Good Neighbours Coventry is supporting lonely elderly people to have a friend. Due to the pandemic's increased isolation, 360 local residents are asking for a volunteer friend - and this number is growing every week. They desperately need volunteer befrienders from all walks of life - the only qualification is that you are age 18 or over, have from 30 mins spare fortnightly or weekly, and are willing to chat & listen. Volunteer times & days are very flexible. Befrienders are carefully matched and always supported.

They have informal information sessions for anyone to find out more about Good Neighbours Coventry and how they match lonely older people to the right volunteer. Small children and dogs are also welcome to participate in befriending. If you could chat to someone about baking / dogs / football / history / TV or anything else, go along to find out more. Book on via tinyurl.com/bookGNCsession or email goodneighbours@hopecoventry.org.uk.

Upcoming information sessions:

The COVID vaccination programme is underway, with a national target to offer the vaccine to over 18s by the end of July 2021. The vaccination programme is a key part of easing the lockdown restrictions and we are working hard, with support from the local community, to invite people for their vaccine as soon as we can.

The Leamington Spa Primary Care Network is delivering the vaccination programme from two local centres. We are looking for additional marshals to support the running of these clinics.

If interested in supporting your local clinics, please email recruitment@southwarwickshiregps.nhs.uk, stating in the subject line of your email 'Volunteering at Leamington'. You will then receive an email from the team explaining what to do.

Carriers of Hope is a local charity, supporting refugees, asylum seekers and other migrants in Coventry with short-term and longer-term needs. We do this in lots of different ways and always welcome volunteers to help.

We need people who can offer a weekly or fortnightly commitment of at least an hour a week - on our community allotment, in our warehouse, on our admin team (can be done from home), on our communication team (especially if you speak another language), on our delivery team, or in our ESOL classes.

If you're interested in any of these opportunities and are compassionate and reliable, please get in touch with pip@carriersofhope.org.uk

You can visit our website www.carriersofhope.org.uk or find us on Facebook to see more of what we do.

Warwickshire Public Health has appointed seven artists to produce innovative pieces of work that will encourage the uptake of COVID-19 vaccinations, particularly focusing on communities who are engaging less with the vaccination programme.

As part of this some of them wish to chat to people about their experiences of having the vaccine, any hesitancies they had or if they do not want to have the vaccine at all. We are asking for people to be part of these projects and share their experiences/views .

The following areas are being focused on:

• Dan Simpson is wishing to do an online poetry session for anyone between the age of 16-29. He is going to create two poems based on vaccinations.
• Antony Barkworth Knight wishes to speak to men who are experiencing difficulties with their mental health. He is going to create a short film around this.
• Eve Travers wishes to interview a black or black British woman with young children or hoping to have children/ or a black or black British midwife. Eve is going to produce an animation based on this interview.
• Fred Campbell also wishes to speak to people aged 16-29, his work is going to be involving creating a graphic/comic style book.
• Trevor Woolery is wishing to speak to black and black British people to gain insight for his work, which will be an animation.

If you can help please contact michellegravatt@warwickshire.gov.uk 01926 742946.

If you're a member of staff and experiencing difficulties with your mental health, the Employee Assistance Programme is available to help. If you're a student, visit the Wellbeing Portal to reach Wellbeing Support Services.

We are looking for volunteers to help people use and enjoy their local green spaces, including the Pump Room Gardens and other parks in the district.

You will assist with the planning and delivery of events and activities in parks and open spaces, produce communications and publicity, support school workshops, manage community bookings, assist with project administration and manage bookings for the bandstand.

If you value our local parks and open spaces and enjoy meeting new people, we'd love to hear from you.

For more information and an application form, email greenspaces@warwickdc.gov.uk

Leigh Church of England Academy is looking for a community governor to join their friendly governing body.

This is an exciting volunteer position that offers:

• The opportunity to work as part of a team working together in a school setting to support young people
• The chance to develop your personal and professional skills
• A sense of achievement in helping to enrich the lives of young people enabling them to reach their potential and preparing them for their future as positive members of their communities

Their governors come from a range of different backgrounds, skills and experience but all share a common interest of wanting the best possible education for the children in our academy.

If you would like to find out more about becoming a governor please contact: Head Teacher Mrs Lynn Lee (Lynn.Lee@Leigh.covmat.org) or Chair of Governors Mrs Sue Patterson (Sue.Patterson@Leigh.covmat.org).

WCAVA are looking for volunteers to be positive role models and provide advice and signposting to people living in their own communities. Health Champions will enable people to make positive choices regarding their own health and wellbeing. Volunteers will work as part of a team to support people from a wide range of backgrounds.

To apply, please register your interest by contacting Tina Wragg on 07966 380415 or email tina.wragg@wcava.org.uk.

Volunteers from across Warwickshire are needed to help support Warwickshire County Council's response to the COVID-19 pandemic as part of a national testing programme. They particularly need people to help in the north of the County in Nuneaton, Bedworth and Water Orton.

Volunteers will help register people on arrival, provide reassurance and a friendly face, give out information and answer any questions, plus help to manage the flow of people and guide them around sites.

Volunteers will not be asked to get involved with the testing procedure itself; this will be undertaken by the staff on site.

If you would like to play your part please fill out the Application Form.

Do you have an old laptop at home that you no longer use? There are still a lot of children in the local area who are unable to access their online learning due to a shortage of devices. Older laptops can be converted into Chrome Books that will enable pupils to learn from home.

If you would like to help, more information is available on the project webpage; including laptop eligibility, how to donate and what happens next. Read more here.

Coventry is hosting its very own positive images festival which aims to celebrate the best of Coventry’s heritage. You can help to put on a calendar of events that Coventry can be proud of and to nurture talent within our communities.

Volunteering options include stewarding at the festival to marketing, planning and working behind-the-scenes.

For more information, visit the Positive Images Festival website.