2^nd Hook Scout and Guide Youth Band

The Band was formed in 1967 and draws its members from the local scout, guide and brownie groups. The musicians ages range from 8 to 25 and they form the band which caters for a junior and a senior section. The young people are taught brass, percussion and wind instruments and often lead parades plus entertaining the public. Their core values are taken from the Scout and Guide way of life. To help get the most out of their instruments the young band members require 1:1 tutoring. By assisting the bandleader you will be teaching the Junior Band up to Grade 1 or 2. Senior Band members need a higher degree of technical knowledge and already play at the equivalent of Grade 3 or above, however, they would benefit so much more with someone guiding them. This is a great opportunity and a fun way to learn music whilst helping someone with their music skills.  If you feel you can commit to this lovely opportunity please Contact Alex 

Back to School

The ‘Back to School’ project is KUSU’s school liaison scheme, providing volunteering opportunities in local primary, secondary and special needs schools.The opportunities range from one-off to long term. Many of the schools need general help in class or with lunchtime or after school clubs. You can also get involved with mentoring schemes, helping GCSE pupils with their coursework or reading partner schemes.  If you have a particular area of skill or interest, the teachers would love you to share this with their pupils, by running a workshop of just talking to them. For more information contact Celina

Bedelsford School

Bedelsford School provides a stimulating environment for pupils aged 2 - 17 years with a wide range of physical disabilities and a variety of complex needs. Founded in 1905, the school has evolved to meet the changing needs of children who require a range of therapies alongside their education. The school caters for pupils with profound and multiple learning disabilities as well as those who need expert medical support, physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, speech and language teaching and occupational therapy. There are a range of ways that volunteers can get involved at this lovely school. You can provide support with classroom based activities, sports lessons, school productions and swimming trips. Volunteers are needed to support the physiotherapist sessions and could work alongside the various other therapists based at the school. Anyone who could run specialist activities like photography or hair and make up sessions would be welcomed. Or you might chose just to spend half an hour over a lunch hour chatting and socialising with the pupils. For more information contact Celina

The Befriending Project

The project provides individual befrienders for young people aged 12 to 19 years with learning/physical disabilities to help them lead a more independent life, have fun and give their parent/carers a break. A befriender will help the disabled teenager take part in leisure and sporting activities in the community or in the young person’s home. The type of activities you could get involved include shopping, swimming, football, cinema or eating out . As a befriender you can be a positive role model for the young person by helping to broaden their social horizons.

 So if you can help a young person with disabilities to become more independent whilst having fun please Contact Alex

The Big Buddy Scheme

Big Buddy is a mentoring scheme for vulnerable 8-13 year olds who live in the Borough of Kingston. It is one of the preventative services provided by Kingston Children’s Fund. Young people are referred by professionals to Big Buddy for a number of reasons; they may have a difficult home life, problems at school, anger management issues, be shy or withdrawn or sometimes they have mild learning difficulties. Volunteers go through a comprehensive training course before they are matched with a young person, and are provided with one to one monthly support throughout their relationship. Mentors are trained and matched a young person and go on to develop a one to one mentoring relationship; providing them with a positive adult role model, helping them to set and achieve personal goals and make links with their local community. The lengths of relationships vary according to the needs of the young people. Meeting twice a month for around 2 hours, you will be supplied with a budget of £25 a month to spend on positive activities and resources.You will be provided with monthly supervisions, peer support meetings, and telephone/ email support from the Big Buddy Coordinator. We also offer further training to help you deal with specific issues in your mentoring relationship. For more information contact Alex

Dysart After School ClubDysart is a special needs school for children aged 4 - 19 years with severe learning disabilities. The school runs a popular after school club for the children offering opportunities for them to get involved in a range of activities like cycling, swimming, trampoline, sports, bouncy castle and music and movement. Volunteers are needed to help deliver a range of activities with high quality care in a fun way that is reflective to the needs of the young people accessing the service. Volunteers will be working alongside professional play workers and responsibilities will include helping to set up and prepare the rooms, activities and plans for the sessions, and working as part of a team to support the young people attending the club. For more information contact Alex

 The Holly Lodge Centre

The Holly Lodge Centre is situated in scenic Richmond and attached to an old farmhouse. The aim of the centre is to provide everyone, no matter what their ability or background, with the opportunity to enjoy and learn about Richmond, including its wildlife and fascinating history. The experience should be fun as well as educational and this is very much in evidence when being taught in a Victorian classroom. There are many opportunities available at the centre: Classroom Assistants, Creative Artists, Interpretational Actors /  Drama Students, Gardeners / Teachers Park Park

There are also possibilities to carry out research on the park or help write scripts for the interpretational actors. For more information contact Alex

Kingston Advocacy Group Appropriate Adult Scheme

Kingston Advocacy Group was formed in 1989 to promote and protect the rights of the individual, providing them with a voice where that person may be unable to speak for themselves. If it is necessary for a young person to go to a police station, it is a legality that an adult is present. Often the young person may not wish to contact a family member to fulfil this role. In this instance an ‘Appropriate Adult’ will provide the necessary adult presence. There may be times you will accompany a vulnerable person with learning difficulties or mental health issues. For more information contact Alex A 12 month continuous commitment is required for this opportunity. As a result no 3^rd year students can take part

MEND 

MEND is a lifestyle change programme for over-weight children and their families. It tries to reduce obesity levels through a combination of exercise, knowledge and nutrition. It runs projects for kids of 8-11 years in Kingston combining an hour of water or land-based exercise, and an hour of theory. MEND are looking for people to help publicise the programme, and to help run the classes. The class role would involve helping set up the activities, assisting with the exercises (joining in if you like!) and helping children/ parents with the theory sessions.The publicity role would involve helping MEND spread the word about the scheme, and collect and record the children’s data to track their progress. For more information contact Alex. Unfortunately this opportunity is currently full, we apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. Please refer to the directory for similar opportunities that may be of interest.

Missing People (formerly National Missing Persons Helpline)

Missing People is the UK’s only charity that works with young runaways, missing and unidentified people, their families and others who care for them. As well as actively searching for missing people and supporting those who are trying to find them, Missing People offers three other services: Runaway Helpline, Message Home and Identification. Runaway Helpline is a 24 hour confidential helpline and email service for runaways, offering help and advice to young people who have run away from home or care, or who have been forced to leave. Message Home is a unique confidential service offering help, advice and support to adults who are missing. Identification is a specialist service to support police, coroners, hospitals and social services to resolve cases of unidentified people (alive or dead). The opportunities are numerous: Message Home & Runaway Helpline, Communications, Charity Shops, Trust Fundraising, Corporate FundraisingFor more information contact Alex

Reading Partner Project

This scheme runs in a local secondary school and aims to encourage pupils to enjoy reading and to help raise levels of achievement and confidence. Volunteers attend a 1 hour weekly session where you listen to the pupil read two books, providing help and encouragement throughout. The school provides an induction, along with materials and activities and ongoing support. For more information contact Celina

Refugee Action Kingston

Refugee Action Kingston (RAK) provides free advice and information on a number of issues, including immigration, benefit, housing, education, training, health and other issues.  RAK whilst supporting the refugees encourages their independence, enabling them to settle and lead fulfilling independent lives. Opportunities exist at RAK’s day centre on Wednesdays and Fridays. This could include helping to serve lunches, playing with the children, doing arts and crafts, and    helping with English, IT and exercise classes.  There is  always the chance to talk and socialise with the refugee families. Volunteers are also needed to help at the crèche and they also have a befriending and mentoring scheme. There are regular opportunities to get involved in one-off projects with RAK - helping at their clothing collection days throughout the year and with the Christmas party. For more information contact Alex

Spartan Swimming Club

The Spartan Swimming Club for the physically disabled has been going for over 50 years. The club provides valuable support to physically disabled swimmers from 5 to 80 years of age.  The disabilities can range from cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, amputees, stroke victims or sight/hearing impairment. The volunteer must be happy to swim up and down the pool with their partner offering them guidance and support.  Very often their partner will lack confidence in the water and will therefore need lots of encouragement.  In the case of blind partners you may find that they need to be lead as well as vital swimming supervision. For more information contact Alex

Splash Youth Clubs

Splash Youth Clubs provide high quality games and activities for young people between the ages of 8 - 12.  This youth provision takes place during term time and aims to engage with young people in their communities. The clubs are held weekly at four sites around the borough and offer a range of      activities. The volunteers help to co-ordinate and participate in the activities which cover, sports, cooking, arts and crafts, games, DJ and Karaoke. The equipment needs to be put out and tidied away at the beginning and end of each session. You may interact with the young people on an individual or group basis. For more information contact Alex

Xpression Youth Club

The Xpression Youth Club is for young people aged between 12 and 19 years of age who have learning disabilities and behavioural problems. Volunteers are needed for 2 hours per week on a Tuesday evening, to work with the young people, organise a range of activities and to facilitate the club. The activities are varied including arts and crafts, drama, sport, music and food of the week. Occasionally there will be trips and outings. Interested? Contact Alex