Volunteer
Find friendship and fulfilment at the Clarke Foley Community Hub
Join our friendly team and share your skills, experience, and personality to enrich your life and the lives of others.
We have several roles which help to combat isolation and loneliness in Ilkley and beyond.
Call in for a chat when we open or contact us on 07442 261462 or admin@clarkefoley.org.uk
Since the building first opened in 1981, volunteers have been at the heart of everything we do. It’s fair to say that this wonderful community facility wouldn’t continue to exist and thrive today if it wasn’t for the time, effort, and care of our dedicated team of volunteers. We have a diverse blend of age, skills, knowledge, backgrounds, and experience, that make this place a wonderful and unique Hub of vibrancy and positivity. The more people we have on board, the more we can achieve!
We aim to make volunteering a mutually beneficial and rewarding experience, that gives as much back to the volunteer as it does to our community. Whether it’s learning and developing new skills, gaining experience in a workplace environment, boosting your confidence, meeting new people, or simply the satisfaction of giving back to the community and doing something positive that improves the lives of others, there’s a lot to be gained from a volunteering role at the Clarke Foley.
As a charity, we exist to provide facilities in the interest of social, physical, and mental wellbeing for the people of Ilkley and surrounding areas. Our volunteers play a fundamental part in achieving this goal as they contribute massively to the fun, friendly, supportive, and welcoming atmosphere that our users enjoy and value so much.
Each role, in its own way, contributes considerably to improving the lives of all the people that use this fabulous facility. At the end of each day, you can be sure that you have changed someone’s life for the better.
We have 200+ people who come through our doors every day. The Clarke Foley is a buzzing and lively environment to work in and our varied schedule of activities and events means that no two days are the same. Read on to find out more!
Do you have a skill you’d like to share?
Positions available
Café Assistant
We are looking for volunteers to help to prepare hot drinks in our café and to prepare trays for drinks orders.
This volunteer role is behind the café counter. You will be supplied with your own apron.
The café is open from 10.00am – 4.00pm Mon-Sat. Ideally, we would like volunteers to cover a two-hour shift. Could you help each week, once a month, perhaps on a Sunday when the Antiques Fair is running, or on a one-off basis for to cover other volunteers who are on holiday?
Activity Leaders
Many people want to make contact with others so we are looking for creative individuals to help us out by running regular or one off activities. This role may involve:
- Sharing your expertise
- Leading a dance class
- Setting up a hobby group
- Providing a talk/lecture on a topic of your choice
- Helping to run a class (Bingo, quiz etc)
- Providing professional expertise at a support group
- Or any other idea you might have for a class that would enrich and help other people at Clarke Foley.
- We are open to all and any ideas. Do you have a skill you’d like to share?
Trustee/ Director
All of our Directors give their time voluntarily. This role involves helping to set the strategy and direction of Clarke Foley Community Hub, sharing your knowledge, experience and expertise to benefit the business and charity, and taking responsibility for specific areas of the business. We also work constantly on ensuring compliance with all applicable laws and regulations as a company, a charity, and an employer. Board meetings take place on a bi-monthly basis here at Clarke Foley, and there can be an additional requirement for assistance at events.
EVENTS VOLUNTEER
We have a diverse programme of events and we always need extra hands to help them run smoothly and successfully.
This role can include assisting with the set up and dressing of the hall, assisting with food preparation, working behind the bar, serving tables, or welcoming guests. Our well-attended events create such a buzz around the building and they’re always great fun to take part in. Events can be mid-week, weekends, afternoons or evenings, so we’re flexible!
Lunch Club
Helping out at our weekly lunch clubs is an incredibly rewarding and satisfying volunteering opportunity. It’s a customer facing role, as part of a dedicated team of staff and volunteers, which includes laying out the tables, serving meals and drinks to customers, chatting and joking with our regulars, and clearing away the empty plates at the end of the meal . The Lunch Clubs are a very popular and highly valued service by our users. These sessions are at the core of everything we are aiming to achieve. It’s a delicious homemade, two-course meal at an affordable price, and provides people with a safe space to catch up with friends, and integrate and interact with new ones too. For some, it is the only hot meal they will eat all week, and for others it is the main or only social interaction they will have all week.
The Lunch Clubs take place every Tuesday and Thursday 12pm – 1.30pm. Each group continues to grow so we’re always looking for helpers to ensure we carry on this vital service.
PHOTOGRAPHER
Capture shots of the broad range of classes, groups, activities, and events. Develop your portfolio whilst helping to advertise and promote the charity with photos that can be used on our website, social media pages, or in and around the building itself. The role is ideal for a photography student looking to gain some experience, or a retired photographer looking to share their skills in their free time.
Media/admin Assistance
Would you like to help with scheduling posts on our Facebook/Twitter feeds?
Do you have an eye for design? You could help create posters for the vast range of events and activities we have going on at the Centre over the year!
Can you work in excel to help with our mailing lists?
We are a happy team in the office and can always find work for a willing volunteer!
