Our network of volunteers is at the heart of the Chemists’ Community Fund. Drawn from the Royal Society of Chemistry’s member community and they care very much about the people they support.
The volunteer was a great help to me and I found his thoughtful and friendly discussion very beneficial. If you are in a difficult situation, I would strongly recommend the help offered by the Chemists’ Community Fund.
How we can support you
Our volunteers can visit you at your home and are on hand to offer a listening ear, talk through concerns, offer practical support, or simply help you keep up an interest in chemistry.
Because they live in your local area, our volunteers are available to you and your family whenever possible, helping out in a range of different ways.
A volunteer can:
- support you through the application processes for other Chemists’ Community Fund services
- find Royal Society of Chemistry member networks for you to join
- let you know about local section events near you
- help you stay in touch with the chemical sciences
- give you an opportunity to chat with a like-minded member with similar interests.
Volunteer For Us
If you are interested in volunteering for the Fund, we have three roles to choose from:
- Visitors
- Local Section Coordinators
- Ambassadors
Please do get in touch about any of our roles, as we are always looking to expand the number of Ambassadors and we currently have Visitor and Coordinator vacancies in certain areas of the UK.
Get in touchChemists’ Community Fund Committee Members
We currently have a small number of vacancies on the Chemists’ Community Fund Committee and are seeking expressions of interest from members who have the necessary skills and knowledge to join the Committee, now or in the future.
This Committee has delegated authority from the RSC Board of Trustees to shape the work and increase the impact of the Fund, within an agreed framework and budget. The committee is being reconstituted with a wider remit from July 2020, as the Fund continues to expand its activity to achieve greater impact for our community.
To ensure that we maintain a balance of skills and experiences from across our membership on the Committee we are currently seeking those who have:
- Experience working at a strategic level
- An empathetic understanding of the current issues that may be impacting the wellbeing of individuals and groups within our community, e.g. mental health, financial matters and diversity and inclusion concerns
- Knowledge of existing support mechanisms available for key audiences such as students, postdocs, those working in SMEs and technicians, and any gaps in provision
- The ability to support and challenge the Fund manager and staff
- Time to commit to the role. (Three full day meetings per year, usually hosted in Burlington House in London, but currently being held online due to Covid-19, as well as a small number of decisions supported via email between meetings).
We will also consider the diversity across the Committee members. We particularly welcome expressions of interest from members from underrepresented groups.
If you are interested in one of the small number of current vacancies please do contact Anna Dearden, Secretary, Chemists’ Community Fund Committee, by Monday 15th June detailing how you meet these knowledge and skills requirements, and why you are interested in this opportunity.
Alternatively after this date we would still be keen to hear from you for the Chemists’ Community Fund vacancies that will arise in the future.
I would definitely recommend volunteering for the Fund, I think that we have a great opportunity to help others and give them hope for the future.
Recommended links
Age UK
Red Cross - Connecting Communities
The Silver Line
Volunteering
Interested in volunteering?
If you're a member and are interested in volunteering take a look at our volunteering opportunities or get in touch to find out more.