Call for volunteers 18 to 29 June

Join the lively and friendly team on Oxford’s Energy Saving Homes! Communities for Zero Carbon Oxford have two types of volunteer roles available during June 2022.

• Open Homes Volunteer (18 to 29 June, at times to suit you)

We are looking for friendly and approachable volunteers to support householders who are opening their homes to visitors during Energy Saving Homes between 18 and 29 June.

What is Energy Saving Homes? 

Householders who have made their homes warmer and more energy-saving have agreed to open up their homes at specified times to visitors who are interested in finding out the pros and cons of eco-renovation. See http://oxford.greenopenhomes.net for more details.

What would I be doing and how would it help?

Opening a home to the public can be quite a lot of work for the host, particularly if they don’t have friends or family available to lend a hand. As a volunteer you can help relieve the pressure, and having an additional friendly and approachable person on hand will improve the experience for visitors. You might end up taking charge of welcoming visitors, keeping track of the number of people in the house, organising refreshments, giving visitors a feedback sheet, or something else which the host can’t manage on their own.

Would I need to be an expert?

No. You don’t need to know about eco-renovation to take on this role and we are not expecting you to provide advice. You’d agree with the householder what they need from you and provide that support during the visit. You would need to be physically able to move around inside the house for the duration of the visit, and do domestic tasks like making coffee, if asked. You’d be supervised by one of our experienced project co-ordinators Lois Muddiman, Rebecca Nestor and Eleanor Watts and they will be available to support you in the role.

What will I get out of it?

It’s a great way to get to know new people and hear experiences of eco-renovation.

What are the practicalities?

We will provide details of the homes’ locations and opening times, and you can volunteer for slots that suit you.

We can pay bus fares if that helps you to volunteer.

We’ll ask you to dress neatly but there is no formal dress code.

• Energy Saving Fair Volunteer on Sunday 26 June

We are looking for organised and approachable volunteers to help out at the Energy Saving Fair at Oxford Town Hall from 10 am to 4 pm on Sunday 26 June.

What is the Energy Saving Fair? 

It will be a lively and informative event about eco-renovation. There will be information stalls, traders and contractors to meet, freebies to make your home warmer, and short talks by local experts.  There will also be a stall for community groups to advertise their own activities and recruit new members.

What would I be doing and how would it help?

It’s all about making the visitor experience an enjoyable one, so that people leave feeling that they have learned about eco-renovation  and had a good time. We need people to help at the stalls so there is always someone visitors can talk to. Volunteers will also help visitors find what they are looking for – whether it’s a particular stallholder, a cup of coffee, or the loos! You might also encourage people to attend the talks, and make sure they leave some feedback at the end. If you’re physically able to, we may also ask you to help set up or take down the stalls, signage and so on. Members of Oxford’s low carbon groups and other volunteering agencies can offer information about their work on the community group stall.

Would I need to be an expert?

No. You don’t need to know about eco-renovation to take on this role and we are not expecting you to provide technical advice to visitors. You would need to be physically able to move around in the Town Hall for the duration of your shift. You’d be supervised by one of our experienced project co-ordinators Karen Starr, Lois Muddiman, Rebecca Nestor and Eleanor Watts and they will be available to support you in the role.

What will I get out of it?

It’s a great way to get to know new people, find out about eco-renovation, and be part of a lively and focused team. You can also attract people to join your own local group at the communities stall. We encourage you to bring your own banners, posters and leaflets.

What are the practicalities?

Volunteers will be needed from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm, but you don’t need to be there all day. We will provide details of the rotas and you can volunteer for two-hour time slots that suit you.

We can pay bus fares if that helps you to volunteer.

How do I volunteer?

Email volunteers@energysavinghomes.org by 18 June 2022 saying whether you’d like to volunteer for the fair, the open homes or both. You could also tell us a bit about yourself and why you’re interested if you wish.

The small print

The project team represent Communities for Zero Carbon Oxford, which are insured for this project by Low Carbon Oxford North. The team members will be your supervisors if you volunteer for us.

We will ask you to sign a short volunteer agreement before starting work, and you can ask any of us for help.