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Corporate volunteering
We run several volunteering opportunities for corporate organisations, and we have plenty of experience in doing so, helping tailor to the needs of your company.
Why we need you
We manage the Selby Centre facility and by doing so we can keep the rents below market-rate value to enable small charities and voluntary organisations to survive.
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However, managing such a huge site is not cheap, and therefore the help we get from corporates for painting, gardening, maintenance and helping us with some building projects means we do not have to increase the rents of charities to pay directly for this work.​
The benefits of volunteering with us:
We have a huge community centre with activities that suit your team. We will never run out of items on the day.
We're home to 40+ independent charities / small voluntary organisations working with people in need.
We've welcomed volunteers for over 10 years so have the knowledge, capacity, experience and skills.
We charge a flat rate per a group rather than per a person.
You pay the same cost for the materials as we purchase them, rather than a per-head cost.
Current opportunities
​​At the Selby Centre in the heart of Tottenham, North London, we create and manage volunteering opportunities for corporations that help them impact the community.
Selby Food Hub
Suitable for: Small and Large Groups
Cost: Based on 20 people - £100 or a large food and toiletries parcel/donation.
Each week, we provide food parcels containing nutritionally balanced meals and/or food, as well as toiletries, for individuals and families at the Selby Centre. There are currently between 120 and 150 families who use the food bank each week.
Gardening (Global Garden)
Suitable for: Small and Large Groups
Materials Cost: Based on 20 people - £100 (we operate a tool replenishing system so each group pays £100 to replenishing the tool stock). If you specifically wanted to plant items, then we can discuss the cost of plants.
We are lucky to have huge grounds, some of which are used as garden for staff and visitors, bits which are used for a community veg growing space. There is a lot to do and can include creating more veg plots, deweeding, clearing overgrown shrubs, replanting the flower beds. We can be more specific when you give us suggested dates as this activity is seasonal.
Internal & External painting
Suitable for: Small or large groups
Materials Cost: Based on 20 people - £250 (this could differ depending on what you're painting - for example fence paint is cheaper than external metal paint).
The Selby Centre is a former secondary school building, so is absolutely huge. We have lots of corridors and skirting boards, hundreds of doors, door and window frames and lots of rooms. Outside we have fences, windows, decking, garden furniture, railing, external doors and more.
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Can we apply for staffing?No. The Tottenham Youth Fund is for equipment or one off trips. The maximum level young people can apply for is £250 and would not cover staff salary.
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Can schools apply?No. Only young people between 11 - 19 years old can apply. Organisations and institutions cannot apply. Young people from your organisation and institutions can apply, including schools. However for schools the application must be for activities that are not during school hours or as part of the curriculum. It can be for an after-school activity like a Football programme.
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Our organisation is based in another borough, but we deliver in Tottenham - can our young people apply?"Yes. It would be helpful if you made that clear in the application form to avoid delays. For example, our project is delivering at Chestnuts Community Centre and this is bid is specifically for this project.
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Our project is a private organisation, can young from our organisation apply?"This is dependent on the type of organisation you are, if it is a profit making company then we will not accept the application. We will also not accept applications where there is not at least two bank signatories or where the equipment is being used to generate profit which is not being reinvested back into the project. For example: If young people apply for catering equipment for their tuck-shop and all profits go back into running the project or service, then we will accept the application. However if your young people apply for catering equipment for a private profit making cafe based at your building, then we will not accept the application.
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We are young people who do not belong to a youth project or organisation, we want to apply to help us start something - can we do that?"The Tottenham Youth Fund love it when young people want to do things for themselves. Sadly, when it comes down to money, we have to make there are some rules in place. You will need to ask an organisation to help you. Remember, whatever you do will need other things like insurance or health and safety in place. There are a lot of youth organisations which will help you take care of all the boring bits so you can do what you want to do.
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Do you fund religious or political activity?We do not fund religious activity - however young people applying from churches, mosques, synagogues etc are not excluded from applying, as long as the activity is not religious in nature. We do not fund party political activity - however we are happy to accept (and encourage) applications from young people who are campaigning on a social cause (i.e.. votes at 16 or period poverty) or civil responsibility projects (i.e.. UK Youth Parliament, Youth Councils etc.). So for example, if an application comes in for tee-shirts and leaflets to help highlight a campaign against gang crime, we will accept it. If an application came from the Labour Party or Lib Democrats to for leaflets for young people to join a party, we won't accept it.
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We need the money before your deadline, can you decide on ours early?"Sorry, no we can't the Decision Committee only meets 4 times a year. We also feel it's unfair if people get a decision early and then there are no funds for those who apply in time for the deadlines.
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Why would you reject our application?The main reason will probably be that we do not have enough money for everyone. But there could be other reasons (some of them answered above). We will explain why when we respond. We won't reject an application based on spelling, grammar or because we other people wrote more or less. As long as you are clear about your idea, what you want and what it's for, then that's all we ask for.
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Who is on the Decision Committee?Councillor Seema Chandwani, David Lammy MP and Dr Victor Olisa QPM Councillor Seema Chandwani is a local Councillor for West Green ward in Tottenham. David Lammy is the Member of Parliament for Tottenham. Dr Victor Olisa QPM used to be the Police Borough Commander for Haringey and is now a Trustee at the Selby Trust.
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