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It's Volunteers’ Week and the first thing to send to you all is the most heartfelt thanks and overwhelming gratitude. It’s been a year since Team Lambeth was started up, and the results – thanks to you all – have been incredible.
Over 2,000 of you got in touch to sign up, with nearly 1,900 of you approved and active at one point. In the last six months you all have covered about 3,000 voluntary shifts for around 75 different groups and services in the borough. You’ve supported Covid vaccinations for thousands of people, collected and delivered thousands more food boxes, mentored young people and supported our elders, given professional support to small groups, sung songs, filmed events, and cooked hundreds of meals for your neighbours. You’ve given your time to help the homeless, the hungry, the sight-impaired, the sheltering and vulnerable, children at Christmas and challenged families for months at a time. You’ve driven, cycled, walked and worked from home to support vulnerable people all over Lambeth.
THANK YOU. You’re AMAZING and I hope, in volunteers’ week, you can take some extra time to recognise how loved and appreciated you are, and give yourselves a well-earned rest.
But of course, the show goes on. More opportunities below and a reminder to sign-up to the new Team Lambeth platform before these manual newsletters finish for good.
Friends of Ruskin Park – Treasurer
Friends of Ruskin Park is a volunteer-run charity which works to ensure the park is well cared for and maintained, and has a planned and healthy future. Since 1996 they’ve raised money to help maintain and improve the park, preserving it for future generations. They also organise and support a regular programme of events and activities. In 2016 they became a registered charity accountable both to our members and to the Charity Commission and welcome everyone to become a member, get involved, or donate.
But most urgently, they’re looking for a treasurer. This is a critical role to fill, preferably by someone also joining as a trustee. The Friends are looking for a person with some accountancy experience, maybe with charities, who is a supporter of the Friends, and what they do for Ruskin Park. This is an important and rewarding voluntary contribution to our local community and it will need regular commitment. If you are interested, or know of someone else who might be, they’d really like to hear from you.
St. John’s Ambulance and NHS - Pop-Up Covid-19 Vaccination Unit Advocates
The NHS in Lambeth and the St John’s Ambulance will be running a number of pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinics from tomorrow, and are looking for help to promote the drop-in vaccination clinic to local residents by sharing flyers and information throughout the local area on the day. Working in pairs, can you speak encouragingly to people out and about around the sites about getting vaccinated, hand out flyers, and point people in the direction of the site? Sessions are four hours each day – you’ll be outdoors so will need weather-appropriate clothing (and sunscreen!). Briefing information will be sent to you in advance and there will be a clinical contact on-site during the afternoon for information and support. We are looking for a diverse range of volunteers – Spanish, Portuguese or Polish speakers, and members of the African or Caribbean communities are particularly encouraged but absolutely all are welcome. Sites, dates and times:
156 Loughborough Road, SW9 7LL
Thursday 3rd June 11am-3pm
Friday 4th June 2pm-6pm
Sign up here for Loughborough Road site
Tesco's Car Park, 13 Acre Ln, Brixton Hill, London SW2 5RS
Saturday 5th June 11am-3pm
Sunday 6th June 12pm-4pm
Monday 7th June 2pm-6pm
Sign up here for Acre Lane Tesco site
OCA Community Kitchen – foodbank volunteers
OCA Community Kitchen is a local Latin American organisation that has set up a foodbank at Pedlars Acre Hall located behind the North Lambeth Area Housing Office on 91 Kennington Lane, SE11 4HQ. They work all week but host open foodbank events every Saturday. OCA are looking for volunteers – ideally but not necessarily Spanish or Portuguese speaking – who can help with packing and organisation after a short induction session at midday and then marshalling and distribution from 3pm-6:30 while the foodbank is open to the public.
They’ll be providing high-viz vests and gloves and have hand-sanitiser readily available. You’ll need to bring a mask and your own food if you need it to keep you going during the afternoon. There’s plenty of cycle parking but no car parking available. Public transport to the site is good. Please can you help this Saturday 5 June?
Copes Pharmacy and Westbury’s Chemist – Covid vaccine marshals
Copes and Westbury’s are both looking for volunteer marshals for their Covid vaccination clinics in Streatham – Westbury’s closer to Streatham Hill, Copes to the far south of SW16. You might remember that they’ve changed their shift times so instead of 2 six hour shifts there are now three four hour shifts each day. They’re trying to support those of you who are also working part-time, doing school runs, have caring responsibilities or study, or for those of you who would just prefer shorter ‘bite size’ shifts. Please have a look at the new times and, as always, your help would be greatly appreciated: sign up for Westbury’s here and Copes here.
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.
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