If you have a few hours to spare and are thinking about becoming a volunteer, depending on your interests, skills and availability there are a whole host of organisations here in Wimbledon Village that could provide you with the perfect opportunity to give back to your local community. Read on for some inspiration and ideas.
Wimbledon & Putney Commons
If you’re a nature lover, have an interest in conservation or just enjoy spending time in the great outdoors then donating a few hours to help the Conservators at Wimbledon & Putney Commons could be the perfect volunteering option. There are now over 100 regular volunteers giving their time and helping out with scrub clearance, litter picking, general estate maintenance, wildlife monitoring and support at events.
For more information contact Conservation and Engagement Officer, Peter Haldane by e-mail peter@wpcc.org.uk or call on 020 8788 7655
Wimbledon Museum
If you have an interest in local history and are 18 or over you may wish to consider a volunteer role at the Wimbledon Museum. Established in 1916 this small, independent museum on the Ridgway champions the history and people of Wimbledon’s Village, Town and Common. It is open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 2.30 pm to 5 pm.
The museum is run by The Wimbledon Society and as it is staffed entirely by volunteers they are often looking for help across a wide variety of roles. Volunteers come from all walks of life but share a common interest in promoting the past, present and future of the best of everything in Wimbledon. Each role requires different time commitments, but the Museum can be flexible to fit in with your availability. Training and support is available and once you have been a volunteer for at least 6 months, the Museum will be happy to supply references. Because access to the museum is restricted, please contact the Museum first if you have disabilities or additional support needs.
For more information please email museuminfo@wimbledonsociety.org.uk
Charity Stores
Volunteering in a charity shop is not only rewarding but can be a very sociable way to donate your free hours to a worthy cause. British Red Cross, Oxfam, St Raphael’s Hospice, Shelter and Mary’s Living & Giving all operate shops in the Village that depend on volunteer support. Using volunteers helps the shops reduce their operating costs, allowing a larger portion of the proceeds to go toward the charitable cause. Working as a volunteer in a charity shop you may be asked to help sort, prepare and price donated stock as well as sell items, so any retail or customer service experience is beneficial, though training will be provided.
To enquire about current volunteer roles in each store please follow the links above.
Wimbledon Windmill Museum
The Windmill is an iconic part of the Wimbledon landscape. The museum housed within it has exhibits for both young and old, covering windmills and milling as well as local history and the Scouting movement. As with the Wimbledon Museum, it is run entirely by volunteers. Volunteering for the Wimbledon Windmill Museum provides an excellent opportunity to give back to the local community while indulging your passion for history and heritage. You’ll have the chance to meet like-minded individuals, welcome visitors, and make their experience unforgettable. With a commitment of just three hours a month (only during the Summer) as well as social events, it’s easy to get involved and make a difference. You’ll be provided with all necessary training & guidance.
For more information and to express your interest in volunteering please complete the online form on their website.
Wimbledon Village & Common Walk & Talk
If you like to stay active and enjoy exploring the local area, you might consider volunteering with the Wimbledon Village & Common Walk & Talk group. This friendly team of volunteers runs a weekly gentle walk which starts every Saturday morning at the Wimbledon War Memorial. It is a chance for all generations to take a stroll, chat, meet friends and neighbours, make new friends and enjoy the local area together. It is run by the community for the community so depends entirely on volunteers.
For more information please visit their Facebook page.
Friends of Cannizaro Park
The Friends of Cannizaro Park is a team of volunteers dedicated to preserving, improving and promoting this beautiful local green space for the benefit of the community. The Friends is always keen to welcome new people to join their enthusiastic team of helpers. Volunteers can be any age from children upwards, and there are a wide variety of ways to contribute – from half an hour now and again, to assisting at specific events, or a more regular commitment.
If you have green fingers and are happy working outdoors you may wish to join the gardening volunteer team. This team is responsible for planting and maintenance and special projects at Cannizaro, liaising closely with the idverde gardening team, employed by Merton Council. They meet each Tuesday morning (weather permitting). To find out more email volunteering@cannizaropark.com or complete and submit the Volunteer Registration Form on the Friends’ website.
The Friends also has several teams of organisational volunteers that create and maintain communications and marketing campaigns and devise and run events for the park. The marketing team features an Instagram group, a newsletter team and website manager and copywriters while the events team includes volunteers who develop, organise and publicise events.
If you are interested in finding out more about volunteering in either of these areas, please contact marketing@cannizaropark.com or trustee.events@cannizaropark.com.
The Wimbledon Society
The overall objective of The Wimbledon Society is to ensure that Wimbledon remains a green an pleasant place to live. If you like to fundraise, organise events and outings, or have an interest in planning matters, or just love admin, they may have a role for you if you can spare a few hours a month.
For further information email:info@wimbledonsociety.org.uk
