TO mark the Coronation of the King and his long history of public service, Essex County Council is supporting The Big Help Out, a unique initiative which forms part of the King’s Coronation celebrations.

The Big Help Out, which starts on Monday 8 May, gives everyone the opportunity to help in their local community through volunteering.

Whatever time you can spare, from just a few hours to a regular commitment, there are opportunities for everybody to get involved and make a real difference. Some opportunities to help out include:

Helping reduce social isolation with Essex Wellbeing Service

Essex Wellbeing Service needs volunteers to provide befriending support, helping to reduce social isolation and loneliness. Volunteers help with a variety of tasks and can take on several different roles including Facebook friend, phone friend, ‘front of house’ and buddy support.

Volunteering helps to bring communities together and can be a fantastic opportunity if you are suffering from social isolation by helping make connections to new people, expanding networks and boosting skills.

Volunteers are supported and training is provided.

Inspiring others to go green with Love Essex Champions

Love Essex Champions help their local communities to waste less and recycle more. Champions have access to a range of fun challenges which could include sharing on social media, creating short films, chatting to friends and neighbours or attending talks and events.

All champions receive training and access to resources to help them gain knowledge. It offers a flexible volunteering approach allowing volunteers to commit as much or as little time as they are able.

Sharing a love of books as a library volunteer

Essex Libraries offer a wide variety of volunteering opportunities helping to meet new people, learn new skills and make someone’s life better. Home Library Service volunteers visit customers in their own homes or care homes. These are customers who are unable to visit the library in person and the Home Library Service enables them to continue to enjoy reading and benefit from social interaction.

Baby and Toddler Rhyme Time volunteers help deliver rhymes and stories to families with everybody joining in the singing and actions. It is an ideal way to support the development of children through sharing a love of books.

For volunteers with strong technical skills other opportunities include Health and Digital Literacy Champion, Code Club Volunteer and Library Work Club Volunteer.

Supporting others to learn with ACL Essex

Classroom volunteers are needed to help support learners in adult learning classes across Essex. Volunteers can help in small groups or one to one, helping learners to gain confidence and to reach their goals.

Digital Champions are also needed to help people learn basic digital skills, helping them to access the online world and learn vital skills which in turn can improve education and employment opportunities. Digital Champions work with learners one to one or in small groups and are supported with training materials and resources.

Parent Ambassador Volunteers are a valued part of ACL Essex, supporting parental engagement for schools and communities, whilst developing their skills to support others. Currently focusing on the levelling up areas of Basildon, Tendring, Harlow and Colchester, ACL aims to recruit, train and offer unique personal development opportunities to anyone in a parenting role.

Becoming an independent panel member for statutory schools appeals

Volunteers are needed to act as panels members for statutory admissions or exclusions appeals. Each case is heard by three panel members including one trained to act as a chairperson. Specialist knowledge is not required but volunteers need to listen carefully to all sides of the argument and make reasoned decisions.

Training is provided and travel and subsistence expenses are paid.

His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Essex, Mrs Jennifer Tolhurst said: “We are really pleased to be supporting The Big Help Out initiative. Whatever your skills and background, everybody has something to offer to their local community. Volunteering helps to connect people to their communities and makes a huge amount of difference to the voluntary and community sector here in Essex.”

For more information about these and further inspiration on volunteering opportunities at Essex County Council, visit www.essex.gov.uk/news/coronation.

For more volunteering opportunities around the county, visit www.volunteeressex.org.