The joy of volunteering: fun, flexible and fulfilling

People offer their time to volunteer with charities for lots of different reasons – it could be a cause close to your heart, or you want to give something back to your community. We have some fantastic charities in the Chamber all doing brilliant things across our city. I recently started volunteering with one of those charities - Together Co - who work to tackle loneliness and isolation.

Before I became a volunteer though, I spent a lot of time figuring out what I wanted to do. For me, I wanted to connect with other people, feel like I was having an impact, and have fun doing it. It also had to be something that fit around my full-time job. And I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of flexible volunteering opportunities that are out there.

So, if you’re considering volunteering, here are a few of those charities in the Chamber that have some different volunteering opportunities to get involved with. They might be an hour or two a week, evening, weekend, or one-off things you can do – my volunteering fits into my lunch break. 

Take Shelter at Downs Junior School – one for the local history buffs

If you’re interested in local history, this might be the one for you. Take Shelter is a volunteer led charity offering guided tours of the original World War 2 Air Raid Shelters at Downs Junior School (if you haven’t been, it’s worth a visit – we’ve done some Behind the Scenes events there and it’s fascinating!) The project is all about exploring what life was like for families in Brighton during WW2.

Volunteer as a tour guide, leading groups of up to 10 visitors around the shelter on a 45-minute tour. You don’t need to have specific historical knowledge as you’ll get full training, but it’s suited to people interested in local history, and comfortable leading a tour group. Their tour guides conduct around 400 tours each year, currently split between 25 guides. Some attend every week, some come once a year, so it can be really flexible around you. If you’re more interested in a one-off type thing, Take Shelter also hold public open days. Volunteers help set up marquees, tables, run stalls and refreshments.

Find out more about the project and volunteering by, contacting Al Mackintosh: 07974 648 238 / al@treetop.tv.

Creating change with the Survivors Network

For over 30 years, Survivors Network has been supporting survivors of sexual violence. As the Rape Crisis Centre for Sussex, their vital services rely on the time and energy very generously donated by their volunteers.

Have a positive impact on the lives of survivors by volunteering for their group work and helpline/email support services. You need to commit to a bit of training, but you’ll be well supported by their friendly team, and their volunteering opportunities are flexible with day-time or evening commitments once you’re trained up. You can find out more about their group work and helpline volunteering here. 

Befriending with Together Co

Together Co is Brighton & Hove’s loneliness charity, creating connections through befriending, social prescribing and volunteering opportunities. I started their befriending scheme a couple of months ago (you can do this in-person, or over the phone). They match people to create friendships that help volunteers connect with those who are experiencing loneliness, isolation, and might have a physical or sensory disability. You could do this as a home visit, in social group, at events or sessions that last from 30 minutes to an hour.

For me, it’s one hour, every other week - and how they do the matchmaking is incredible. They match you up with someone who has shared interests, and that hour goes very quickly! They have lots of other opportunities to volunteer too, at their monthly socials or one-offs like helping at events. Find out more about all their volunteering opportunities here. 

Community gardening for Brighton & Hove Food Partnership

Something for those with green fingers…the Brighton & Hove Food Partnership was started by a group of Brightonians in 2003. They deliver food projects helping people learn to cook, grow their own food, eat healthier, and waste less.

At the moment they’re looking for volunteers to help with their community gardens at Saunders Park Edible Garden, the Preston Park Demo Garden and Stanmer Wellbeing Gardens. All sessions take place fortnightly on a Wednesday for an hour or two in the morning. There’s a range of gardening tasks on offer to suit all abilities as well as the chance to meet some nice people and learn about growing fruit and veg. More on their website. 

Whoopsadaisy: helping children with physical disabilities to live full and independent lives

Whoopsadaisy have been providing conductive education to children with physical disabilities for over a decade. Based in Preston Park (you might have spotted them just up from the Rose Garden), they support children with disabilities and their families to live full and independent lives.

Whether you’d like to offer your time on a regular basis for about two hours a week, assisting a conductor with session with the children, or want to help at one-off things like coffee mornings, their summer party, or their annual Christmas party – there’s a good range of volunteering to choose from. Find out more on their website or get in touch with their volunteering team: volunteering@whoopsadaisy.org.

Day centre volunteering at The Clock Tower Sanctuary

If you do have a little more time to volunteer - maybe you work part-time, do a four day week, or have a volunteering/development day as part of your working hours - The Clock Tower sanctuary is looking for volunteers to support in their day centre. 

The Clock Tower Sanctuary work to provide safe space and practical support for your people experiencing homelessness in Brighton. Volunteers at their day centre work directly with the young people who use their services. You'll spend time getting to know them, offering support, putting away food donations and making up care packages. Find out more on their website here. 

Find more volunteering opportunities in Brighton through Community Base

The Volunteer Centre at Community Works can help you find lots more volunteering opportunities in our city. Whether you’re interested in mentoring a young person, supporting a fundraising event, or even becoming a trustee. Search online here, or get in touch with one of their volunteer advisors for a chat: volunteercentre@communityworks.org.uk / 01273 234826.

Discover the joy of volunteering

Hopefully this has sparked some inspiration if you’re on the fence about volunteering, or weren’t sure where to start.

My best advice? Just go for it. It’ll be one of the most rewarding things you decide to do. 

Hannah Jackson is Membership & Marketing Manager at Brighton Chamber. 

You can see all the charities that are members of Brighton Chamber here. And if you're interested in being part of our vibrant business community, find out more about being a member of Brighton Chamber here. 

If you want to contribute to the Chamber blog, contact us on hannah@brightonchamber.co.uk