Give
Give – your time, patience, words a smile – the simplest acts can count
Engage in voluntary support work
Many of the activities below will require pupils to be 18.
Please check that families are happy for you to engage with the voluntary work.
Activity | Description | Suitable for | Link |
Creation / donation of materials for PPE | Support by either donating materials: Pillow cases Elastic Lengths of material (cotton) Large buttons Or create: Scrubs bags Masks Head bands Visors | All! | |
Voluntary work for Betsi Cadwalder | Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, the largest health organisation in Wales, has a range of volunteering opportunities. If you are interested in volunteering with them, please email BCUHB.PublicVolunteers@wales.nhs.uk and include your full name, telephone number, e-mail address and the nearest hospital to you along with a brief description of skills and experience - https://www.bcugetinvolved.wales/volunteers | All voluntary work is very dependent upon opportunity, family set up and must only be engaged in if you and your household are symptom free and feel comfortable about supporting others. Some voluntary work involves phone support only; other work requires delivery of food / medicines etc. | |
Voluntary work in Gwynedd | Gwynedd Council is seeking individuals who are available to work (in an employed or in a voluntary capacity) to help maintain services for vulnerable people requiring care. Email gofalu@gwynedd.llyw.cymru or phone 01286 679577 / 07384 876908. | ||
Voluntary work for Corovirus pandemic | Further volunteering opportunities to support with the Coronavirus pandemic | ||
CVSC voluntary work | CVSC (Community & Voluntary Support Conwy) is encouraging people to register so they can match your skills, interests and experience to the COVID 19 community need as it develops | https://www.cvsc.org.uk/en/volunteering/your-community-needs-you | |
COVID Mutual Aid | Covid Mutual Aid UK is a group of volunteers supporting local community groups organising mutual aid throughout the covid-19 outbreak in the UK. Search to see if there's a group near you - | ||
Conwy Support for COVID pandemic | Those wishing to volunteer to help community dwelling vulnerable people can do so by visiting the website | ||
Adopt a grandparent – supporting intergenerational relationships | UK scheme called Adopt a Grandparent which is promoted by CHDliving. Though not a local company, they support intergenerational friendships, not just for during the crisis we are experiencing, though I am sure contact at this time would be welcomed...according to their website, they have global volunteers who email, video call and phone call elderly people in care settings. | ||
Local volunteering | Volunteers needed in Rhos. When people ring Conwy and ask for help, residents like are then contacted to pick up their prescriptions, shopping, have a chat. Can you join the list. To do so call CVSC on 01492 534091 /523842 / 523848 / 523846 or email volunteering@cvsc.org.uk You will be added to the approved list of volunteers. | ||
Volunteering Wales | A range of opportunities to sign up and volunteer including guidance on how to keep safe as a volunteer | https://volunteering-wales.net/vk/volunteers/index-covid.htm |
Connect
Humans are social creatures. We all need to feel close to others and valued by them. Maintaining these bonds helps us to feel safe and function in the world.
Social relationships are vital in promoting wellbeing and can help people of all ages to maintain their mental health.
Mind - the mental health charity suggests these ways of staying connected.
- Talk to someone instead of sending an email or text
- Speak to someone new
- Ask how someone’s weekend was and really listen when they tell you
- Put five minutes aside to find out how someone really is
- Give a colleague a lift to work or share the journey home with them
Why not call someone you haven't spoken to in a while?
Be Active
People of all ages who are physically active show lower rates of depression and anxiety.
It doesn't have to be a huge workout every day, just making small changes can help. Walk somewhere instead of taking the bus or getting a lift, fetch something yourself instead of sending your brother or sister, take the dog for a walk with your siblings and have a chat.
Mind - the mental health charity has these suggestions:
- Take the stairs not the lift
- Go for a walk at lunchtime
- Walk into work - perhaps with a colleague – so you can ‘connect’ as well
- Get off the bus one stop earlier than usual and walk the final part of your journey to work or school
- Organise a work sporting activity
- Have a kick-about in a local park
- Do some ‘easy exercise’, like stretching, before you leave for school in the morning
- Walk to someone’s desk instead of calling or emailing.
Why not go for a walk this lunchtime?
Take Notice
Taking Notice is often called mindfulness. Take some time to be aware of yourself and the world around you. Spending some time with your awareness away from your own stresses and worries to connect with everything that makes you.
Being present in the moment and where you are has been shown to improve your well-being and can help you put things in perspective. It can help you to get some space to help you to make positive choices with a more settled mind.
Mind - the mental health charity has these suggestions:
- Get a plant for your workspace
- Have a ‘clear the clutter’ day
- Take notice of how your friends and family are feeling or acting
- Take a different route on your journey to or from work/school
- Visit a new place for lunch or try something different.
Why not go out for a walk without headphones so you can listen to what's happening around you?
Keep Learning
Set yourself achievable goals which stretch you so that your learning doesn't feel unending. Learning isn't just about schoolwork, it is a skill that can be practised. Like all skills, the more good practise you do the better you get!
Learn something new today, practise it and get it stuck in your head - but in a good way.
Mind - the mental health charity has a few suggestions:
- Find out something about your colleagues
- Sign up for a class
- Read the news or a book
- Set up a book club
- Do a crossword or Sudoku
- Research something you’ve always wondered about
- Learn a new word.
Why not set yourself a learning challenge which you can work on achieving? Learn a song or a poem; read a new book; learn an instrument or a new language; learn a new trick;
Maybe you could even learn to juggle -