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CVS News

Keeping you informed about the local voluntary, community and social enterprise sector.

Volunteering

New in Volunteer Roles

Have a look at all of the new volunteer roles that have been added to Simply Connect this month.

04 November, 2024


Trustee roles

Take a look at all of our volunteer Trustee roles on our Simply Connect System.

04 November, 2024


Linking Lives Befriending Service

Linking Lives Befriending Service has been supporting the lonely and socially isolated in Bedford Borough for almost five years.

05 August, 2024


Embrace (formerly Bedford District Cerebral Palsy Society)

Embrace (formerly Bedford District Cerebral Palsy Society); are a small charity based in Bedfordshire, who have been established since 1954. We started the process of a rebrand last May, where we used the expertise of Natalie Murray, from The Edge Brands to guide us on our journey to a new name and logo.

31 May, 2024


Dogs Trust Freedom Volunteer Foster Carer

Freedom is a dog fostering service helping people find freedom from domestic abuse. By fostering a dog, you'll enable the owner to access a refuge, safe in the knowledge their dog is safe.

22 May, 2024


Volunteer with Beyond Detention

Beyond Detention provides emotional and practical support such as befriending, clothes and phone credit to people detained in Yarl’s Wood IRC

27 February, 2024


Short term volunteering at Wimpole Hall

Last year we experimented with short-term volunteering at Wimpole to bring in enough people to keep the House open over the Christmas holidays, one of our busiest periods. We created the new role of Christmas Experience Volunteer, which was similar to our standard House Experience Volunteer role, but limited to the five-week period between 25th November and 1st January.

07 February, 2024


The English Regional Transport Association

ERTA is a voluntary membership-based, pro-public transport improvement association. Line re-openings is right up our street in advocacy, campaigning and nurturing congenial agreement and resolution, bringing people together and making common cause.

10 October, 2023


Volunteer Feature - Bedfordshire Fire & Rescue

Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service (BFRS) does much more than just respond to emergencies, they also carry out activities to protect lives and properties – and is now recruiting volunteers.

26 July, 2023


Corporate Volunteering

14 July, 2023


Big Green Week 2023

Big Green Week runs from 10 - 18 June, check out the amazing green volunteering roles we have to offer

31 May, 2023


Central Bedfordshire Council Waste Reduction

Take action within your community to increase recycling, reduce waste and improve the local environment. Join Central Bedfordshire Council’s waste reduction volunteer team.

07 February, 2023


Volunteer Feature: Food ETC CIC

We talked to Julie Clay, director of Food etc, a Community Interest Company which provides cookery workshops to disadvantaged people across Bedfordshire. Its growing team of volunteers uses cheap and nutritious food to show people how to prepare and enjoy healthier meals.

05 December, 2022


Volunteering Feature : Re-engage

Whatever your age, social isolation may be affecting you and volunteering could be a big part of the answer to solving this problem. So this month, we have sought out opportunities that might help anyone who wants to make new contacts with people and is happy to offer help along the way through volunteering to undertake specific tasks.

10 October, 2022


Volunteering to Support Families

Some volunteering opportunities from the CVS Simply Connect platform that will support families.

01 September, 2022


Volunteering Feature: FACES

We look at the work being done by FACES in Bedford, to support local families and how volunteers are critical to their service.

01 September, 2022


Don't want to commit? Try some one off volunteering

If you are not sure whether volunteering is for you, or if you already have a lot of commitments and very little time, then a good way to offer your support to organisations is to try some one off volunteering opportunities.

04 August, 2022


Green Flag Awards in Bedfordshire and Luton

It is great to see parks and open spaces across Luton, Central Bedfordshire and Bedford Borough being recognised as amongst the best in the country once again. Volunteers play a significant part in keeping these spaces going.

03 August, 2022


Volunteering Feature: Mentoring

A look at how Community Led Initiatives uses volunteer peer mentors to encourage people to improve their lives.

07 July, 2022


Volunteering Tips: Connect in Person

Simply Connect is a self contained platform allowing you to connect with the many different organisations with volunteering opportunities. But sometimes it helps to connect in person.

07 June, 2022


Befriending: Part of the solution to loneliness

A look at two local charities providing a valuable befriending service to our community and their volunteering opportunities.

07 June, 2022


Volunteer Your Language Skills

Put your languages to good use for Panacea Charitable Trust

03 May, 2022


Volunteering Tips: The Volunteer Bank

Some helpful hints on how to get the best out of our volunteering service.

03 May, 2022


Volunteering to Support Mental Health

Our current opportunities for those who are interested in supporting the mental health of others.

03 May, 2022


Volunteering: Raveen's Story

Raveen sought help for his mental health, started to volunteer with Big Local hosted by CVS and how has a permanent job. He shares his journey

03 May, 2022


Volunteering: Kirsty's Story

Kirsty volounteers for Mind BLMK and is now employed by them. She talks about her role and why she values it.

03 May, 2022


A Day to Connect

Mind BLMK Wellbeing Open Day is a chance to find out about mental health services avaialble in the community.

14 April, 2022


Boost your CV through Volunteering

Our thoughts on how volunteering might add to your CV.

11 April, 2022


Join the fun of Scouting

By volunteering in the Scouting and Guiding movement you will be joining the do-ers and give-it-a-go-ers

07 April, 2022


SMART Volunteering

Two opportunities to help SMARTcjs to support communities locally

28 March, 2022


Volunteering Pick for March

See this month's selection of volunteering opportunities, hand picked from our Simply Connect collection from local voluntary organisations and charities.

01 March, 2022


Volunteering Tips: What are your goals?

Volunteering is the perfect way to help you achieve your goals.

11 February, 2022


So many ways to show you care

How to make a difference in your local community and show that you care

10 February, 2022


Show you care: Refugees

A summary of the opportunities for volunteering to support refugees in your community.

10 February, 2022


Show you care: Community

A summary of the opportunities for volunteering to support people in your community in need of a helping hand.

10 February, 2022


Show you care: Disability

A summary of the opportunities for volunteering to support those in your community with disabilities.

10 February, 2022


Show you care: Families

A summary of the opportunities for volunteering to support those families in your community who are struggling.

10 February, 2022


Show you care: Older Adults

A summary of the opportunities for volunteering to support those in your community who are older adults

09 February, 2022


Show you care: Neighbours

A summary of the opportunities for volunteering to support your neighbours

09 February, 2022


Updates to Simply Connect volunteer recruitment dashboard

Changes to the way the recruitment tool is used will make online recruitment more effective

08 February, 2022


Behind the Rails

A look at local volunteering opportuniites in retail

18 January, 2022


Make life easier for unpaid family carers

Volunteers at Carers in Bedfordshire work alongside staff in a wide range of roles.

05 January, 2022


Me? A Trustee?

Trustees are ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Find out about this highly rewarding form of volunteering.

02 November, 2021


Volunteering Tips for Trustees

Top Tips if you are thinking of volunteering as a Trustee.

01 November, 2021


Reducing Reoffending and Crime

Play your part by becoming a trustee with YouTurn Futures

01 November, 2021


Join the Charity where anything can happen

Bedford & District Cerebral Palsy Society is looking for a new chair of their Board.

01 November, 2021


Get on board with CPRE

Opportunities to volunteer with CPRE and save our green spaces.

01 November, 2021


Do something Amazing!

Volunteer with girlguiding to find your place in a team of inspirational women.

26 October, 2021


Going Green with Volunteering

A look at climate change and environment based organisations and volunteering opportunities in Bedfordshire

05 October, 2021


Green Volunteering

05 October, 2021


Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire

Volunteering opportunities for those passionate about Health and Social Care

28 September, 2021


Volunteering Tips 4:

Sell yourself.

02 September, 2021


A few words of advice

on Volunteering as an Adviser

01 September, 2021


Access to Wheelchairs during Covid-19

British Red Cross service is currently recruiting volunteers for their Mobility Aids service.

19 August, 2021


Tools with a Mission

Can you help collect donated tools which will go to Africa?

16 August, 2021


Volunteering Tips: Using Keywords Interests and Activities

How to be specific when searching for opportunities on Simply Connect.

11 August, 2021


Will volunteering get me a job?

A brief look into the ways in which volunteering can help you get back into employment.

11 August, 2021


10 minutes of community in Luton

Volunteer for 10 minutes at a time in Luton Borough to instil civic pride back into neighbourhoods

09 August, 2021


Volunteering Tips: Post code search

Helping you to find the right volunteer position for you.

06 July, 2021


Volunteering: Citizens Advice Bedford

Citizens Advice Bedford is looking for new volunteer advisors to join their team, and also has an opportunity for a money advice assistant.

21 June, 2021


Can you help our Bedford Museums ?

Volunteering opportunities at John Bunyan Museum and Library and at Panacea Society in Bedford.

05 June, 2021


Volunteer Newsletter

01 June, 2021


Volunteers Week 2021: A time to say thanks

At Community Voluntary Service we want to mark this week by acknowledging the momentous effort that has gone into so many volunteering activities.

01 June, 2021


Volunteering: One Housing Group

One Housing Group has several volunteering roles available in Bedford and Luton, helping vulnerable people to re-build their lives and take an active part in their wider community.

02 September, 2020


Volunteering: Get back into retail at Wood Green Animal Shelter

Wood Green The Animals Charity Shops are now re-opening and there are opportunities in retail for volunteers.

06 August, 2020


Don't stop thinking about volunteering

The response to appeals for volunteers has been phenomenal during the Covid-19 pandemic. As things start to adapt to a new normal, don't stop thinking about volunteering.

09 June, 2020


Setting up a local support group

An example of good practice, on starting from scratch setting up a new support group in response to Coronavirus.

26 March, 2020


Covid-19

22 March, 2020


Celebrating Volunteering - Focus on Paul

We are celebrating the volunteering input of members of staff here at CVS .

04 June, 2019


Celebrating Volunteering - Focus on Mark

We are celebrating the volunteering input of members of staff here at CVS ..

04 June, 2019


Volunteering

03 October, 2018


Become a Volunteer

Become a Volunteer - We have hundreds of opportunities to choose from!

18 November, 2016