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VOLUNTEERING WITH VISION BATH
Introduction
At Vision Bath we have a great team of volunteers who support us in our work with the local visually impaired community. Our members need the attention of people who care. If you have some time to offer to help enhance the service we provide to our 1000 or so members, why not consider volunteering for Vision Bath? |
Volunteering can offer you not only the satisfaction of knowing you are helping to improve the quality of our members’ lives, but also the opportunity to learn new skills, meet new people and have some fun too. We provide full support and offer a comprehensive training programme to all volunteers.
Whether you are retired and looking for a worthwhile task to occupy an hour or so a week, a student looking for experience in the not-for-profit sector, unemployed and looking for a meaningful way to fill some time, or a part-time or full-time worker looking to put something back into the community, we may have something to suit you, so why not come and join our friendly team!
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Volunteering Opportunities
Opportunities for volunteering at Vision Bath include befriending, helping out at social clubs, administrative work, envelope stuffing, and helping with fundraising.
Befriending
Befrienders give support to our visually impaired members by making regular visits for an hour or so a week to members in their own homes, providing company for those who may be socially isolated. Vision Bath provides full support, and also covers any expenses incurred. Ways in which befrienders provide support can include:
- providing companionship over a cup of tea
- taking members out for a walk or accompanying them shopping
- reading leisure material – magazines, newspapers, books – or professional documents or journals
- routine administration, eg dealing with incoming post, writing letters, making phone calls
- collecting audiobooks from the library
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Helping out at social clubs
Vision Bath runs monthly social clubs in Bath, Camerton and Keynsham for our visually impaired members, and we are always happy to welcome volunteers to help us run them. The clubs provide an opportunity for our members to meet up for a chat, have a cup of tea and a biscuit, and enjoy some entertainment. For some, this is the only time they get out of the house. If you could spare a few hours each month to help at the clubs, we would love to hear from you. Our volunteers help in many ways to make the clubs run smoothly:
- phoning members beforehand to remind them of the meeting
- being an escort on the minibus that brings those who need transport
- greeting members as they arrive
- making cups of tea, and washing up afterwards
- helping with the raffle
- chatting with members throughout the afternoon
- helping to tidy up after everyone has left
The Bath Club (held at Green Park Station) is on the first Monday of each month, the Camerton Club is on the first Thursday, and the Keynsham Club is on the second Tuesday. All the clubs run from 2.15 to 4.15. There are more details on the Events page.
Administrative work and envelope stuffing
During certain busy periods, we are grateful for help in the office with tasks such as photocopying, making up information packs, stocktaking, and envelope stuffing when we send out newsletters to all our members.
Helping with fundraising
The fundraising committee is made up entirely of volunteers and is responsible for planning fundraising events for Vision Bath. |
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How do I become a volunteer?
If you would like more information
on how you can help the Society, please complete our Volunteer's
Form. Alternatively, give Sandra Niven a call on 01225 446555 for an informal chat about what volunteering for Vision Bath entails and which options might best suit you.
Once you have signed up as a volunteer, we will provide training at our offices in Green Park Station, Bath. We pay any bona fide expenses you incur whilst volunteering with Vision Bath and provide you with the appropriate equipment and resources necessary to undertake your role.
Apart from a general introduction to volunteering for Vision Bath, we also provide free half-day training sessions in manual handling, visual awareness, first aid, fire safety and befriending. All volunteers are required to undertake the visual awareness and manual handling training.
Please note that all volunteers working with vulnerable adults need to have an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check carried out. This service is provided free of charge.
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What our volunteers say:
“I get pleasure from meeting a variety
of people and feel I am doing something worthwhile.”
“Just a few hours of my time evidently
means so much to Mr Stevens and his wife.”
“I am pleased that I can be of help supporting
social and fundraising events.”
“I am able to help with the technical
side of things.”
“I appreciate the companionship of the
other volunteers and the feeling that I am being useful.”
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