By volunteering in your local area, you can help it become stronger and more self-reliant. There are roles to suit any interest or passion; from helping your emergency services, to keeping your local neighbourhood safe.
Be there during an emergency
Volunteering during an emergency involves being called upon to help your community during an incident, whenever one may occur. Volunteers are connected to the relevant local people and groups, so they know their roles and are ready and prepared to help.
Unite your neighbourhood
Residents' association volunteers join other local residents to address issues in their local area and act as a voice for their community. If you want to set one up in your local area, contact your district or borough council.
Timebanking is a means of time exchange used to bring communities together. For example, for every hour participants 'deposit' in a time bank by giving practical help and support to others, they are able to 'withdraw' equivalent support in time when they themselves are in need. In each case you decide what you can offer. Everyone's time is equal, so one hour of your time is equal to one hour of another's time, whatever we choose to exchange.
The Community Engagement team of the Diocese of Guildford work with volunteers on many projects that support local communities. Contact the team to find out more.
Making your community safer
Neighbourhood Watch volunteers join with others in the community to prevent crime and vandalism in their neighbourhood. To find your local group, or to set one up in your local area, visit Our Watch.
Community Speed Watch volunteers help to tackle speeding in their community. They work with the support of the Police, using speed monitoring devices and then referring offenders to the Police. To find out more, contact your local neighbourhood team on 101.
Trading standards volunteers help keep communities safe by reporting scam mail, testing products for safety and promoting food allergen awareness. Young volunteers also help to target unlawful sales of age restricted items. To get involved please contact katherine.preston@bucksandsurreytradingstandards.gov.uk
Assist our military communities
Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association(SSAFA) volunteers use their skills to support a variety of military communities. There are many roles you can take on, including supporting veterans, mentoring Forces leavers, and helping serving families.
Cadets volunteers develop in young people the attributes of leadership, engaged and active citizenship and physical fitness through a range of activities and fun! Find details of your local Cadet groups and a list of organisations and charities who provide support for the Armed Forces community.
Help your emergency services
Police Support Volunteers support Surrey Police in keeping Surrey one of the safest counties in the UK. New roles are being developed all the time, meaning there are lots of opportunities for new volunteers to come on board.
Special constables are volunteers who spend their time helping to police their local community. Specials play a crucial role in fighting crime and keeping Surrey safer. They come from many different backgrounds and walks of life, forming a vital link between their community and Surrey Police.
Community First Responder volunteers with South East Coast Ambulance Service are trained to attend emergency calls received by the ambulance service and provide care until the ambulance arrives. There are also many other voluntary roles that support our ambulance services available at St John Ambulance.
Support someone during tough times
Surrey Against Domestic Abuse hold a number of volunteering opportunities for those who want to make a positive difference to people experiencing domestic abuse. Roles range from helping to run a support group and befriending a client who has separated from an abusive partner, to fundraising and helping staff the yourSanctuary Surrey 24 hour helpline.
Become a community panel member and support young offenders, their families, and, whenever possible any victim of a crime, to help prevent young people from re-offending and repair the harm done to any victim and the wider community. Contact tracey.francis@surreycc.gov.uk for more information.
Victim Support volunteers help victims of crime and others affected find strength to deal with what they are going through.
