101 ways to get involved
Just some of the ways you can volunteer in Camden
BEFRIENDING and HELPLINES
You may be supporting/advising children, young people or adults in either an ongoing relationship or at the end of a telephone line.
CHARITY SHOPS
Volunteers help with sorting clothes and other donated goods. Also helping customers and handling money.
CHILDREN and YOUNG PEOPLE
Help in playgroups, community play-projects, youth clubs and schools. Also supporting disabled children, mentoring, befriending, and supervising activities.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Voluntary groups are run by a Management Committee who need general members and people with specific skills-financial/ legal/ personnel/ marketing.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
You can support witnesses and victims of crime, or assist vulnerable people who have no one to speak for them. You can visit or write to prisoners, or give support to the families of people in prison.
DISABLED PEOPLE
Includes practical help, advice and campaign work. You can also visit and chat to people in their own homes, at clubs or day centres.
ENVIRONMENTAL WORK
Can be London-based or weekends away. Work includes campaigning, improving wild life habitats; making footpaths, stiles and gates; clearing derelict land and planting trees.
ETHNIC GROUPS
Help in community groups, giving advice and information, teaching English as a 2nd language or office work. Some groups require volunteers from specific ethnic backgrounds and with particular language skills.
FAMILIES
Play work, support work, practical help and befriending with all kinds of families e.g. single parents.
FUNDRAISING
Many groups in Camden are looking for volunteers to help with flag days, events, in charity shops and with fundraising of all kinds.
GAY AND LESBIAN GROUPS
Volunteers are needed for befriending, counselling and support work. Volunteers may have to identify as lesbian/gay.
‘GOOD NEIGHBOURS'
Friendly visits to older people and disabled people; give practical help with shopping, decorating, gardening, driving, dog walking etc
HOMELESS
Assist in day centres, night shelters or soup kitchens; give practical help/support.
HOSPITALS
Includes chatting to patients and helping with trolley shops, mobile libraries, manicures, beauty care and tea bars.
MENTAL HEALTH
Volunteers help people who are experiencing mental health difficulties. You can help with activities in residential/day centres, chat and listen, or help in practical ways.
OFFICE WORK
Help with administration, word processing and other computer work, telephone, reception, and book-keeping. Do research; help in libraries, or with publicity.
OLDER PEOPLE
People living in their own or residential homes, at Day Centres or hospital patients welcome volunteers to chat with and help with small practical tasks. You can also help with advice, information and campaign work.
PEOPLE WITH DRUG AND/OR ALCOHOL PROBLEMS
You can give support/advice and information on drug and alcohol problems either in a centre or on a telephone help line.
PEOPLE WITH LEARNING DIFFICULTIES
You can help with campaign work, support work, leisure activities. Help in clubs and classes. Accompany people on holidays. Assist people to live independently.
PRACTICAL HELP
E.g., gardening, driving, shopping, DIY, helping a wheelchair user.
READING HELP
Volunteers are needed to work with children, teenagers and adults who have problems with reading and writing.
WOMEN'S GROUPS
Require women volunteers to provide support, practical help and office work.
