Volunteer Telford

Do you have an hour or two to spare each week? 

Could you help a child to read?

Schoolreaders volunteers are matched with a local primary school where they visit weekly and listen to children read individually to help improve their reading and comprehension skills and also foster a love of reading.

Reading for pleasure at a young age has a significant impact in how children are able to access their secondary education and also on their future life chances.

Our volunteer say they get as much out of their volunteering as the children, albeit in a different way. One volunteer says "It really has been a wonderful experience. It is so rewarding to make an impact on children's education but also their passion for learning and creativity."

Monday - Friday 1 or 2 hours per week.

Volunteers will visit their school on the same day and at the same time each week.  The session will be decided between the volunteer and the school.

The concept of sewa - selfless and love inspired service - grounds our lives in love and selflessness. It provides us with an opportunity to take authentic action.

Time devoted to seva, is not time lost, but time gained. Those that have dedicated countless hours, days, weeks and even years to support the Gurdwara Sahib and the Sangat it serves, consistently find clarity and purpose in all aspects of their lives.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji continues to guide us with the words Vand Chako – share and consume together. One of the founding pillars of Sikhism.

Example of Seva include but are not limited to:

Langar

Daily opportunity to support cooking in the community kitchen (Langar) from 10am – 11am every morning.
On Sundays between 2pm – 5pm there is an opportunity to support the team with cleaning the kitchen.

Technology

Supporting the technical team with audio/visuals on Sundays and major events. 
If you have a good phone/camera and an eye for photography our Social Media team would also be interested in hearing from you.

General Cleaning or Gardening
There is always an ongoing need to support the Gurdwara’s general cleaning schedule. This helps to maintain our high standards to ensure the Sangat’s experience is as comfortable as possible.
Also, quirky but interesting – nobody really likes to wear “used” ramaals. Weekly washing, drying and ironing of guest ramaals is something everyone forgetting a head covering would really appreciate.

Following detailed build instructions for flat-pack furniture.

Safely assembling flat-packed furniture for display in store or delivery to customers.

Working to time frames for customer assembly requests.

Maintaining an organised and safe toolkit and work space.

Alerting the Manager to any defects or spare parts needed when constructing flat-pack sets.

Carrying out minor repairs on donated items of furniture in agreement with the Warehouse Manager if you feel comfortable doing so.

We can reimburse reasonable travelling expenses and we provide tea, coffee and biscuits. You will also be able to get a 25% discount on donated goods, and get access to an online discounts platform and virtual GP.

Our minimum age to volunteer is 17, but we can accept 16-year-olds through our work experience opportunity

To assist tutors in supporting teaching and learning by providing informal help to individuals or small groups of learners under the guidance of teaching staff.

Volunteers may help facilitate certain activities within the programme as directed. This role involves working collaboratively with learners and staff to contribute to an inclusive, engaging, and supportive learning environment tailored to individual needs

Role purpose
To provide voluntary support the learning, personal development, and wellbeing of learners including SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) learners within a classroom, vocational workshop, or community-based activity

MAIN DUTIES

- Assist learners during activities and sessions, offering encouragement and informal support as directed by the tutor.
- Help learners engage with their studies, providing a positive and welcoming presence in the learning environment.
- Support individual learners, including those with special needs, to build confidence and develop their independence.
- Work alongside tutors and support staff to promote inclusive and enjoyable learning experiences.
- Help with small tasks, such as preparing materials or setting up activities, to assist the team in delivering lessons or sessions.
- Observe and report any concerns about learner wellbeing to staff, following safeguarding guidelines.
- Help adapt learning materials or activities to suit individual learner needs.
- Contribute to the friendly atmosphere of the learning environment by being empathetic and approachable.
- Contribute ideas and enthusiasm to the team, helping develop creative ways to engage learners and overcome challenges in learning.
- Be a positive, empathetic, and an encouraging presence for learners.
- To participate in team meetings where appropriate, sharing insights or feedback to support the work of the team.
- To represent the charity positively in all interactions, promoting its values and mission
- To provide relevant feedback or updates to staff and leadership, as needed, to support the charity’s activities.