Wandsworth Care Alliance

International Women’s Day Spotlight: Nina’s volunteering journey supporting community voices

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How did Nina start volunteering?
Nina started volunteering through a friend who was involved with the work of Healthwatch during the Covid period. Her friend was helping Healthwatch carry out a survey on new mothers and their maternity experiences. Knowing Nina’s background and skill set, her friend felt she would be a great fit to help with the surveys.

Nina is an antenatal teacher with experience running programmes and organising training, and she holds an MA by research.

She began volunteering with Healthwatch on the Enter and View team and has continued to support the team when needed, contributing to various surveys such as the early discharge from hospital survey. Nina has also volunteered with Wandsworth Care Alliance, helping to collect data for the team following a referral from Max at the Healthwatch Wandsworth team.

What motivated Nina to volunteer?
Nina was motivated to volunteer with Healthwatch Wandsworth because she was interested in the topic of parents and maternity experiences, and it connected well with her research background. She explains that a friend recognised that she could contribute and would likely enjoy the work, which encouraged her to get involved.

Although she had not specifically planned to volunteer with Healthwatch Wandsworth, the opportunity came up at the right time and felt like the right thing to get involved with.

What challenges did she notice while volunteering?
Through her volunteering with WCA, Nina recognised the challenge was not speaking with people but rather getting through to them, as many organisations and individuals are busy. She acknowledges that this can be difficult to overcome because people’s availability varies.

How does Nina feel about her impact as a volunteer?
Nina says she feels very pleased when people say she has made an impact. She believes that the work she has contributed has been appreciated by the teams she has supported.

For her, the word “commitment” is important. When she volunteers, she approaches it seriously and with purpose. She explains that she does not volunteer simply to try something out she volunteers because she believes it is the right thing to do.

At the same time, she feels that volunteering is not only about what she gives but also what she gains from the experience. She enjoys taking on tasks, doing them well, and making the most of the opportunity. Nina also emphasises that she genuinely cares about the people she works with.

Has volunteering helped Nina feel closer to the community?
Nina says she has learned a great deal through volunteering with Healthwatch Wandsworth because of the projects she has been involved in.

One of the most recent projects was a mental health project where volunteers visited Hollybourne to carry out interviews. Nina found this particularly challenging. Although she had previously worked with people experiencing post-natal depression, she had not previously had conversations with individuals who had been sectioned under the Mental Health Act. Despite the difficulty, the experience gave her valuable insight into an area she had not encountered before.

Will Nina continue volunteering?
Nina says she plans to continue volunteering with the Enter and View survey team for the immediate future. She also enjoyed spending two days working in the office, noting that it had been a long time since she had worked in an office environment and that it was nice to experience that again.

If new projects arise, Nina says she would be happy to get involved and contribute again.

To discover volunteering opportunities please visit our volunteer service page here.

Volunteering workshops with our expert Rob Jackson

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On Tuesday 7th Ocotber 2025 we held “Volunteering Is Changing And So Must We” training session online with Rob Jackson. This session was the first out of 3 on volunteering. This session looked at some of the key ways in which society is changing and how these changes affect volunteerism.

In fact, it’s always changing because volunteering doesn’t exist in a bubble. How we all live impacts how we all think about and engage with volunteering. In this free online session, Rob Jackson outlined the big shifts in volunteering today.

If you’d like to view the slides from this presentation they can be found here.

Our second session was on “Recruitment and Selection” which took place on Tuesday 21st October. In this workshop Rob shared a five stage process for effective volunteer recruitment, starting with tips for creating effective and attractive volunteer roles. We also explored why good customer service is an essential part of engaging new volunteers. Participants left the session with with tips and actions that will help their recruitment efforts in future.

If you’d like to view the slides for this session they can be found here.

Our final session will be on the 18th November from 10am-11:30am where you can have the chance to ask our expert Rob any questions on volunteering. Sign up here.

“Thank you and WCA so much for arranging such things to help voluntary groups in the community of Wandsworth succeed.”

“These are valuable sessions and really helpful to people like me as Trustee for a voluntary Community group with no previous experience in these things.“

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

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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