Volunteering Opportunities Description - Paula O Shea

Colne Valley Park Visitor Centre Volunteer Opportunity OUTLINE OF TASKS

Title of Volunteering Opportunity: Visitor Centre Volunteer

Responsible to: Visitor Centre Manager

Location The Colne Valley Park Visitor Centre Denham Court Drive Denham, Uxbridge Middx

The Colne Valley Park Centre and Riverside Café are looking for volunteers to join their team of volunteers who welcome visitors, provide them with information and to help in the café. There is also the opportunity to get involved with the community activities that the centre organises.

Role:  To provide a visible and welcoming point of contact, providing information about the Country Park, Colne Valley Regional Park, its facilities and attractions and things to do. (Full training will be given) This can involve answering telephone calls and fact to face enquiries. and  To serve in our small café, which serves tea, coffee, freshly made snacks etc.  To help keep the shelves stocked, goods priced and ensure that goods are sold in date order. local food.  Supporting large events like the Colne Valley Festival or smaller scale activities such as our annual Halloween Party.

There are many facets to volunteering at the Colne Valley Park Visitor Centre and Volunteers may like to choose one (or more) of the following areas to get involved with:  Preparing fresh food and assisting with catering. Volunteers would be given the opportunity to obtain a food hygiene certificate if they took on these tasks.  Gaining retail experience helping to organise the stock, serving customers and the daily routines of a shop/café..  Helping with events for children such as pond dipping, den building or children’s parties (subject to a DBS check)  Volunteers with a particular expertise, walk leaders, bird watchers or artists etc might like to share their skills with visitors either at organised events or by running exhibitions/courses.

Requirements:  Commitment of a minimum of half a day a week

D:\Docs\2017-12-13\02b53c48ae90b11d1b721abbeb966b5a.doc  Flexible with regard to which day and whether morning or afternoon  Saturday & Sunday volunteering – desirable  Good telephone manner

Training & Support:  Volunteer Induction  Ongoing support from Visitor Centre Manager  Food and hygiene training if required

Benefits:  Experience  Training  Location  Membership to the Friends of the Colne Valley  Local traffic expenses paid.  Free parking for volunteers

Location: Colne Valley Park Centre, Denham, Denham Court Drive, Denham Middx UB9 5PG

Project Officer Contact:

Visitor Centre Manager [email protected] Direct Dial: 01895-833375

Directions to the Visitor Centre: http://maps.yahoo.com/#mvt=m&lat=51.565916&lon=- 0.486698&zoom=15&q1=ub9%205pg

Public Transport: From Uxbridge: Take the 331 bus to Harefield and alight at Smiths Nurseries on the Oxford Road. Cross the road then walk towards the roundabout keep right, cross the slip road from the A40 then the slip road on to the A40 and then at the next small roundabout turn right into Denham Court Drive. The Visitor Centre is on the left.

Alternative walking route from Uxbridge is to get on to the tow path of the Grand Union Canal at the Swan and Bottle, walk in the direction of Harefield, just before you get to Denham Deep Lock the Visitor Centre will be signposted on your left.

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