Wealden Volunteering is run by a dedicated, knowledgeable and enthusiastic group of volunteers who manage our internal and public facing services. We only have one paid employee. Each member of the team works in an area that reflects their particular strengths and abilities and is given the opportunity to develop and improve their skill set.
A note from our CEO Judith Austin:
The community spirit in Wealden is fantastic and it is so rewarding to be helping volunteers and charities alike. I love my role as CEO of Wealden Volunteering. My background working with businesses and charities, nationally and globally has equipped me with the experience and knowledge I need for this position. Working with a trusted team of volunteers ensures that the charity runs efficiently and provides a wide range of services to local people and businesses across Wealden.
Some of our office volunteers:
Alex Malam: General office, invoicing & events
As a general office volunteer, I’m involved in a wide range of different tasks every week. These will include volunteer matching, email enquiries and follow ups, invoicing, and organising many of our events. I also help deliver the different office services, such as printing, laminating, and with our hearing aid battery replacement service.
Ann Coad: Treasurer
As you might guess as treasurer I’m responsible for a wide range of financial and accounting-related tasks here at Wealden Volunteering. Thankfully I’m able to call on the assistance of others such as Karen (Thorne) or Bev (Jackson). I also like to get involved in events and in helping to organise any cash raffles or tombola.
Ann Lohrey: Events & office volunteer
I really enjoy getting involved with making our events happen. I help to organise the prizes where we have an event tombola. I’m also an office volunteer, and help out around the office on an ad hoc basis whenever required.
Bernadette Roche: Invoicing & general office volunteer
I’m happy to do a little of anything and everything around our Uckfield office. This could be volunteer matching, following up, delivering office services or handling any queries from potential volunteers. I enjoy interacting with any office visitors who may drop in to see us or anyone in need of hearing aid batteries.
Bev Jackson: General office & volunteer matching
My main role is helping to match volunteers to current opportunities. I also assist Judith, our CEO with grant monitoring, and assist Ann, our Treasurer with any day-to-day tasks in her role. I’m usually in the office at least once a week, but will also be in for any other specific tasks or as needed.
Jane Sambrook: Membership
As membership volunteer I liaise with our charity and business members. I’m their first point of contact and handle renewals and any enquires that they may have. I also organise the scheduling of our regular window displays, and am also involved in setting up and managing our networking lunches. I’m usually in the office on two days a week, and look after any other ad hoc enquiries we have from anyone dropping by.
Lin Myers: General office help
My role is really one of a general office assistant. I will get involved in almost anything and everything around the office, but I’m not a computer expert, so I tend to stay away from some of the more technical volunteer matching.
Louise Atkins: Pop-ups & schools liaison
I manage our pop-up stand in Crowborough at Basepoint in Pine Grove on a monthly basis, and will be involved in our forthcoming new Hailsham pop-up from September this year. I also act as liaison with local schools to promote volunteering amongst the under 16s. Additionally, I’m involved in general office help at Uckfield.
Neil Sonsthagen: Advert writer
I create all the volunteer role adverts that are uploaded each week to our website. Often the core content for each ad is provided by the different organisations, but on other occasions I take the basic information and rework it to a style best suited to our audiences.
Paul Latimer: Social media
As social media volunteer, I’m responsible for using a range of platforms incl. Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn to help promote volunteering; advertise specific roles; and publicise Wealden Volunteering locally. A really important weekly activity involves posting about each role, once they go ‘live’ on our website. It’s all about giving them greater online reach and visibility to anyone living in Wealden.
Sam Reed: General office & volunteer follow ups
My main role revolves around one of our core activities – the matching of volunteers to their ideal role – as well as any volunteering follow ups. I’m also available to help with other general office support activity as required.