Volunteer opportunities
Volunteers are always needed for a wide range of activities. The volunteer opportunities on this page have been suggested by Derby u3a members or have been sent to the Committee.
Independent Monitors in Prisons and Immigration Detention
Do you want to obtain skills in a new and interesting way?
Are you searching for ways to meet new people and fill your time? Maybe you’re looking for ways to increase your confidence or develop your skillset and gain experience?
If so, then you could join our team of ordinary people doing an extraordinary role: independent monitors in prisons and immigration detention. All our members are unpaid public appointees, appointed by Ministers.
We are currently recruiting at HMP Sudbury and HMP Dovegate
So why join? As one member says: “It could be the most rewarding thing you have ever done.”
Volunteers are required to commit to an average of 3-4 visits a month, checking on conditions, talking to those who are detained and monitoring how they are treated.
We are looking for people who have the following qualities
• integrity and honesty
• ability to analyse situations and make decisions
• commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion
Training and support will be provided during the 12-month induction period.
Although this is an unpaid role, we pay travel and subsistence expenses, childcare/carer costs.
If you are interested, then book onto our next virtual open evening to find out more. Alternatively, please visit www.imb.org.uk to apply.
Sight Support Befriending
Sight Support Derbyshire works with people who are blind or partially sighted in Derbyshire and has been doing so for over 100 years. The Befriending Service is offered to visually impaired people over 50. Many of these people live alone, are unable to leave the house easily and are often experiencing
difficulties with daily living because of their sight loss. The objective of the Befriending Service is to reduce feelings of loneliness and social isolation and improve a person’s overall wellbeing.
A volunteer ‘Befriender’ will visit or phone the ‘Befriendee’ on a regular basis at a mutually convenient time. Having a ‘regular someone’ to talk to can really help people to feel connected, increase their confidence and know that there are people who care. Home visits can include a cup of tea and chat and to help with small tasks. You may play board/card games, talk about hobbies/interests or just sit and share news. It is usually weekly but is a flexible arrangement. See the Sight Support Befriending leaflet for contact details
GoodGym Derby
Join us at GoodGym Derby to get fit by doing good! We’re a team of volunteers that run, walk or cycle to support local groups and organisations in and around Derby. This could be anything from clearing an allotment plot, painting a fence or helping to sort food donations.
VOLUNTEER ACTION PASS
This is a free training resource for volunteers, run by Community Action Derby. Training is provided on a modular basis and takes place within a training group each Tuesday over 6 weeks. Each module takes about 2.5 hours to complete.
Six core modules have been developed so far, these are:
• Volunteer Know How
• Customer Service, Communication and Conflict Resolution
• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, GDPR
• Disability Awareness
• Safeguarding
• First Aid
A further nine modules are being developed to include Culture and Heritage; Sport; Carers and Family Support. A certificate is awarded for each module. For more details visit:
https://www.communityactionderby.org.uk/volunteering/volunteers/vap or call 01332 342272 or visit Community Action, 1 Morledge, Derby DE1 2AW
Shared Lives 
Shared Lives Carers share their home and community life with individuals over 18 years old. It could be for a day, stays over a weekend or even a long term live-in arrangement. We provide free training and an allowance to cover your time. If you would like to know more, please contact Shared Lives Team on
01332 640777 or email Sharedlives@derby.gov.uk
SCHOOL READERS
Schoolreaders is a children's literary charity. which recruits local people to go into primary schools and listen to children read one-to-one on a weekly basis. This is a free service offered to primary schools and is partnered with several primary schools in Derby. Schoolreaders now needs volunteers to sign up as Schoolreaders. Prior to the pandemic, 1 in 3 children were leaving primary school not able to read to the required standard. This is predicted to be 1 in 4 since the schools closed and children’s education has been so disrupted. Many children are not read with at home, and the weekly intervention from a volunteer makes a huge difference.