VOLUNTEER CORNER

The Royal Berkshire Maternity Voices (MNVP) an independent NHS working group who listen to the voices of those who have experienced maternity care at the Royal Berkshire Hospital (RBH).

We respond to the feedback and identify trends/ highlight concerns to the leaders at the RBH and act in partnership to improve local maternity services.

You can be part of the MNVP by becoming a Parent Representative. Everyone is welcome – you just need to have experienced maternity care at the RBH - this includes partners, who are encouraged to join us. As a Parent Rep, you can be part of our private Facebook group. This online community contributes to discussions, gives feedback and shares opinions which help to influence changes to maternity services.

We cover expenses, which includes childcare, although babies and young children are welcome at many of our meetings, which are mostly online.

There is no minimum hours commitment and our work is generally carried out Monday-Friday.

The charitable work of Tools with a Mission is to collect unwanted tools, refurbish them, sort them into trade kits and send them across the world for livelihood creation.

We send around 20 containers filled with over 300 tonnes of tools every year. To do this we rely on a national volunteer workforce and welcome people of all ages and abilities and of any faith and no faith.

We are looking for volunteers to help in many different areas.

Roles include; Tool Ambassador, Community Champion, Community Ambassador, Church Ambassador and Country Coordinator. Please reach out to us to find out more about what we do and how you can help.

We are running a Virtual Volunteering fayre on Thursday, January 18, where potential volunteers can join us on Zoom to learn more about our remote volunteering opportunities, which are available across England and Wales, including in your area.

See twam.uk/volunteer-events for more details.

At ABC to Read we believe life is better when everyone can read and express themselves confidently. Our trained reading mentors provide children with the skills and confidence they need to do just that.

A decline in the percentage of Berkshire children achieving the expected level for reading in the recently published Key Stage 2 SATs results, local charity ABC (Assisting Berkshire Children) to read is keen to do all it can to help schools and families in the borough to raise children’s achievement.

With the pandemic over the past two years, we feel there is even more need for volunteers as some children may have fallen behind. Once volunteers are trained, they are then matched up with a local school.

Commitment is ideally twice a week for one-anda-half hours in the afternoons but once a week will be considered.

The role is extremely rewarding, learning new skills and strengthens our community.

Don’t forget to put our Volunteer

Recruitment Fair in your diaries!

It is being held at the Wokingham Town Hall on Saturday, February 10, from 10am-1pm.

The event is free to the general public and no booking is required, please just drop in at any time for an informal chat with local charities.

To find out more volunteering in general, please visit our website www. volunteerwokinghamborough.org.uk or call us on 0118 977 0749 or email volunteer@wok-vol.org.uk