Wandsworth Care Alliance

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

Volunteering celebration event

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On Thursday 5th June 2025 in honour of our volunteering involved organisations and volunteers, we hosted a volunteer week celebration at Tooting Works.

We were joined by speakers from the community such as Carol Bennett of SW Ladies Boxing, Syeda Islam of Wandsworth Older People’s Forum, Rachel Perkins of The Furzedown Project and Asma Choudhry of Roehampton Women and Children’s Wellbeing.

With introductions and game icebreakers, all guests got acquainted. We heard speeches from our speakers on the work of their charities and speeches of appreciation towards the work of WCA and our team members.

Guests enjoyed a relaxed afternoon of discussing and celebrating the achieved works of volunteer involving organisations in the borough and our amazing Wandsworth borough volunteers.
Our raffle winner for the event picked at random selection was Syeda Islam!

Below are downloadable videos of our speakers sharing more information about what they do.

Rachel Perkins – Furzedown ProjectDownload
Asma Choudhry – Roehampton Women and Children’s wellbeingDownload
Syeda Islam – Wandsworth Older People’s ForumDownload
Carol Bennett -SWL Ladies BoxingDownload

If you would like to volunteer in the Wandsworth borough you can check out our Volunteering Wandsworth website here.

Ryan Jong; corporate world to volunteering

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After a long and successful career in the corporate world, Ryan Jong is embracing a new chapter, one that’s all about giving back. Having recently retired in December 2024, Ryan is looking to join Wandsworth Care Alliance (WCA) as a trustee, bringing with him a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective on community support.

“I wanted to use my skills to give something back,” Ryan says. “Before retiring, I was a partner at a Big Four accountancy firm, where I built and led a department of 60 people. My background is in financial services, statistics, and risk management, areas that might not seem immediately relevant to the voluntary sector, but I’ve found there are more similarities than you might think.”

Although Ryan had always been interested in volunteering, Ryan’s demanding career and family life left little time for it over the past two decades. But now, with more time on his hands and a desire to stay purposeful in retirement, he’s diving into this new role with energy and enthusiasm.

Finding a suitable volunteering role

While exploring volunteering opportunities in Wandsworth, the trustee position at WCA stood out.

“I was looking for something where I could truly add value,” Ryan explains. “Given my past experience working closely with boards and governance, the trustee role at WCA seemed like a natural fit.”

Ryan acknowledges that, at first glance, his background in finance and statistics might not appear directly related to the voluntary and community sector. But he sees a deeper connection.

“The challenges that many charities and community organisations face today, particularly in times of economic uncertainty, aren’t unlike the challenges financial institutions faced during the 2008 crisis. It’s all about adapting, continuing to serve the public good, and finding sustainable ways to operate in uncertain times.”

Ryan’s advice to anyone potential interested in volunteering

When asked what advice he would give to others considering volunteering or a trustee role, Ryan is clear: “Just go for it.”

“Even if you don’t think you ‘fit’ perfectly, your experiences might still be valuable. Everyone has something to contribute. When I was building my team, I never wanted 60 clones of myself. I wanted different opinions, different perspectives. That’s what leads to better results.”

Looking ahead

Though he’s still new to the role, Ryan is excited about what lies ahead.

“It’s early days, but I hope to get to know WCA better and to make a meaningful contribution. My goal is simple: I want to leave WCA in a better place than when I joined.”

We’re excited to have Ryan on board and look forward to the impact he’ll make as part of our dedicated trustee team. If you’re inspired by his story and are thinking about volunteering or becoming a trustee yourself, take that first step, you never know where it might lead.

Get in touch with us at communications@wandcareall.org.uk

From Volunteer to Trustee: Samreen Mulji’s Journey

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At Wandsworth Care Alliance, we’re proud to celebrate the inspiring journeys of people who dedicate their time and heart to their communities. One such individual is Samreen Mulji, whose path from volunteering as a children’s reading supporter to now being appointed a trustee at WCA is nothing short of remarkable.

How it all began

Samreen first got involved with Learn 2 Love 2 Read a local charity supporting children with their reading. Having moved from India to the UK, Samreen was new to the community and initially connected with the charity as a parent. Her daughter received reading support through Learn 2 Love 2 Read. Grateful for the help her family received, Samreen was inspired to give something back.

Encouraged by another parent at her daughter’s school, she applied to volunteer with the organisation. What started as a personal thank you turned into a life-changing experience.

Over the course of two years, Samreen volunteered both in person and online with Learn 2 Love 2 Read. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she continued to support children’s reading remotely, adapting to the challenges with resilience and compassion.

Samreen shared that volunteering helped her not only learn new skills such as communication, patience, and understanding the cultural nuances of the UK, but also gave her a deep sense of purpose. One of the highlights for her was the joy she saw in children’s faces when she came to collect them for reading sessions.

“It boosted my confidence just as much as it boosted theirs,” she said.

The power of giving back

Samreen describes volunteering as a way to combat loneliness, connect with others, and feel part of a community. Having previously volunteered with an Islamic food drive charity during the pandemic, delivering food to immigration centres and vulnerable families, Samreen was no stranger to helping others. But it was through Learn 2 Love 2 Read that she found a consistent, structured way to make a lasting difference.

“Volunteering gives you a warm, fuzzy feeling,” she says. “It’s the kind of happiness you can’t buy. You’re doing your bit to keep humanity going.”

Becoming a Trustee

Volunteering eventually led to working as a member of staff at Learn 2 Love 2 Read, and now to a new chapter as a trustee at Wandsworth Care Alliance. Samreen’s journey shows how giving your time, even just a little, can open unexpected doors and build confidence, connections, and community.

We asked Samreen what advice she would give to individuals considering volunteering, she said:

“Be fearless. No one is judging you. If one role isn’t right for you, try another. Just give your time, it makes a difference.” We’re proud to have Samreen as part of the WCA team and thank her for her continued dedication to strengthening the Voluntary and Community Sector in Wandsworth.

If you’re interested in volunteering, have a look on our volunteering platform where we have a range of roles available to suit your needs. Click here.

For more information contact our volunteering team at volunteering@wandcareall.org.uk.

Mental Health Awareness Week 2025

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Community impact highlights from our Mental Health Project Manager

As we mark Mental Health Awareness Week, we’re proud to spotlight some of the work of our Voicing Views – Mental Health Project Manager (PM), who has been at the forefront of tackling inequality and improving access to inclusive care across our community.

Supporting LGBTQIA+ Parents through Perinatal challenges

In partnership with Queer Wandsworth, our PM was involved in an initiative to explore the perinatal mental health experiences of LGBTQIA+ parents. The engagement revealed a number of barriers and emotional challenges:

  • Emotional instability & stigma: many felt ashamed or dismissed during pregnancy and early parenthood.
  • Exclusion from services: barriers to accessing care, especially for trans individuals were reported, driven by binary-centric systems and staff misunderstandings.
  • Non-inclusive language: phrases like “Mother-baby unit” led to feelings of invisibility.
  • Lack of staff training: Gaps in knowledge created miscommunication and clinical risk.
  • Loss of identity & belonging: many struggled to find support networks that recognised their lived experiences.
  • Value of inclusive support: peer-led and identity-affirming spaces were seen as vital.

These preliminary insights will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of LGBTQIA+ perinatal mental health needs and more inclusive service planning. These findings are due to be formally published in the Transgender journal of health in late 2025.

Improving cancer outcomes in underserved communities

Working alongside Macmillan Cancer Support and RM Partners, the PM participated in focus groups and strategic forums to explore mental health and wellbeing across cancer care pathways, especially for ethnically diverse and low-income communities.

Key themes identified:

  • Better information access: patients need clearer, culturally relevant information.
  • Emotional & peer support: gaps in counselling, especially in minority groups, are significant.
  • Improved communication: medical language can feel overwhelming without advocacy or explanation.
  • Digital & financial exclusion: practical support must go beyond medical care.
  • Encouraging early screening: tackling fear, stigma, and low awareness is crucial.
  • Aftercare & recovery: survivors need stronger post-treatment pathways, especially to return to work.
  • Palliative care understanding: Cultural stigma often delays support at the end-of-life stage.

The PM’s continued involvement in the RM Partners People & Communities Strategic Forum ensures that mental health remains a core part of cancer service planning.

Bridging gaps through data & community

As part of ongoing collaboration with RM Partners, the following priorities have emerged:

  • Data-led deprivation mapping to identify hidden inequalities.
  • Accessible digital services for both primary and secondary care.
  • Community outreach to design services with the people who need them most.
  • Culturally sensitive engagement to reduce stigma and improve service trust.

Looking ahead

The Mental Health Project Manager continues to serve as a connector between the community and system-level health initiatives.

By centring marginalised voices, addressing stigma, and championing early intervention, Voicing Views are shaping a future where mental health support is inclusive, accessible, and equitable for all.

As we observe Mental Health Awareness Week, these community insights underscore the importance of inclusive strategies and sustained engagement to reduce mental health inequalities and improve population wellbeing.

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