Projects
Each of our projects are unique and offer volunteers new experiences in the voluntary sector. They also give community partners the chance to get to know particular volunteers much better and really utilise the skills that they can bring to the role.
If you are a community organisation and have a short term project that you would like one or more volunteers for, please do get in contact. This can be anything from a computer based project, something outdoors or helping in a primary school.
Current Projects to get involved in
Crook Primary School Literacy Project
Crook Primary School is launching a literacy mentoring programme in June 2013. Over a period of 4-weeks, their Y6 children (10-11 year olds) will be working with their Key Stage One classes (4-6 year olds) to bring simple reading books alive. The Y6 students will work with the younger pupils to help them turn a story book into a short piece of drama. The school is looking for a team of University staff members (around 4-8 staff members) to help support and mentor the Y6 students.
Staff members will be invited to visit the school at lunchtime on Wednesday 1st May to meet the teachers involved. The drama workshops will take place on Monday morning’s from 9:15-10:15am at Crook Primary School on 10thJune, 17th June, 24th June and 1st July. If you are interested in getting involved, please get in touch. It is possible to take part in the project, even if you are unable to participate on all of the dates given.
University-community Allotment
Collingwood College has a small allotment and we’re hoping to turn this into a University-Community allotment with involvement from University staff members, Collingwood students and local community groups. Depending upon the availability of interested volunteers, allotment sessions may take place over lunchtimes, early evenings or during the day, particularly when working with external community groups. If you would be interested in having any involvement in the allotment at all, either as a regular volunteer or on a one-off basis, please get in touch. It would be possible for teams of staff from within the University to take part in a one-off challenges at the allotment, if this was of interest. If you’d like more information or would be interested in getting involved please contact Vicky Ridley.
Waddington St
Waddington Street are a mental health charity based in the centre of Durham. They run a weekly programme of events for their service users, including talks on a multitude of topics from psychology, health and wellbeing, creative writing to IT. They are looking for members of the university who are willing to come to the centre to deliver talks on a topic of there choice, this could be a one-off or over a few weeks.
The aims of the centre are to raise awareness of the world and issues surrounding everyday life, as well as increase the interaction of the service users with the community around them. If this is something you would be interested in taking part in get in touch for more information.