Fergus works for the Academic Registrar Division’s Systems team by week, but volunteers for North London-based charity Kith & Kids by weekend. Over the last seven years, he’s spent many a happy Saturday at the National Centre for Autism Education, and travelled all around London supporting and having fun with individuals with autism and/or learning disabilities. In the course of which, he’s learnt to play the drums (badly), fish grown men out of waterslides (successfully), marshal ill-advised games of dodgeball (never again), and has made numerous friends for life. In this blog he tells us more about his volunteering with Kith & Kids, as well as how to get involved! 

In autumn 2017, I got a job as a temp in the LSE Admissions department, and a flat in Wood Green that turned out to be nowhere near anyone I knew. So, with some spare time on my hands, and a nebulous desire to Do Good, I googled ‘local volunteering opportunities’.

Little did I know that the first result to appear was one that people travelled from across London and beyond for, such was Tottenham-based charity Kith & Kids’ reputation for the quality of experience it gave individuals with autism and learning disabilities (known as ‘Members’) and volunteers alike.

Since their inception in 1969, Kith & Kids developed support networks for the families and carers of Members, and- most importantly- high-quality activities for the Members themselves. These have ranged from weekend and holiday projects for children, to Life Skills, active and healthy lifestyle, and employability projects for adults, providing for all ability-levels. 

The success of these activities do, of course, depend on the 200 or so volunteers that they meet and train each year, many of whom go on to work in the health and care fields. Recognising that parents also need support, and that they are the ‘experts’ regarding their children, Kith & Kids makes sure to involve family members all the way through, and has a distinctively familial atmosphere.

Over the past seven years, my own experiences have been extremely thought-provoking, challenging in a healthy way, unwaveringly warm, and always worthwhile. I have worked with and built relationships with dozens of neurodiverse individuals, and learnt to see and participate in the world in new ways. Having grown to know and understand the needs of so many of the Members, I’m now privileged to assist the team as a weekend coordinator and workshopper, specialising in sports and fitness activities.

Unfortunately, the pandemic and post-pandemic years have been particularly hard ones for many charities, in that volunteer numbers and funding have depleted, but the needs of service users have endured and often increased. In the context of Kith & Kids, their upcoming Spring Project is proving particularly hard to plan for, since students- who comprise a high percentage of their remaining volunteer numbers- will be understandably preoccupied by upcoming exams. But perhaps you’re a student with no such worries, or not a student at all? If so, why not consider joining the team?

If you don’t feel like you have the capacity to volunteer on Spring Project, but will have some availability over spring, then why not consider running one of the world’s most iconic sporting events, the London Marathon, on Kith & Kids behalf? If interested, please contact Rich Pickup via rich@kithandkids.org.uk for more information.

Note that, in order to run the London Marathon, you will need to pay £100 to secure a place, commit to raising a minimum of £1800 in total, and then get training! All eminently doable for people in financially secure situations and/or with relatively wealthy networks, but not so simple others. But if you’re currently time- and money-poor, then fear not, because you can help in yet other ways: 

If you have any connections to large city firms who might support Kith & Kids- not beyond the realms of possibility at somewhere like LSE- then please give Rich (mentioned above) an introduction to them, and he’ll offer them one-off volunteering experiences.

No time in spring, no money, and no Big Time connections? No problem! Kith & Kids run weekend clubs throughout the year, and projects three times a year- the other two being during summer and the week between Christmas and New Year. Kith & Kids will subsidise your travel to their venues, and if you’re lucky you might even get a tasty home-made free meal for your troubles! So please do consider volunteering. You might be a lot better or worse at it than you think, but either way, you won’t regret the journey!

If Fergus has inspired you to volunteer, check out one of our other ongoing opportunities or book a one-to-one with David Coles, the Volunteer Centre Manager if you have more questions. And why not follow us on Twitter, and Instagram to stay up-to-date with our events and opportunities and read our blog for more volunteering tips and stories.