VOLUNTEER CORNER

THE number of people needing food banks has increased in recent years and this trend continues as household finances continued to be squeezed.

Wokingham Foodbank is looking for a Front desk volunteer you will work in a small team to support clients who have been referred to the foodbank to collect a food parcel.

You will play a vital role in the foodbank ensuring that it is meeting the demand for its services, providing help and support to people in crisis in the local community.

This role is suitable for people who can volunteer for at least two afternoons per week for at least six months across Monday, Wednesday and/or Friday 12.45pm-3pm at its offices, based at The Community and Charity Hub, Waterford House in Wokingham.

The role will include; welcoming clients into the Foodbank, discussing dietary requirements and specific requirements for households, checking its data collection system and working with other volunteers to ensure food parcels are made up promptly for clients and updating data collection system when food parcels have been collected.

The volunteer will need to be a strong team player, reliable and punctual, friendly disposition with excellent communication skills, self-sufficient use of IT including Microsoft Office applications and must display empathy for people of disadvantaged backgrounds.

■ Wokingham Repair Cafe is coming soon.

It is such a waste to throw something away when a little time and effort can extend its life for years – bicycles, small electrical appliances, chairs, garments are all things we hope to tackle.

The list will grow as we can find more people to help. We are looking for volunteers with practical skills in various areas to help us at the repair cafe, based at All Saint’s Church in Wokingham.

While these skilled, handy volunteers are a key part of the project, we are also looking for others to welcome people and point them to the right person to help repair their item, and people to set out tables and to clear away after.

The first Repair Café will be on Saturday, April 13, from 10am to 1pm.

We will then running a regular session on the second Saturday of the month at the same time.

■ Kaleidoscopic UK is a Wokingham-based peer support charity providing specialist support to children and adults subjected to domestic abuse at any point on their lives.

Providing long-term support locally and nationally, throughout the survivor journey as well as child/adult recovery programmes and multiple local monthly coffee, cake and craft groups that have been running for five years.

It delivers bespoke, specialist training and education for statutory services, organisations and to children and those that support them.

We are looking for friendly, enthusiastic women to join our team to help at support groups in and around Wokingham. Training will be provided.

■ If you are interested in any of these roles or would like to discuss volunteering in general, please get in touch with our Volunteer Services Manager, Helena Badger on 0118 977 0749 or email volunteer@wokvol.org.uk. To see all of volunteering roles, please visit www.volunteerwokinghamborough.org.uk