Surrey Association for Visual Impairment. Making a visible difference in Surrey.
Volunteer Roles at SAVI
Here is a brief description of the roles available at SAVI. If you think you can offer us help in any of these areas please do get in touch with us - we would be delighted to hear from you. Training is offered for all roles.
Home Visiting Scheme
The home visiting scheme matches volunteers and client's needs at their homes. The volunteer visits the client on a regular basis to talk, read, help with bills or letters or go for walks according to a client's wishes.
Driving
Volunteer drivers can bring a client to visit our Resource Centre at SAVI to look at equipment that could help them.
Communication Class Drivers/Helpers
A driver would drive a client to their communication class weekly and can stay and assist the client to learn Braille, Moon or touch typing (no experience is necessary for this role, it is more of a buddy scheme).
Equipment Delivery
A bulky item such as a radio cassette player or large button telephone can be delivered to a client’s home by a volunteer who will ensure that it is set up correctly and that the client knows how to use it.
Phone Friends
Phone Friends befriend clients over the telephone. Some of our phone friends are themselves visually impaired.
Benefit Form Assistance
Trained volunteers are available to assist clients with filling in the form to help obtain an attendance or disability living allowance.
Public Speaking
A small group of volunteers some of whom are visually impaired go and speak at schools, clubs and other groups about visual impairment and the work of SAVI.
Events Fundraiser
Come along and help us at events - anything from collections in stores; to stalls at summer and Christmas fairs; to selling raffle tickets at balls; or taking the scores at one of our 5-a-side football tournaments! To see a list of upcoming events click here. If you prefer to get involved with organising your own event click here.
Collection Box Co-ordinators
Volunteers who co-ordinate a number of collection boxes in their area, placing them in shops, pubs etc and then replacing them with empty ones every couple of months - bringing the full ones into SAVI for counting.
Administration
We have a number of volunteers who come into the office to help with administration, database entry, research and telephoning. Some volunteers help in the community services office and others in Fundraising and it can be general administration or project specific.
Low Vision Assistants
This role involves teaching a client, with the support of our qualified dispensing optician, reading techniques.
If you would like to apply take a look at our Volunteer Recruitment pages.
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The Difference Made Visible
Hear the stories of Alan, Elizabeth and Ray
Sight Loss
Learn about the most common eye conditions that can cause visual impairment.
Macular Disease
Cataract
Diabetic Retinopathy
Glaucoma
