U Get involved

What do I do next?
Get some advice so you can help others and volunteer!

U Call
Call 0800 0681 800 and speak to one of our friendly advisors. Calls are free of charge from a BT landline. If you call from a mobile phone, charges may apply.

U Go To Links
Make contact with groups who may need your help. They can help you with advice and information about volunteering opportunities.

U Contact your local Volunteer Centre
Volunteering Centres have over 350 centres across England that can help you take that first step towards volunteering. Find your local Volunteer Centre for opportunities to help in your area.

U Watch Community Channel
During September on Community Channel you will be able to watch a series of inspirational programmes about how people are helping others and getting help back. Tune in for the exclusive premiere of Helping others can help U at 7.00pm on Sunday 21st September.

U Can Help
Arts & Crafts
Singing
Balloon Modeling
Face Painting
Healing & Yoga
Wii Exercise Sessions

Volunteering is for everyone, whatever your abilities.

Join us at our Health and Wellbeing Day for FREE coffee and cake.

Saturday 20 September 2008 from 11.00am -3.00pm.

The Energise Centre and St Sebastian’s Community Centre,
3 Douglas Green, Salford, M6 6ES

You can get some ideas on how you can help, use your time, get involved and have some fun too!

The Energise Centre has disabled access. For more information
call 0161 212 5700.

U Can Try
Mencap is running taster days for people with learning disabilities who are interested in volunteering.

Groups in Leeds, Manchester and Stockport and will give people the chance to take part in local projects and learn valuable skills.

Lunch will be provided and transport expenses can be redeemed for local residents.

Whilst taster days are FREE there are limited places available. To make a booking please call the Mencap Volunteers helpline on 0845 123 3000 or email for more information.

Date: Friday 12th September
When: 10.00am – 3.00pm
Event: Groundworks
Type: Day trip
Where: Woodhouse Methodist Church
City: Leeds
What: A great opportunity for people with learning disabilities to get more involved and help improve their local community.

Have a taste of developing the natural surroundings of your local area with Groundwork, an organisation who run environmental projects that improve areas of Leeds for the local residents.

Please let us know if you will need support travelling to and from the taster day.

Date: Tuesday 23rd September
When: 10.30am – 2.00pm
Event: Taster Day
Type: Day Trip
Where: Alderly Edge
City: Stockport
What: This is a great opportunity for people with learning disabilities to learn conservation skills in Cheshire.

Learn how to protect our natural environment in the idyllic setting of Alderly Edge with Cheshire Countryside, an organisation which runs conservation projects for the National Trust.

Date: Thursday 25th September
When: 1.00pm-4.00pm
Event: Fairfield Recycling
Type: Taster Day
Where: Fairfield Compost, The Cabin, 22 New Smithfield Market, Openshaw
City: Manchester
What: A great opportunity for people with learning disabilities to get involved in the local community and help protect the environment.

Fairfield Recycling a running a project to help recycle fruit and vegetables from the local market.

New Smithfield Market in Manchester is a busy place, and in the past, any fruit or vegetables not sold were picked up after the day's trading and taken to landfill sites.

But now the fruit is being stripped of its packaging - all plastic, paper and card - and placed into big skips, which are then tipped into a huge composting machine.

The compost is then sold to individuals and organisations to grow more fruit and vegetables, and the packaging is recycled too - so nothing is wasted!

Date: Thursday 25th September
When: 10.00am – 3.00pm
Event: Groundworks
Type: Taster Day
Where: Arthington’s Estate, Hunslet
City: Leeds
What: A great opportunity for people with learning disabilities to get more involved in their local community and help improve its surroundings.

Have a taste of developing the natural surroundings of your local area by clearing cycle-ways of overgrowth with Groundwork, an organisation who run environmental projects that improve areas of Leeds for the local residents.