Volunteering is a great way to support and find out about local communities and contribute to a local cause.
You can take up to two days per year – subject to management approval.
Volunteering can put you in touch with new people, allow you to discover new interests, learn new skills and have fun. Activities as a team can be a good bonding activity, allowing you a different space to get to know your colleagues better.
Not all services can release team members all at one time. If this is the case in your service, you may be able to volunteer on an individual basis. Before you do this, you will need to get the approval of your manager both in relation to the type of volunteering activity and the date.
Further details
- volunteering is a great team exercise but individuals can organise their own if it is not possible to undertake a team activity
- you can volunteer for a registered charity, voluntary organisation or one-off project that will benefit the community
- placements should be in Mole Valley or undertaking an activity that benefits Mole Valley residents and communities
To check agreement and organise your day
Fill in the form below and use this to discuss and agree your plans with your manager (if he/she is not organising the event).
Log your volunteering hours on i-Trent by selecting Absence > Other > Add other > Volunteering.
If you are a manager, try to pick a date that works for the majority of your team where possible, remembering part-time workers.
Check if these part-time staff in particular are able and willing to work beyond their normal hours for that day if relevant. Remember that some staff may need to go early particularly if their working arrangements are such that they cannot normally work beyond a certain time. (It is not advised that part-time workers use additional working hours beyond the chosen volunteering day as the purpose of the scheme is to use the available hours on the chosen day only.
Precise logistics of this in terms of differing working patterns will need to be arranged by the relevant Business Manager bearing in mind service requirements etc).
After your day
After your volunteering experience, make sure you share your experience with others. You can inspire others by circulating photos and a short message about the day on Molly.
If you have any ideas of placements that other people could use for their volunteering day, let the HR team know so that these can be added to the list of potential opportunities to promote to others.
Opportunities
Below is a list of organisations in Mole Valley that have previously offered volunteering opportunities
(NB we are hoping to update this information with further details from participants).
- Age Concern Mole Valley is an independent local charity that aims to improve the lives of older people by providing computer training, visiting and befriending, Tai Chi, social events and legal and later life financial planning clinic services
- Army Cadet – Adult Volunteer Surrey ACF Battalion (PWRR) is home to 500 cadets and 130 adult volunteers spread across 23 detachments. Adult volunteers provide support to cadets, offering new skills training, an opportunity to meet new people and give back to the local community.
- Fairfield Centre is a meeting place for older people to socialise and take part in activities for pleasure, leisure, to keep fit and to learn
- Friends of Deepdene is a wildlife conservation group that are dedicated to restoring the historic Hope family legacy on the old Deepdene Estate in and around Dorking
- The Grange helps people with disabilities to achieve their potential and live independently
- Leatherhead Youth Project aims to respond to local needs, help young people to be safe, happy and make positive changes in their lives
- Lower Mole Project is a partnership with boroughs, districts and other organisations that relies on volunteers to carries out a wide range of tasks to implement improvements to the local countryside
- The National Trust is a charity that works to preserve and protect places and spaces for ever and for everyone
- The Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation works with physical and learning disabilities or acquired brain injuries to teach them new skills and increase their independence
- Royal Surrey County Hospital Charity raises money to support the patients at Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford, so they receive exceptional care in a welcoming, comfortable and safe environment
- Surrey Young Carers is part of Action for Carers Surrey and has been supporting young carers under 18 across Surrey
- Surrey Fire and Rescue Service provides a response service to a population of roughly 1,040,000. They also have an established volunteering scheme which enables local communities and residents to play a part in educating other residents about fire and safety risks