further notice.

Co-ordinator

Hours: TBA

Responsibilities

● Help interview new Coaches when recruited and shortlisted by the Volunteer Recruiter.

● Enrol and assess new Readers, using the resources provided.

● Match Readers with Coaches, make introductions, and help them organise their reading sessions which will take place in one of the venues provided by the Management Team.

● Visit your reading pairs to monitor progress and provide support if required, presenting certificates on occasion.

● Work collaboratively with any other Coordinators in the group.

● Contribute to Coach meetings (typically every 8 weeks) run jointly by the Management Team, Literacy Specialist and Coordinator, where volunteers discuss their experiences and receive further support.

● Keep records, provide the Management Team with written reports and submit expenses for payment regularly.

Details and info: Email prestonrecruitern@readeasy.org.uk

Closing date: Open until advised. 

Publicity Officer

Hours: TBA.

In this role you will:

● lead by using social media effectively to raise awareness and publicise your group; and

● be instrumental in raising awareness by giving talks, putting up posters and talking to people generally about Read Easy.

Details and info: Email prestonrecruitern@readeasy.org.uk

Closing date: Open until advised. 

Reading Volunteers needed for primary schools

The charity Schoolreaders is looking to find local people to volunteer in primary schools across Preston to support children with their reading and comprehension.  Currently 1 in 4 children are leaving primary school unable to read to the expected level and we are supporting schools to help improve this statistic.

Our volunteers go into a school once a week for an hour or two during term time (holidays can be taken during this time) and listen to children read individually.  They help with the child’s reading, their comprehension and also their enjoyment and social skills as often these children have no one to read to apart from school staff.  

Our volunteers must be over 18 and have good written and spoken English and be willing to have a DBS check carried out by the school. 

If you would like to find out more about becoming a Schoolreaders volunteer please go to the website

https://www.schoolreaders.org/ or contact Michelle Bailey, Northern Volunteer Recruitment Coordinator at m.bailey@schoolreaders.org

Cancer Research UK Race for Life & Pretty Muddy Preston.

Volunteers wanted for this fantastic local event on Saturday, June 7.

It’s a full day with Race for Life in the morning and the Pretty Muddy race in the afternoon.

There are opportunities to volunteer for the whole day, just the morning or the afternoon so any time anyone can spare would be greatly appreciated. Any volunteers happy to stay all day will be provided with a packed Lunch and anyone who has more limited availability will be provided a snack pack along with access our volunteer refreshment area with tea/coffee etc.

We have a variety of roles to get involved with such as:

• Marshalling (Course + Event Site)
• Pacers
• Tail Walkers
• Lead Bike

As a thank you for anyone who volunteers for us on the day, there will be the option to claim a FREE ENTRY to any Race for Life/ Big Hike or Shine Night Walk Events.

If you have any further questions at this stage please do not hesitate to get in touch, at the moment I would love to gage interest and get the date in peoples diaries. If you could let me know an update on interested parties that would be great.

To complete the volunteer registration form – CLICK HERE

Could you be an Independent Custody Visitor? 

As an ICV you will make unannounced visits to police cells to ensure those individuals detained are being cared for appropriately by checking on the conditions and talking with willing detainees. 

There are no qualifications needed to be an ICV, but applicants must: 

✅Be over the age of 18;

✅Live or work in Lancashire;

✅Be a resident in the UK for at least three years

You can find out more about this volunteer opportunity here: 

https://www.lancashire-pcc.gov.uk/community/volunteering/independent-custody-visitors/