What is volunteering?
Volunteering is unpaid work and the gaining of experience and skills. In the DIWC this includes a range of activities such as organising fundraising, helping with planning, setting up and clearing away events, providing classroom assistance, help with admin work, providing one to one language support for some of the learners, and so on.
To some people it is an act of kindness, to others it is a means of achieving a personal goal or putting something back into society or a way to contribute to a cause. It is also a way of gaining new skills and improving job prospects.
For many organisations in the charitable and voluntary sector, like the DIWC, the money to run classes and activities is sourced from other trusts and funding bodies. This means that there are limited funds for the centre’s activities and staff. We rely on volunteer contribution to help the DIWC achieve new projects and create new opportunities for members and in return the volunteers will hopefully fulfill their potential and gain valuable experience.
Volunteering opportunities at DIWC…
At the moment we are looking for volunteers to help with…
PR materials - such as AGM report artwork, posters, leaflets and corporate ID
Operations assistant - helping organise the centre resources and assist classroom physical needs and events
Buddying for learning (one to one support for English / Computing)
Catering assistant - working in our multicultural café and catering service
Handyperson(s) - (gardening, light DIY)
As we are a women’s centre which aims to create a safe all women environment so most of our volunteering opportunities are for women only, however we can also accommodate men in some of our volunteering posts. Please feel free to call us if you are interested in further information.
Volunteer of the Month…
JUNE 2010
- Sharon Snowden
- Sharon has been a volunteer with the centre since August 2009. She started working as a volunteer in reception where she quickly proved to be a very reliable, adaptable and capable volunteer. Sharon is now responsible for updating the website. Sharon has a gentle sense of humour and has fitted in well with the staff. Sharon loves her motorbike and is also a very talented jewellery maker. She has recently returned from an adventurous family holiday to Kathmandu. We look forward to her time with us. She is thinking about her employment prospects now as her confidence and self esteem have increased. Many Thanks Sharon!