Community Post Type: Volunteering

The Reader is a charity that uses the power of literature and reading aloud to transform lives across the UK. Our volunteers and staff bring people together to read great stories and poems – creating powerful moments of connection. They call this Shared Reading.
In a world that feels increasingly divided, and with increased pressures on our mental health, Shared Reading offers us time and space to share what matters to us.

They read with children, families, adults in libraries and community spaces, people in care homes, people with physical and mental health conditions, those coping with or recovering from addiction and people in the criminal justice system. Our work improves wellbeing, reduces loneliness and helps us find new meaning in our lives.
The Reader is supported using public funding by Arts Council England, players of the People’s Postcode Lottery, and Garfield Weston Foundation, as well as The National Lottery Community Fund.

Two volunteer opportunities have arisen to train as a group leader with the UK’s largest Shared Reading charity based in Liverpool.
The Reader is recruiting two volunteers to lead a community Shared Reading group at Halton Lea Library on Fridays, 2pm – 3.30pm which is open to all, while also welcoming speakers of other languages, and a second ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) group at Widnes Library on Wednesdays, 12.30pm – 1.30pm, to support their wellbeing. Both of these groups are funded by an Our Halton Community Grant. At Shared Reading groups, people connect and share experiences using stories and poems. There is no pressure to talk or read aloud.

The Reader is looking for someone with:
A passion for bringing diverse people together in their community. Empathy, patience, the ability to listen and to hold a range of perspectives.
A desire to explore a range of literary texts and genres.
Reliability and commitment to leading a regular Shared Reading group.

Visit here for more details and to apply

Do you have an interest in the arts? This volunteer role could be perfect for you.

Between early April and late June a new exhibition opens at Bridge Cottage in Port Sunlight, showcasing a range of ceramic artists work including established artists, early careers and well-known artists within the ceramic world.

The exhibition will be supported by Emma Rodgers, artist in residence, who will use her studio at the Fire Engine Station to connect to the work on show and invite artists to demonstrate their practice. The intention will be to animate the area of the village around Greendale Road, the Lyceum and the Dell.

To apply for a volunteer role, please email volunteering@portsunlightvillage.com

Lister Steps are looking to recruit enthusiastic people who have the time and commitment to work with the Members of the Board to drive the charity forwards. They are looking for people in particular with experience of:

Childcare
Sales and Marketing
Social Enterprise Business Growth
Human Resources.

For more information, please email trustee@tol.org.uk or visit:

https://volunteering.lcvs.org.uk/volunteers/opportunity/10233904

Help World of Glass look after their galleries, entertain visitors, and be part of a great team of staff and volunteers.

Ideal for students looking to gain experience, skills, especially those who want to work in the museum sector, or a fab opportunity for anyone looking for ways to fill their time, and support the local arts, culture, and heritage sector!

In return for your time you will gain new skills, meet new people, and get staff discount in their Café and Shop.

Interested in finding out more about the World of Glass Volunteering offer and other benefits get in touch on:

Volunteering@worldofglass.com

Make an impact AND build your network!

Volunteer with The Black-E for African Routes Revival on October 25th-26th. Help with registration, donations, and stewarding—all while gaining valuable experience and making lasting connections. They cover expenses too!

DM The Black-E on Instagram to get started! 🚀

At FACT Liverpool, their mission is to enrich lives and shape the future through art, film and creative technology. They are looking for individuals who are fully committed to their values and mission to join their Board of Trustees on a voluntary basis. Can you support them in providing sound independent judgement, strategic vision, and an understanding of mission-driven organisations?

The next few years will be an exciting and challenging period of development for FACT. They are looking to recruit trustees with one or more of the following area of expertise:

• • • Cultural venue management, particularly capital redevelopment
    • Cinema management
    • Entrepreneurship in the field of immersive experiences
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Environmental sustainability

They are keen to hear from anyone who feels they can offer these skills and/or can open up valuable connections within the business and cultural sectors.

The Atkinson Development Trust is a registered charity whose vision is to make a positive impact on the lives of people across the borough of Sefton. They are run by a committed group of skilled volunteers who all believe in the transformative power of arts and culture.

Their role is to raise money in order to deliver projects that reach some of the most vulnerable and under-served people in their community. WTheydo this through donations, memberships and sponsorships, and bids to trusts and foundations. This month they will launch an ambitious new membership and sponsorship offer, and as we continue to build capacity, they hope to develop more one-off fundraising events.

You can find out more about The Trust and the projects they support on The Atkinson website here.

How they work

At present they meet monthly with alternate meetings taking place over Zoom. Meetings usually take place for around 90 minutes between 5-7pm. Dates are agreed in advance with Trustees, and in person meetings are usually held at The Atkinson or Southport Town Hall.

Whilst maintaining the legal formalities, they aim to foster an informal atmosphere in which all individuals are invited to contribute to the discussion. They want people to actively participate, be heard and feel valued for their knowledge and ideas. We aim to have interesting, engaging conversations where everyone has a voice, and where we can all gain a sense of achievement.

Activities involved in the role of Treasurer:

• Overseeing the financial affairs of the Trust, ensuring they are legal and constitutional
• Overseeing the production and adoption of annual budgets, financial reports/returns and accounts
• Ensuring that proper records are kept, and effective financial procedures are in place
• Appraising the financial viability of plans, proposals and feasibility studies
• Liaising with Trustees to make them aware of their financial obligations
• Leading on appointing and liaising with auditors/an independent examiner
• Making advice and expertise available to the Board, staff and volunteers
• Making an active contribution towards fundraising on behalf of The Trust

Skills & Qualities they are looking for in a Treasurer:

• Good organisational skills
• Ability to communicate clearly
• Current knowledge and experience of charity and fundraising finance practice
• Solid and up-to-date knowledge of financial management
• Legally eligible to act as a Charity Trustee
• An interest in arts and culture

How to apply

If you would like to have an informal chat about this role, please email Chair, Alice Clark, at hello@atkinsontrust.org.uk.

In order to apply, they will ask you to write a letter of application outlining your suitability for the role, accompanied by a brief CV. As this role involves having financial responsibility, they would also require a suitable referee with permission to contact them for a reference.

Applicants who meet the required criteria will be invited for an informal interview with the Chair and another member of the Board. From there they would invite the successful candidate to observe a Board meeting to see how they work and meet with the rest of the Trustees. They would then issue a formal invitation to join the Board, and the candidate would accept in writing.

TramShed is an inclusive theatre company based in Blackpool with members across the Fylde coast and beyond. TramShed were established in 2005 and pride ourselves in offering the highest standard of inclusive performing arts workshops, performances and training.

Their Mission To bring individuals together to create outstanding, original and beautiful theatre which inspires and celebrates everyone.

Their Vision A self-sustaining independent organisation with a large active membership and key community partnerships. Widely recognised for dynamic delivery of exceptional inclusive activities by a robust and experienced leadership team. Varied and well- resourced ongoing workshops covering all aspects of performing arts, inclusive training, regular inclusive performances and an extensive programme of outreach within schools and community organisations.

They are committed to broadening the diversity of our Board of Trustees. Although we welcome all applications, the Board is under-represented in relation to the profile of the community we serve and we would encourage people from the following areas of protected characteristic groups to consider applying: people of colour, residents from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, people with disabilities (including ‘invisible’ disabilities or neurodiversity such as autism and dyslexia) and LGBTQ+ residents.

Expenses

This is a voluntary role, without a salary, but reasonable expenses incurred in relation to the role may be claimed back from TramShed Theatre Company. These include: travel, phone calls, childcare or care of other dependents whilst attending meetings.

To apply, visit here

Closing date: 11 October

What will you be doing?

What are they looking for?

What difference will you make?