Volunteer

Whether it be packing at the WJR warehouse for a couple of hours, or organising a fundraising event, there are a range of volunteering roles with us. There are so many ways you can help.

Please note that we do not have any volunteering roles with our programmes abroad.

We have certain opportunities available with us at any one time. To be kept up to date with current positions and ideas contact thebighand@wjr.org.uk or call 020 8736 1250.

The Big Hand is WJR's community volunteer programme. It's flexible, accessible and is asking very little. As and when you want to help out, as and when you have some time to spare... you can always lend WJR a Big Hand.

There are so many ways you can help on so many different levels:

Distributing

WJR runs key campaigns throughout the year and we need you to help us get the message out there by putting up posters and leaflets around local shops, synagogues, restaurants and bakeries. Choose an area close to home and we'll arm you with everything you need!

You could also choose to be a 'collection box carer' and place some WJR collection boxes in locations near you, picking them up and replacing them when they are full and bringing the contents in to us at the office.

Representing

Delivering Talks:

Do you enjoy talking to groups and want to spread the word about World Jewish Relief's life changing work? As a WJR representative you'll get to meet all sorts of people whether it's at a synagogue, school, women's group or the local brownies. We'll invite you to one of our talks training sessions and guide you with everything you need to know to go out and spread the word.

Synagogue Representative:

 Working with synagogues is something that is very important to WJR and it always helps if we have a synagogue member in each congregation helping us to build on the relationship. As a representative, you could organise a WJR talk for shul groups, and assist us with promoting our key campaigns. We would also require your assistance if we have an emergency appeal and need to spread the word fast.

Gifts in Kind

Our unique humanitarian aid programme collects new and nearly new goods in the UK, packs and sorts them at our warehouse and ships them to those in need. The recipients often have to make difficult choices on what to spend their tiny income on and the GiK programme frees up their budget, enabling them to buy food and desperately needed medication.

GiK totally depends on volunteers like you to ensure that our extended family round the world are warm, fed and healthy. Come and help to pack new or nearly new goods at our Neasden warehouse, turn your garage in to a local drop off ppintm transport goods or source new ones.

Social Media Networking

Could you help promote WJR to a new audience who utilise social networks, and ensure our online followers are up-to-date with WJR activities, including fundraising campaigns, news, programming, events etc?

High Value Fundraising

Can you introduce WJR to companies or high-value individuals? Finding such contacts is a vital way of maintaining funding for the organisation. You could also help promote fundraising programmes such as legacies, sponsor a child and twinning.

Office Support

Are you good with computers, databases or happy to sit and stuff envelopes (tea and biscuits provided)? From time to time we get a bit too busy and need a Big Hand volunteer to call upon. Please let us know if you'd like to be an office angel and assist with any general work that arises.

Events

Two questions... do you like bagels and can you make a cup of tea? If so, why not join hundreds of others and host your very own Big Bagel brunch? There is an official time of the year for our Big Bagel campaign but we love bagels so much we want you to do it any time that suits you. It can be done at home, work or in the community; simply invite guests over for bagels and a cuppa and ask them to make a donation to WJR in return. You'll get a fundraising guide with lots of goodies to make sure it's a success.

We also need volunteers to help out at office and committee led events. Whether you want to come to an event or help organise one, be it big or small, we are always open to your ideas. You can organise events in your local area - e.g. quiz nights, coffee mornings, or take part in events - e.g. fun runs and marathons.

Selling Annual Raffle Tickets

Every year WJR runs an annual raffle with fantastic prizes to be won. Tickets are only £1 each and come in books of ten. Please let us know if you'd like some books to sell to your friends, family and colleagues. A pound goes a really long way in the countries in which we work.