Local volunteers needed to help Kids Company in Hackney

Kids Company was founded by Camila Batmanghelidjh (pictured) in 1996, to provide support to vulnerable inner-city children. Photograph: Kids Company.

London charity Kids Company is calling for volunteers in Hackney to join its local schools teams. Kids Co programme manager Carina Georgiades says: “It is generally difficult for people to get volunteer work with children and we can provide opportunities for this.”

Founded in 1996 by Camila Batmangehlidjh, Kids Co works to promote the emotional well-being of children at school through one-to-one therapy, art workshops, social work intervention and occupational therapy.

Currently helping around 14,000 children across seven of the capital’s most deprived areas – including Hackney- the services are provided by professional therapists, social workers and youth workers, as well as general volunteers.

The charity is keen for volunteers to make use of their own skills and experiences when working with the children, as Georgiades explains: “For example, we have had an architect, actors, animators as well as parents and members of the local community volunteering in our school teams.”

General volunteers working in one of Kids Company school teams can expect to get involved with running breakfast clubs, lunchtime groups and after-school clubs for activities such as crafts, art, sport, cookery, drama and music. Volunteers also provide  in-classroom support by helping with literacy and giving one-to-one mentoring.

In addition to working with the children, Kids Company also run parenting groups which provide support in a variety of areas. For example, parents for whom English is not a first language are often given help with matters such as writing letters and dealing with bureaucracy.

All general volunteers will receive a full induction, child protection training and ongoing support.

For further information visit the Kids Company website.

If you wish to volunteer, please email carina.georgiades@kidsco.org.uk.