Staff are able to use their volunteering allowance to take part in ongoing projects that span a period of weeks. We try to focus on projects that have an educational component. Here are a number of projects we support.
PC Pals - St. Luke's Community Centre
Help local older people to learn how to use computers to send emails, type letters, browse the internet, make posters and grow in confidence when using the PC.
When: 2.00pm - 4.00pm on Wednesdays (help for a period of 7 weeks - one half term)
Where: St. Luke's Community Centre, 90 Central Street, EC1V 8AJ
Contact: John Garces, St. Luke's Centre
Reading scheme - Hugh Myddelton Primary
As providers of Higher Education within the borough of Islington, we wish to support learning from an early age. Some children do not have the opportunity to read at home. Establishing a love of reading from an early age can help children to develop their own understanding of the world. As a member of staff at City University London, you can help contribute to this process.
We currently offer a reading scheme with a local primary school - Hugh Myddelton Primary School.
The scheme is well established and aims to support children's literacy. Reading volunteers visit the school once a week, for thirty minutes over lunchtime to read one-to-one with a partner child. There are some slight differences on the timings, so please be sure that you can make a regular commitment each week.
Reading Times
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Hugh Myddelton
KS 2 (Juniors) read before lunch : 12.00pm - 12.30pm
Early Years (4 and 5 year olds) and KS 1 (Infants) read after lunch :
1.20pm - 1.50pm
or
3.00pm - 3.30pm
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With both schemes you meet the same child each week, helping to develop a relationship over time which will support the child's love of reading. We ask volunteers to commit to supporting a child once a week for at least one school term, although the most successful reading relationships are those that last for a full school year or more.
Read this interview to learn how St. Luke's Primary School has benefitted from City University London's reading volunteers...
How to Apply
- Read this role description and decide whether you'd like to get involved.
- Get in touch with Ben Butler at City Volunteering (x8992), specifying what time suits you best / which age group you would prefer to work with.
- You will also need to complete a CRB check from City University London. City Volunteering will send you the form and some information on the process. It is your responsibility to return the completed form to City Volunteering in person with the relevant identification documents so that we can process it.
- Visit the school for an induction.
You can be responsible for promoting the following collection drives for local projects - taking initial delivery and managing it being passed on to St. Luke's Community Centre:
Suited and Booted
As part of a project that provides suits to local EC1 residents to help them look the part for job interviews, we are particularly interested in donations of men’s clothing consisting of suits, shirts, ties, socks, shoes, cufflinks, etc... We would also be grateful to receive donation of hangers and suit bags.
If you are interested in receiving donations, please get in contact with Ben Butler – ben.butler.1@city.ac.uk
Seed Drive
We are looking for donations of seeds and plants to help support this project. Any spare seed packets or plants that people donate will go to good use to help us educate and inspire local EC1 residents to get involved with gardening.
If you are interested in taking responsibility for receiving donations of seeds, please get in contact with Ben Butler – ben.butler.1@city.ac.uk
Wool Drive
We are looking for donations of wool to help support CWUHA (Communication Workers Union Humanitarian Aid) who knit jumpers and toys which are taken to orphanages in Romania, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, etc. Knitting is often described as a therapeutic activity and this project helps the older members from St Luke’s gain a feeling of self worth as well as keeping members active.
We are looking for donations of wool to help keep this project going and would welcome all types and colours. If you would like to be responsible for the Wool Drive, please get in contact with Ben Butler – ben.butler.1@city.ac.uk
Be a Mock Interviewer for the Job Club
A six week programme to help local residents with CVs, job applications, presentation skills etc, in partnership with St Luke’s on-site Employment Advisor. At the end of the six weeks, the local residents will attend mock interviews at the offices of various corporate organisations. You would take responsibility for booking a room and ensuring that the interviewee is properly briefed. You would then interview them. Interview questions will be devised in partnership with the St. Luke's Employment Advisor.
Who: individuals or groups. You can be involved with organising one session or host a couple.
When: Date to be confirmed but usually 1 – 2 hrs
Where: St. Luke's Community Centre, 90 Central Street, EC1V 8AJ
Contact: John Garces, St. Luke's Centre