A bumper offering of volunteering positions from Team Lambeth this week:

• Norwood and Brixton Foodbank - Various
• Age UK – Phone Friends
• Montgomery Hall clinic - Covid vaccination marshals
• VIP World Services – Travel Hands
• Home Start Lambeth – Family Volunteers
• Link UP London – Supporting local charity groups
• WLM St. Luke’s Kennington – Money Champions

Norwood and Brixton Foodbank - Various
The foodbank needs volunteers who can help midweek daytime and ideally commit to at least three months, offering one session per week for approximately two-three hours at their South London warehouse at St Margaret's Church, Barcombe Avenue, Streatham Hill. If you can commit longer but maybe only able to offer once-a-fortnight, they would also be interested in hearing from you. The warehouse, parcel packing and driver roles all involve a degree of lifting and carrying so volunteers will need good fitness levels. For drivers you will need a clean driver’s licence and access to a car which is fully insured and has a valid MOT. Alternatively, if you cycle and have access to a cargo bike and wish to volunteer as a cycle delivery driver, they would also like to hear from you. All volunteers will need to complete an application form and provide references. Please can you help?

Age UK – Phone Friends
Age UK Lambeth is an independent local charity working in Lambeth to offer support and services to older people. Even as Covid lockdown eases slowly, Age UK are still actively recruiting for volunteers. Whether you would like to volunteer to have a 'phone friend' and be matched with an elderly member of the community to have a weekly conversation that will help and reduce isolation and loneliness, or you have some extra time and would like to help elderly members of the community who may be struggling to get out - however you may able to help, they would love to hear from you.

Montgomery Hall clinic - Covid vaccination marshals
The Lambeth GP Federation was hugely grateful to those of you who volunteered to help them at short notice on Thursday 6 May. Now they need some additional support at the Montgomery Hall clinic next week as well. There are two shifts daily, with different times on different days. Volunteers will get PPE and there are plenty of sanitising stations throughout the site.  Lunches and drinks are provided throughout the shift and there is a covered break out area in the garden for volunteers to take well- earned breaks. All new volunteers will have an induction on site before their shift starts.  There is a programme manager on site during all clinics to support volunteers and a lead volunteer who assigns the jobs and along with the ‘veteran’ volunteers supports new recruits. Volunteers are able to park cars and bikes at the Oval Cricket Ground across the road, which can be accessed by the Alex Stewart Gate on Kennington Oval.  More details are provided for those who volunteer. Montgomery Hall is a short walk from Oval tube station and multiple bus routes. They need volunteers for morning and afternoon shifts most days next week. Please sign-up here if you can help.

VIP World Services – Travel Hands
COVID has hindered the social life and mental health of many but it has hit some groups of people harder, like Visually Impaired People (VIP). Travel Hands is a service that pairs verified volunteers with VIP to enable them to safely travel across London in a cheaper, time-effective and sociable way. By becoming a volunteer you are given the opportunity to make their life a lot easier, you will meet new friends and it does not require much effort other than going for a stroll, have a walk in the park or to assist a friend in their shopping. They will give you a quick and easy induction on the ins and outs of interacting with a VIP and successfully guiding them. This is a flexible volunteering opportunity that works around your busy schedule. Register now to help your VIP neighbours and have light-hearted experiences breathing some fresh air. You can learn more or register here or contact VIP World Services by email.

Home Start Lambeth – Family Volunteers
Do you have parenting or childcare experience and skills? Home-Start Lambeth volunteers provide support, friendship and practical help to families with at least one child under five who are experiencing difficulties. They’re reaching out for volunteers who can give about an hour per week for six months minimum (times can be flexible to suit both you and the family you are supporting). Volunteers will offer support, build a supportive relationship and encourage families to widen their network of relationships and to use the support and services available in the community effectively. You will need to be able to be reliable, a good listener, and maintain confidentiality while recognising that there may be situations when disclosure is essential to the welfare of a child. Training will be provided online. Your own experiences and skills can help another family more than you could imagine – Home Start would love to hear from you.

Link UP London – Supporting local charity groups
Link Up are looking for Digital Marketing, Social Media and Marketing Strategy volunteers. What impact can you make to the community in just one hour of Flash Consulting? Following the success of Link UP's November Flash Consulting, this session will be focused on the Digital Marketing issues faced by Social Good Organisations (Charity, Social Enterprise or Community Group). Flash Consulting is a great opportunity to share your skills and support a charity leader to think through their challenges in a structured discussion. Since the beginning of the pandemic, charitable organisations have increasingly relied on Digital Marketing to reach their beneficiaries, raise awareness and fundraise. Many of the small and medium organisations Link UP works with had to quickly adapt to the digital space and are in need of continued advice, guidance and support. You need to be available for the zoom session on Wednesday 19 May 2021 6:00-7:30pm. Please sign up here if you can help.

WLM St. Luke’s Kennington – Money Champions course
WLM has been serving people affected by homelessness, poverty and trauma since 1887. They are part of the Methodist Church and run a wide range of services which empower people to make positive changes in their lives, offering support to individuals of all faiths and none, inclusively. They focus on empowering people to make positive changes in their lives. Money Champions helps you cut costs fast, find the right help in a debt crisis and spot when others may be may be struggling financially, too. You leave the course with solid, reliable information you can share with friends and neighbours. The course runs 10am-12pm on Mondays and Fridays (six sessions) over three weeks, starting Monday 10 May. The course is online – you can do it from home or go to St Luke’s in Kennington, put on some headphones and join the course super easily. Let Team Lambeth know if you would like to join this or a future course.