Opportunities to volunteer at Bournville Heritage Open day; with Restore as a befriender; and further afield with Quaker Voluntary Action.
Can you help at Heritage Open Day?
Bournville Meeting is opening again for Heritage Day on Saturday 14 September between 10:00 – 4:00.
Bournville Friends would appreciate offers of help with the stewarding, as we’re expecting many people. Some visitors like a chance to chat, so the more helpers we have the more this is possible.
Please come to Bournville for a chance to visit 17 community buildings, and spare an hour or two for the Meeting House if you can!
Contact Anne Giles or bournville@ceaqm.org.uk
Several local meetings are taking part in Heritage Open Days 2024, Bournville will be especially grateful for support on the 14th September, due to the high number of visitors expected.
Can you befriend with Restore?
Restore (a project of Birmingham Churches Together, of which Quakers are a member) seeks to welcome and offer friendship to refugees and asylum seekers in Birmingham. Several Quakers in Central England are volunteer befrienders. Restore is running a three-part course for those interested in befriending or wanting to learn more about refugee issues.
The sessions will take place on: Wednesday evenings 9th, 16th, and 23rd October 2024, 7:15 pm – 9:15 pm in person at The Rep Theatre, Birmingham.
Befrienders meet a refugee or asylum seeker every 2 weeks to offer welcome and a listening ear, informal help with conversational English and orientation and help in navigating a new culture and systems.
Read more and sign up on the Restore website.
Quaker Voluntary Action Retreats
Quaker Voluntary Action (QVA) organises working retreats in Britain, Europe and beyond. Volunteers participate in practical projects and reflective sessions that promote personal spiritual development with meaningful engagement in the world. Activities may include gardening, decorating and internal renovation, refugee support, sustainability projects and woodland management.
There are two retreats remaining in 2024, and several planned for 2025.
Quinta Ecosophia, Portugal, 2nd-9th November 2024, £350
Quinta Ecosophia is a permaculture and ecological farm in Sintra, about 45mins drive outside of Lisbon, and a 25min walk to the beach. Quinta Ecosophia is a Quaker-run eco-farm. Quinta Ecosophia has a large allotment and chickens, allowing it to be fairly self-sustaining. They also have horses and wonderful grounds to be explored. They are largely run by a group of residential volunteers, and so we may be working alongside their team to help out at the farm.
Israel/Palestine Online Retreat, on Zoom, October 2024 (date tbc), £tbc
QVA will be holding an educational Online Retreat to give people the opportunity to learn more about Israel/Palestine, the conflict, the history, and more. The exact date, run time, and content will be released closer to the time. If you are interested in this event, please complete the Expression of Interest form below. This will help us to plan the event, gauge interest, and ensure we can create a safe, interesting, and inclusive event for all.