Our Community Partners

Please note that volunteer opportunities advertised on this page are not organised by York Cares, they are hosted by Community Partners across the city. Unless otherwise stated, please contact the Community Partner directly for more information about the opportunity. For more information about York Cares’ current employee-volunteering opportunities, please contact us.

If you would like volunteer support for any of your activities, please complete this short form and we will then be able to advertise your request for support below. If you are unable to access the form, please contact us.

Current Community Partner volunteering opportunities:

CoderDojo Volunteers, City of York Council

York CoderDojo is a friendly place to meet and develop coding and tech skills or learn something new. They run informal sessions where young people from 7-17 and families can come along and work on projects, develop new skills, participate in challenges, whatever they want. York CoderDojo are there to provide guidance, encouragement & support in a relaxed environment. Participants can work on an existing project, learn something new, show others their cool coding projects or just see what’s going on.

CoderDojo is volunteer run and based in a community setting, the primary focus giving young people a space, where they can have fun with tech on their terms and take part in tech that is interesting and fun for them. CoderDojo is free for people to attend, which is where the digital inclusion comes into it. Individuals can bring in their own laptops, but we want to make this as inclusive as possible and have access for everyone, so we would have equipment for young people to use in the session (whether this is using a laptop provided in the session or working in an IT suite).

No prior knowledge of coding is needed as we would provide full training, just a passion for learning new things and working alongside families.

Sessions would run monthly, ideally on a Saturday or Sunday. Sessions normally last an hour and a half.

For more information and to get involved, contact Grace via email at Digital.Inclusion@york.gov.uk.

Volunteer Strategy Development Role, Age UK

We are Age UK York, an independent local charity here in York. We have begun our journey to create our new strategy. For over 50 years we have existed locally here in York to support older people andthey are ever at the heart of our approach in ensuring we continue to best meet needs of people and communities across York now and into the future.

We are looking for someone to help us shape this future and who can join our team to orchestrate the journey in creating our new strategy. It comes at a vital time as the challenges and needs of older people continue to grow and our role – including as part of a collective approach – is as important as ever.

What will you be doing?
We are looking to work with someone that has experience in developing strategy for charities. The need for our contribution is significant and only increasing, and so must be matched by our ambition and drive to support it. The creation of our new strategy will strengthen us as Age UK York to realise our mission to improve the quality of later life and provide effective, timely support for those who need it most. We already deliver a range of services across York and do so alongside a wonderful array of partner
organisations in together making this possible. The role will ensure our strategy reflects our place as part of this collective effort whilst engaging across our staff, volunteers and the very people we exist to help.

Your role will be to help us develop, launch and embed a strategy to achieve these goals and to maximise the impact of what we do and position us to best meet the needs of older people.

Full role description and information on how to apply, please contact Simon Holmes via email simon.holmes@ageukyork.org.uk or by phone on 07766821859.

Community Health Champions

Community Health Champions are people who, with training and support, voluntarily offer their skills and passion and make use of their community links to transform Health and Wellbeing in their neighbourhood.

Within their families, communities and workplaces they:

• empower and motivate people to get involved in healthy social activities
• create new activities to meet local needs
• signpost people to relevant community activities, and support

See further details in the Community Health Champions information booklet.

Benefits to the volunteer

• giving something back to the community
• formal training and ongoing mentoring and support
• learning new skills and knowledge related to Health Improvement
• developing listening and communicating skills

Contact details for application or information

• Craig Waugh
• Telephone: 01904 552774
• Email: healthchampions@york.gov.uk

Dementia Forward – Wellbeing Cafe and Brain Health Cafe

This opportunity links well to our Social Connections programme. If you’re interested in volunteering with Dementia Forward, why not also get in touch and find out how to get involved with Right to Read.

Dementia Forward have wellbeing cafes in each of the districts of North Yorkshire. Our Wellbeing cafés are open to people with a diagnosis of dementia, mild cognitive impairment and memory issues. They are a friendly, engaging space for people with dementia and their carers to enjoy a wide range of activities in a friendly and relaxed environment. The cafés are facilitated by Dementia Support Advisors with the support of volunteers. We serve refreshments throughout the afternoon, and support is available to join in with the activities.

There is a wellbeing cafe on a Wednesday 1.30pm to 3.30pm and a Brain Health cafe on a Friday, 10am to 12pm.

Full training and ongoing support is provided by Dementia Forward. If you are interested please contact Debby.Lennox@dementiaforward.org.uk

City of York Council – Parent Champions

This opportunity links well to our Right to Read programme. If you’re interested in becoming a Parent Champion, why not also get in touch and find out how to get involved with Right to Read.

If you live in York, use local child services, enjoy talking to other parents and are available to volunteer 2-3 hours per week – you could be a Parent Champion!

Parent Champions are parent volunteers who give a 2 – 4 hours a week to talk to other parents about the local services available to them. Being parents, they can chat informally and share their own positive experiences of using local services. They meet parents in all sorts of places such as Family Hubs, Playgrounds, Libraries and Playgroups, wherever they feel their strengths are and what they would like to do.

The role is flexible and can fit round school times and holidays. The benefits to you by volunteering in this role are:-
A chance to use and develop your own skills and experience.
Access to initial and ongoing training.
An opportunity to meet new people.
Learn new skills.
Improved confidence and self esteem
Time to have fun and enjoy yourself!

Full training is provided and ongoing support from Family Navigators at City of York Council if you are interested please contact alison.cammiss@york.gov.uk, 07901813436.

Move Mates – Become a Walking Buddy

This opportunity fits well with our Social Connections programme so if you’re interested in becoming a Move Mate, why not contact us to find out about our upcoming Social Clubs.

The Move Mates project is a one-to-one walking buddy scheme which makes getting out for a walk a reality for people who might otherwise find barriers in their way. Move Mates is run by Move the Masses, a local charity aiming to improve wellbeing through physical activity. Our volunteers give people confidence to get out and go for a walk, improving their physical health, reducing isolation and ultimately making people feel happier.
Our volunteers always tell us how great volunteering makes them feel and what a positive
impact it has on their own lives. That’s before you even consider how wonderful it is to support others!

We currently have people waiting to get out walking all over York. In order to help them do this we need Move Mate volunteers. Could you give an hour or two each week to walk and talk with someone who would otherwise struggle to leave their home? Being a walking buddy is so rewarding and such a simple way to volunteer.

If you would like more information or to apply to volunteer as a Move Mate then please visit our website – www.movemates.org.uk or call us on 01904 373017

Big Futures Foundation – Treasurer Trustee

For more details email michelle.foulks@bigfuturesfoundation.org.uk