— Comments Off on Volunteers Needed: Reading Helpers – Coram Beanstalk

Volunteers Needed: Reading Helpers – Coram Beanstalk

Could you spare a few hours each week at a local primary school to share your love of reading with children in Milton Keynes?

Coram Beanstalk is a national reading charity that transforms children’s life chances by recruiting, training and supporting volunteers to work directly with children aged 5-11 who need support in their reading ability and confidence.

The charity currently needs new volunteers who can help engage children in books and stories, bringing the fun and magic back into reading with children whose reading confidence and enjoyment may have been lost or may need a boost.

As a reading helper you will support three primary school children twice a week for 30 minutes sessions for at least one academic year. The children you will be working with will need help for a variety of reasons but your focus will be on making reading fun and helping them feel more positive around books.

Very importantly, sessions are meant to be fun and enjoyable. By having this one-on-one time with each child the reading helper can help to develop the child’s reading skills and wider language acquisition in a fun and engaging way.

All volunteers receive professional training by Coram Beanstalk and ongoing support to ensure that they are best able to have the biggest impact possible through their sessions.

If you would like to become a reading helper in Milton Keynes, please visit the website at www.corambeanstalk.org.uk or call Coram Beanstalk on 020 7729 4087.

Blog Post
— 1 Comment

Volunteering Opportunity: Volunteers required for Quality Christmas Gift Wrapping in December 2019

It’s too early for Christmas, surely? Not for Nkiru Arts – they are thinking ahead and already looking to recruit volunteers for Christmas!

Nkiru Arts are currently recruiting unpaid volunteers for December up to Christmas Eve to be trained for quality Christmas Gift Wrapping to work a few occasional 3 / 4 hour shifts on the Charity Gift Wrapping Stall in INTU as part of the Christ The Cornerstone Christmas Appeal Christmas Gift Wrapping Stall.

The hours spent wrapping would be credited to Nkiru Arts Inclusive Organisation (not for profit)

You would report to and be under the guidance and Insurance of of Nkiru Arts.

Who are Nkiru Arts?

 Nkiru –  Means ‘the best is yet to come’.

Nkiru Arts is an Inclusive arts for health organisation based in Milton Keynes. They are a  small ‘Not for profit’ organisation and run entirely by volunteers – everyone gives their time freely and no wages are paid.

Focusing on all aspects of ‘The Arts’, embracing all forms of ‘The Arts’ to compliment people’s lives keeping people fit, active and portray disabilities in a positive light.

Nkiru runs community African & Dhol Drumming Groups for fun and do public performances. Sessions are totally inclusive and encourage a mix of abled and disabled. Arts workshops and all textile workshops are totally inclusive too. They aim to include all, regardless of any disability.

Nkiru Arts’ activities also provide supportive opportunities, training and work experience for volunteers.

The ideal candidate must:

  • be over 18 years of age
  • have a good rapport with customers
  • be able to take and organise orders
  • be nimble fingered
  • enjoy wrapping gifts
  • be able to work sitting or standing for 3 / 4 hour shift
  • be able to cope in busy periods.

Sales experience in shop environment ideal, but not essential as full training given, working as a team member and able to follow instructions essential.

All training provided and must reach level required, must attend a 2 hour training session.

Choice of morning , afternoon, evening or weekend shift to suit.

Please contact Annie Beddoe:  nkiruarts@btinternet.com

Blog Post
— 1 Comment

Netherfield: An Update.

There’s been a lot happening in Milton Keynes this summer, but we at Community Action: MK have been working with the local residents on Netherfield Local Conversation, to engage and entice the local community to get involved with what’s happening in Netherfield.

Let’s catch up on what’s been going on!

The Community Garden

The Community Garden in Netherfield is blooming, with more volunteers from all different walks of life and all ages, working together and involving themselves to make the garden a clean, calm and colourful place to be.

This picture demonstrates the wonderful level of community engagement. These planters have been adorned with plaques made and vibrantly decorated by the local children, making the planters more attractive to look at and it will give the children pride to see their work displayed so publicly in the garden.

The garden has now also acquired a sign for recognition of where the garden is and now the locals of Netherfield know where to go if they want to do a spot of gardening or enjoy the beautiful flowers and plants planted and maintained by their own local residents.

From old to young, so many residents have dedicated their time and effort to the garden and have enjoyed doing so. If you want to get involved in helping out the local community in Netherfield, whether you are a resident, group of employees or gardening enthusiast or just keen on helping a community in any capacity, then email support@communityactionmk.org or call 01908 661623.

Love Rocks

MK Play Association liaised and worked with the NLC Steering Group to put together a crafts event for children to celebrate all things rock!

The event took place in the ever growing and beautifully maintained Community Garden in the summer holidays in Netherfield.

The children enjoyed a sunny afternoon of painting and getting creative with rocks of all different shapes and sizes; painting the rocks, making a variety of creatures and animals and getting messy creating their own pictures to take home.

If you would like to get involved in volunteering down at Netherfield to support them and engage with the key issues prioritised by the local residents, then as mentioned above, contact us here at support@communityactionmk.org or call 01908 661623.

Blog Post
— 1 Comment

Volunteering opportunity of the week: Supporting Xtra Special Families

Supporting Xtra Special Families is a small charity run solely by volunteers.
The group put on activities through the school holidays to help families take their children to a safe, fun and non judgemental environment. School holidays can be a difficult time for the children, as they are out of their usual routine, so Xtra Special Families does an amazing job of running these sessions to give them invaluable experiences and it allows them to share these experiences with their families – something they may not be able to do anywhere else!
This is an invaluable group that are reliant on volunteers, but would love more people to get involved enable their growing number of families to experience the best sessions they can offer!

Who are Supporting Xtra Special Families?

An xtra-ordinary group who offer support to families living with disability or additional needs in Milton Keynes and surrounding areas.

Xtra Special Families was formed in May 2014 to provide fun activities designed to develop and improve life skills for disabled children, whilst providing support for their carers and families in Milton Keynes. 
In 2016 & 2017 we ran 7 half day sessions at Broughton and Brooklands Pavilions aimed at the whole family, enabling children with special needs and their siblings to share positive experiences together. 
Activities such as Reptile Roadshow, Music and Art Workshops, and Circus Skills were bought in, together with resources of the Play Association. In addition volunteers provided craft and play activities. 
Whilst parents ourselves of children and young adults with disabilities, one of our volunteers was a special needs teacher for 30 years, thus with this wealth of knowledge and awareness we are able to deliver the best experience possible for the children and their parents during their visits.

Xtra Special Families are looking to recruit a wealth of volunteers to help them deliver more sessions to their children and families. Can you spare a few hours of your time? The more the merrier!

Volunteers are extremely well-valued here – they wouldn’t run without them! If you can spare a few hours of your time to help out during some sessions during the school holidays, then you would be letting yourself in for some of the most rewarding experiences you’ll ever have with these wonderful children and their families!

For more information and to enquire about volunteering, please email sxsfenquiries@gmail.com

Blog Post
— 1 Comment

Volunteering: Sid’s Story

Volunteer Case Study: Sid Burgess

Sid Burgess is avidly involved in Big Local Conniburrow, volunteering most of his time to organising events for the residents of Conniburrow to bring the people together and promote the feel of community. We wanted to help him share his story with you …

Sid Burgess is now the Chair of the Social and Involvement Task Group for the BLC through his time volunteering with them.

My wife Doreen and I moved to Conniburrow about 8 years ago. Sadly I lost Doreen nearly 3 years ago after 46 years of marriage.
I’d heard about Big Local Conniburrow from a friend of mine. He told me they do a coffee morning on a Friday. I’m always looking to meet new people and make new friends so come Friday I was off to the coffee morning. I got to know the staff and as time went by they got to know me. 
I told the team that I had arranged events in the past, birthday parties, Christmas parties and much more.
To cut a long story short, I am now the Chair of the Involvement and Social task group. The team arrange events for residents of Conniburrow. I am happy doing things like this as I like to see people enjoying themselves.
The first event I organised was a treasure hunt around Conniburrow for children and parents. It was a good turn out with nearly 60 people attending. Not bad for my first time as an organiser!
I intend to do my best as Chair now and in the future. It may be early but I am making notes for next years events already. I always like to think ahead in what I like to do! 
Sid Burgess

With Sid’s involvement there are plenty more events lined up for the residents of Conniburrow. He was also involved in the Building Connections project, a project funded by the Co-Op to help loneliness and isolation in children and young people through the utilisation of community spaces.

Sid recently attended our CA:MK Volunteer’s Lunch, to say a big ‘THANK YOU’ to all our wonderful volunteers and to let them know how much we appreciate all their efforts in helping communities come together and grow!

For more information about opportunities to volunteer in your area, visit our volunteering platform, SimplyConnect or contact us at info@communityactionmk.org.

Blog Post