Volunteering is good for the soul (and for the CV if you are between jobs). Here is a selection of volunteering positions currently available in our local area.

Across the Area

• Volunteer West Berkshire offer a wide range of volunteering activities. Register here or make a one-to-one appointment to discuss the best roles available for you.

• Community First promotes a range of volunteering opportunities in Wiltshire. Click here for details

• Healthwatch West Berkshire our consumer champion for health & social services, needs mystery shopper volunteers, community engagement volunteers, research volunteers, and enter and view volunteers. See here for details.

• The Handybus service, which provides drivers for elderly and mobility-impaired people, is looking for volunteers. Contact Volunteer Centre West Berkshire for more information.

•  ABC To Read supports local children who struggle to read and lack confidence at primary school. We have many children waiting for help in Thatcham, Newbury, Hungerford, Theale and Burghfield. Please enquire [email protected] or visit our website abctoread.org.uk

• The North Wessex Downs Landscape Trust is looking for trustees and volunteers – click here for details.

• Volunteer drivers are needed by community transport groups in West Berkshire – click here for details.

• Volunteer drivers needed by Newbury Cancer Care to take patients to vital hospital appointments

• Community and co-responders are volunteers who support the work of the South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS). Responders are actively being sought who are based in Hungerford, Inkpen, Kintbury, Newbury and the Lambourn Valley. Click here for details.

• Thames Valley Police have vacancies for volunteer cadet scheme leaders, Independent Advisory Group, police chaplains, puppy socialiers, role players for community practicals – see here for details.

• Puppy Trainers needed for hearing dogs for deaf people – see here for details.

• The Veterans Charity helps ex-Service personnel who are in need of assistance. It calls itself  ‘The Rapid Reaction Force of Military Charities’, and swiftly provides accommodation, food, medical help and counselling to veterans who call on it. Volunteers are urgently needed in our area. Please apply to the Trustee: Major Michael Massy-Beresford 0207 381 2055 [email protected].

Marlborough & District

• Volunteer drivers are needed for Kennet Community Transport charity which takes elderly people to the Jubilee Centre and on outings. Roly, the driver, is the only employee. We need volunteer drivers to cover for when he is unavailable. You will need to be permitted to drive D1 group vehicles or already have a full PSV bus licence.  KCT will arrange the DBS check and MiDAS minibus training for you. Anyone who can help, please either tell Roly on the bus; or phone Roger Hagerty on 01672 540698 or Alexander Kirk Wilson on 01672 513861.

Lambourn & Downlands

• A reminder also that the Friends of Lambourn Library has vacancies on its committee and welcomes hearing from anyone, of any age, who would be happy to join what is by all measures and estimations a successful organisation. Please contact [email protected].

• Lambourn Volunteer Drivers need more volunteers especially in East Garston and Great Shefford. Please click here for details.

• Trindledown National Animal Welfare Trust just outside Great Shefford is desperate for volunteers to help at their monthly new to you sales and fundraising events click here for details

• Volunteers are required to help run the Great Shefford Youth Club – click here for more information.

• Lambourn Library has currently 16 community volunteers but more are always needed. Please contact [email protected], or visit the library to talk to the volunteers and staff, or contact WBC’s Volunteer Officer Gemma Taylor at [email protected] for more information.

Wantage & District

• The Ray Collins Charitable Trust is always on the lookout for volunteers to help with its many fundraising events and other charitable activities. Contact Ray and the team by clicking here.

• The Wantage Independent Advice Centre is looking for volunteers to fill various roles from drivers to debt advisors – click here for more.

• The Vale & Downland Museum wishes to recruit volunteers to join its existing team of volunteers.  We are looking for people from all backgrounds and abilities to help us in a range of areas. Click here for more information. We also have a vacancy for a museum trustee.

• St Katharine’s Care Home welcomes volunteers who can offer companionship for their residents, craft activities, mealtime support, entertainers. We can also offer school work experience and apprenticeships in caring, nursing, maintenance, painting and decorating, office and administration. To apply please contact [email protected] or 01235 762739. For more about St Katharine’s Care Home see here.

• The Didcot, Abingdon and Wantage Talking Newspaper (DAWN) provides a vital service for the blind and partially sighted. The organisers need help to keep the service going – click here for details.

Hungerford & District

• Age Concern Newbury & District has launched a meals on wheels service for Kintbury and Hungerford  on Tuesdays and Thursdays. If you or anyone you know would like to use this service, or if you’re able to be a volunteer driver for the deliveries in the Newbury area, please get in touch with Age Concern through their website.

• Kintbury Youth Club is looking for volunteers and other staff members. Please contact David Seward at Berkshire Youth on 0118 909 0927 or [email protected].

• Hungerford Library is also looking for volunteers to work in the building – click here for more.

• Hungerford Primary School is looking for a volunteer Adult Literacy Teacher  to work on a 1:1 basis with adult learners. Please contact the school office on 01488 682230 for further information.

•  The Rose of Hungerford on the beautiful Kennet and Avon canal is looking for Volunteers to help with the operation and running of  boat. If you are over 16, enjoy boats and being on the water, this opportunity could be for you. Experience the fun of working as part of a team, enjoy the opportunity to chat with our guests and help this very important charity – Click here for more.

• Would you like to mentor a young person at John O’Gaunt School? Can you spare a one hour a week to join the Captain of my Ship programme and be a positive role model for students requiring extra support to ensure they maximise their life and education choices. Each mentor receives full training and support from Adviza. If you would like more information please email [email protected]

• Wilton Windmill is the only operating windmill in Wessex, set in a stunning location in the heart of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Wiltshire. They always need help and offer an interesting range of roles and experiences for volunteers.

• Lambourn Riding for Disabled, based in Chilton Foliat,  is always looking for volunteers to help in various ways, mainly during term times on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Contact [email protected]

• Please click here to see a list of organisations which have recently received grants from Hungerford Town Council. Many of these have need of volunteers to help with various aspects of their work.

• The Red Cross charity shop in Hungerford is looking for volunteers to help with all aspects of work of its shop in the High Street. Click here for more.

Newbury & District

• Newbury Apple Day are looking for new people to join the steering group to prepare for future events in Newbury market square. The main activity on the day is juicing apples, but we collect apples before the event that would otherwise have gone to waste and encourage people to bring their own on the day. Steering group members organise publicity, recruit and manage volunteers, hire/buy equipment and supplies and manage social media. New members would have the opportunity to work in an area that matched their interests and skills.  Please email [email protected] or ring Helen on 0794 4846671 for more information.

• Meals on Wheels need volunteer drivers to deliver meals from Fair Close Centre to housebound elderly people across Newbury and Thatcham. Click here for more details.

• Newbury Cancer Care needs volunteer drivers mostly to take people to and from local hospitals. Contact Sylvia Fones or Helen Milroy on 01635 31542 or [email protected].

• Home-Start West Berkshire helps give children the best start in life and has local families in need of your support. They give you all the training and support you need to help families with young children. For more information please contact 01635 760310 or [email protected] or visit the website.

• Click here for information about volunteering (including first aid-ers) at the Newbury Soup Kitchen.

• Fair Close Centre Senior Citizen Charity Fair Close Centre Senior Citizen Charity in Newbury is always grateful for more volunteers!

• Would you like to make new friends, learn new skills and enjoy exploring a 1950’s military building with it’s fascinating history and amazing views? Greenham Control Tower is looking for volunteers as we open as a visitor centre and community cafe. We have a variety of roles, including guides, cafe and many others. Please email [email protected] for more information.

• Trustees are needed by local youth counselling charity Time to Talk West Berkshire. Trustees will need attend a monthly meeting on a weekday evening and support promotional and fund-raising events as and when convenient. The charity hearing from young people near in age to the clients for whom it provides its services. Contact [email protected]

• The National Needlework Archive/Old Chapel Textile Centre at Greenham Business park is looking for volunteers to help in its new shop area, greeting visitors, stewarding, events, admin and tea room. Please email [email protected] if you can help.

Thatcham to Theale

• Volunteer drivers are needed by the Thatcham Handybus service – details here.

• Volunteer co-ordinator (one day a week or fortnight) needed by The Living Rainforest in  Hampstead Norreys. The role is to support our volunteers, process paperwork for new volunteers applying, assist with the recruitment of new volunteers and speak to volunteer agencies such as West Berks Volunteer Centre. Contact [email protected].

• Mercy In Action, in Theale High Street is looking for volunteer (16yrs+) for Saturdays. Someone with a love of fashion and style would be ideal. Drop into the shop or call 01189 306 399.

• Volunteers are needed for a variety of roles at Reading Museum. Click here for details.

• Please click here for a range of volunteering opportunities in Thatcham, from the Town Council website.

• There are many ways you can volunteer to help support Theale Primary School. Click here for details.

• 1^st Aldermaston Scout Group currently has 65 young people enjoying scouting, supported by eight leaders and six executive committee members. More volunteers are always needed to help with the wide range of activities and events this group organises.

• Thatcham Youth is always looking for help from volunteers and is open to all offers of help. Click here for details.

Swindon & District

• Great Western Hospital is always looking for volunteers to help provide a wide range of help and support to staff and patients. Click here for details.

• Oak and Furrows Wildlife Rescue Centre is calling for volunteer drivers to help transport animals and volunteer administrators to help out with reception and office duties. Click here for details.

• Swindon Samaritans is ‘always seeking dependable people willing to donate some of their valuable time.’ Contact 01793 526430 or e-mail [email protected] to register your interest .

• Care Home Volunteers, which recruits and trains volunteers to spend time with elderly residents in care homes in and around Swindon, is looking for caring, friendly and compassionate volunteers to support individual residents by providing social contact and friendship.

• Swindon’s Citizen’s Advice is looking for volunteers, particularly for administration and reception duties. Please click here if you can help.

• Swindon Big Knit at the Orbital invites you to join their events to make clothes and blankets for local homeless people. Visit their facebook page or contact Tracey on [email protected]

• Oak and Furrows Wildlife Rescue Centre in Cricklade urgently needs volunteers during its busy baby animal season. Click here for details.

If you would like your opportunity listed above please comment below or email [email protected]