Berkshire branch: Volunteering

• If you have computer skills that you are willing to use to support local voluntary organisations and clubs, or elderly or disabled individuals, then please consider putting yourself forward for any of the current opportunities listed below and in our regular newsletter.
• If you represent, or know of an organisation that needs help, or have any other suggestions, please email volunteering.berkshire@bcs.org.uk.

The names of volunteers and the individuals or organisations they help are never released, unless all parties want to advertise the volunteering effort as a way of encouraging others to ask for or to offer.

Current opportunities

Volunteers needed in West Berkshire - Ability Net

Our volunteers provide free technology support to older people and disabled people of all ages. We are looking for people in West Berkshire to join our nationwide team of volunteers who offer free technology help and support over the phone and in people’s homes.

As one of our volunteers, you can...

• use your IT skills to help change the lives of older people and disabled people of all ages
• have the opportunity to become a Digital Champion and gain industry recognised training
• benefit from regular training and technology updates
• network with a nationwide team of other IT volunteers
• plan your volunteering time around your home life and other commitments.

Find out how you can get involved today

Can you help an artist-led gallery and studios in Reading?

OpenHand OpenSpace (OHOS) is an artist-led not-for-profit company based in Reading that fosters excellence in contemporary art and provides affordable studio and gallery space for artists. We organise public exhibitions, classes, open-days and workshops to promote public access to visual art.

We need to upgrade our IT hardware, when funds allow and we're looking for help.

If you or your company are able to donate a laptop PC, printer / scanner or make a contribution to our hardware upgrade, we would love to hear from you.

Peter Driver
Email: peter@ohos.org.uk

Twyford Volunteer Drivers

In March 2020, Twyford Volunteer Drivers (TVD) contacted BCS Berkshire, requesting help to improve their outdated static website with a modern responsive user experience.

TVD is a local charity helping the elderly attend medical appointments. The charity’s request had three main requirements:

1. Update the content of the website
2. Create a website that would view as one page
3. Display on any device, making it a responsive user experience.

Let me state that I am not a web designer, nor have I ever claimed to be. I wanted to try my best to deliver a website that met all the requirements.

To start, I took their current text and images and went about creating a new website for them. Once I had a mock up completed I went back to them for feedback and input on what the next steps would look like.

We agreed upon new wording and updating the images. Also to simplifying the layout to include less sections and focus on the main points.

The new website is now live in time for the easing of lockdown. The address for the new website is https://www.twyfordvolunteerdrivers.org.uk

During the process I learnt that my ideas of what works well may not be in line with those of others. Also knowing the target audience and making changes, such as using larger fonts to make it easier to read.

It feels rewarding that I was able to achieve this for TVD and knowing that I am doing my part to make IT good for society.

Lee Williams, Volunteering Coordinator, BCS Berkshire