Volunteer Opportunities

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Volunteering Application Form

Thank you very much for your interest in joining us at Thatcham Town Council. You are on your first step to becoming part of an amazing team without whom our events and Town would be more the poorer.

As you read through this pack you will find all the information you need to gain a better understanding of what we do and how we involve volunteers. If you need help with any part of your application, or have further questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our office on 01635 863592 or by emailing us on enquiries@thatchamtowncouncil.gov.uk.

You can also find more information by visiting our website on www.thatchamtowncouncil.gov.uk.

We look forward to seeing you around the town making Thatcham a brilliant place to live and work.

Community Events: 2-6 hours per event 

Thatcham Town Council’s events are a staple of many people’s calendars, and with many ways to get involved you can truly be part of the fun! Whether you come on your own and make new friends, bring your family and friends, or colleagues, you will have a brilliant day of community spirit.

Thatcham Town Council events include:

• Family Fun Day
• KidsFest
• Thatcham Festival
• Remembrance Sunday
• Christmas Lights Switch On
• Themed Markets
• Dementia Awareness Week

Other Community Events include:

• Thatcham 10K
• AfroFest

Opportunities may include:

• Visitor Stewarding
• Traffic Stewarding
• Leaflet Distribution
• Information Stall Management
• Volunteer Coordination
• Litter Picking
• Stage Management
• Parade Stewarding

Litter Picking: Approx. 1 hour a month

Keeping our Town clean and tidy is everyone’s responsibility. Both Thatcham Town Council and West Berkshire Council both have regular litter picks, but we also ask residents, schools and businesses who wish to commit, to look after a specific ‘adopted’ area to keep clean, tidy and free from litter. All those taking part help make a difference to the local area and encourage a feeling of community spirit. Volunteering will not mean a reduction in the council’s street cleaning schedules, it will compliment and enhance this service.

How it works

You choose an area that you would like to ‘adopt’ and then carry out regular litter picks throughout the year. We will provide you with Litter Picking Kits which include all the equipment you need (bags, gloves, litter picker and high vis jacket), and these kits are yours to keep for as long as you can commit to litter picking. The aim is to complete a minimum of four litter picks each year.

You must be over the age of 18 to join the scheme, but you can take part if you’re over 12 years and supervised by a parent or guardian.

Jubilee Sensory Garden: 1-2 hours a week

The Jubilee Sensory Garden on Brownsfield Road is a true Community Garden and anyone is welcome to enjoy taking care of it.

Join us each Friday from 10am in the Jubilee Sensory Garden as local gardening expert offers advice, guidance and the chance to put your gardening skills to action!

If you already have gardening know-how you are welcome to pop along at any time and help prune the flowers, cultivate the vegetables and look after the plants which make the Jubilee Garden so special.

Thatcham Cemetery: 1-2 hours a week

We are seeking a group of dedicated volunteers to assist in maintaining the Cemetery grounds near the Chapel. Established in 1887, our Cemetery has numbers unvisited graves that require regular care and attention. Whether you have a passion for gardening or an interest in Thatcham’s history, everyone is encouraged to join.

Thatcham Train Station: 1-2 hours a week

We are launching a new volunteering opportunity for volunteers to ‘Adopt’ Thatcham train station. This would be planting flowers and plants into new planters, and keeping the station clean and tidy on a regular basis. Training would be given from GWR as part of their ‘Adopt a Station’ scheme.

Donate a Skill

Do you have a skill you could donate? Perhaps you could run community craft sessions, help to paint a community building, or offer plumbing services on an ad hoc basis. We’re always open to new ways to make interesting and useful volunteering opportunities

Donate Raffle Prizes

We are always in need of good quality raffle prizes to help us raise funds for the Mayor’s Charities. Anything from unwanted gift sets to bottles of wine and chocolates are always appreciated! Just drop them off at the Town Council offices at your leisure.

Thatcham Litter Pickers

If you would rather join a regular group to litter pick, Thatcham Litter Pickers visit a different area of Thatcham each month. Dates for their picks can be found on the Thatcham Town Council website or Facebook Page.

Tree Planting

Every now and again we need people to help plant new trees around the Town in our open spaces and Cemetery. Often this is organised at very last minute as we won’t know when the trees are going to arrive until a day or two in advance, so if you would like to be informed when we need help please let us know!