The ClementJames Centre is a dynamic charity where you can make a real difference in people’s lives, whether you give your time, money or both. Our volunteers all come from different walks of life, but at their core is a desire to help others and give back to the community.
There’s more than one way to help and each volunteer role offers an opportunity for you to transfer your unique skills to help others.
Employment Support
Adult Mentoring: Communication Skills Day
Communication Skills Day runs as a one-day crash course in which volunteer mentors are paired with one of our clients to coach them to build their confidence in public speaking and communication. The programme culminates in the mentees delivering a short presentation back to the group.
We offer full, comprehensive training as well as a structured support pack to guide mentors through the programme. However, it is expected that mentors have some public speaking experience in their work or personal life as the majority of the programme will consist of one-to-one mentoring with a mentee.
This is an excellent opportunity for volunteers to make a real difference in their local community whilst building their own skills in mentoring, communication and public speaking. This is a very popular programme with our client base and has had a significant impact on the confidence of previous attendees, with past mentees feeding back:
I never thought I could talk in front of more than ten people in English. After this programme, especially today, I believe I can do it and I am ready for my next journey.
This change will affect my work life and personal wellbeing to be confident generally.
Interview Skills Days
We regularly run volunteering days for businesses. During our Interview Skills Days corporate volunteers work closely with a group of employment clients, taking part in various challenges to boost our clients’ confidence and giving one-to-one advice on interview and presentation skills. We have found that volunteers enjoy getting to know our clients and sharing their experience with them, and that clients feel more confident and prepared for future interviews.
Children & Young People’s Education
Literacy & Numeracy Catch-up Support
Literacy and numeracy mentors work on a one-to-one basis with students between the ages of 7-18 over at least one school term. These students will be working 6+ months behind expected levels. Mentors offer after-school academic support including homework and exam preparation, as well as support with literacy and numeracy. The volunteer will be the leader of their sessions, creating their own lesson plans with full access to The ClementJames Centre’s resources; printing, paper, stationary, etc.
This is my first time tutoring anyone and I can honestly say that it is one of the highlights of my week. Riga is a lovely, bright girl who the team at The Clement James Centre have matched me up with perfectly. The team at The Clement James Centre have been exceptionally helpful and kind with regular check-ins to see how I’m doing. The feedback has been invaluable and doing this has made me consider a career in teaching.
Click here to read the Numeracy & Literacy role description in full.
Academic Support Tutoring
Work with a group of either primary (7-11 year olds) or secondary students (11-18 year olds) in our after-school homework club to support them with their academic work.
Weekly session for one term:
Primary sessions: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays 3.30 – 5pm
Secondary sessions: Mondays & Wednesdays 4 – 5.30pm and Fridays 3.30 – 5pm
Student Mentoring
Act as a mentor and positive role model to an aspiring child or young person and inspire them in their academic and social development.
The Mentoring Scheme is open to current students from the University of London, Imperial College, BPP, New College of Humanities, Loughborough University, Newcastle University, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, LAMDA, London South Bank University, Middlesex University, University of East London, Regent’s University, Roehampton University, Royal College of Music, St Mary’s Twickenham, University of the Arts and London School of Architecture.
Individuals who have graduated within the last year from one of these universities may also apply.
Summer Carnival Arts
Help children design and create colourful carnival costumes, and supervise them during fun and creative activities. Then join our carnival float and experience the Notting Hill Carnival as a participant!
End of July to end of August, Monday – Friday from 10am – 4pm. Join us for as many days as you would like.
Adult Learning
Adult Learning mentors support the class teacher with their lessons, offering assistance when handing out and collecting work, providing one-to-one help to students struggling in the classroom and helping to facilitate group discussions. The mentor may be offered the chance to assist in the completion of administration outside of the classroom, contacting learners, photocopying and inputting data onto the database. The mentor may also hold one-to-one lessons outside of the classroom to provide students with extra support.
Click here to read the Adult Learning role description in full.
Operations
Reception Cover
Every now and then we require keen volunteers who can cover our busy reception.
Help us to answer the phone, deal with enquiries and make our visitors feel welcome.
As and when required, times are flexible.
Volunteer Story
One of our volunteers, Betsy, has been supporting ClementJames for over five years. She has given over six students Numeracy and Literacy Support and is frequently covering on reception.
The ClementJames Centre is part of my home neighbourhood. For over 35 years I worked as a speech and language therapist. From 2003-2019, this took place in the mainstream schools in Kensington & Chelsea. The skills of listening to others, summarizing needs and communicating a shared approach are skills I enjoy applying to my work at ClementJames.
We are currently pausing the recruitment of new volunteers until we have a new Volunteer Coordinator. However, if you are interested in volunteering with us then please do email reception@clementjames.org and we will keep your details on our records, and contact you when we are taking on new volunteers.
For all existing volunteers or any other queries, please do email reception@clementjames.org.