Regardless of the circumstances, there is always a way to help others. Especially now where COVID-19 is having a serious effect on our communities, your willingness to make a difference to the lives of others is invaluable. As you may be unable to carry on with your regular volunteering activities, we want to make sure that you still have a way of spending your time in a productive and meaningful way.
Focusing on meaningful tasks that benefit others can help decrease anxiety and help you to feel more connected with others. It is never a bad time for volunteering, sometimes we just need to be a bit more creative about it.
Share your volunteering experiences with ARU Students' Union
Category: Blog/article writing
Have you volunteered this year and want to share your experiences with others? Inspire others to help their community now and in the future by writing a volunteering blog, a news article about how volunteering has benefitted you or even create a short video!
Simply send in your submissions to volunteering@angliastudent.com and we will share it online and through our social media channels!
Rural Community Council of Essex - Send a Smile Project
Category: Various
The idea of the Send a Smile project is to 'Send a Smile across the miles.' All you need to do is to email in a drawing, short story, letter, postcard or poem that can then be forwarded onto someone in Chelmsford who is socially isolated or lonely. For more details and for where to send your 'smiles' click on the link bellow.
Make someones day by sending them a smile today!
Now-U
Category: Various, petitions
The Now-U app aims to inform, involve and inspire you to support causes that you care about. They partner with charities to show you simple, meaningful and effective actions that you can take to help tackle pressing social and environmental issues.
Their July campaigns focus on four issues exacerbated by the pandemic:
• Domestic abuse in the UK
• Refugee welfare & resettlement in Europe
• Global access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and
• Green recovery after the lockdown
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nowu.app&hl=en
iOS: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/now-u/id1516126639
It is super easy to use, really well-designed and very interesting to explore 
Alzheimer's Society Gamechangers Project
Category: Health, Research
Join thousands of others and help the Alzheimers Society drive dementia research forward simply using your smartphone. Simply play brain games for 5 minutes every day for 1 month to help the Alzheimers Society understand more about how the brain works to support research that could prevent, slow down, or even stop the progression of dementia in the future.
Become a Gamechanger today!
Other ways to support Alzheimer's Research UK
Category: Health, Research
Try the new app to track COVID-19 symptoms: Volunteer to track your health or those of a loved one with dementia.
How mighty will your quiz be? Volunteer to be your own Quizmaster by hosting The Mighty Quiz with friends and family!
Join in with dementia research…from home: The PROTECT study asks volunteers to take part in annual online assessments to investigate how our risk of dementia changes as we age.
Bliss - Knit for Premature Babies
Category: Children, Crafts
BLISS have a selection of free downloadable patterns to have a go at knitting then send direct to the local Neonatal Unit. Crochet octopus toys are a fun project that can also comfort babies born prematurely. Before you start knitting, please contact your local neonatal unit to find out what items they require. We ask you to send your completed knitting to them directly, as they are best placed to put it to good use
Download the patterns today and get knitting!
Change.org
Category: Petitions
Change.org is an online platform for change where you can sign or create your own petitions.
Create or join a movement today to start implementing change in the world.
Free Rice
Category: World Hunger
Free Rice is an online microvolunteering quiz which is owned by and supports the United Nations World Food Programme. Simply pick a catagory of questions, answer as many questions as you can, and for every correct answer you collect, you will donate 10 grains of rice for the World Food Programme.
Start playing now
Help From Home
Category: Various
Change the world in just your pyjama's! Volunteer in bite sized chunks, from your own home, whenever you want to.
Join thousands of other volunteers by making micro effort and having macro impact
Missing Maps – Putting the worlds vulnerable people on the map
Category: Disaster Response
Each year, disasters around the world kill nearly 100,000 and affect or displace 200 million people. Many of the places where these disasters occur are literally 'missing' from any map and first responders lack the information to make valuable decisions regarding relief efforts. Missing Maps is an open, collaborative project in which you can help to map areas where humanitarian organisations are trying to meet the needs of vulnerable people.
Start helping to fill in missing maps today
Phrase Detectives
Category: Languages
Lovers of language and literature, this is the place where you can work together to improve future generations of language technology.
Grab your detective hat and spy glass now!
Post Pals
Category: Children, Crafts
Post Pals is a small charity run solely by volunteers who are dedicated to making seriously ill children aged 3 to 17, and their siblings smile by the sending of cards, letters, little gifts, support and friendship.
Get your creativity going and create a smile today
Zooniverse – People powered Research
Category: Research
The Zooniverse enables everyone to take part in real cutting edge research in many fields across the sciences, humanities, and more. The Zooniverse creates opportunities for you to unlock answers and contribute to real discoveries.
Join a people powered research project today
ZSL Instant Wild Project
Category: Conservation
ZSL’s Instant Wild empowers you to take part in vital conservation work by bringing you LIVE images and videos from amazing locations all around the world for you to identify. You don't need any special expertise to take part, help is provided in our handy field guides - simply sign up and start tagging the animals in the images. Your involvement will not only contribute to conservation but you'll also get a window into some of the world's wildest places!
Start contributing to conservation here!
Making Space – Online Volunteer Fundraiser
Category: Fundraising, Mental Health
Making Space is a national health and social care charity which makes a positive difference to the lives of people with mental health conditions, people living with dementia and carers. They are looking to recruit a volunteer to support their fundraising online. This involves researching local businesses and grants as well as getting involved in online fundraising events such as quizzes, raffles. This is a great opportunity for students to develop their research skills and building links with the local community.
If you are interested in applying, please contact Bob Towers: Bob.Towers@makingspace.co.uk or 01925 581 773
IntoUniversity – Online Mentor
Category: Wellbeing, Support
The IntoUniversity Mentoring Scheme matches a young person (ages 10-17 years) with a current university student from Anglia Ruskin to raise their aspirations and attainment in order to inspire and enable them to suceed in the future.
Help to change a young person's life today!
Essex Wellbeing Service – Various roles in response to Covid-19
Category: Wellbeing, Support
The welfare service was originally mobilised in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and quickly connected vulnerable people in Essex who are without the support of family, friends or neighbours with volunteers who were able to help with everyday tasks including dog walking, food shopping, medicine collecting, phone friend and many more.
Make a difference to a vulnerable person today
Cambridge Nightline – Volunteer Listener
Category: Wellbeing, Support
Nightline is a confidential night-time listening service run by students of Anglia Ruskin University and the University of Cambridge. We aim to offer anonymous and non-advisory support to students in the city over phone, email, and instant messaging. Volunteering with us is a great opportunity to support fellow students in and around Cambridge, as well as to gain skills in active listening and meet other, like-minded volunteers.
We recruit new volunteers twice per academic year, once in October and once in February, through an online form and an interview. You can express interest to take part in our next round of applications on our website
Please go to https://forms.gle/TEeVhHdtkr6d4e8p7 to complte the online application form.
Also find Cambridge Nightline on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/cambridge.nightline to find out more.
Find your Wild – Social Media Manager
Category: Nature, Wellbeing
Find Your Wild is a social enterprise connecting people to nature, inspiring and nurturing creativity for better health, wellbeing and life opportunities. They are currently looking for Social Media Manager Volunteers who would manage and update their social media accounts and website. It is a great opportunity to gain experience in digital marketing. This role can be done remotely from your home!
If you are interested in applying, please e-mail: lrae@findyourwild.org
Tithe Barn Trust - Marketing Volunteer
Category: Marketing, Building Conservation
As a Marketing Volunteer with the Tithe Barn Trust, you'll help a small charity spread the word and engage others. You'll help us to create and implement a marketing plan. Join us and you'll be part of an incredibly supportive volunteer led team and develop your marketing skills. You can gain experience in maintaining website and social media accounts, creating e-newsletters, press releases and printed materials. This role is available remotely.
If you are interested, please e-mail: tithebarntrust@gmail.com
Arthur Rank Hospice - Transcribing patients' conversations
Category: Health, Transcribing
Patients come into the hospice once a week for a variety of treatments and activities. This can sometimes include creating a memory book to leave behind for their loved ones. A member of the Day Therapy team will record the patient talking about their experiences and the transcriber will be asked to accurately transcribe these conversations into a written document. The conversation recording will be sent to volunteers via email to transcribe and email back.
Please go to https://www.arhc.org.uk/how-to-apply.asp to complete the online application.
University of Cambridge Museums - Remote volunteering opportunities
Category: Museums
Although all University of Cambridge Museums are currently closed there are still opportunities for you to get involved remotely! All the volunteering 'challenges' available by UCM are being regularly posted on the UCM Volunteer Makers website.
Check the opportunities here
Join a Now-U volunteer team!
Category: Various
Now-u is a diverse team of all ages and levels of professional experience, and are always on the look-out for passionate volunteers who share their vision, to help contribute to our mission. If you’re able to commit 6 hours or more per week, they would love to hear from you!
They offer work experience with:
- Copywriting
- Social Media
- Blogs & Newsletters
- Graphic Design
- Campaigns Research
- Fundraising
- Outreach & Business Development
- App & Web Development
- UX Research
Fill in the now-u volunteer interest form here
Cambridge Commons - Raising awareness of the harmful effects of inequality in Cambridge
Category: Inequality
The Cambridge Commons is a voluntary group campaigning on issues of inequality in Cambridge, the most unequal city in the UK. They are looking for volunteers who can come up with fresh campaigning ideas and are able to help organise campaigns on the ground (Covid-19 permitting). They want to work with existing local groups and citizens to highlight issues like income inequality such as the Real Living Wage, low pay for key workers, health inequalities, the impact of inequality on BAME groups, and inequality and mental health, Climate Change, housing, employment, childcare, and food and nutrition.
As well as helping to plan and run campaigns, you could also get involved by writing articles and blog pieces or by carrying out a larger piece of research to gather data on inequality. You could help organise events and meetings or you could help to run the group by becoming a member of our Steering Committee. They are planning activities in the run-up to the local elections in May 2021 to highlight these issues with voters and politicians.
Become a Campaigning Volunteer for the Cambridge Commons today!
Circuit Cambridge – Art Project Volunteer
Category: Various
Circuit Cambridge are a group of 18-25 year olds who experiment with different ways of experiencing and making art, through organising and running projects and creative events for other young people. Circuit meets every Tuesday from 5.30-7.30pm. Sessions are usually held at Kettle's Yard or Wysing Arts Centre, but during temporary closure of those venues Circuit are continuing to meet digitally.
If you’d like to join, please get in touch on education@wysingartscentre.org.
More information available here
Voiceability - Support those whose voice is not being heard
Category: Advocacy
Support Session Volunteers contact people to help them talk through their care or support issues or deal with one-off problems where for example, a person's voice is not being heard. These volunteers allow to reach people who either would have to wait longer for a problem to be discussed or wouldn't get the chance to properly discuss their issues at all.
Become a Support Session Volunteer for Total Voice
Alzheimer's Society - Become a Dementia Friend
Category: Awareness Training
A Dementia Friend is somebody that learns about dementia so they can help their community. Too many people affected by dementia feel that society fails to understand the condition they live with. Dementia Friends help by raising awareness and understanding, so that people living with dementia can continue to live in the way they want. Once you have become a Dementia Friend share this on social media and spread the message!
Become a Dementia Friend today
Be My Eyes
Category: Befriending
Lend your eyes to solve tasks big and small to help blind and low-vision people lead more independent lives through visual assistance and live video call's.
Help the world become more accessible today
Cambridge Online - Digital Champion (Phone and Email)
Category: Computing, Teaching
As part of Cambridge Online's emergency response to Coronavirus, they are looking for volunteers to join a new team providing phone and email support to our customers needing help with digital tasks.
Sign up to be a Digital Champion
Prince's Trust - Online Mentor
Category: Youth Befriending
The Prince's Trust are seeking volunteers who can support a young person online who is looking for work or looking to start their own business and empower them to take control of their own learning and set their own goals.
Inspire a young today and sign up to be an online mentor.
UN Volunteers – Online Volunteer
Category: Global development, various
The United Nations volunteer programme contributes to peace and development through volunteerism worldwide. Online volunteering allows organisations and volunteers to team up to address sustainable development challenges – anywhere in the world from any device.
Discover an online volunteering role for you!
Grapevine Essex – Web Developer
Category: Website/marketing/social media
Free Grapevine Essex is a registered charity that provides educational, recreational and social activities and events to adults with learning disabilities. They have a website already but it needs to be redeveloped and mobile-enabled over the summer months to ensure all audiences are reached and give more prominence to the services offered.
Find out how you could use your web development skills to improve Grapevine Essex website today
Please do share your work and how you are making a difference. Tag us @AngliaRuskinSU and inspire others to do the same. Your time means a lot.