Sense volunteer newsletter, June 2023
Happy Pride Month! June also saw Volunteer’s week, so there has been lots to celebrate recently.
Read on for upcoming events, ideas for you buddying sessions and details on our coffee morning for Holidays volunteers.
- Upcoming events
- Take part in our TikTok challenge
- Buddying inspo – ideas for June
- Happy Volunteers’ Week!
- Volunteer of the month
- Important information – on-call numbers and feedback form
Upcoming events
Join our Virtual Buddying TikTok challenge
Something different for you all to do! It’s social, challenging and best of all… FUN!
So… you’ve all heard of TikTok challenges… well this year, Virtual Buddying is starting its own Challenge series. This means everyone can have a go without the worry of posting anything on social media! It’s just fun between us virtual buddies.
Just like on TikTok, one buddy pair will start a challenge, it might be something you have seen and wanted to do on TikTok or something different. They will record on zoom their challenge, with an explanation of what it is and what we have to do, and then send it to us here at Virtual Buddies.
Sign up and make sure you complete the video permissions if you want to join in!
Buddying inspo
Stuck for ideas for new activities with your buddy? Here’s some inspiration:
Virtual buddying activities
Buddying activities
Remember to send us pictures of any activities you guys do together!
Manchester
Manchester Festival of Nature, Heaton Park, Middleton Road, Higher Blackley, M25 2SW
- Cost: Free
- 25th June, All day
Family friendly arts, crafts and musical activities, to introduce visitors to the brilliant wildlife of Manchester!
RNCM Young Explorers – Sing + Sing 2, Royal Northern College of Music, 124 Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9RD
- Cost – £8
- 18th June, 2pm – 4pm
An incredible afternoon of live music from The Untold Orchestra as they perform songs from the hit films, Sing and Sing 2.
Didsbury Arts Festival, Various venues
- Cost: Various prices (Please ask the team if you and your buddy would like to attend something costing over £10)
- 24th June – 2nd July
A rich programme of diverse music, film, theatre, art, dance and literature events and workshops across this exciting week-long festival. Please look at the festival programme to find out more!
London
Redbridge Parks Tennis Launch – Sunday 11th June
The morning session will be at Valentine’s Park and the afternoon session will take place at Goodmayes Park. Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity to participate in several FREE coaching sessions delivered by the National Tennis coaching team, catering to all ages and abilities. Book your spot now before they’re all gone!
Night Owls at the Science Museum – Saturday 27th May (6:30pm – 9:30pm)
- Free (booking needed, 16+)
Night Owls is a sensory friendly event for visitors aged 16+ who need a quieter environment to enjoy the museum.
Introduction to Bushcraft – Saturday 13 May (10:30am – 3:30pm)
- Hainault Forest Country Park. Ages 16+. Tickets £10.
Join Tinder Sticks for an adult bushcraft workshop discovering basic bushcraft skills. This session will focus on how to make fire using natural materials and the importance of shelter, as well as how to find and purify water and learning how to whittle! Develop your outdoor confidence in a beautiful woodland setting.
Celebrating Volunteer’s Week
The first week of June was Volunteers’ Week. We shared lots of your stories on our social media. We shared:
- The story of how Claire’s and her buddy Catherine have developed a strong friendship.
- How Jenny found the right career through her volunteering experience.
- How Bethany helped Olivia and mum Sam through the pandemic.
Email [email protected] to join.
Volunteer of the month – Charlie Ockleston
For the past year Charlie has found the time to be a Virtual Buddy to not only one but two different Buddies simultaneously.
All three are students and offer one another support and stimulation. Charlie always gives fantastic feedback about the lively and varied conversations with his Buddies – they’ve discussed everything from geopolitics to Dr Who. A huge thank you to Charlie for being such a diligent, supportive and passionate volunteer!
Important information
Contact details
Virtual Buddying
If you have any safeguarding concerns during the coming month, please call or email your assigned Sense staff as soon as possible between the hours of 9am-5:00pm.
If your concern is more urgent and you need to speak to someone immediately or during non-working hours, please use the Sense on-call number: 07557220433
Alice Green( Project Coordinator: [email protected], 07518902681
Deanne Echarri (Project Assistant): [email protected], 07816599138
Jerry Dawson (Project Assistant): [email protected], 07816643093
Sam Parkinson (Project Assistant): [email protected], 07816643187
Rosanna Lowe (Project Assistant): [email protected], 07967 274333
Day buddying
Manchester Buddies:
Manchester Buddies – please remember to provide feedback after each session.
On-call number: 07757 220433
Kate Weston (Programme Coordinator): [email protected], 07855 011752
Amy Lasen (Programme Assistant): [email protected]
Redbridge Buddying Programme
Lucy Campbell (Programme Coordinator): [email protected], 07973 792420
Carre Smyth (Programme Assistant): [email protected], 07815 996064
The LEAP Team
Camilla McCready-Pay (Programme coordinator): [email protected], 07876870941
Jane Chanakira (Programme Assistant): [email protected], 07816498781
Niamh Milligan (Programme Assistant): [email protected], 07815996206
Holidays
Email: [email protected]
Got an idea for how to improve Sense vounteering?
Got an idea for how to improve volunteering at Sense? Want to share some feedback? Or do you just want to ask a question and chat about your experience?
Contact us at [email protected].
Buddies – don’t forget your feedback!
Join the Sense mission
We’re always hiring. Check out our latest job listings.