Volunteer with the Citizens Advice Bureau

Asthma UK - Volunteers Wanted

Asthma UK Collection Volunteer Shout Out!

Asthma UK is currently seeking committed and enthusiastic individuals to take part in fundraising collections in Plymouth on Saturday 5 May. Can you help us to raise as much money as possible?!

Asthma UK is the charity dedicated to improving the health and well-being of the millions of people with asthma in the UK. From 1-7 May it will be Asthma UK Fundraising Week and we'll be getting out there, across the UK spreading the word. This is where you come in - we really need you out there with us.

This May we’re raising money to stop unnecessary hospital admissions - asthma attacks hospitalise someone every seven minutes and kill over 1,100 people every year. This doesn’t need to happen.

Please help us spread the word about asthma in Plymouth. In doing this, you’ll be helping to raise vital funds so that we can work to reduce these terrifying statistics and continue to develop a cure for asthma.

Locations:

Plymouth

Time commitment:

It would be fantastic of you could spare 2-4 hours on Saturday 5 May. We’ve organised the permit so all you have to do is get in touch to let us know you can help, and turn up on the day!

We’d be hugely grateful if you can help. If you want to get involved or if you would like any more information about asthma and the work of Asthma UK, please email community@asthma.org.uk or call 0207 786 5042 for more info.

NEW Student Leadership Course

Calling All Students - *NEW* Student Leadership Course

Weekend Course to be held on campus on the 17^th & 18^th March 2012 – All Day

(With a short reflective log on your experiences as a Student Leader to be submitted April 2013).

Course Outline:

·         The purpose of this two day bespoke programme for students is to develop key capabilities and skills to lead projects within the institution and become active change agents on campus.

This opportunity is open to all students, although it will be particularly useful for you if you are a:

·         Course Rep

·         Sports or Societies Chair

·         Parliamentarian

Sessions will be led by external consultants, staff at the university and UPSU staff. The course will add a boost to your CV and you will have the opportunity to network with other student leaders and address any questions you might have regarding the reflective element of the training programme.

 

To express an interest in the course please email studentleadership@plymouth.ac.uk

Volunteers Wanted

Hi All

I need a group of 6 - 8 volunteers that will be willing to give up some spare time this week.



The main project it to go door to door in Stonehouse and get the residents to answer a short questionnaire. This is working with the council and the volunteers will receive a certificate to put in their CV.


They would need to go to a short brief on Thursday, the time has not been set yet, and also on Friday at 12:30 they will need to go to the council to get an ID card this will again take little time.


This weekend will be when we go into Stonehouse to do the questionnaire with the council.


If you need more information do not hesitate to email me.

Thanks


Mark Lawrence

Volunteer Update - 14th February 2012

Volunteer Hours Total for 2011/12 – 5864 hours!

Hello and welcome to this special student volunteering week update. Firstly thank to all those students who have dropped into the office to tell us about all the volunteering they have been doing. It’s been really inspiring. We have been able to present lots of volunteer cups to those who have completed 50 hours and we have a number of people who are making the final push to that particular milestone, congratulations to all of them. Please drop by the office to tell us what you have been up to. If you haven’t managed to get out volunteering yet then next week is the perfect opportunity, with projects going out every day it couldn’t be easier to get out on a project and your will find a warm welcome on any of them. If you are still on the lookout for volunteering opportunities why not drop into the see our colleagues from Plymouth Guild Volunteer Centre who will be here on Tuesday 21st and will be offering advice on local volunteer opportunities. Whatever you decide to do we hope you have an enjoyable and productive week.

 

Volunteer Opportunities

Saturday 18th February - Sustainable Communities

Hey dudes. Hope to see you this Saturday 18th February for the 6th Sustainable Communities Adventure.

I have some wicked photos of the last one it would be good to share them with you if you want.

 

For any newcomers, you can get a free tour of the community land and the incredible eco homes they live in. There is deep woodland which is a lovely place to go to if you want to chill to the max.

Lots to see and experience with a variety of activities- Winter activities in the Horticulture Gardens, including; building compost bays (possibly), weeding and mulching the beds, collecting leaf mould from the woods and turning compost heaps, and transplanting baby trees that may have naturally seeded to where they can grow safely. Plus lots of other activities to suit your interests and abilities.

Meet us at 9:45am at the main Plymouth train station. The train leaves from Plymouth at 09:55am so please come on time so I can buy your tickets before the train leaves.

We will be sat inside the station in the waiting area.

All travel is paid for by us so its a free ride in a fancy train for you! :-)

Please sign up at the SU:HIVE (There is a sign up sheet there) and email me if you have any questions.

Look forward to seeing you. All the best,

 

Alarik

ViP Sustainable Communities Project Leader (the dude)

Future ViP Sustainable Communities Trust Dates – 3rd, 17th and 24th March

 

20th – 26th February 2012

Monday 20th February – ViP Stand

The ViP Society will be in the SU from 12-2 promoting the week’s activities and events, how to get more involved in the Committee next year, and answering all your volunteering questions. You can sign up for the Volunteering Week activities and see what they have planned for the rest of the term. They may even have some freebies!

Tuesday 21st February – Plymouth Guild Volunteer Centre Drop In

Plymouth Guild Volunteer Centre will be running a drop-in session from 11-3 in the Hive, providing information on unique volunteering opportunities here in the City. So if you would like some help and advice finding that individual volunteering activity then please come and see them. They currently have over 300 opportunities in the City ranging from mental health, to human and civil rights, youth work and computing……..and many more, so come and search their database!

Wednesday 22nd February – ViP Rural Stations Project – Sandplace

Meet- 10am outside The Hive, we'll be travelling by mini bus to Sandplace on the Looe Valley Line where we'll be carrying on the work started in October. Work will include invasive plant clearance and planting of colourful and insect friendly plants.

Please bring lunch and a mug/cup and wear warm clothes and sturdy footwear. We will provide tea/coffee and biscuits. You should be back no later than 5pm.

Sign up to this project on the sign-up sheet in the in the Hive. Places offered first come first served basis.

Hope to see you all then!

Tim McLennan

ViP Rural Stations Project Leader

Wednesday 22nd February – ViP Green Team and OPAL

We will be meeting at 1300 in the Hive before jumping into the transport for the short trip to Forder Valley LNR in Leigham, once there we will be doing some water quality tests and freshwater invertebrate ID.

If you are interested in join the ViP Green Team on this project please add your name to the sign-up sheet in the Hive, UPSU.

 

Wednesday 22nd February – Tree Planting with ViP Moor Trees

Meeting at 1300 outside the hive we will be travelling to a site on the edge of Dartmoor to do some tree planting. Please wear warm old clothes, we will provide you with tea/coffee and some biscuits and cake.

Please sign up on the sign-up sheet in the Hive, UPSU to secure your place.

 

Future ViP Moor Tree Dates – 7th and 21st March

Thursday 23rd February – Volunteering with the National Trust

Hi Everyone,

Our next opportunity will be on Thursday 23rd February to coincide with Student Volunteering Week. The day will begin at 10am with some litter picking under the A38 flyover near Sainsbury’s at Marsh Mills. “Why there of all places?” I hear you ask. The National Trust is working with a number of key stakeholders to turn this area into a heritage arts arena and a more attractive entrance to the Plym Valley. Your efforts to keep this area tidy would be part of our Heritage Lottery Fund application to bring this project to fruition. You would therefore be contributing to a very good cause, as well as picking up litter that could end up in the River Plym.

Around 12:30pm we will walk to Plymbridge Woods and have lunch. We will then continue with some burning of the non-native, invasive Cherry Laurel, until around 4pm. The rest of the ranger team will be there cutting up any remaining Laurel stumps with chainsaws, and treating such with a light herbicide to prevent any re-growth.

Tea and coffee will be provided during the morning litter pick by the ranger team at Saltram House. Don’t forget to wear sturdy footwear. All equipment will be provided and if you are with us for the whole day, don’t forget to bring some lunch.

I will not be meeting anyone at the Students’ Union on this occasion, but you can easily reach the area underneath the A38 flyover by catching City Bus no. 21 to the Mcdonalds at Crabtree. I will be at this bus stop between 9:45am and 10:15am to point you all in the right direction. Although the attached document will give you directions to Plymbridge Woods, it also highlights the location of the bus stop. For those cycling enthusiasts, the actual area we are litter picking has Route 27 of the National Cycle Network run straight through it.

I hope you can make it, even if it is just for the morning or afternoon activity. Newcomers are most welcome.

 

Hope all is well.

Jonathan Noades

National Trust in the Plym Valley

T 01752 341377

 

Friday 24th February – Otters and Butterfly Sanctuary, Ashburton

Meeting in the Hive, SU at 9am and we should be back at the latest 5:30pm. We will be assisting with maintenance around the site, painting the outside timber, and other small jobs. Hopefully we will get an opportunity to look around the site and see the otters.

 

Please wear warm, old clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty and bring a packed lunch. We will provide Tea, Coffee and biscuits if you bring a mug.

 

Sign up to this project on the sign-up sheet in the in the Hive. Places offered first come first served basis.

 

Saturday 25th February – ViP Monkey Sanctuary

The Monkey Sanctuary is located in Looe, about a 45min drive away from Plymouth. It has an international reputation for the quality of care, enclosure design and innovative management techniques afforded the monkeys there. Open to the public for seven months a year, the Sanctuary offers a unique insight into primate conservation and welfare issues. Since 2001, they have rescued 28 monkeys. We usually help out in the gardens, improving access for the public for when the Sanctuary reopens at Easter.

 

If you'd like to join us please sign up in the Hive. Spaces are limited to I'd advise you to be quick!

On the day we'll be meeting outside the Hive at 9.30am, and we will return to Plymouth at 5pm. Please wear appropriate clothing for the weather, and bear in mind it will be muddy. Also make sure to bring some food and a drink - I'll be providing tea and biscuits if you bring along a mug.

 

I look forward to meeting some of you there,

Kirstie

ViP Monkey Sanctuary Project Leader

 

Saturday 25th February – Plymouth, Bath, and Exeter Universities Joint Volunteer Project

Hey everyone,

The Volunteers in Plymouth (ViP) society is organising a joint project with Exeter and Bath Universities for Saturday the 25th of February.

We’re going to catch the train up to Exeter and help fix up the local community centre (St. Sidwell's), repainting the walls, and I think we get the freedom to be fairly creative such as murals; repainting signs; getting into the garden and doing some planting; and then some of us can also get into the kitchen and help out with the lunch for the day. Everyone will have the option to rotate around and do different jobs but it sounds like we will have a lot of fun!

We are also thinking about possibly doing some socializing with the other Uni volunteers in Exeter, depending on what you all want to do and what we can do with our transport.

So with this project, all the volunteers coming along will get a FREE lunch :) as well as tea, coffee and drinks. Obviously we will be buying the train tickets for you also.

I'm especially excited about this one off project because it gives our society the opportunity to develop a link with some of the other universities as well as do something a little bit different.

If you’re interested in coming along then please sign up in the hive, SU if you require further information email at: alexander.mcleod@students.plymouth.ac.uk

 

Hope to see you soon,

Roddy

ViP Secretary

Training Opportunities

Saturday 3rd or Sunday 4th March 0930 -1800 FIRST AID TRAINING

We are now recruiting for the Basic First aid Course

You need to contribute £10 towards the cost of this training and sign up for either of the days.

Please remember to wear loose comfortable clothing on the day as you will be doing practical exercises, and bring a packed lunch and some water.

You will receive a certificate which is HSE approved and valid for three years, and on-going online support.

Interested? Then you need to come along to the Training Office on the First Floor of the Students Union with your ten pounds and sign up. Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come basis.

 

Sustainable Communities - 18th February 2012

Hey dudes. Hope to see you this Saturday 18^th February for the 6th Sustainable Communities Adventure.
Got some wicked photos of the last one. Would be good to share them with you if you want.

For any newcomers, you can get a free tour of the community land and the incredible eco homes they live in. There is deep woodland which is a lovely place to go to if you want to chill to the max.

Lots to see and experience with a variety of activities- Winter activities in the Horticulture Gardens, including; building compost bays (possibly), weeding and mulching the beds, collecting leaf mould from the woods and turning compost heaps, and transplanting baby trees that may have naturally seeded to where they can grow safely. Plus lots of other activities to suit your interests and abilities.

Meet us at 9:45am at the main Plymouth train station. The train leaves from Plymouth at 09:55am so please come on time so I can buy your tickets before the train leaves.

We will be sat inside the station in the waiting area..

if anyone is late give me a call 07890787851 and we can buy you a ticket while you make your way over.

All travel is paid for by us so its a free ride in a fancy train for you! :-)

Please sign up at the SU:HIVE (There is a sign up sheet there) and email me if you have any questions.

Look forward to seeing you. All the best,

Alarik

ViP Sustainable Communities Project Leader (the dude)

Volunteering in Plymouth (ViP) is a student led organisation, we organise volunteering opportunities throughout the academic year.  Current projects include partnerships with the Barn Owl Trust, The Looe Monkey Sanctuary, Landmatters Sustainable Community, Moor Trees, the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership, Slapton Lee Nature Reserve, Natural England and other local environmental organisations.  During the academic year 2010/11 ViP organised 40 projects contributing over 2500 voluntary hours to local organisations.  Volunteering in Plymouth is led by a committee of 14 students which includes 7 Project Leaders who organise and lead individual projects. 

Student Volunteering Week 2012