Volunteering for Galloway's

There are many opportunities for Volunteers to help with activities organised by Galloway's, which will enhance the lives of many people - from young children through to those in their senior years - who have a visual impairment.

Please don't hesitate to get in touch with the Society if you want to get involved as a Volunteer with any of the following activities, please feel free to contact me, Moira Portman on 01772 753703 or by email at email moira.portman@galloways.org.uk.

Talking Newspaper Service

	Another successful recording

The successful functioning of the Talking Newspaper Service depends on a significant number of volunteers each week. However, there is still scope for more people to help. The recent introduction of a new digital system for recording is anticipated to improve and extend the quality of recordings and subsequent services that can be offered through this resource. Volunteers help with -

Reading for the recordings
Operating the recording equipment
Carry out Administrative duties

Thousands of tapes are recorded each week and there is considerable time spent on the administrative work involving fast copying the tapes and getting them ready to send out to the "listeners".

Caring Neighbour Scheme

The Caring Neighbour Scheme is aimed at assisting individual people who are visually impaired. Those, for whom help has been requested, cover a wide age range - from students at college or university to those who have reached their more senior years, who might just need a friendly person to talk to on a regular basis. It may be that the person needs help with one or two activities each week, eg. reading the mail; doing some shopping; helping with transport. If you would like to offer some Time and Assistance in this way - please contact the Society on 01772 744148.

Collections

Each year Galloway's holds many collections. These are offered by a variety of organisations eg.Local Authorities, Retail outlets, Business concerns and Sports establishments. These Collections provide a vital source of income and are usually a very effective and efficient form of fund raising.

The general public are very generous. However, many volunteers seem reluctant to help with this task. Standing with a collecting bucket can be a humbling experience but it can also be a very encouraging one. Please consider whether you could help - even on just one occasion for 2 to 3 hours. Take a risk and step out - it will make a major difference.

Drivers for the Galloway's Minibuses

Galloways currently owns 2 Minibuses which have a capacity to carry 14 or 16 people including the driver. During each week there are activities held at Howick House, Penwortham, St Cuthbert's Church Hall, Fulwood, a meeting place in Bamber Bridge and another meeting place at Eldon Street, Fulwood. The buses are used to transport those who attend these activities from their homes to the place of the activity and then return them safely home afterwards.

	Why not become a mini bus driver?

There are other events/activities held during the year, which occur on a less regular basis but still quite frequently. These are more "one off" activities and cover a variety of interests for example - a day of outdoor pursuits, a visit to a local place of historical interest, a visit to gardens of some repute and many more.

There is a valued group of volunteer drivers, who provide an excellent "taxi" service. However, there is still scope to extend this group. All "new" drivers are given the opportunity to become familiar with the minibuses and the procedures Galloways has put in place. The Society requires new drivers to complete the MIDAS driving course, which brings people up-to-date with the relevant information for driving such vehicles and how best to ensure the safety of all passengers. This course is financed by Galloways Society.

Drivers' Assistants
Volunteers who don't want to be minibus drivers can still help with transport duties by being a driver's assistant. Many of the passengers are senior citizens and may need a little help in getting from their front doors to the Minibus and vice-versa on the return journey. A driver's assistant can be very helpful in many ways - not least that of making the task of collecting people more efficient.

Many Varied Activities

	Canoes on Bassentwaite

They can vary in duration from one day to several days. It maybe a One Day course has been arranged or it could be a weekend of outdoor pursuits or it could be a holiday, usually lasting several days. Whatever the activity - as outlined in this section - volunteers are needed in varying numbers and with a variety of knowledge, skills and experience to assist those leading the activity and to enable those who are attending to participate as much as possible despite their visual impairment. There is always room for more volunteers to get involved with these activities.

	Tandem riders return to Howick

Regular Activities, usually on a weekly basis are held at Penwortham and in our outreach centres around Lancashire,

Tuesdays - drop-in day at Howick House from 10:00am to 3:00pm
Wednesdays - dance group at Howick House from 1:30pm to 3:30pm
Thursdays - Deaf/Blind Social Group at Howick House from 10:15am to 2:30pm

For full details follow the When It's Happening During 2007 and Weekly Timetable for Clubs and Centres links on our home page.

Refreshments and Catering Service

	Refreshments, an essential service

The resources and available premises offered at Howick House are being used on an increasing basis - not only by the Society for their own activities - but also by "outside" groups and organisations, who are seeking suitable premises to hold meetings and/or activities. Often there is a need to provide light refreshments for such groups. A small group of volunteers has been gathered together, who can be called upon - as and when - to help meet this need if they are available to help. Often this task takes up little more than an hour at any one time although there will be some occasions when it will demand more time. This service is being developed and will improve as more volunteers offer help. The service will - in turn - benefit "our clients", who receive services through the Society, since organisations hiring the facilities at Howick provide a valuable source of income.

Grounds and Gardens

The grounds and gardens at Howick House are quite extensive. As with any garden areas there is always work to be done in just keeping the place looking tidy. There are one or two volunteers who help to reach this aim but a few more willing hands would be very welcome.