Conservation Volunteering London

Balancers Community Volunteering - Clothing Distribution

Hi Balancers, We believe community is about more than meeting new people. It's also about showing up for those who need support. As part of our ongoing partnership with Refugee Community Kitchen, we're inviting you to join us for a different kind of volunteering session. This time, we’re joining **Refugee Community Kitchen (RCK)** at their Goodge Street service to provide essential clothing to people who need it. 👕 **HOW IT WORKS** We’ll meet at **6:00 PM in front of the Dominion Theatre**. From there, we’ll cross the road to Primark and split into small groups. Each group will be given a few essential clothing items to find and buy. Once we’re done, we’ll walk about **5 minutes to Goodge Street**, join the RCK service and distribute the clothing while their team serves food. 💷 **CHIPPING IN** We’ll collect contributions from the group and use the full amount to buy the clothing that evening. If you can, **bring some cash** — but there’s absolutely no pressure to contribute much. Even **£1 helps**, and you’re just as welcome to volunteer regardless of how much you contribute. 💬 **Join our Volunteer WhatsApp group for updates and coordination:** [https://chat.whatsapp.com/Hzm7P7Tr0QD92MnwmpHTVK?s=cl&p=a&ilr=1](https://chat.whatsapp.com/Hzm7P7Tr0QD92MnwmpHTVK?s=cl&p=a&ilr=1) 🤝 **NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED** We’ll explain everything on the day. Just bring yourself and be ready to help. **Good to know:** 📍 Meet: In front of the Dominion Theatre ⏰ 6:00 PM 👕 Primark is directly across the road 🚶 Goodge Street is around 5 minutes away As always, Respect, Kindness and Authenticity come first. We’re there to support people with dignity and without judgment. Let’s keep showing what our community can do when we act with heart. See you there 💛

Late Summer Social: Meet new people or catch up with friends

Join us for a relaxed social evening for our hiking community! Whether you’ve joined us on past walks, or are simply curious about coming along, this is a great chance to meet fellow hikers and group leaders in a friendly setting or if you’d like to just socialise. Catch up with people you’ve shared the trail with, swap stories and welcome new faces who are thinking about joining future hikes. We’ve reserved a private area upstairs in a welcoming pub, just a short walk from Waterloo Station. Food and drinks will be available, with a special discount on food for our group, so come along, unwind and enjoy a sociable evening with like-minded outdoor enthusiasts. **Location**: Upstairs in The Thirsty Bear https://maps.app.goo.gl/2DSmSpnZy9Uu1m9s9 [FAQs](https://www.aaahiking.co.uk/faq) \| [Terms and Conditions](https://www.aaahiking.co.uk/terms-and-conditions) \| [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/AAAhiking) \| [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/AAAHikingUK/reviews) \| [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/aaahiking/) \| [Trip Adviser](https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g186338-d19994843-Reviews-AAA_Hiking_Outdoor_Group-London_England.html) \| [Website](https://www.aaahiking.co.uk/)

Indigobo Environmental Discussion

We will gather for a discussion on the environment with strawberries in Hyde Park at 15.00 on Saturday, 5 September. Exact location to be announced.

Woolwich: Weekly FoodCycle FREE Lunch

***They*** *say there's no such thing as a free lunch, but they're wrong!* **[FoodCycle](https://foodcycle.org.uk/who-we-are/)**'s lovely volunteers use [unwanted food](https://cityharvest.org.uk/about-city-harvest) to produce three course, [meat-free recipe](https://foodcycle.org.uk/recipes/) (tell them you're vegan) **[community meals](https://foodcycle.org.uk/community-meals/)** across [England](https://foodcycle.org.uk/find-a-meal/), that are free to all. [FoodCycle Woolwich](https://foodcycle.org.uk/location/foodcycle-woolwich/) ([map](https://maps.app.goo.gl/XVEi9poq68YRxQX86)\|[video](https://youtu.be/5VEIsN1aCk4)) is every Friday (with rare exception; I'm notified by text), at **[Woolwich Common Community Centre](https://www.wccc.org.uk/)**'s accessible [main hall](https://www.wccc.org.uk/gallery?pgid=l3le3lp7-1daa7232-8086-4a0d-82cb-1c2a7887d105). I sometimes help the Hosting team, and have met a few other vegan [volunteers](https://volunteer.foodcycle.org.uk/opportunity/a1dQs000000fmvPIAQ), inc. chef and fellow [SE18 Vegans](https://www.facebook.com/groups/SE18Vegans) member John, who has a vegan daughter like me :-) P.S. You can bring food containers, in case of leftovers.

🏡 Hiking the Venice of the Cotswolds

################# **Explore Britain’s most stunning trails in a small group of up to 15, travelling together by private minibus to beautiful, remote locations not easily reached by public transport.** **We’ve created a list of [FAQs](https://drive.google.com/file/d/12gIZWTLfA3zQsx1fb0lpv1zOWP2vC5tq/view?usp=drive_link) to help answer your questions.** ################# Come and join us for a truly magical hike to the Cotswolds to explore some of the most beautiful villages in Britain! Think honey-coloured cottages, cosy pubs, tiny tearooms and narrow streets. The unspoilt market towns and villages of the Cotswolds have a quintessential English charm found nowhere else in the world. It really is a unique experience! On this hike, we'll pass through many picturesque Cotswold villages and towns, such as Bourton-on-the-Water, Lower Slaughter, Upper Slaughter and Naunton. Our route will take us through some of the Cotswolds’ best scenery along rolling hills (the “wolds”), woodlands and dramatic escarpments with stunning panoramic views. The whole walk is within the protected Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), the largest of the 38 AONBs in England and Wales. This hike is featured in the 100 Outstanding British Walks collection, come and discover why! **HIKE HIGHLIGHTS** * Visit the popular village of Bourton-on-the-Water, often described as the “Venice of the Cotswolds” due to its six elegant bridges that span the River Windrush, which runs through the centre of the village. * Discover the picture-postcard village of Lower Slaughter. This quaint village sits beside the sleepy River Eye and is known for its attractive limestone cottages in the traditional Cotswold style. * Pass the outstandingly beautiful Naunton village with its medieval church. This unspoilt village remains relatively untouched by tourism. * Hike through lovely woodland landscapes and enjoy expansive views across the rolling countryside and the sheltered valleys of the rivers Eye and Windrush. **DISTANCE & DIFFICULTY** Distance: 10 miles (16km). Ascent: 240m. Difficulty: [Moderate](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BMjvqhAAdSeCdyzLPHs0z04_e2TiKdci/view). **ITINERARY** **07:45** Meet outside Hotel Novotel London West, 1 Shortlands, W6 8DR (a five-minute walk from Hammersmith Station) **08:00** Sharp departure **10:00-16:00** The Venice of the Cotswolds circuit walk **16:00-17:00** Picnic lunch/dinner at Bourton-on-the-Water **17:00** Departure **19:30** London, Hammersmith **TRANSPORT** As on most of our trips, we'll travel in a comfortable 16-seater minibus. **SAFETY** This hike is led by an experienced, Outdoor First Aid qualified hike leader. **BOOKING** To keep ticket prices down and avoid PayPal/Meetup fees (£7 extra per ticket), we kindly ask for payment by bank transfer. Please include your Meetup name and the trip as the payment reference (e.g. John Cotswolds). As places are limited, we can hold your place for 24 hours. Business Account Name: London Social Hiking Limited Sort Code: 20-17-20 Account Number: 63116514 We'll let you know by changing your status to “Paid” as soon as the payment is cleared. You can check your status next to your name in the [attendees list](https://www.meetup.com/londonsocialhiking/events/316086846/attendees) of the event. You don’t need a paid Meetup subscription to do this – just close any pop-up windows and continue. **THE PRICE OF £78 INCLUDES** * Transport throughout the trip * Experienced, professional PSV minibus driver * Guiding on all hiking routes by an experienced and qualified Lowland Leader * Professional event organisation * Group first aid kit with qualified first aiders * Admin fee * 20% VAT **THE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE** * Personal insurance (for cancellation, accident, health, emergency evacuation and loss, theft of or damage to baggage and personal effects, and personal trekking insurance) * Food **HOW TO CONTACT US** For all enquiries, please PM Anna (the main organiser) via Meetup. Alternatively, you can email us at info@lshiking.co.uk We'll usually get back to you within 4 hours. Your guide will be Lily (07450435289, only for use during the hike). Please get in touch if you have any difficulty locating the meeting point or need help during the trip. **WHAT TO BRING** * Suitable hiking shoes with ankle support * Sunscreen (if sunny) * Waterproof and windproof jacket and trousers (if there is a chance of rain) * Packed lunch * Water (min 1L) * Walking poles (optional) * Gaiters (optional) **REVIEWS ⭐** We have hosted over 600 events on Meetup and received an incredible number of positive reviews from our community. We’re proud to have achieved an **average event rating of 4.8 out of 5**. Please keep sharing your feedback – it helps us continue to improve and make every trip even better! **JOIN US ON SOCIAL MEDIA** This is where we share pictures from our events. Feel free to use for inspiration on where to go next! [Facebook group link](https://www.facebook.com/groups/220802492121957) and [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/london_social_hiking/) **REFUND POLICY** You can check our refund policy [here](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Wmc2pJsSJ2EL1jKajVITPz3qjNepS2Tu/view?usp=drive_link).

Discuss & Social 🍷 Conspiracy theories & disinformation: how to spot them?

**Join our no-judgment space to make new friends and chat about everything from daily life to big world issues. This week's topic:** Your Instagram feed shows a scary video claiming "London is falling," but your daily commutes and weekends feel perfectly peaceful. We all see conflicting stories online about safety, society, and our future. It is easy to feel confused and anxious when viral stories tell us one thing, but official reports tell us another. How do we find peace of mind and trust each other the internet feel so divided? A few discussion points... * **1.** Do you trust your own personal experiences or the news stories you read online? * **2.** How do we protect our friendships when family or friends start believing strange viral videos? * **3.** Can we explore better ways to share stories and find honest information without feeling overwhelmed? *Skip the small talk and join a room of global minds and cosmopolitans for our weekly conversation lounge. Find meaningful and international perspectives on modern culture, relationships, and society. No expertise needed - just an open mind and your life experiences. Come for the perspectives. Stay for the connections.* **🍸 THE VIBE** * **Curated Conversations:** Thoughtful, intriguing, and deep. It's more about our personal journeys and lived experiences, less about academic point-scoring. * **Cinematic Backdrop:** Hosted in a moody lounge perfect for late-night drinks and cozy conversation. * **Fluid Mingling:** A balance of guided group discussions and casual socializing over drinks. * **A Global Collective:** Connect with international graduates, London's creatives, open-minded travelers, etc. **🕒 THE RUN SHEET** * **19:30 – 20:00 \| The Warm Up:** Arrive, grab a cocktail, and chat casually as everyone settles into the lounge.. * **20:00 – 21:30 \| The Discussion Circles:** We move into our hosted conversation circles. We shuffle groups so you meet new faces. * **21:30 – Late \| The After\-Chat:** Shift to casual socializing. The lounge bar stays open late for socialising and drinks. **📜 OUR DISCUSSION CODE (house rules)** 1. **Curiosity over judgement:** We're here to explore how different people think. Listen, ask questions, learn from each other. Every view is a puzzle and we want to understand all angles without judging the people who bring them. 2. **Respect the mic:** This is a shared space, not a soapboxing stage. Give everyone a chance to speak. 3. **Don't take it personally:** We can explore different views while remaining completely kind and respectful to the people sharing them. 4. **Be Present:** We put our phones away during the conversation to truly connect with the people around us. **📍 THE LOGISTICS** * **Where:** The lounge bar/cafe at Curzon Aldgate, 2 Canter Way, E1 8PS. * **Entry:** Free entry. Kindly support the venue by ordering drinks or snacks at the bar throughout your stay. * **Dress Code:** Smart/City Casual * **Transport:** Aldgate East, Aldgate, Tower Hill/Gateway stations are all within a 5-minute walk. **✅ "Pending approval" to group?** Please wait until you are approved as we're balancing participants across different channel pools. **🌎 ABOUT US** **World Citizens** is London's premier cosmopolitan collective. For over 15 years, we have curated high-vibe spaces, salon discussions, and cultural mixers for global minds, young professionals, and international expats living in the capital. **\*Our other weekly events\*** \- Friday evening socials every week \- Cafe tour around London every Saturday \- Canary Wharf socials every other Wednesday \- Outdoor fun \(hiking\, kayaking\, etc\) every weekend \- Dining\, cultural and travel activities on\-demand **JOIN OUR TEAM!** We're all volunteers, so if you enjoy organizing activities or events in your spare time, while meeting great people every week, send a message to our team account "TP"! **DISCLAIMER** We are a 100% volunteer-run team. Though we have high standards in planning, this is a private informal activity so we cannot be liable for any damage or inconvenience. However, we put safety and comfort first. We take all complaints seriously, and take severe action against any harassment, verbal or non-verbal, and anti-social behaviour, towards our guests or team members. We collaborate with the police when needed. We take photos and videos which may include you to help promote the community in line with GDPR Data Protection law, as well as stock photos from Pexels or Unsplash. We may restrict or prioritize guests at our own discretion for safety, quality and logistics reasons. While our team's decisions may not be perfect we ask that you follow our decisions first and raise any disputes to discuss with us later and privately. By attending you understand, agree with and respect all terms of this disclaimer.

Whirling Wader Snettisham Spectacular! (Wildlife photography)

Blackdown - Highest Point of The South Downs National Park | 29km (18mi)

📈 **Grade: 🥾🥾🥾🥾 Level 4/5** —— 📖 **ABOUT:** **The highest point in the whole South Downs National Park** is not chalk downland at all. It is **Blackdown: 280m** of gorse, heather and silver birch, ancient sunken lanes worn deep over thousands of years, and a view so good that Tennyson built a house below it and stayed for the last 24 years of his life. We start and finish at Haslemere station, direct from Waterloo, and take the long way round: 29km (18mi) and 646m of ascent through ancient woodland, along the River Lod and over Green Hill, with the Temple of the Winds, a curved stone seat in a spot with a real secret feel, as the quiet centrepiece of the day. A proper full day in the hills, walked slowly enough to actually enjoy it. —— 🌟 **HIGHLIGHTS:** ⛰️ **Blackdown (280m)**, the highest point in the South Downs National Park and in Sussex 🪑 **The Temple of the Winds**, one of the finest views in the National Park 🌲 **Ancient woodland at Barfold Wood and Verdley Wood,** plus the quiet river valley of the Lod 🏘️ **The hamlets of Dial Green and Kingsley Green** 🦋 Internationally important heathland: Belted Galloway cattle, Dartford warblers, woodlarks and nightjars, with dragonflies over the bog ponds, including the rare black darter 🍂 Bilberries and blackberries along the sunken banks! —— **SUMMARY:** 🥾 **29km \(18miles\) \| Circular \| Ascent: 646m \| \~7 hours** 🚆 Train from **London Waterloo station** ⛳️ **Meeting Point:** 2 Options **1-** London Waterloo train station \- Main Ticket Office \(opposite platform 16\) \| **08:40** (Train is at **09:00**) **2-** Haslemere outside train station \| **09:55** 📍 **Hike** **start:** Haslemere outside train station \| **10:05** 🏁 **Hike** **finish:** Haslemere \| approx\. **17:00-18:00** —— **💷COST: Free** This hike is completely free to join but participants need to purchase their own transport tickets. —— 🎒**WHAT TO BRING:** * 2L Water * Packed lunch and snacks * Comfortable walking/hiking shoes * Weather-appropriate clothing (layers, waterproofs, hat, sunscreen) * Optional: trekking poles, camera —— *✅***WHO CAN JOIN:** * Our hikes are open to adults aged 21 and over. * For safety reasons, we’re not able to include children. * We love animals, but pets (including dogs) can’t join our hikes. —— **🚨RSVP & ATTENDANCE:** RSVP only if you plan to attend. Please cancel as early as possible if you can no longer make it so others can join. A no-show means you RSVPed but did not attend or cancelled just before or after the start time. Repeated no-shows or late cancellations without a valid reason may lead to removal. Reliable regulars who end up on a waitlist may message the host for priority consideration. —— **☯️STAYING TOGETHER:** A dedicated back marker is not always present, so please keep others in sight and avoid moving too far ahead or falling too far behind. Faster walkers should wait at junctions. The hike leader will pause at key points to regroup and reduce the chance of anyone becoming separated from the group. —— ⚠️ **DISCLAIMER:** By joining, you confirm that you have read and accepted the group policy on the About page. You are responsible for your own safety, and neither the host nor the group can be held liable for injury, loss, or damage.

4 Days at Centre Parcs with Fun Activities

Just an hour away from London is this paradise with 365 acres of secluded woodland to explore, soak up magical views over the lake and stay in luxury lodges, also with a subtropical swimming paradise, Watersports lake, Sandy beach and lots of fun activities we can do. **What’s included:** Accomodation in Lodge, Activities: Archery, Ariel Challenge, Kayaking, Bowling and Pool. **Whats not Included:** Meals, Other expenses, other activities. **ACCOMODATION & FOOD** We will have a beautiful lodge with twin rooms (Own Room is available at request and availability - £120 extra). Food is not included, but we can do a group kitty closer to the time for food from supermarket, BBQ’s and we can have a couple of meals out. **ACTIVITIES AND SCHEDULE** The Schedule will be flexible with an activity or two for us to do each day and opportunities to do some of your own, we will release the full schedule closer to the time. 5 Activities in Bold: Friday - Check in, Nature Walk, **Bowling** Saturday - **Archery,** Swimming Paradise Centre, **American Pool** Sunday - **Kayaking**, **Ariel Challenge,** Pub Quiz Monday - Nature Walk, Final Breakfast and Check Out You will get free time to do other activities that you desire, we can look to activities with others during the group, will set up a whats app group and see what others fancy doing as we will have lots of time. **COST** TOTAL COST IS - **£425 ONLY** Deposit of £175 to hold place (Email for details) Deposits are non-refundable as it will be used to put towards payment of the lodges which have to paid upfront (you may be able to swap your space with someone else only if all the spots have been filled first and we can do what we can - also we can refund this until the trip is confirmed) You can make your deposit here: [https://buy.stripe.com/00wbJ0dBaekc4sPgbo4ZG3F](https://buy.stripe.com/00wbJ0dBaekc4sPgbo4ZG3F) (Any issues with link please drop me a message) Final payment to be paid 5 Weeks before. Only **10 X Places** Available. **CONTACT** \- contact me on Meetup Messenger if any other questions or email me yourlondonlifecoach@gmail\.com

Blenheim Palace, Harry Potter tree, Cotswold Villages & Roman Villa Hike

Mindful countryside walk/ hike

Details TBC

The North Devon weekend: Hartland& the Valley of Rocks

Show your interest by clicking attend, this weekend will be taking place 11-13 of September. Your booking will only be confirmed once I have reposted the page with the booking link and you have paid for it. As this is far from London, I will only be taking 5 people with me. Come and join me on my top most beautiful coastal hikes in a still wild and preserved coastaline just above the far too busy Corwall, the coast of North Devon. We will begin our trip after work with a train journey to our hotel for a good rest before the next 2 days of an incredible beauties. This trip is my most successful ever and people still talk to me about it to this day and I have not been in 5 years so it is time to get my hiking boots back on and travel back to the most perfected hiking weekend one can dream of ! Day 1: We will meet at Paddington station at 5 pm so please ensure you spoke to work in order to finish early, if you miss the train, you will have to buy a new train ticket and make your own way and it will be pricy! I recommend to take some diner with you as the train jourbey takes just under 4 hours and we won't have time to eat there. Day 2: This is where the fun begins, we will get on the first morning bus that will take us straight to my big number 1 hike! The Hartland and the incredible Speke Mill Waterfall, we will hike the whole day from cliff top to hidden beaches, through ancient monasteries and the heather should be covering the hills and clifftop given this rugged landscape a purple blanket like no others and will go for a visit of incredible place and the only village museum in the UK, the beautiful village of Clovelly. The village is preserved and you can only access it by foot or via donkey as cars are not allowed in and have to be parked nearby on the clifftop. We will either eat some tasty seafood, a pub diner or some vegetarian options over there or near our hotel, depending on what the group prefers. I will also try to give you some time for a swim to complete the day in the best possible way. Day 3: Lynton and Lynmouth and the Valley of the rocks. Our last hiking day of the week will take place about half an hour from our hotel in another stunning village of England, people talk about the Cotswolds, sorry but I prefer North Devon's villages a lot more! We will have a mixture of clifftop walks and woodlands surrounded by wild goats that will be staring at us, strange bipedal beings who like to have a stroll around their gorgeous homes. We will then head back to Barnstaple to grab a take away for our journey back to Londinium, our mind filled with all the beauties that we will have taken in... INFORMATION: PRICE: £500 TBC for the 2 night. I try to keep it as low as possible but trains are already £150-200, the hotel about £200, my costs and transports. INCLUDED: \- 2 NIGHTS in a private room\. Accommodation TBC\, there is a possibility to share a room and save a £100 if I am told early enough and if someone is happy to share with you\. \- Transport to and from London \- Bus trips \- Day trip to the Hartland and entry fee to Clovelly \- Day trip to the Valley of the Rocks \- Guided hikes \- My costs\(hotel\, train\, bus\, food and rece\) NOT included \- Food and drinks \- Anything not mentioned above REFUNDS: A full refund is only available up to 30 days before departure. POLICIES: 1: This group is designed for the pleasure and enjoyment of all of us, we do not accept any derogatory comments or behaviours towards anyone. Racism, discrimination and other unacceptable behaviours will only lead to your rejection of any of our trips and this is without exception. 2: This trip is refundable up to the 30 days before departure, You will have up to 30 days before departure to cancel and get a full refund, please, also book an insurance just in case of illnesses. 3:In the eventuality that our transports are delayed, or cancelled which is out of my control, I do not pay for taxis, flight or alternative routes, I might have to change a part of the trip if something happens such as last minute closure,... If this happens, I will plan an alternative visit. If this happens, By signing up to my events, you agree to this. 4:You are responsible for your own safety, health and security, but please always follow my guidlines, always stay at least a couple of meters away from the cliff edge and do not put yourselves in a dangerous situation.