We really need volunteers at the moment. The past couple of years brought unprecedented change. Lots of us have got used to being so much more alone than before. For so many, that isolation can be devastating. We want to make sure we can continue to welcome anyone and everyone into our community space, to bring our shop & cafe and to restart community benefit activities that get people together.
We have fantastic teams and managers, and we really need more hands on deck - so that we can make sure everyone enjoys their part and that we can ensure a great service for our customers.
Could you help? There are details below of two support roles (Leaflet Distribution Organiser and Board member) and below those, details of how you can get involved on the ground in the shop & cafe.
Prefer to be behind the scenes?
We're currently looking for people to fill two important roles in the Talking Shop
Leaflet Distribution Organiser Sarah Grylls, our present Leaflet Distribution Organiser, has been doing a splendid job for over eight years and has earned a rest! This is a really useful supporting role for Talking Shop, that you can do from home and in your own way, and it could be shared between two people if you would like to apply in a pair. We deliver to every dwelling in Sandford plus some in Littlemore, Kennington and Rose Hill, and a few schools and pubs nearby. The leaflet distribution organiser needs to be:
A good administrator, comfortable with spreadsheets, database and email
A good communicator who respects and appreciates others
Able to handle a bit of uncertainty and occasionally spring into action to solve a problem
Able to be assertive from time to time
Sarah has kindly offered to support the new person for their first few goes at it. Sarah says “It does demand some organisational and administrative skills; time-wise though it doesn't amount to a lot. If you have a reasonable attention to detail and also enjoy communicating with people and a bit of problem-solving, this could be a role for you!”
Both of these roles are voluntary and unpaid; reasonable expenses are reimbursed.
Board member We have a space on the Board for someone with some experience in managing buildings and facilities. The Board as a whole exists to ensure that the Talking Shop meets its stated aims. Individual members of the Board are also individually responsible for certain aspects which ensure that the managers have what they need to deliver their tasks safely, legally, effectively. This role involves:
Ensuring the building is safe, secure and in a good state of repair. Talking Shop rents space from the Village Hall Committee, so this most requires liaising with Committee members over the major shared aspects of the building such as utilities, security etc.
Ensuring equipment is safe and functioning. You might, for example, find yourself working with the managers to source a new freezer, and making sure it is properly installed.
Advising on health & safety. We have the full range of H&S policies which need updating from time to time, and manager occasionally need advice on issues which arise.
Members generally attend a meeting once a month, responding to queries by email in bween times. We also try to take an interest in all aspects of the project’s life and support managers and volunteers where we can.
To apply, please write to Clare Wakeham, Interim Chair, at secretary.talkingshop@gmail. Please also get in touch if you’d like to know more, or for an informal discussion of the role.
Would you like to be in the shop & cafe? There are many different ways to help..
If you have 2-3 hours a week you could: * Do a shift in the shop * Make soup, curry, stew - whatever you like to cook - using the fab veg we get in our Oxford Food Bank delivery * Help at the Saturday market - a very friendly way to start the weekend * Buddy a volunteer who needs more support
If you have 2 hours every now and then you could: * Be part of our ad hoc catering group, help to make sandwiches, teas for when there are training groups in the village hall * Be on the emergency Rota for the shop * Organise our book donations so they're easy to browse and buy * Bake some cookies or a cake that we can sell - in our kitchen, with our great ovens, all ingredients provided * Take the laundry from the shop (aprons and tea towels) and do a wash.
Other Roles: * Help us restart Our Customer Council - we used to have a group of customers who helped looked us ensure we've got what people want in our shop, we'd like to start that up again. Help us with price comparisons, finding suppliers & more fun stuff. * Social Media Volunteer - could you help us keep people up to date with what's happening in Talking Shop?
Still wondering, why get involved? Did you know volunteering is Good for You
Sometimes even when we have lived somewhere for a long time, we still don’t feel a part of things and particularly after a year like the last one. It can be hard to know how to take that step. Volunteering at Talking Shop is a friendly, gently way to meet more people and you will make a huge difference to others by helping to keep our doors open to a community space, welcoming to all.
The NHS says “there’s good evidence that volunteering brings benefits to both the person volunteering & the organisation & people they support... Improved quality of life.. Better ability to cope with ill health.. Healthier lifestyle.. Meeting new people.. Improved self-esteem & sense of purpose... Click here for more detail
To find out more, to ask any volunteering questions or to get involved please pop into the shop or message Fiona, our Volunteers' Manager, directly here -