What is the Arrupe Volunteering Award?

Pedro Arrupe SJ was the Superior General of the Jesuits from 1965-83. He coined the phrase “Men and Women for Others” which sums up so much of what we are about as a school. The Arrupe Award encourages people to take up volunteering opportunities both inside and outside of school. There are three levels of award for 10 hours (Bronze), 50 hours (Silver), or 100 hours (Gold) of volunteering in a 12 month period.

Arrupe Award: Volunteering Opportunities

• Local Libraries – https://arena.yourlondonlibrary.net/web/merton/volunteering-and-vacancies
• Your Local Youth Parliament – for Merton see http://www.merton.gov.uk/community-living/children-young-people-families/youngpeople/youthparliament.htm
• Donhead – Reading to younger students
• Merton Mencap – http://www.mertonmencap.org.uk/volunteer.htm
• Giving Blood – http://www.blood.co.uk/SessionSearcher (type sw19 in the search)  (17 + only)
• Acacia Intergenerational Centre- Mitcham – http://www.volunteercentremerton.org.uk/youth-volunteer-group/intergenerational-centre
• Mentoring – for Sixth Formers, speak to Mr Potter
• Helping out with an extra-curricular activity in school
• Making Sandwiches for a Soup Run – Speak to Mr Potter
• Cubs/Scouts – Speak to your local group leader
• Church Youth/First Communion Groups – speak to your church’s group leader
• Coaching younger people with sports clubs – speak to your local club
• Merton Faith in Action Homelessness project –http://www.mertonfaithinaction.org/volunteer
• Merton Food bank – http://wimbledon.foodbank.org.uk/get-involved
• Dean City Farm –http://www.deencityfarm.co.uk/Catalyst_Site/04_Volunteering/04_Volunteering_Main_Page
• Shooting STAR chase (children’s hospice) – http://www.shootingstarchase.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer/youngvolunteers/
• Trips – HCPT/Nepal/Manvi etc.
• St John’s Ambulance – http://www.sja.org.uk/sja/young-people/cadets.aspx
• Local Old People’s homes – speak to Mr Potter
• Office work for charities – contact a charity, Cancer Research, British Red Cross, etc. and ask if they need any voluntary help. Very often they are glad for help packing promotional materials etc.Local Charity shops – Walk down your high street, pop in to some charity shops and talk to them. British Heart Foundation, OXFAM, Wimbledon Guild (in Mitcham), Trinity Hospice Shops, St Raphael’s Hospice Shops, Scope, etc.
• Collecting for McMillan Cancer Care at Wimbledon Tennis – Sixth Formers keep an eye out for adverts in June
• Homeless Sleepout – For sixth formers in October
• Christian Care – Littlehampton Outing (June)

There are many more opportunities out there, or you can create your own initiative.

You can find out about more opportunities through Merton Youth Volunteeringhttp://www.volunteercentremerton.org.uk/youth-volunteer-group/how-to-get-involved-and-contact-info