Volunteer opportunities

Our six desktop computers and two servers are all powered by Ubuntu Linux – and nearly everything we do on them - from document creation to DTP and image editing, and from SMS handling to back-ups and social networking - is done on free and open source software (FOSS). This means we have little or no worries about viruses, that our software and upgrades are all free, and that crashes are rare. It also means that Windows and MS Office experts are not much use to us when things go wrong.

Our resident part-time Linux geek keeps us running fairly smoothly, and we've had some invaluable external help too (thanks to Dave, Nick, Sujana, BJ and Owen amongst others!).

But we can always use more help – with ongoing maintenance, testing new developments, and/or expertise in emergencies. If you think you might be able to help out, contact Mark on

We have just revamped this website a little - and there's a new, shinier relaunch coming early in 2010

If you haven't had a chance to look around yet - there are reports of events and activities, news about our plans and programmes, details of upcomng events and photos of FolesHillfields in action. We want to keep this all regularly updated.

If you can write a few words; select a good photo from a folder of photos; or use basic computer skills - please get in touch at !

We need you - there's lots of interesting work in keeping a website up-to-date and exciting to visit - and we can help you get up to speed with any technical stuff you need to know.

Women's LunchWe have a monthly women's coffee morning (first Wednesday of the month 10am to noon) and a monthly women's lunch (days vary but always 12-2pm), plus occasional other women only events.

We need women who can come and help set up, clear away, prepare refreshments, shop, take photos, play with children, chat to the visitors and generally help to make a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

If you are interested in volunteering for women's events please let Fatima know on or email

Wednesday Drop-InEvery Wednesday afternoon 2-4pm - we are open to the public and anyone can just drop in for a cup of tea and chat. We always need a few regular volunteers who can commit to coming to help out.

The tasks are simple (but not necessarily easy). We need people to take turns to make teas and coffees, set up and clear up, shop for refreshments, but most of all to chat to people who come in and make them feel welcome.

If you are interested in volunteering for our regular drop-in sessions, please let Heather know on , or drop us a line at

We look after the three planters outside our office, and a small allotment not far away.

Harvesting PotatoesWe've replaced some weedy and rubbish-filled soil, we've planted fruit trees and bushes, and we've harvested coriander and mint, lettuce and spinach, potatoes and plums, redcurrants and strawberries.

Cabbages, swiss chard, amaranth and sweetpeas have all enjoyed the rain and the sunshine - as have the weeds!

So we need gardeners! If you'd like to help out, get in touch - or drop in any Thursday afternoon for a bit of weeding and a chat.

We fund our work in a range of ways – grants from Charitable Foundations or government agencies for example, and sometimes fees for contracts with the Local Authority or the NHS. There is not much grant funding available for International Linking and Friendship work, though – so to fund this important aspect of our work we rely on fund-raising events and individual donations.

The marvellous One Voice Choir hosted a fund-raising concert for us, while the wonderful Rona and David have hosted two auctions/meals at their home in Kenilworth. Coventry Asian Blind Association raised money for our partner EGD; and Sidney Stringer School students and staff have raised money through non-uniform days, a sponsored silence, and many more activities.

These efforts have built a library in our Kitagwa Community partner school in Western Kenya; allowed the Emuhuya Group of the Disabled (EGD, also in Western Kenya) to maintain it's income-generating project for poor rural disabled people and begin new ones; and allowed us to bring representatives of Kitagwa and of EGD over to Coventry.

Could you help raise funds to support work like this?

If you think you might be able to:

• host a fund-raising dinner/auction
• host, or gather the guests for, a fund-raising Murder Mystery evening
• put on a party or concert to raise funds for our work, or
• help fund-raise in another way,

 - then please get in touch for an initial chat at or on 024 76 525 885

We have particular links with a primary school and a self-help group of disabled people - both in rural Western Kenya.

Most of us at FolesHillfields, and many of our neighbours, have important friendships and/or family links with people in "developing countries", the "Majority World", or the "Global South".

We think that really helps our work, and the way we understand what's going on in the world and what we're trying to do about it.

Welcoming Kenyan VisitorsIn the past we have supported "Roving Ambassadors" to visit far-away places; asked lots of our neighbours where their grannies grew up and how they support people "back home"; set up live mobile phone links between children in a local primary school and a Kenyan one; and this September/October hosted a very successful fortnight's visit from two teachers and a community activist from Western Kenya.

We plan to continue to learn about and get more experience in helping each other to maintain and sustain our international friendships, and develop many new ones.

If you'd like to get involved, contact us: