V-Bite

1st November 2010 Hi Everyone We have two one-off volunteering opportunities available to students which are perfect for those of you with limited free time:

1) Nature conservation volunteering for International Students

If you are interested in volunteering for one day with a nature conservation project, having a fun day out with the opportunity to get to know new people, this is your chance! We have organised a one off volunteering opportunity with the East Sussex Countryside Management (ESCM). ESCM are responsible for the 16 countryside sites located in East Sussex and organise the Voluntary Ranger Service. Activity: scrub and path clearance at Ditchling Common Country Park Date: Monday 8th November 2010 Time: 9.15 AM- 3.45 PM (actual volunteering 10 AM-3 PM) Please note that there is only space for 8 volunteers. Food, transport and gloves are provided! To take part in this volunteering opportunity, you need to register with us – first, book an appointment with us - have a look on our website to find out when student appointments are available, and then e-mail projectv@sussex.ac.uk

2) Garden clearance and preparation – open to all students

You will volunteer alongside University of Brighton students on the Brighton and Hove’s Food Partnership’s Harvest project, specifically their ‘Grow Your Neighbours Own' Scheme, a landshare scheme designed to help gardeners with little or no space grow on land that is not being used for growing. You will help to clear a care home garden so that it may be used for growing. Date: Wednesday 17th November Time: 9.30 AM- 3 PM (actual volunteering 10.30 AM-2.30 PM) Activity: basic gardening skills such as tearing up weeds, bushed and clearing a garden to make it ready for growing vegetables. Food, transport and gloves are provided and we are looking to recruit 5 volunteers. To take part in this volunteering opportunity, you need to register with us, this takes about 20 minutes: first, book an appointment with us - have a look on our website to find out when student appointments are available, and then e-mail projectv@sussex.ac.uk VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES We have over 250 volunteering opportunities registered with us of which most recruit all year round. This week we registered the following new volunteering placements with us:

1) Games Volunteer with Groundwork Solent Volunteer ID number: 550 Under ‘Community Work’ in Activity Search Under ‘Conservation/Environment’ in Area Search.

2) Games Ambassador with Groundwork Solent Volunteer ID number: 551 Under ‘Community Work’ in Activity Search Under ‘Conservation/Environment’ in Area Search.

The following projects are also especially keen to recruit volunteers:

1) The Bridge Community Education Centre is a community-led education centre based in Mouslecoomb, an area of high deprivation in Brighton. The centre provides a wide range of courses alongside support services aimed at work and learning engagement and a fully supported volunteer programme. There are a number of volunteer roles available including Café & Kitchen Assistant, Adult Learning Support Assistant, Fundraising Support Volunteer. Whilst recruiting for all positions, the project is particularly keen to secure volunteers to provide support in the café and kitchen. You will be based in the project's busy community café, the hub and heart of the education centre. Tasks include: Basic food preparation; serving food, drinks and snacks to customers in a friendly and helpful manner; handling cash and operating the electronic till; keeping the café area clean and tidy at all times; clearing away used dishes, cups and cutlery; washing up and putting items back in the appropriate place; emptying rubbish as and when needed. You need to have good communication skills, a friendly manner and the ability to handle money. Some experience of customer service is desirable though not essential.

2) Rockinghorse supports children's medical care services in Sussex and do this by organising fundraising events. All events need volunteers for stewarding, collecting donations, registration and for bigger events, volunteers help with pre-event organisation tasks. They are currently recruiting volunteers to assist with their annual charity ball being held on Saturday the 20th November. You need to be motivated and able to show initiative.

To get brief details of these opportunities (and all those we have registered), use the ‘Opportunity Search’ facility on our website: www.sussexstudent.com/volunteering/ Then if you wish to find out more about how you can get involved in any of the opportunities, contact us on projectv@sussex.ac.uk to make an appointment to register with us. DON’T FORGET TO DROP-IN AT THE DROP-IN! We want you to find the right volunteering placement and want to remind you to use the Project V Drop-In resource area for this purpose. The Drop-In (located next to the Project V desks in the Activities Centre) consists of a number of folders which provide additional information on some of the projects

that we have registered with us, and a computer set up purely for students to use to browse through volunteering opportunities on our database. Please do come and use the drop-in area, it is YOUR volunteering information resource and is open from Monday-Friday 10.00 am to 4.30pm. PROJECT V CLOSURE DAY On Wednesday 10th November, please note that we will be closed in order to attend the NUS (National Union of Students) and UCL (University and College Union – a staff trade union) organised ‘Fund Our Future: Stop Education Cuts’ demonstration. We urge you to come and make history with us! This sort of thing doesn't happen every day and will be a major landmark in Higher Education history. Students from all over the UK will be coming to London so make sure your friends from other universities come and join us on our big day out in London. Read all about the demo and how you can sign up, on the student union website: www.sussexstudent.com That’s all for this week. Any questions, comments, concerns, just get in touch. Michaela Rossmann and Naomi Ashman Volunteering Manager & Volunteer Placement Co-ordinator Project V, Students’ Union Activities Centre 1st Floor, Falmer House University of Sussex projectv@sussex.ac.uk www.sussexstudent.com/volunteering (01273) 873387 The aim of V-Bite is to keep you up to date with volunteering opportunities (new ones come in every week) and to let you know about anything else related to volunteering that we think you may wish to know about. If you would like to be unsubscribed from this mailing list, please e-mail projectv@sussex.ac.uk