Harris Projects - your specialist support

This role is focused on providing moral and creative support for a member of Sahara's Coffee Afternoon Group.

Sahara Project is a voluntary organisation for women, working predominately for the benefit of the black and minority ethnic (BME) community in Preston. They provide a free and culturally sensitive service to support women with a range of issues such as unemployment, mental and physical health problems and loneliness.

Since November 2023, Communities Assistant Amelia and Harris volunteers Mehak, Jennifer and Radka have been part of a creative project at Sahara, attending the centre every other week. The group is made up of around 25 multicultural women, mostly over 50 who are now working towards creating a dress to celebrate South Asian Heritage Month's (SAHM) 2024 theme: 'Free to be Me'. Now we're looking for another Harris volunteer to join our team!

What's involved?

• You'll be supporting and working primarily with Kalsoom, a visually impaired member of the Sahara women's group.

Kalsoom says she'd like someone to talk to who can sit with her and help her to colour, to use beads and help with using a needle.

Since this is an all-women's group, Kalsoom would like whoever helps her to be female and speak English or Urdu.

• Sometimes, you'll be helping other ladies/volunteers in the group. This may be things like: threading needles, giving artistic advice, helping to cut fabric, tidying.

If you accept this challenge, you'd be inspiring Kalsoom (and sometimes other ladies in the group) to create art around the SAHM theme 'Free to be Me' that will feature within the dress that the group is making.

• Desirable skills/characteristics: Creativity, knowledge about sewing/painting/drawing/costume-making, experience working with someone who is visually impaired.
• Essential skills/characteristics: Compassion, kindness, the ability to inspire others, being a good listener.

We are working with the group on a weekly basis starting on Thursday the 9th May. All the sessions will take place on a Wednesday or Thursday from 1pm-3pm up until mid-July.

Here are the upcoming dates:

Thursday 9^th May

Thursday 16^th May

Thursday 23^rd May 

Thursday 30^th May

Thursday 6^th June

Wednesday 12^th June

Wednesday 19^th June

Thursday 27th June

There is no pressure for you to attend every week for the full 2 hours but the ability to do at least 50% of the dates listed is expected. You could chat with Amelia to arrange whatever pattern suits you. You will be sharing this role with one other volunteer.

Why get involved?

• Feel rewarded - you'll be helping someone to feel supported and empowered.

• Get creative - you'll be in a creative environment with over 20 women making art!

• Support the Harris - your assistance helps the Harris be as fair as possible to the communities we work with AND you'll be helping the Harris to create a fantastic, colourful, city-centre display.

How to get involved?

1. Sounds like you'd be a good match? Accept this challenge!

2. Wait to hear from Amelia whereby we can arrange a date for you to meet the other volunteers you'll be working with, Kalsoom, and the rest of the Sahara group.

If you have any questions or want to talk things through before accepting, please just call or email Amelia: a.welbourne@preston.gov.uk / 01772 906505

Sahara address: 
48 Fishwick Parade
Preston. PR1 4QX

Sahara website: Sahara Project (Preston) Ltd. – Community Care for BAME Women (saharainpreston.org.uk)