Assisted Volunteering

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This scheme enables volunteers with extra support needs to undertake volunteering opportunities that they may otherwise have felt unable to start.

Participants attend an induction course and over three sessions, learn about what the voluntary and community organisations do in the Ashford area, what they can expect from the organisations and what they should be prepared to commit themselves to. They receive information on Health and Safety matters, working as part of a team and planning their volunteering prior to visiting a number of voluntary groups.

Following the course the volunteers are supported on a one to one basis where necessary as they start their chosen opportunity.

For more information or to book a place please phone 01233 665535 or email deputy.manager@volunteering-ashford.org.

Supported Volunteering in Ashford

Jean helps get the post out

Jean has volunteered to help a local charity with their post. She started working with them in July following a three day induction course which gave her information about health, safety, working with individuals and teams in the voluntary sector.

Jean was supported on a one to one basis initially but is now working independently and she can contact us as and when she wants to.

Jean's thoughts on the volunteering so far:

“I enjoy working. I enjoy coming every Thursday and doing different things. I enjoy putting letters in the envelopes and using the franking machine. I also stick the labels on the envelopes.

When I weigh the letters on the machine I have to press it to turn it on and see what the weight is in grams. I then set the franking machine to 22grams which is what most of the letters weigh. Then you can put the envelope in the machine and it prints the stamp on.

When the letters are done I put them into a postbag ready for them to go to the post office.

The people in the office are like friends and make me cups of tea. I would like to do some photocopying and some shredding which Jenny is going to teach me soon.”