Volunteer

Volunteers are at the heart of what we do.  Being a volunteer at Kyra Women’s Project is an excellent way to meet new people, build confidence, develop new skills and participate in something truly rewarding. Our volunteers dedicate their time and their skills to Kyra. From answering the door to running or supporting courses and activities, the roles are varied and each one is vital to our aim of improving the wellbeing of women in York.

Together, our volunteers contribute 78 hours of volunteering in an average week – that’s over 4,000 hours/year. If they were paid at the Real Living Wage, that would be over £43,500 worth of work which they provide free to Kyra! 

We’ve signed the York Citywide Volunteering Pledge to show our commitment to contributing towards a thriving culture of Volunteering in York.

Our courses, including ESTA (Enhancing Self-Esteem to Achieve, 10-week course) and SOFIA (Solutions Focused Interventions for Anxiety, 4-week Course) are run by trained volunteers. This training is provided by Kyra, and Course Leaders also gain advanced skills in public speaking and leadership. There are also opportunities to lead one-off workshops based on a variety of subjects such as Positive Thinking or Assertiveness. People with experience of support or leadership roles (professional or personal) are particularly encouraged to apply for these roles.

This involves leading a regular group activity. We offer a range of activities for members to enhance their wellbeing, explore interests and learn and develop new skills. Examples of our activities are crafts, music, poetry, mindfulness, meditation, walking or gardening.

Support volunteers assist course or activity leaders by setting up and tidying up, answering the door, making refreshments, encouraging members to take part in discussions/activities and supporting them if they need to step away from the session. This is great for volunteers in full-time employment who can only offer a few hours a week. The Course Support role is also a good opportunity for someone who is thinking about becoming a Course Leader.

We have volunteers that come in for one or both of the weekly drop-in sessions, helping with room preparation, meet and greet, making refreshments, talking with members, supporting the members’ activities e.g. crafts, and tidying up after the session.