News

Current Campaign- The Volunteer Rights Inquiry

Volunteering England aimed to begin to understand the nature and scope of the problems experienced by volunteers and to identify suitable remedies. They presented their initial findings in an interim report http://bit.ly/zkE3zv  released in the summer of 2010. Following further consultation and feedback from the interim report, they formulated this call to action and issued their final report http://bit.ly/AEISfs Volunteer Rights InquiryCurrent Campaign22nd November 2011

Volunteering Gloucestershire supports their CALL TO ACTION

Although we recognise the enormous efforts already made by organisations to improve the volunteering experience, we feel that our call to action will ensure on-going improvement, as well as addressing some of the concerns we have uncovered.
We are asking all volunteer involving organisations to sign up to the ‘3R promise’ proposed below in order to raise standards of volunteer management.
By signing up to the 3R promise, organisations are making a commitment to work towards meeting each of the criteria set out below.
 

3R promise

• We will endeavour to get it RIGHT from the beginning
• Our organisation will follow guidance on good practice and ensure it has up to date policies and evidence this in appropriate reports
• Our organisation will ensure that concerns of volunteers are listened to and given due consideration.
• We will offer means to achieve RECONCILIATION if things go wrong
• Our organisation recognises that sometimes things go wrong and makes sure that everyone in the organisation knows how to deal with it
• Our organisation will identify a trustee with responsibility for volunteering who will monitor volunteer complaints and encourage rapid resolution in emerging conflicts
• Our organisation will explore local mediation services when necessary.
• We accept our RESPONSIBILITY
• Our organisation explains and accepts its responsibility for its volunteers and their well-being and respects their wish to always have a fair hearing if a conflict arises
• Our organisation will work with the Call to Action Progress Group to share lessons and improve standards
• Our organisation will report publicly on the implementation of its 3R promise.

To sign up to the 3R promise go to http://bit.ly/xcFa3C
 

For more information call Hazel Lonsdale on 01242 691 222

 Volunteer to get round jobs: the Catch 22

The unemployment figures released this week are troubling, but perhaps most alarming are the high rates of youth unemployment. One-third of Cheltenham’s unemployed are under the age of 24, and this figure holds true for all of Gloucestershire.
Continuing to develop the commercial skills of young people while they are out of work is vital if they are to successfully return to the work force. In the current economic climate, the catch-22 of needing experience to get a job, and needing a job to get experience is especially acute. 
One often overlooked way of gaining work experience is through volunteering. Volunteering is also a great way for young people to test drive various careers before committing and many volunteer positions provide training as well. There is a wide array of volunteer positions available, and these positions can help provide a smooth transition into the work force.

The Volunteering Gloucestershire office in Cheltenham can connect young and adults with relevant and fulfilling volunteer projects that will build their skills and confidence, and help them find work.

One such opportunity is the award-winning Snapper project which is seeking volunteer photographers to join their team. The Snapper project provides training to their volunteers, and then connects photographers with voluntary groups and charities that are in need of images for use in annual reports and websites. The photographers gain valuable experience, and the organisations benefit from quality marketing and promotional materials. It’s a win-win all around!
This is but one example of the diverse volunteering opportunities available to youth through Volunteering Gloucestershire. For more information about the Snapper project or other opportunities, please contact Volunteering Gloucestershire on 0845 310 5337, or visit the website at www.volunteerglos.org.uk.


26 May 2011
 

Put yourself in the running to help with Cheltenham’s Olympic torch celebrations
 

Cheltenham volunteer centre is set to stage free stewarding training for would-be volunteers who wish to get involved in helping to make Cheltenham’s Olympic torch celebrations a success.

Many of the events that will be held in Cheltenham as the torch makes its way through the town will be staffed by volunteers and volunteer centre staff wish to get ahead of the game and establish a pool of willing volunteers who will make themselves available to help.

The first ‘Introduction to Event Stewarding’ two day course will be run at Cheltenham YMCA over two days in July. Course participants will then be expected to volunteer as a steward at a community or sporting event in the coming months before receiving a certificate in event stewarding.

Course content includes preparing for spectator events, controlling entry, exit
and movement of people, monitoring spectators dealing with crowd problems,
managing conflict, contributing to teamwork and dealing with emergencies.

The national training provider delivering the training in Cheltenham is relied upon to train stewards for many national sporting venues, such as Wembley, Birmingham City FC and Newcastle United FC.

“We are hugely privileged to have the Olympic torch visiting our town and it will be great to get as many people involved in it as possible,” said Hazel Lonsdale, Chief Executive of Third Sector Services, the umbrella charity that manages Cheltenham Volunteer Centre.

“Volunteering as a steward at a community event is a fantastic way for people to get involved in their local communities, work as part of a team and have fun at the same time,” said Hazel.

“The training would be ideal for someone new to volunteering or for people who may have limited volunteering experience as a steward and wish to boost their confidence and update their skills,” added Hazel.

Cheltenham Volunteer Centre already keeps in touch with a pool of adhoc volunteers who give up their time to help with one-off events. It is envisaged that course participants may be willing to join this database and swell the ranks of future volunteers in the county.

The course is available to volunteers aged 18 or over. To express an interest in attending the course contact Jo Brown on 01242 257727 or email enquiries@volunteeringcheltenham.org.uk
 

Thank you squad looking to surprise volunteers with sweet treats during Volunteers’ Week
 

Tewkesbury cupcake maker Charmaine Capener has joined forces with Volunteering Gloucestershire, the countywide partnership that helps volunteer-involving organisations across the county, to thank hardworking volunteers during Volunteers’ Week (1 – 7 June).

Mum-of-four Charmaine, who runs Charmaine’s Cupcakes, responded to a plea from Volunteering Gloucestershire after they appealed for a kind-hearted cupcake maker to donate some sweet treats to volunteers.

Thanks to her generosity 100 volunteers throughout the county, from Cirencester to Coleford, will receive a delicious cupcake personally delivered by the Volunteering Gloucestershire Thank You squad.

“I have volunteered throughout my career and gained invaluable experience which then allowed me to secure a paid position at Churchdown Neighbourhood Partnership so I was more than happy to help the Volunteering Gloucestershire team celebrate Volunteers’ Week in the county,” said Charmaine.

The Volunteering Gloucestershire team will be on the road all week between June 1 – 7 thanking volunteers in Cheltenham, Gloucester, Tewkesbury, Cirencester, Stroud and Coleford.

“We are aware that Gloucestershire has thousands of dedicated volunteers who tirelessly give their time for free 52 weeks of the year. Volunteers’ Week is a fabulous way to thank them for their efforts,” said Hazel Lonsdale, who manages the Volunteering Gloucestershire partnership, run by Third Sector Services and GAVCA.

“We are extremely grateful to Charmaine for donating cupcakes to our cause and we are confident that, thanks to her generosity, we will put smiles on the faces of scores of volunteers,” added Hazel.
Volunteering Gloucestershire, which is supported by Gloucestershire County Council and NHS Gloucestershire, can help organisations with recruitment and advertising volunteering opportunities and also advise and refer individuals to suitable volunteering roles.
The partnership receives more than 1,000 enquiries from people wanting to volunteer each year from a wide cross-section of the community with diverse interests and skills to offer.
To register your volunteer roles with the charity please email info@volunteerglos.org.uk. To volunteer, find out more information about our service or discuss your volunteer requirements please call 0845 310 5337
 

Thank you squad looking to surprise Forest volunteers with sweet treats during Volunteers’ Week
 

Volunteering Gloucestershire, the countywide partnership that helps volunteer-involving organisations across the county, is on the lookout for voluntary groups in the Forest of Dean who wish to thank their hardworking volunteers during Volunteers’ Week (1 – 7 June).

The Volunteering Gloucestershire team is planning to surprise volunteers with cupcakes and coffee during Volunteers’ Week and is looking for suggestions from members of the public and charity bosses as to which organisations they should visit during the week.

“We are aware that the Forest of Dean has a thriving voluntary sector and although we could select a team of volunteers to thank we would rather encourage local communities to get in touch with us and let us know who we should surprise during the week,” said Hazel Lonsdale, who manages the Volunteering Gloucestershire partnership, run by Third Sector Services and GAVCA.

Volunteering Gloucestershire, which is supported by Gloucestershire County Council and NHS Gloucestershire, can help with recruitment, best practice, guidance and advice on establishing volunteer programmes for the first time.
The partnership receives more than 1,000 enquiries from people wanting to volunteer each year from a wide cross-section of the community with diverse interests and skills to offer.

To register your volunteer roles with the charity please email info@volunteerglos.org.uk. To find out more information about our service or discuss your volunteer requirements please call
0845 310 5337.