Volunteering

Nexus School, Upper Haysden Lane (down the road from Judd)

Nexus is a special school for children and young people with profound, severe and complex needs, many of whom are on the Autistic Spectrum.  There are volunteering opportunities at the school which would be especially appropriate for aspiring medics. 

Volunteering and work experience with Symbol Family Support Services working with Kent County Council

There are  volunteering opportunities with Symbol which provides care for vulnerable people in their homes and works with children and adults with learning disabilities and autism.

In the past Symbol has managed to place students with leading Speech and Language therapists, psychologists, occupational therapists and also within fundraising!

For students wishing to work with children, Symbol runs term and holiday time activities for children with additional needs in Tonbridge.

For opportunities in your area visit:

https://do-it.org/

https://vinspired.com.volunteer

Emily Jackson House, Sevenoaks - care home for the elderly

Volunteers needed to help with activities and engage with the residents. (Sevenoaks School students are also currently volunteering.)

There are various opportunities available including the following:

• 1 hour sessions once or multiple times a week.

• Choirs or music groups to perform for us.

• Placements over half terms or at weekends.

• Work experience.

• Drama performances.

• Poetry or book reading.

Students over 16 years old who are volunteering outside school time or as work experience will require a DBS which the home will process internally.

Nova Children’s Project

Nova is currently looking for volunteers to help out with weekend clubs and holiday playschemes. The children who attend our clubs are aged 8-19 and have moderate to severe learning disabilities, including autism, global developmental delay, Down's syndrome, cerebral palsy. The clubs are play-based and are run from specialist buildings which have a range of facilities for the children to access, such as soft play, sensory room, trampoline and jacuzzi. The role of volunteers is to work alongside Nova’s staff in looking after the children and making sure they're having a good time. 

Nova currently runs services in Southborough at Sunrise Children's Centre (London Road, TN4 0RJ) and in Tonbridge at Oakley School (Waveney Road, TN10 3JU). The commitment asked for is an average of one day (approx. 6-7 hours) per month for a minimum of six months. When volunteers sign up, they are sent a calendar which shows when all the clubs are and they can choose which dates they would like to sign up for, so it's quite flexible and easy to fit around other commitments. 

Volunteering with Kent Libraries and Archives

Lots of different roles available including helping children with homework and various craft activities.

www.westkent.org