Latest News and Stories from Volunteer Centre Sutton

Welcome to our blog! Here you'll find a whole range of stories, ideas and resources all about volunteering. If you'd like to narrow your search, please use the categories panel on this page, or click on a tag after any blog.

To round up this year of amazing volunteer stories, we spoke to some of the amazing MERU Christmas elves who transform toys to bring joy to disabled children and young people this Christmas.

Keywords: News - Stories - Volunteering

We are thrilled to announce that our Health Navigators Project has been shortlisted for the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion category at the 2024 Sutton Community Awards!

The Hong Kong Group Volunteering Project, run by Volunteer Centre Sutton from September to November 2024, has been a huge success with 112 participants registered.

Congratulations to our volunteer John Smith, who is a member of our Community Volunteer Squad, and also volunteers as a MAPS Mentor and a St Raphael’s Hospice Compassionate Neighbour.

For Trustees’ Week this November, we asked Vaskor, one of our Volunteer Centre Sutton trustees, to share his story.

Keywords: Stories - Volunteering

Several members of the local Hong Kong community, along with some of our Young Commissioners, joined the Beddington Park Big Autumn Clean Up in October, organised by the Friends of Beddington Park and the Rotary Club of Carshalton Park.

Four times a year we come together to get to know one another in a more relaxed way and support the brilliant initiative of Sutton Soup, one of the best networking opportunities for volunteer involving organisations.

Our Health Navigator Volunteers joined colleagues from Volunteer Centre Sutton and NHS South West London to celebrate the achievements of the project to date, including providing over 2,500 free health and wellbeing checks since May 2023.

Our Benefits Form Filling Volunteers, trained by Citizens Advice Sutton, have supported over 250 residents and helped secure successful claims worth over £250,000 to date!

October marks another Sutton Soup, as Peter Struik had the limelight in July, we’ve asked Jeff Richards, another “serial volunteer” to share his story to help inspire others to try volunteering.

Volunteer Centre Sutton is delighted to be able to offer a programme of volunteering opportunities to the Hong Kong Community in the London Borough of Sutton. This project is funded by the Greater London Authority via Sutton Council.

Our Health Navigators, including some of our youngest volunteers, 16-18 yr olds, were out in force to provide free health and wellness checks at this annual family fun day.

Register now for the 2024 Sutton Youth Summit, a drop in space to connect with other young people and celebrate Sutton’s diversity together to reduce violent crime, as part of World Inclusion Day and World Mental Health Day all in Black History month. 

For this month’s volunteer story, we asked one of our Young Commissioners who you may recognise from our homepage, to share a bit more of her story and how anyone can volunteer and make a difference, even if feeling a little nervous at the start.

A huge thank you to Sutton Council for hosting a live stream webinar this week encouraging staff to consider volunteering with MAPS Mentoring.

Keywords: Mentoring - News - Volunteering

Our Bonus August picnic ‘n’ play was a great opportunity for our Volunteer Advisors to get to know organisations looking for volunteers even better, to help our volunteer matching service improve.

To celebrate four amazing decades of Home-Start Sutton transforming family lives we hear from a number of their volunteers.

Marking one year of our Volunteer Story of the Month feature, we talk to Peter Struik “serial volunteer” extraordinaire, Chair of Sutton Soup, and active volunteer with EcoLocal, amongst many others!

Keywords: News - Stories - Volunteering

Over 130 people came to our Volunteers' Week celebration, to thank volunteers and to learn more about our Impact and our new Vision "Building better lives through volunteering".

3rd-9th June is Volunteers' Week, and the 40th anniversary of it. The celebration starts today. It’s a chance to recognise, celebrate and thank the UK’s incredible volunteers for all they contribute to our local communities, the voluntary sector, and society as a whole. We wanted to shine a light on an extraordinary young volunteer in the borough: Dom.

Keywords: News - Stories - Volunteering

Our Community Volunteer Squad continues to support local residents with one-off "helpful" tasks such as furtniture assembling, garden tidying, etc.  There are many local residents who are in circumstances preventing them from making basic repairs or completing various tasks themselves. This is where our volunteers step in, to help a local person to fix a problem

For May, a month bringing awareness to mental health, especially with the 2024 theme being Movement: Moving more for our mental health, we had a quick chat with Sara Lee from Cre8 Football.

Keywords: Stories - Volunteering

This month we hear from one of our longest serving MAPS mentors, Anthony French, about his experience over several years mentoring several young people in the borough.

A welcome-to-the UK course from Volunteer Centre Sutton helped Cynthia into volunteering as a Health Navigator.

This month we hear from two women about the effect befriending has had on their lives, in the lead up to International Women’s Day this month.

Three amazing volunteers from the Hong Kong Community in Sutton have kindly shared their stories in the run up to Lunar New Year celebrations this month.

Nine of our amazing Squad volunteers went to Sherwood Park School, to bring their library back to life

Instead of a daytime Volunteer Coordinators' Forum in January, we had a drop in evening social at Shinner and Sudtone followed by the main event of Sutton Soup. It enabled those of you who volunteer around a full time job to join us too.

We made it! Finishing up our 2024 Joyful January - daily doses of inspiration on our Facebook and Instagram pages to uplift your spirits. See how volunteering in our community helps both individuals and communities feel joyful and maybe a tempted to have a go yourself and get your friends along! Here's the roundup for Week 5.

Joyful January is back for 2024 - daily doses of inspiration on our Facebook and Instagram pages to uplift your spirits. See how volunteering in our community helps both individuals and communities feel joyful and maybe a tempted to have a go yourself and get your friends along! Here's the roundup for Week 4.

Our Volunteer story of the Month for January is with a "Back to School" themed. It is also International Day of Education on Wednesday 24th January. Duncan from REUK, Refugee Education UK shares his story.

Keywords: Stories - Volunteering

Joyful January is back for 2024 - daily doses of inspiration on our Facebook and Instagram pages to uplift your spirits. See how volunteering in our community helps both individuals and communities feel joyful and maybe a tempted to have a go yourself and get your friends along! Here's the roundup for Week 3.

Joyful January is back for 2024 - daily doses of inspiration on our Facebook and Instagram pages to uplift your spirits. See how volunteering in our community helps both individuals and communities feel joyful and maybe a tempted to have a go yourself and get your friends along! Here's the roundup for Week 2.

Joyful January is back for 2024 - daily doses of inspiration on our Facebook and Instagram pages to uplift your spirits. See how volunteering in our community helps both individuals and communities feel joyful and maybe a tempted to have a go yourself and get your friends along! Here's the roundup for Week 1.

December is a time for giving, presents as well as time. Are you buying gifts from charity shops at all? Shining the spotlight on our wonderful volunteers in the charity shops this winter.

Keywords: Stories - Volunteering

This month we are celebrating Befriending Week from 1-7th November. Fresh from her Serpentine Swim fundraising for us, Jo Bolton shares her story of being a befriender as part of Sutton Befrienders, along with her other volunteering and fundraising support.

Keywords: Stories - Volunteering

Ahead of Trustees’ Week in November, Historic Croydon Airport Trust shares with us the stories of two of their newest trustees. They are still looking for another trustee, read on and it might inspire you.

Keywords: Stories - Volunteering

Sutton Vision shares their story, just ahead of Befriending Week, of Adrian who volunteers as a telephone befriender for them.

Keywords: Stories - Volunteering

Volunteering as a Sutton Befriender helped Elisabete recuperate from her own mental health problems, as well as helping Pat to regain her confidence.

Alongside a MAPS Mentor, Sonny learnt to express himself, overcome his fears and and find more stability in life during a turbulent time.

Keywords: Mentoring - News - Volunteering

Focus on the MAPS Mentoring Esteem Pathway - supporting young people facing poor mental health, low self-confidence or self-esteem, self-harm and risk of suicide.

Keywords: Mentoring - Volunteering

This month we are celebrating both Volunteer Centre Sutton and St Raphael's Hospice being chosen as the Sutton Mayor's Charities of the year. This October we hear from Richard Ming, a volunteer from St Raphael's Hospice.

Keywords: Stories - Volunteering

Our MAPS Mentoring project has been supporting Ukrainian young people in the London Borough of Sutton, thanks to funding from Sutton Council.

Every month we are sharing inspirational volunteer stories, with September being the start of a new term and school year we thought it would be good to hear from one of the younger voices of the volunteering world.

Keywords: Stories - Volunteering

We had planned for nothing formal set up in August, however due to popular demand from our successful July Forum, Volunteer Coordinators’ Forum members asked for a casual meet up, picnic and a chance to play some games - so we made it happen!

A mentoring pair enjoying a meal, a game and a smile at the end of their year long mentoring relationship:

Keywords: Mentoring - Volunteering

Sutton Befrienders walking tennis group's seven week trial in June and July has proved so successful it will return in September!

Volunteer Centre Sutton's newest project: The Community Volunteer Squad is helping vulnerable residents across the borough.

Shining the light on a new volunteer story this month to give further insight into those individuals who transform our borough.

Keywords: Stories - Volunteering

Community Action Sutton kindly hosted the July Volunteer Coordinators’ Forum at their Hill House and Garden community venue. A friendly space for volunteer coordinators and those who work with volunteers to come together to network, learn and help one another.

Volunteer Health Navigators providing health checks to the local Ukraine Community at the 'Homes for Ukraine' event at The Salvation Army

We want to celebrate the volunteers that make our borough great, you, the individuals who give up your time to help others and make a real difference.

Keywords: Stories - Volunteering

Our annual event to celebrate the impact of Volunteer Centre Sutton and celebrate all that has been achieved over the past year took place on the afternoon of Thursday 6th July.

Over 150 members of the public came to meet 25+ local volunteering organisations at the Sutton Volunteer Showcase

We were delighted to welcome Ellie Simmonds to Sutton to meet some of our activity buddies, filmed for BBC Morning Live in the run up to Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day.

Get Involved with The Big Help Out!

At our most recent MAPS social, we set out to create a collaborative piece of art, in recognition of 2023's #ChildrensMentalHealthWeek theme “Let’s Connect”.

Keywords: Mentoring - Volunteering

Welcome to #JoyfulJanuary! We’re kickstarting 2023 with a whole month of volunteering opportunities to help you feel uplifted, bring joy to others and to your community.

In collaboration with Cheam Coterie, Volunteer Centre Sutton hosted a 'Welcome to the UK' course for Hong Kongers who have recently settled in Sutton, as part of our Integrating Sutton project.

Our MAPS Mentoring project supports many Care Leavers with one-to-one mentoring. To mark National Care Leavers Week 2022, we wanted to share the story of Dillon, a 21-year-old Care Leaver, and his experience of mentoring.

Join our team of Warm Spaces Volunteers

Keywords: News - Volunteering

Flora and her daughter Ariel moved to the UK 10 months ago

Bernard moved to Sutton from Hong Kong in August 2021

Our MAPS mentoring project supports many young carers with one to one mentoring.

The awards were live streamed on Wednesday 23 February across social media, hosted by comedian and actor Tim Vine.

Keywords: News - Volunteering

Give the gift of time this Christmas by volunteering in Sutton

Keywords: Volunteering

We spoke to Neil Davies, who joined Volunteer Centre Sutton's board in 2021, on why he decided to become a Trustee.

"During my mentoring year I have learnt It can be good to meet new people" Jaz, aged 12

Keywords: Mentoring - Volunteering

Michael arrived in the UK alone and unsure of his future

Keywords: Mentoring - Volunteering

"You meet so many different people every time you turn up for a shift, whether you're working with them or helping them and every day is another great experience." Read about the experiences of one our Nonsuch Vaccine Site volunteers

Keywords: Stories - Volunteering

As the Nonsuch Vaccination site winds down, we reflect on the past four and bit months, and an incredible team of 190 volunteers who have made it all possible

Keywords: Stories - Volunteering

We could not be more proud of Pete Jemson, winner of the "Oustanding Volunteer" award at the 2020 Sutton Community Awards, and now nominated by Sutton Council for BBC Radio London's "Make a Difference Hero" awards

Keywords: Stories - Volunteering

Since the start of the pandemic, a staggering 12.4 million adults in the UK have volunteered – with more than a third stepping forward for the first time. Read Katie's story about how lockdown gave her the impetus to volunteer with us

Keywords: Stories - Volunteering

Congratulations to one of our longest standing MAPS Mentors, Derek Terrell, who was awarded Outstanding Volunteer at the 2019 Sutton Community Awards

Keywords: Mentoring - Volunteering

We celebrated the impact of volunteering in Sutton with a public event at the Sutton Central Library

Read Edina's story about her volunteering journey into full time employment

Keywords: Stories - Volunteering

Do you know an individual or group that deserves special recognition? Nominate now for Sutton's Community Awards

Pat Stanley, Volunteering Development Manager, shares the key take-aways from our July Volunteering Forum

One of our long-standing MAPS mentors shares her experiences

For Refugee Week 2019, our Community Engagement Coordinator, Marta Rocco, reflects on her own volunteering experiences supporting refugees

Keywords: Stories - Volunteering

Throughout Volunteers' Week we're sharing 'thank you' messages to volunteers from organisations in Sutton. Sutton Carers Centre would like to thank Jean Sharpington.

Throughout Volunteers' Week we're sharing 'thank you' messages to volunteers from organisations in Sutton. The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity would like to thank Valerie Allsopp.

Throughout Volunteers' Week we're sharing 'thank you' messages to volunteers from organisations in Sutton. The Dreaming Tree Project would like to thank Bambina.

Throughout Volunteers' Week we're sharing 'thank you' messages to volunteers from organisations in Sutton. The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity would like to thank Denise Clarke.

Throughout Volunteers' Week we're sharing 'thank you' messages to volunteers from organisations in Sutton. Sutton Community Works would like to thank Vicki.

Throughout Volunteers' Week we're sharing 'thank you' messages to volunteers from organisations in Sutton. Age UK Sutton would like to thank Rob Campion.

Throughout Volunteers' Week we're sharing 'thank you' messages to volunteers from organisations in Sutton. Home-Start Sutton would like to thank Diana Broad.

Throughout Volunteers' Week we're sharing 'thank you' messages to volunteers from organisations in Sutton. Home-Start Sutton would like to thank Sue Elson

Throughout Volunteers' Week we're sharing 'thank you' messages to volunteers from organisations in Sutton and beyond. Jigsaw4u would like to thank Jacqui O'Connor

Throughout Volunteers' Week we're sharing 'thank you' messages to volunteers from organisations in Sutton. Age UK Sutton would like to thank Sue

Throughout Volunteers' Week we're sharing 'thank you' messages to volunteers from organisations in Sutton. Our MAPS team would like to thank Caroline Magin

Throughout Volunteers' Week we're sharing 'thank you messages to volunteers from organisations in Sutton, starting with a thank you to one of our own volunteers

"I have volunteered forever" read Mary's inspiring story

Throughout Volunteers' Week we're sharing 'thank you' messages to volunteers from organisations in Sutton. St Raphael's Hospice would like to thank Jenny Watkins

There are currently around 850,000 people in the UK with dementia. Dementia Friends is a programme led by the Alzheimer's Society to change people's perceptions of dementia and to create dementia-friendly communities.

Volunteers' Week is a chance to celebrate and say thank you for the fantastic contribution millions of volunteers make across the UK.

Spending time in green space or bringing nature into your everyday life can benefit both your mental and physical wellbeing. And doing these things as a volunteer will benefit you even more!

For the fourth year running, Volunteer Centre Sutton is delighted to support ShareTheMiracle, a community initiative collecting chocolate eggs to donate to those less fortunate at Easter.

Keywords: News - Volunteering

Andrew and Sue met volunteering in 1971 and have just celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary!

Between the 1st and 24th December, we're bringing you a new volunteering opportunity from organisations in Sutton and beyond

Tuesday 27th November is #GivingTuesday and to celebrate we want to share with you some very festive volunteering opportunities in Sutton this Christmas as well as ways you can support local giving initiatives.

Keywords: Volunteering

A brief summary of some of the findings from our recent research pilot looking into the effects of volunteering on health and wellbeing

Pat, our Volunteering Development Manager, relates the story of Myra, one of the participants in our prescribed volunteering project, who said that volunteering helped her health recovery.

Keywords: Stories - Volunteering

Pat, our Volunteering Development Manager, relates the story of Patrick, one of the participants in our prescribed volunteering project, who said that volunteering is the connection between his old world and his new world.

Keywords: Stories - Volunteering

This Trustees Week, many organisations will be celebrating their trustees who volunteer their time and skills in governance. Trustees make a huge impact - why not look into becoming one yourself?

Keywords: Stories - Volunteering

We asked Judith Smith, Pastor of Horizon Church Sutton to write a guest blog about the positive experiences her church has had hosting Employer-Supported Volunteer teams at her church building, from which several community projects are run. She shares about the impact of ESV, some of the challenges and her top tips for any organisation thinking of hosting an ESV team.

Matt (Digital Inclusion Coordinator) interviews Helen Gasparelli (Mentoring & Advocacy Manager) about her recent Employee Volunteering (EV) experience.

Keywords: Stories - Volunteering

Priya volunteers at the Refugee and Migrant Network in Sutton, where she teaches English as a Second language to adults

Keywords: Stories - Volunteering

Petrica is a mum of 2 teenage boys who has lived in the area the whole of her life. After thinking about volunteering for years, she took the plunge on New Year's Day, 2010

Keywords: Stories - Volunteering

69-year old Noreen has lived in Sutton for almost 5 decades and spent 3 years at Volunteer Centre Sutton helping people find volunteering roles that match their skills and passions. She told us how this gave her a new purpose in life

Keywords: Stories - Volunteering