Find out ways you can help
This Volunteer’s Week (1st to 7th June 2021) we asked our Volunteers to write a limerick involving volunteering and Somerset! Some are very funny, some are very poignant Here are just a few of the entries we’ve received so far!
A fundraising activity took place over the early May Bank Holiday weekend. A member of staff took requests in return for donations for over 100 animals to be drawn (badly).
The innocent Big Knit campaign has returned and we are calling on local knitters and crocheters to get their knitting needles out to help raise urgent funds for the local older people most in need. This is the 18th year … Continued
If you are a co-op member, when you buy selected products or services, 2p for every £1 spent goes into your membership account. Co-op splits the same amount and donates it to local causes through the Co-op Local Community Fund. … Continued
Every year, thousands of local older people call on Age UK Somerset for practical and emotional support. Before the outbreak of coronavirus, we were already facing a loneliness epidemic amongst older people. But as a result of the pandemic, this … Continued
Mrs D OF Taunton WON! Because she bought a ticket WE WON too! Next time IT COULD BE YOU! Mrs D of Taunton (a real person) won £250 through the Somerset West Lottery last weekend! She said “I signed up … Continued
Volunteer-led scheme providing support for local people who are shielding, by doing shopping, collecting prescriptions and offering a top-up food bank. Tel: 01460 77489 Crewkerne Community Church, Barn St, Crewkerne TA18 8BP
Are you aged over 50? Do you need help to set up Zoom so you can stay in touch with family and friends? Are you struggling with online shopping? The highly experienced and skilled team at Bridgwater’s Engine Room are … Continued
The Somerset West Lottery was set up to help charities working across the Somerset West area (previously Taunton Deane and West Somerset). When you buy a ticket you have the chance to win prizes including a £25,000 jackpot but at … Continued
Shape Mendip Lottery was set up to help charities working across Mendip. When you buy a ticket you have the chance to win prizes including a £25,000 jackpot but at the same time 60% of the ticket price is donated … Continued
National Trading Standards have teamed up with Trucall to offer free call blockers to consumers to help combat the rise of scam calls during the pandemic. They previously paused their call blocker project due to Covid-19 but will now re-open … Continued
As Age UK Somerset is a Somerset charity, and as one of the most well known things in Somerset is the Glastonbury Festival, and as it is Glastonbury Festival time, we thought we could have a little fun and also … Continued
Mental Health Awareness Week is the UK’s national week to raise awareness of mental health and mental health problems and inspire action to promote the message of good mental health for all. Hosted by the Mental Health Foundation, it takes … Continued
BT have produced an illustrated guide to how to use WhatsApp for making video calls. There is a pdf document on how to make video calls which can be viewed here Or for a basic introduction Clare Balding has made … Continued
We may never have heard of it two weeks ago, but now Zoom has become one of the go-to apps for families and friends to video chat together while physical distancing rules are in place. You can use Zoom on … Continued
Twitter is a very popular social media site where users can follow and connect with each other by sending and retweeting short message and links to videos and images, etc. There are millions of accounts you can follow depending on … Continued
Keeping in touch with family, friends and other loved ones makes us feel connected and helps with feelings of loneliness. And while the measures the Government has currently put in place to help stop the spread of coronavirus make this … Continued
Facebook and Facebook Messenger are two very popular ways that people connect with each other. Joining Facebook can open up a lot of new connections, you can find old friends and you can join Groups for subjects you are interested … Continued
Some people have trouble using standard telephone or mobile phones. Abilitynet have produced this interested guide to suitable alternatives. https://abilitynet.org.uk/factsheets/telephones-and-mobile-phones
Two visual guides from Digital Unite which will help you to use this popular smartphone messaging service that allows you to connect with other WhatsApp users to send messages and make calls and video calls. First – HOW TO INSTALL … Continued
Skype is a computer program that offers a VoIP (‘Voice over Internet Protocol’) service. This lets you make calls to people all over the world via your computer or telephone and have text chats. Read the Digital Unite guide to … Continued
A useful and comprehensive guide from Digital Unite covering everything from how to set up your first email account to how to keep yourself safe. Guide to getting started with email
For Volunteers who are shopping for someone else Asda has now introduced the Volunteer Shopping card. They say the card is a cashless – and less stressful – way for people to help get the shopping in. Ideal for those … Continued
If you are registered with www.nextdoor.co.uk then you can click on the Help Map symbol which looks like this: You will then see a map of your area with dots on. For example here is the map for the area … Continued
SPARK Somerset have launched a county wide free online platform called Corona Helpers. Coronavirus COVID-19 support groups can add themselves and use it to recruit and manage volunteers, and individuals can use it to pledge their support.
If there is something you would like to see here, please get in touch.