Volunteering

Volunteers are superheroes. They give their time, skills and energy to benefit their community, the environment and/or someone outside their immediate friends and family. We are so proud of our volunteers, they are a crucial part of the RAB team and make everything run smoothly.

Why volunteer with RAB?

There are many reasons to volunteer, so why choose RAB? People choose RAB for many reasons. It could be that there is some experience of sight loss, either personal or within a family; or a desire to help out locally.

Volunteering also offers opportunities to meet people, make friends, learn new skills. Volunteering around people with sight loss can help give different perspectives on the way people interact with the world. Volunteering is for everyone: some of our volunteers are living with sight loss and we welcome volunteers with other disabilities, physical, and mental health conditions.

Our Volunteer Coordinator will work to make your volunteering experience successful and will provide you with an initial induction and training. We can also help out with any accreditations that may be required, such as food hygiene certification.

Volunteers with RAB must be over 16 and some volunteer activities require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

We are happy to provide references for volunteers who have been regularly volunteering with us for at least six months.

Hands-on volunteers:

Our clubs simply wouldn’t work without the help of volunteers. Hands-on volunteers at RAB are particularly important as many of our service users need assistance. Our volunteers help with transport, make our social clubs workable and fun, prepare food, lead craft and gardening activities, help guide our rambles; and more!

Fundraising volunteers:

We welcome anyone who wants to help us raise our funds and profile. From bucket collections, to helping with stalls at fetes, to sponsored events there are lots of ways to make a difference.

If you want to run an event or do a sponsored activity to support us; we can help advise you. Please contact us.

Specialist volunteering:

Pro bono offering of skills and/or service really helps smaller charities like RAB as it allows us to do things that could normally be cost-prohibitive. We’ve had volunteers help with our IT, help members with their IT issues, office administration, and working on our newsletter. If you have a skill you’d like to share, please contact us.

Melissa’s experience

“I loved volunteering at RAB and always go back to visit whenever I can. When I first started volunteering, I was very nervous but that quickly changed as everyone was so kind and welcoming. Honestly, most weeks the Friday craft sessions would be the highlight of my week! RAB gave me the supportive environment I needed to improve my confidence and make me feel ready to go back into the working world. I was very sad to leave but I make sure to return in the school holidays (I am now a teacher). The environment at Walford Hall is one of fun and positivity, once you are a part of the team, whether as staff, a volunteer or a member, you know that you will always be part of the RAB family ?”