Volunteer

Volunteering Opportunities with Children and Adults with Learning Disabilities

We run 9 weekly clubs year round (plus a gardening club in the summer), 6 for adults and 3 for children. Our clubs are supported by a team of volunteers and we are always looking for more people to get involved. Volunteering with Keynsham and District Mencap Society is great fun and a very rewarding experience.

We currently have volunteering opportunities with these clubs:

Fitness for All Club (Monday 7:00 – 8:30pm in Keynsham)

Go Explore (Wednesday 7:00 – 9:00pm in Keynsham)

SENSations (Tuesday or Thursday 5:45 – 7.15pm in Keynsham)

Club25 (Thursday 7:30 – 9:30pm in Keynsham)

Super Saturday Club (Saturday 10:00am – 12:00pm in Bath)

Music Man Project (Saturday 10:30am – 12:30pm in Keynsham)

We have lots of different opportunities volunteering with children or volunteering with adults. All for just a couple of hours a week – either on a weekday evening or a Saturday morning. Our clubs are located in Keynsham and Bath.

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> Increase your confidence

> Learn new skills, such as first aid and signing in Makaton

> Meet new people and make new friends

> Have fun

> Feel good

Volunteering looks great on your CV and can count towards the Duke of Edinburgh award. It can also help you gain a rewarding work-life balance.

No experience is necessary, you just need a good attitude and be willing to roll up your sleeves and get involved.

Our volunteers come from all walks of life and are all ages from 14 to 60s. Reasons why people volunteer are usually quite personal to them. Maybe they want some work experience. Maybe they are already carers and appreciate the value of the time they can give to others. Maybe their kids have left home and they have an ’empty nest’ feeling. Maybe they just want to give a little back to society and do something useful that makes them feel good.

Whatever reason has brought you to be reading the words on this page we’d encourage you to get in touch for a chat to see if this opportunity could be right for you.

If we created a job advert for our volunteers it would read something like this:

You must have a warm, smiling face that makes every member feel special and appreciated. You must be able to laugh at jokes that you don’t understand, or you don’t find funny. The ability to sing in tune is not necessary, however the ability to sing out of tune in front of a crowd is essential. Dancing as if no one is watching is highly encouraged and you must be able to distribute warm hugs as required.

Possessing the skills required to rapidly count the heads of numerous moving people is of utmost importance. The ability to remember the names of many members and sometimes their pets are a key component of this job.

A high level of comfort with being asked personal questions by members is essential. You will regularly be asked questions regarding what you are having for lunch, whether you are willing to share your lunch, whether or not you are married and if not, why you are not married, what you are doing tomorrow and what you are doing the day after that.

You must have an understanding that the members you have a strong relationship with during the week, may completely and utterly refuse to talk to you when you see them at your local shop. Your feelings must not be hurt. Finally you must be prepared to feel loved special and important to many members and their families. There is simply no other opportunity like it!

What Our Volunteers Say…

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“Helping out at Super Saturday Club is lots of fun and extremely rewarding. We do many different activities and the kids are a delight.” – Neil P, Super Saturday Club

“Becoming a volunteer at Keynsham Mencap was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
It’s as much rewarding as it is great fun (especially the holidays!). The members are fantastic and I just feel like I’m hanging out with friends!” – Jade W, Club25

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Laura by emailing laura@keynshammencap.org.uk or phoning 01179 865659, or you can apply online by clicking the button below. We look forward to hearing from you!

Opportunities for children and adults with Learning Disabilities