Frontline volunteering
Connecting Islington’s corporate employees with local residents
Frontline volunteering offers a unique opportunity for individuals to make a direct impact in their communities, providing vital support to those who need it most. Volunteers gain valuable skills, build meaningful connections, and experience the fulfilment of contributing to real change. For beneficiaries, frontline volunteers bring hope, resources, personal attention, and empowerment. Whether it's offering essential services, running an upskilling workshop or socialising over cakes and games, frontline volunteering is a powerful way to make a difference, both for the volunteers and the communities they serve.
Our key opportunities
Social Hubs
This social afternoon hosted at corporate offices, is an opportunity to tackle social isolation experienced in Islington. Volunteers and Islington’s residents will connect over tea and cake, and an interactive activity such as origami workshops, lively dance sessions or relaxing chair yoga, all whilst engaging in meaningful, heartfelt conversations that leave a lasting impact.
Conversational English
Conversational English activities provide community-based support for Islington-based people seeking asylum, whilst they await a decision on their status. Many asylum seekers will have recently arrived to the UK and can struggle to navigate in their new surroundings. Opportunities to take part in stimulating activities are all key to improving their welfare and knowledge of English language whilst meeting new people. The two types of Conversational English activities are:
- Business English. Volunteers will participate in a Business English class and engage the participants in conversations around jobs and careers.
- Tour around King's Cross area. Volunteers will accompany a small group of asylum seekers on a walk in the King’s Cross area while engaging in conversations about the nearby landmarks.
Digital Buddies
Digital Buddies is an opportunity for volunteers to upskill our community partners’ members on a 1:1 basis helping them use technology in searching and applying for jobs, e.g., navigating a job board, using emails for job applications, attaching relevant documents.
Time to Talk
Taking place around national Time to Talk day, these workshops on mental health are delivered to primary school students across Islington Schools, with the focus being 'what makes a mentally healthy school?' Volunteer teams of around 3 will work with students to encourage conversations around what it means to be mentally healthy and how schools can support pupils' mental wellbeing.