Virtual volunteering opportunities over Christmas
Discovery Trustee & Ambassador Arjun tells us all what Discovery volunteers can get up to over the Christmas period.
Wow, is it almost Christmas already? As the year draws to a close and most lectures and deadlines are done and dusted, I hope you are all enjoying a well-earned break over the upcoming few weeks, spending it catching up with friends and family or following hobbies in a COVID safe fashion, no doubt(!).
This year honestly feels like it has dragged on forever especially being in lockdown, but it has brought so many new changes within DiscoverySVS to keep doing some of the incredible projects that we have and continue providing support to the wider community of Swansea.
But if you ever find yourself stuck inside with an overwhelming urge to volunteer, or hey, maybe just a bit bored, why not consider being a virtual volunteer? There are loads of available volunteering opportunities without leaving the safety of your own home. You could have a go at playing word games, or perhaps animal conservation and even help in research curing diseases. Better still, you can work over the internet via computer, tablet, or phone to help support a cause that is important to you whilst you give as much or as little time as you want!
Virtual volunteering to me is one of the best ways to boost self-esteem and is really something worthwhile to do whilst also building transferable skills such as data analysis, helping others, or participating in research. So come try out some of the amazing online opportunities below!!
- https://www.zooniverse.org/ – A platform for many digi-volunteering opportunities.
- https://freerice.com/game – Play a word game, raise funds for World Food Programme.
- https://instantwild.zsl.org/intro – Animal conservation from the comfort of home.
- https://www.bemyeyes.com/ – Helping blind and low vision people via an app.
- https://www.onlinevolunteering.org/en – UN digi-volunteering portal.
- https://foldingathome.org/start-folding/ – Help cure diseases with your gaming PC.
- https://www.missingmaps.org/ – Help fill in the gaps on maps to support disaster relief teams around the world.
- https://www.antislaverymanuscripts.org/classify – Transcibe handwritten message between anti-slavery activists in the 19th C.
- https://www.zooniverse.org/projects/dwhiter/aurora-zoo/classify a chance to look to the skies (by staring at your screen) and check out the amazing Northern Lights.
- https://www.zooniverse.org/projects/mzfasdg2/reading-natures-library Decipher handwritten notes on historic botany microscope slides.
Oh, and for those of you staying in Swansea over the holiday period there are some opportunities to get involved with some *Christmas Volunteering* by help with overall organization as well as giving out on the day with the Ty Forest Hub It will be a physically distanced outdoor event where children can see Santa and get a gift! If you’re interested – contact Shani at Ty Forest directly on: shanistephens@gmail.com
Also, St Thomas Swansea St Thomas Swansea is holding a free Christmas Dinner at 12-2:30pm Christmas Day At St Thomas Church, Swansea. If any Discovery volunteer would like to join them for dinner, volunteer or help in any way just drop them a message or contact the office on 01792 455671 as they would be very welcome.
They are also welcoming donations of new gifts for children and adults of all ages, if you were to decide to buy an extra gift when shopping online for those last-min Christmas prezzies! If you decide to do this (firstly you’re amazing), please send gifts to: St Thomas Church, Lewis Street, St Thomas, Swansea, SA1 8BP.
You can also check out some other opportunities you can get involved in over the holiday period in the Discovery Festival Volunteering guide
But above all, make sure that you look after yourself and I can speak on behalf of Discovery in wishing you all a restful break with peace and love to you all!
Arjun Xx
