Community Research Project – Epsom Area

About Include.org

Include is an inclusive communication charity with projects across Surrey and a network of over 50 award-winning volunteers.

Include.org supports 400+ people with learning disabilities or autism and their families and carers through speech and language therapy-based community activities and training which:

• Promote inclusion and wellbeing
• Empower people with communication needs
• Develop communication skills with individuals, services, and communities.

Activities include The Include Choir - a choir rehearsing in Epsom on Tuesday evenings, and a more established choir in Redhill on Wednesday evenings. Also, Stroll and Sign – inclusive wellbeing walks on Saturdays. And virtual / online activities each week. All provide opportunities to learn and use Makaton signing.

Our co-produced values are Kind, Empowering, Fun, Inclusive and Respectful.

We are all about thinking outside the box to bring inclusive communication to life and to take us one step closer to an inclusive world.

The Role

There are four goals that we would like the volunteer to research, with the aim of proactive engagement with the wider community.

We are keen to establish links with five businesses/corporate organisations in the Epsom area; independent organisations with a sense of local identity and whose values align with ours.

We are looking for five events in the Epsom area that involve the community fundraising opportunities for charities. This would be an opportunity to raise money, increase awareness, reach new audiences and connect with the local community. For example; a run or bike ride where people can be sponsored or a public event with performance / speaking opportunities and/or stalls.

Identify five community groups (excluding schools and colleges - we have those already) that might like to visit the Include Choir or have a visit from the Include Choir. Explore the prospect of the groups fundraising for the charity.

Identify five local councillors or other high-profile people in the community with strong local networks and connections. Ideally there will be a personal link to the kind of work our charity does, or an involvement with other charities. The volunteer might find them on social media or via a website, or find an email address that we can follow-up with.

When researching these four areas we would need a relevant contact point established for each and links to any social media.

We are looking for a volunteer to start by asap, ideally for 4 to 5 hours a week for 3 weeks. This would include a mid-project catch-up and a report.

It would be very beneficial if the volunteer could come to an Epsom Choir session before starting the project. 

The choir rehearsals are held every Tuesday 6pm until 7.30pm at St Joseph’s Church, St Margaret Drive, Epsom KT18 7JQ

What skills do I need?

• Motivated by the role
  
• Knowledge and experience of the local area
• Proactive when researching and making connections
• Ability to engage with people easily
• Aptitude for creating clear reports
• Able to plan and work independently
• An inclusive attitude

We are also looking for anyone with the additional experience of working with people with learning or communication disabilities and/or fundraising.