Volunteer at Disability Cambridgeshire?
Contents of this page: Thank you! | Join us? | A volunteer's view | Skills Training |
Thank you!
Disability Cambridgeshire could not provide the range or quality of services that it does without our wonderful volunteers and we would like to thank them for their valuable gifts of time and expertise.
Join us?
If you feel that you could offer us some of your time and/or would like to gain experience and references for your CV, we would love to hear from you.
New volunteers are always welcome!
Disability Cambridgeshire works from a very friendly, fully accessible office in North Cambridge (with good parking) and also around and about Cambridgeshire, including at Addenbrooke's Hospital.
Possibilities include:
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Administrative tasks, such as preparing mailshots, photocopying, entering data into our new databases and helping with the website;
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Answering the telephone or acting as receptionist;
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Dealing with client enquiries and giving advice;
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Helping with fundraising;
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Getting involved in the management of Disability Cambridgeshire by becoming a member and/or trustee;
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Writing newsletters and factsheets.
How to join us
For more information please ring or email and we will send you a volunteer’s information pack, which gives you more information with no obligation on your part.
Volunteers usually work for one or two three-hour sessions per week. We can pay any reasonable travelling expenses.
If you would like more information, please contact the co-ordinator.
Volunteering as a disabled person or older person or carer...
We are particularly keen to involve disabled/older people and carers in the delivery of our service but welcome anyone who can help us in our important work.
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Many of our volunteers are disabled or older people or carers.
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Our office and working practices are fully accessible.
A volunteer's view
This is what one of our volunteers wrote about her experience at Disability Cambridgeshire:
I began volunteering for Directions Plus on 19 November
2004 - initially on a Friday, but I enjoy everybody’s company so much, (and
the work of course!) that I asked to volunteer on a Wednesday too.
My work
involves taking telephone messages and helping with the incoming/outgoing
post – plus just about anything else people need help with.
Working at Disability Cambridgeshire has kept me in touch with the activities of office life, as I haven’t
been employed for quite sometime following my redundancy from a Bank. I
highly recommend volunteering at Disability Cambridgeshire – everybody is extremely
friendly and helpful – I have also regained my confidence for when I do eventually
return to paid employment.
Volunteers are always needed, so if you would like
to join us, we would be more than happy to hear from you!
Skills Training
We have had some people join us for regular work through the Skills Training scheme. For example, people in the scheme spend some time on formal training courses (eg IT) and some time with us gaining work experience. Here is what one of our trainees has said about us:
"I was lucky enough to join the Disability Cambridgeshire team
this year through Skills Training. I am on what they call the ILM, which
means that Skills pay my wages and Directions plus get me for free!
I am
currently working towards an IT qualification at Skills Training at Cherry
Hinton Hall. The scheme they run enables me, as a young mum to come off benefits,
earn a wage and also gain office experience! My role here is to be the admin
assistant.
I was very pleased that I was given the opportunity
to come here, the people I am working with here at Disability Cambridgeshire are very
good hard-working people who have many life experiences and are very willing
to share them with me and others, which is fantastic for me as I’m here to
learn! I am very proud to say that I work for Disability Cambridgeshire.
What they stand
for is fantastic; people here are very loving and giving to all. I would
have to say that I have learnt a lot but also have so much more to learn.
I’m very excited about the work we do and the things I will learn from them.
This
has got to be the best job I have ever had and that is thanks to every body
at Disability Cambridgeshire, so thank you so much for having me and making me welcome!"
Last updated: 19 December 2007