Projects are at the heart of SCA. We operate 36 projects in the community, covering an enormous variety of subjects and types of work. Each one is managed by one or two student volunteers who organise the project team; all projects are overseen by the SCA Co-ordinator. Some of the projects work with an outside organisation or charity.
Choose a category below to learn more about the projects on offer, or contact a project coordinator.
Playing pool, games and chatting to patients at Barrow Psychiatric Hospital. A really relaxed social atmosphere; sometimes there's the treat of karaoke!
Many of the patients are recovering from depression or addiction and welcome the chance to talk to people about everyday things, to give them a break from the routine of the hospital.
Unwanted pots, pans, crockery, clothes, rugs, golf clubs, duvets (Anything you can imagine really!) are collected up from Halls of residence at the end of term, sorted, and then delivered to homeless hostels, charity shops and other places that could benefit! Simple!
Our aims are to raise awareness of breast health among women of all ages and to fundraise for breast cancer. We will be visiting halls of residence every weekend running sessions about breast health to students, hopefully extending these to the public. We also have planned fun events fundraising for breast cancer and we want you to join in!
This project trains student as Community Sports Leaders and provides volunteer placements within local community sport and youth projects. The project placement can be tailored to reflect volunteers' sporting interests and personal skills.
All volunteers will complete the nationally recognised Community Sports Leader Award and recieve First Aid and Child Protection training.
Medical students buddy clinician refugees who wish to work in the UK.
We are a group who offer support to Refugee Doctors, Nurses and other medical clinicians who are retraining to work in the NHS. We provide both social support and help with English on a regular, informal basis.
A group of at least two students is partnered with each clinician. We may discuss current affairs, go over a particular part of English culture that they do not understand or discuss medical topics. Regular socials are also organised bringing all clinicians and students together.
A chance for elderly people to meet up with each other and students. For many of them, who live alone, it provides a welcome change to get out of the house and meet people.
We go to lunchtime concerts at the Victoria Rooms and to local museums and occasionally out for lunch. Lots of volunteers needed to chat and laugh.
You will see some of the people from this project at our dinner dance during SCA week. Other events have included a trip to Lyme Regis.
This project covers anything that helps the local community through music. So far this has mainly taken the form of music workshops for disadvantaged young people. Note that musical ability is not required.
Helping local elderly people with their shopping every two weeks. We take them to the supermarket, and assist with their packing. As well as shopping and of course chatting, we may even have a cup of tea.
@Bristol, the interactive science museum on the waterfront, is currently looking for volunteers, and has set up a new project with SCA. There is a whole range of volunteer opportunities within @Bristol, ranging from helping assist in workshops with schools, helping on weekends with Brownies and Cubs day, admin and PR. Currently they are specifically looking for students to volunteer within their 'Learning team' - volunteering in the school workshops at various times throughout the week.
Gingerbread is a nationwide charity supporting lone parents and their children. Working with ages 5-16, we do arts & crafts, and play indoor and outdoor games. Numbers vary from week to week, and therefore so does the work of the volunteers who need to be both energetic and patient!
BTCV is the UK's leading environmental volunteering charity. An environmental project, with activities ranging from designing community green spaces, through building sanpits, to tree planting. So , if you're passionate about environmental conservation and in search of outdoor related excitement and enrichment, then a day volunteering with BTCV could be just what you are looking for!
Jolidays was set up in 2003 through a grant from the Active Community Fund. Young Carers are normal kids who have more than normal amounts of responsibility at home. Jolidays provides activity days and residential weekends. It is one of the smaller projects so you have the chance to be part of a committee with this project and it 's a great chance to have lots of fun and visit some exciting places.
It's an SCA dog walking project! Help out Marchant by taking his lovely dog Star for a walk.
The National Association of Children of Alcoholics provides a confidential national listening and advice service for people of all ages affected by someone else's drinking, primarily children and adult children of alcoholics.
Volunteers can train to become helpline counsellors, or helpline researchers. Weekly training involves learning about addiction and its impact on the family, in addition to listening and counselling skills.
This is a national project under the guidance of the National Autistic Society (NAS). Through locally coordinated teams, it aims to alleviate the difficulties faced by people touched by autism.Volunteer "befrienders" help to break the wall of isolation that affects autistic individuals and their families. Your role, as a befriender, will be to spend time with a specific family, either in the home or on an outing. This may just be with the child or as a family unit - depending on what you agree to. Full training and support is provided and all that is asked of you is a weekly commitment of approximately 3 hours for an academic year. Your experience will hopefully be enjoyable, challenging and rewarding.
Network provides a safe social environment for the adults who have Asperger's Syndrome who can feel isolated or lacking in social skills. Volunteers need to be able to talk to the members over a drink.
Training support and help ar eprovided by the National Autistic Society.
The Nightshelter project involves working with homeless people in the Julian Trust Homeless shelter, providing them with food and a warm place to sleep. Volunteers are needed to help cook, serve food, chat to guests or stay overnight and serve breakfast.
Painting homes of low income, disabled or elderly Bristol residents. Also some work in schools and community centres. All materials provided.
Panda Club is a student-led scheme that provides support for families living in Southmead, an area of poor housing with very few amenities. We aim to give the children an opportunity to enjoy activities they may not otherwise have been able to do whilst giving their parents a break. Previous outings have included Butlins, swimming and bowling. The children are an enthusiastic and energetic group. It is a very rewarding project and one that would appreciate your support.
Pitstop is a project which takes teenagers with learning difficulties away on weekend and day trips. We go to youth hostels, holiday camps, local attractions and educational visits. There 's a huge emphasis on fun and new experiences so if you have energy and enthusiasm then join up!
Volunteers can choose to work with really young children in the creche or toddlers in play sessions. Playcentre tends to be very noisy, lively and a huge amount of fun! Volunteers work alongside the full-time creche workers at all times and don't need any experience of working with young children - just plenty of enthusiasm!
The International Tracing and Messaging Service work worldwide to restore and manitain contact between families who have been separated by armed conflict, political upheaval or natural disaster. Volunteers will help with an outreach project to inform people in Bristol about the service. There is also the opportunity to become a case worker. This is a thoroughly rewarding project.
The RDA centre near Blaise Castle caters for over 200 disabled riders each week, which means they need LOADS of help. Volunteering involves either leading or side walking, both of which are very rewarding activities that give you the chance to build up good relationships with the riders and horses. No experience with horses or RDA is necessary - full training is provided. For more information about Avon Riding Centre for the Disabled visit their website.
If you 're looking for a fun way of spending a Saturday afternoon then this is the project for you! Adults with learning difficulties, and students, participate in activities for this project. Sometimes we go out on excursions, and past activities have included trips to the cinema, bowling, the zoo and the Old Vic and Longleat Safari Park.
SCA does a wide variety of work in schools within the local community. We work across primary, secondary and special educational needs schools offering support and assistance. Volunteering in schools is obviously excellent for those considering a career in education or youth work - offering concrete experience of working with young people. Even if you aren't considering such a career, however, work in schools is still extremely rewarding and enjoyable! SCA volunteers take on a huge variety of different roles in local schools every year. For example, amongst other things last year's volunteers:
Email:
Primary - sca-primary@bristol.ac.uk
Secondary - sca-secondary@bristol.ac.uk
Special Educational Needs - sca-sen@bristol.ac.uk
General Advice/Questions - sca-schools rep@bristol.ac.uk
This project delivers information on drugs and alcohol to young people. Workshops are based on giving young people increased awareness of issues surrounding the involvement of drugs and alcohol in their lives. The workshops are delivered to various youth groups around Bristol.
This project aims to offer extra help to swimming classes and hydrotherapy sessions for children with special needs. We work with various schools which take children swimming each week. The children often require one-to-one attention; therefore the schools desperately need volunteers to enable as many kids as possible to swim each time. You don't need to have any experience or skills in this area - just lots of commitment and enthusiasm. Volunteers would never be left alone with a child or be expected to do anything they were not prepared for.
STAR (Student Action for Refugees) involves mentoring local school children who are new arrivals to the UK or do not have English as their first language. Students will assist teachers working with small groups of children, playing games or helping with their school work. Some children will also require one-to-one attention. Volunteers need plenty of enthusiasm and a creative mind.
Twins and More club provides parents of multiple births the opportunity to meet other parents. The children -aged from new born to 5 years- are provided with lots of toys, play activites, craft activities and song-time. Volunteers are needed to play with the children and talk to the parents.
This is a project where students visit victims of crime in their homes, supporting them and providing information. It can also involve helping out at the Victim Support Bristol office. This project may be useful to those studying law or any of the social sciences. You can train further to work with those affected by serious crime.
Full training and support is given by our community partner, for more info go to www.victimsupportavonvale.org.uk
This is a befriending scheme for people aged 16 to 25 with physical disabilities. It aims to enable the young people to build a social network of non-disabled friends. It is a great way for disabled adults and volunteers to meet people of a similar age and experience new things such as going bowling, or to the zoo.
