Greenhead Volunteering Scheme
Are you someone who gains satisfaction from helping others? If so, you should sign up for our Greenhead Volunteering Scheme (GVS).
It’s an excellent opportunity to make a difference in the community, whilst gaining vital experience and increasing your employability skills for the future. It also fulfils the requirements of the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award. The scheme runs throughout the year, generally on a Wednesday afternoon, but you can fit it around your studies on any other day, evenings or weekends.
Why should you take part in this scheme?
When recruiting, a number of career areas look specifically for the type of people who are selflessly and generously willing to help others. Medicine, physiotherapy, nursing and primary teaching particularly require evidence of the exact amount of voluntary service hours you have completed.
You may wish to participate in GVS in order to fulfil your enrichment requirement and enhance your CV, whilst making a contribution to the community. You are encouraged to find your own voluntary work as soon as possible, preferably before the start of term in September as the College has limited organised opportunities.
Where can you volunteer?
Help is always needed in primary, secondary and special needs schools. Volunteers are welcome at local hospitals, hospices and residential homes and centres for the elderly, however these can take a while to organise, so you are advised to get in touch as soon as possible.
Charity shops are always on the look out for help. Brownies, Cubs, youth clubs and sports coaching for local clubs also count.
What we can offer…
There are a number of opportunities that College organise:
- Helping pupils with special needs at Castle Hill School.
- Carrying out activities with physically disabled adults at Cheshire Homes.
- Helping out at the local resident’s Tea Club.
- Swimming with children with autism and physical disabilities on Saturday afternoons.
- Taking part in the Prevention of Delirium Programme at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, interacting with patients and their relatives.
- Help pack crates for the Christian African Relief Trust (CART).
How to get involved?
If you think it’s for you and you are interested in any of the areas listed above, make a start now! Contact the organisations directly and they will probably want to see you for a chat. Think beforehand about what you want to know from them, what they are likely to ask you, skills and experience you can offer and how much time you can commit.
For ideas, check out the websites Volunteering Kirklees, Do It, V.INSPIRED and the National Citizen Service.
Whatever you choose to get involved with, with receipt of satisfactory feedback from your placement, you will be issued with a College certificate for demonstrating regular commitment to your volunteering over the year.
If you are already volunteering, please let us know so you can gain the benefits of being part of GVS.
If you know of any areas within the community that would benefit from some help from our students, please contact: cbarnes@greenhead.ac.uk