March/April 2025
Thanet Volunteering Opportunities
Broadstairs Folk Week ……. 60th year! Folk Week volunteers are incredibly important to the Festival, as it just wouldn’t happen without you and, to say thank you, there are a range of benefits for volunteers, depending on how much time you are able to give, which include: Seeing your favourite performers for FREE! – Free camping with access to the Campsite Hub events – Free Volunteer T-shirt – Discounts for local businesses, plus the opportunity to be part of the fantastic week of course! Look here for some ideas on the volunteering opportunities available, and complete the registration form to secure your volunteering place soon. Folk Week runs from 9th -16th August.
Windmill Community Gardens Margate are always on the lookout for new volunteers to join their well established team, and currently have the following roles: GARDEN HELPER: Do you have some gardening or horticulture knowledge? Can you help guide participants in gardening tasks? MARKET GARDEN HELPER: Would you like to learn about chemical free food growing, would you like to help our team with our weekly veg bag by sowing, planting and harvesting. FAMILY GROUP HELPER: Are you someone who can engage children and families in diverse and interesting seasonal activities. Contact them here to find out more and apply.
Angels4Dogs in the heart of Thanet, is the result of a group of compassionate individuals who came together in 2011 with a shared mission: to save, rescue, and rehome stray and unwanted dogs that has blossomed into a beacon of hope and transformation for countless canine lives. Have you a few hours to give to help in their charity shop in Birchington to help this vital work? They would be delighted to hear from you here
MindSpace Thanet are looking for hub volunteers in their mental and emotional support wellbeing hubs in various locations across Thanet, who would be supporting the team, facilitating activities and assisting with the running of the hub. Are you a good listener, can you talk in a group setting, be empathetic? Ideally, this role would suit a counselling/mental health/coaching/psychology/ psychotherapy student looking for volunteering hours. Contact Naydene O’Brien on email heartinthecommunity@gmail.com or call 07885917419
Broadstairs Town Team Gardens‘ aim is to make the town an even nicer place to live in, work in and visit. They organise a range of gardening related activities on one or more of the eight sites maintain as a group in and around Broadstairs. Do you love working outdoors and as part of a team? Novice or experienced gardeners are needed – no experience necessary! Volunteers gain skills and enjoy the teamwork so contact Sue Wainwright, Trustee and Gardens Co-ordinator on email wainwrightsa@btinternet.com or call 07463 219836 to find out more.
Folkestone and Hythe Opportunities
Do you enjoy engaging with people and promoting wellbeing? Do you want to get involved with your local community? This is an excellent role for someone who is interested in singing and enjoys interacting with elderly people. Musical expertise is not necessary! Shapeshifter Productions are looking for volunteers to join the Smiling Sessions team – a group of musicians delivering high quality, interactive performances to prevent loneliness, improve wellbeing and encourage group interaction among senior citizens. More details here or contact Violaine Bailleul violaine@shapeshifter-productions.com call 0207 0971409
Social Enterprise Kent’s social supermarket, SE Kitchen, is an innovative community shop committed to combating food poverty and empowering individuals in need. This opportunity is in ASHFORD, but travel expenses will be paid from FOLKESTONE. Your help can bring this vital service to a new location, extending its impact to even more individuals and families in need. The role includes customer service, cleaning, stock management, deliveries, using the till, merchandising, ad-hoc delivery collections for small donations. Contact Helen Tomlinson,
Volunteer Co-ordinator h.tomlinson@sekgroup.org.uk or call 07362 393794, 01227 469970, 01843 210005.
Dover District Opportunities
There are several exciting opportunities coming up to volunteer with Dover & Deal Sea Cadet unit and, soon to be opened, Royal Marines detachment, who are a youth organisation charity affiliated to Sea Cadets UK that provides a head start in life for young people through nautical adventure and fun. Volunteers work, both directly with young people and behind the scenes, to help make a positive difference to teenagers and young people who are often struggling in today’s world. There are more details for Instructor and Detachment Commander posts on the links and application details are here.
The White Cliffs Countryside Partnership have sent us their latest task programme. It’s packed full of volunteer activities and ways that you can meet new people while helping your local countryside – dip in as and when it suits you! If you would like to find out more about any of the tasks, please contact the Ranger listed and always give them a call beforehand as they will look out for you and let you know of any last minute changes.
All Area Opportunities
Community Speakers needed! An important part of the work of Alzheimer’s Research UK, is raising awareness of dementia, and the vital role that the charity plays in spearheading the search for a cure. You can help engage your local community with the work we do by finding local groups to approach, then delivering talks and information sessions about dementia and the power of research to find a cure. Your talks will also encourage others to take action to accelerate progress, for example by donating, volunteering or taking part in research. Find out more and apply here.
Kent Coast Volunteering is looking for volunteer Befrienders for their Good Neighbours Service which is aimed at people who may otherwise not have anyone to support them. Your client could be someone who lives alone and is isolated, or they have family who they do not see often. Just to have someone visit for a coffee, maybe a volunteer who could take a client shopping, to hospital appointments, activities or just go for a walk – someone who could be that extra support for someone who needs it. Find out more details here and contact Sarah Murnane on sarah.murnane@kcv.org.uk or you can pop into the office in Park Street, Deal (adjacent to Age UK).
Kent Coast Volunteering also runs the Community Transport Service across Thanet, Dover, Folkestone & Hythe districts, and we are urgently looking for more drivers to join our team. Did you know that you can do voluntary work, including driving, if you have a mobility car? Well, you can! What a great way to do something enjoyable and help your local community at the same time. Contact Jess and the team at transport@kcv.org.uk. Mileage is paid and full training and support is provided.