Wandsworth Care Alliance

Volunteer Involving Organisations (VIO) Network Meeting recap September 2025

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The VIO Network meeting was held online on Wednesday 10th September where we joined by speakers, job coaches Chance James and Emma Buckell of Shaw Trust who spoke on Volunteering Without Barriers: Neurodiversity and Engagement Lead Cassim of Kooth who spoke about Mental Health in volunteering.

In the meeting Shaw Trust speakers gave a presentation and discussed the ways in which organisations can incorporate methods to support neurodivergent volunteers through communication that supports the needs of neurodivergent young people, identifying and removing barriers whilst creating adaptions in volunteering opportunities. Shaw Trust shared that they are happy to offer free training to help build inclusivity in the workplace.

Kooth who support children and young people between the ages of 10 – 25 across 6 SWL boroughs gave a presentation on the services that they provide. A free online, safe and anonymous counselling and emotional wellbeing support platform. Kooth who open 365 days a year provide different types of practitioners for the needs of all young people who are referred to them or get in touch. Kooth believe that no problem is ever too small to speak with them about.

If you would like to get in to contact with any of the speakers, you can contact the speakers by their email addresses.

Chance James – chance.james@shaw-trust.org.uk
Emma Buckell – emma.buckell@shaw-trust.org.uk
Cassim Kaweesa – ckaweesa@kooth.com

Sustainability September; Sustainable Volunteering Opportunities in Wandsworth

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If you’re passionate about sustainability, community, and making a positive impact, there are plenty of volunteering opportunities and local initiatives in Wandsworth that align with greener living. From digital support to gardening, cooking, and waste reduction, here’s how you can get involved.

Volunteering opportunities

Digital Champion – Tech-Your-Time: Help bridge the digital divide by volunteering as a Digital Champion. You’ll be supporting people to gain essential digital skills, enabling them to access services, stay connected, and feel more confident online.

One-Off Volunteering Day – Pick and Pack Baby Bank Helper: Join a local baby bank for a day to sort, pack, and distribute essential items for families in need. A perfect short-term opportunity with a big impact.

Client Gardener Support Volunteer: If you love being outdoors, you can support clients with gardening, helping them connect with nature while maintaining community green spaces.

Community Growing Sessions

  • Every Sunday, 10 am – 12 pm: Join weekly gardening sessions that focus on growing food together and sharing skills.
  • Mindful Growing (Tuesdays, 12.30 – 2.30 pm): Combine sustainability with wellbeing by engaging in mindful gardening practices.

Wandsworth Digital Champions: Become part of a wider network of volunteers helping residents develop digital confidence and independence.

FoodCycle – Cooking or Hosting: Contribute to FoodCycle in SW11 by cooking or hosting free community meals made from surplus food. It’s a great way to fight food waste while bringing people together.

Sustainable charities and businesses

Curating Space to Grow – Paradise Cooperative Charity Wandsworth: A green hub for community-led food growing, education, and sustainability initiatives.

The Friends of Wandsworth Common: Support conservation and community projects to keep Wandsworth Common thriving as a shared public space.

Waste Not Want Not (Battersea): An initiative tackling food waste by redistributing surplus food to those who need it.

Reuse Workshop – WRWA: Hands-on workshops where you can learn practical upcycling and reuse skills while reducing waste.

Richmond Furniture Scheme: A social enterprise giving furniture a second life, reducing landfill waste, and supporting vulnerable people.

First Mile – Business Waste Solutions: Helping local businesses recycle more and send less to landfill with sustainable waste collection services.

Upcoming events

The Good Life – Sustainability Skills Workshops

Practical workshops designed to help you develop hands-on sustainability skills, from growing food to reducing waste at home.

Sustainable September – Green-Focused Events Across Wandsworth

Wandsworth’s “Sustainable September” returns with over 80 events and activities celebrating environmental action. Wandsworth Borough Council
Highlights include:
• Balham Big Green Fair (6 September) Wandsworth Borough Council
• Paradise Cooperative Harvest Festival (7 September) Wandsworth Borough Council
• Sustainable Saturday Spectacular (13 September) Wandsworth Borough Council
• Southfields Harvest 10th anniversary (27 September) Wandsworth Borough Council
• Nature walks, repair and recycle cafés, recycled art, community growing, fruit pressing and lots more.

Why get involved?

Sustainability starts with community. Whether you have an hour a week or just a day to give, volunteering locally helps reduce waste, supports biodiversity, and builds stronger social connections. By engaging with these opportunities, you’ll be part of the growing movement for a greener, more resilient Wandsworth.

RM Partners NHS Cancer Alliance – WhatsApp Channel

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RM Partners NHS Cancer Alliance have launched an official RM Partners WhatsApp Channel to share trusted cancer information directly with people and communities across north west and south west London.

If you’re reading this message on your phone, simply tap here to follow the RM Partners WhatsApp channel. If you’re reading this from another device, just search for ‘RM Partners NHS Cancer Alliance’ under the ‘Updates’ tab directly in WhatsApp.

Your guide to volunteering in Wandsworth: 5 steps to get started

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Are you thinking of volunteering? Then we want to help highlight some key steps to help you find the best volunteering opportunities to suit your interests, experience and capabilities.

  1. Think about your interests
    Before applying for a volunteering opportunity and in order to choose a suitable opportunity it is always helpful to identify what your active interests are. Oftentimes volunteers will choose a volunteering opportunity based on what they have an interest in and what they know or feel like they will be best at.
  2. Think about your capabilities
    In the early stage of applying for a volunteering opportunity, it is always good to consider your strengths so that you, the organisation, and the work your volunteering to help can get the best out of your abilities and experience.

    If you are unsure that you can fully commit to a long period of volunteering, it may be best to not apply for an opportunity that would like a volunteer to commit for a period of time. If you know that you have a lot going on or you are a full-time employee it may be best to realistically review your capabilities so that you don’t commit to more than you need to.

    If you see a volunteering opportunity that is of interest to you but you know you may not always be able to go to the location of the volunteering opportunity it may be best to realistically assess before applying or ensure that it is made to known to the organisation.

  3. Think about your availability
    When applying for a volunteering opportunity you will need to determine how much you can input into the work of volunteering, you will also need to be practical about the amount of time that you can commit to volunteering and the day/s.

    This helps the organisation you’re volunteering with know what you can do within the specific amount of time that you will be volunteering, how much training you will need and what will work best for both of you whilst you are volunteering.

  4. Think about your reasons for volunteering
    What are your reasons for choosing to volunteer? Is there a deep desire to see change, to offer your service to help others, to see improvement in your community, to make use of your skills, to help a specific cause that is close to you?

    Whatever the reason may be it is always good to allow the reason to help encourage and be the motivation for you whilst you volunteer.

  5. Apply for the volunteering opportunity
    Now you are ready to apply for a volunteering opportunity or a few on Volunteering Wandsworth and wait to hear back from the organisation! Of course, if you need any assistance whilst looking for a volunteering opportunity then you can always contact us by sending an email or giving us a call.

You can visit Volunteering Wandsworth to find your next volunteering opportunity.

If you would like to speak to a member of the team about volunteering you can email or call us on the following:

volunteering@wandcareall.org.uk
Jummy – 07396 712 267

The Strength Project CIC – The founder, Georgia’s story and vision

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The Strength Project CIC was founded by Georgia, whose professional experience working with survivors of domestic violence profoundly shaped her understanding of the challenges they face. While supporting women in a shelter setting, Georgia witnessed not only the emotional trauma experienced by the survivors, but also the deep, lasting impact on their children.

One story in particular left a lasting impression. After being rehoused, a former resident reached out to thank Georgia, sharing that the support she had received inspired her to enrol in a nursing degree, something she had never believed possible. Seeing the renewed confidence and happiness in both the woman and her children, Georgia recognised the transformative power of targeted, compassionate support.

This moment became a turning point. It confirmed Georgia’s mission: to help survivors not only recover from abuse but to rebuild their lives, break generational cycles, and create a better future for their children.

Meeting the needs of the local community

The Strength Project CIC was established to respond to a clear need within the Wandsworth community particularly the lack of accessible, empowering spaces for both survivors of domestic violence and local young people.

Survivors often have limited access to structured activities that promote healing, confidence, and personal development. Young people, meanwhile, frequently miss out on crucial education around healthy relationships, emotional wellbeing, and constructive conflict resolution.

The Strength Project CIC exists to bridge that gap offering safe, inclusive spaces where individuals can rebuild, learn, and grow.

Workshops that inspire the community

The organisation runs free workshops within the local community, designed to support both survivors and young people:

  • For survivors, sessions focus on confidence-building, goal-setting, and self-care, key tools for recovery and long-term empowerment.
  • For young people, workshops explore emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, and the foundations of respectful, healthy relationships. These sessions equip participants with essential life skills that not only support their personal development but help to prevent the cycle of abuse before it begins.

These workshops are more than educational, they are transformative. They give participants the tools to take control of their lives and futures.

Community led change

The Strength Project CIC is rooted in the belief that real, lasting change happens when the whole community comes together. Local residents are encouraged to get involved whether by attending workshops, enrolling their children, or helping spread the word.

Businesses can also play a vital role by offering time, resources, or financial support. Whether through volunteering, sharing skills, or donating equipment, local enterprises can make a meaningful impact on the lives of survivors and young people in Wandsworth.

How WCA supported The Strength Project CIC

Wandsworth Care Alliance has been supporting The Strength Project CIC by having them signed onto our volunteering platform, enabling them to advertise for social media volunteers to help strengthen the impact of her CIC. In addition, we supported Georgia with a successful grant application too.

Building a safer, stronger Wandsworth

The Strength Project CIC is committed to creating lasting change for families across the borough. By supporting survivors, empowering young people, and engaging the wider community, the organisation is helping to build a stronger, safer Wandsworth where everyone can have the resources to heal, grow, and thrive.

For more information on the Strength Project CIC reach out to Georgia on thestrengthprojectcic@gmail.com.

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