The past two years, Volunteer Centre Sandwell has held two Awards Events during National Volunteer’s Week (1-7^th June) at The PUBLIC in West Bromwich.

Both Award Ceremonies were chaired by local historian Dr Carl Chinn MBE and both were very well supported by local volunteers and organisations.  Feedback from the evaluations we received commented on the tremendous hard work produced by volunteers and the organisations which they support.

This year, Volunteer Centre Sandwell would like to say a big THANK YOU to all of our volunteers in a format that is fitting and appropriate for current times. Jean Taylor CEO, “We are inviting as many Sandwell organisations to nominate their volunteers this year to demonstrate how much these special individuals are treasured”.

The process is simple… All that is required is the name of the volunteer and of the organisation where the volunteer gives their time.  Volunteer Centre Sandwell has this year produced special ‘Thank You’ certificates which will be signed and sent to organisations for distribution to their volunteers.

CLOSING DATE FOR NOMINATIONS IS  FRIDAY 13 APRIL 2012

The VCS is currently undergoing a huge overhaul of it’s database as we aim to update the details of all 400 registered organisations by the end of March.

If you are an organisation registered with us, we will be contacting you over the next few weeks to update your details.

If you are an organisation that isn’t registered with us but wishes to recruit volunteers through ourselves, please complete and return the relevant form from our resources section.

Any registered organisations we are unable to contact by the end of March will be removed from our database and will need to re-register with us in order to recruit volunteers through the VCS.

Volunteers registered with the VCS, please disregard this bulletin.

If you have any queries please feel free to contact myself on: 0121 544 8326/richard@volunteercentresandwell.co.uk

Regards,

Richard Lodder

If the answer is yes, then Sandwell CABx urgently need more Volunteer Guidance Tutors to join their expanding team of volunteer professionals. If you have a background in helping people develop then call 0121 544 8326 or email vcsadmin@btconnect.com

Closing date for applications is: 17/2/12

Sandwell has a thriving voluntary and community sector with approximately 800 recognised groups across the borough; of those groups around 500 are wholly reliant on volunteers.

In response to local need, Volunteer Centre Sandwell is working with partners from private, public and voluntary / community sector to develop a series of volunteering opportunities in getting the best out of our young people.

Jean Taylor Chief Executive Officer comments “we have seen a significant rise in the number of young people seeking volunteering opportunities.  In fact over the period 1^st April 2010 to 31^st March 2011 the number of people who used our services increased by 91%.”

Local solutions to help young people could be developed through an expansion of accredited programmes of informal learning and volunteering. These should be included in the definition of meaningful activities. If local partners ensured that opportunities become more attractive by placing more weight on volunteering and community service as a route into work and formal training, developing local initiatives for young people who give their time can;

• Start to break down some of the engagement barriers
• Provide a valuable way of improving skills, building confidence and gaining work experience
• Act as a stepping stone into work and training and in some cases be an alternative to employment or training.
• Allow young people to contribute to the local economy
• Help tackle social problems, build social cohesion and further develop local culture and sport.

Young people are motivated to volunteer for a number of reasons; their personal feelings (e.g. satisfaction, feel-good); personal needs(e.g. pastime, relationships); altruism; experience (e.g. skills and work prospects); and personal incentive (e.g. qualifications)

For young people who are not engaged in education, employment or training, or who are not engaged as carers, volunteering offers a tool to help them re-engage and often has a positive impact.

Volunteering helps to develops skills which young people can then use. This includes generic skills such as teamwork, communication and other social and interpersonal skills.  It is often the supportive and people-centred ethos of the volunteering sector that facilitates the development of these skills.

If your organisation would like to consider the option of providing an opportunity for young people in Sandwell, The Volunteer Centre would be happy to arrange a meeting with you. Please contact the office on 0121 544 8326 or email vcsadmin@btconnect.com

We will be closing at 12:00pm on Thursday 22nd December and will be open again on Tuesday 3rd January.

10.00           Registration & Refreshments

10.15           Welcome & Introductions

10.20           Sandra W. Vaughan Business Manager Sandwell Mind

Supporting Volunteers with Mental Health Needs Training Session

11.20           Comfort Break

11.30           Sandra W. Vaughan

Part 2 Training – Supporting Volunteers

12.00           Deb Harris, Manager Dorothy Parkes Centre

‘Experience of working with volunteers with mental health needs’

12.20           Volunteer Compact & Next SVON Date

12.30           Light Lunch & Networking

Make Friends with a Book is a reading group with a difference. It is led by a facilitator who reads stories and poems aloud. People are under no pressure to read or participate more than they want or are able to. The group stops often to discuss people’s immediate thoughts and responses to what has just been read. Tea, coffee and biscuits are also provided. Make Friends with a Book is a based on the work of The Reader Organisation established at Liverpool University.

What do you read in a Make Friends with a Book group?

Make Friends with a Book groups read short stories, poems, novels and plays.

Do I have to read anything before coming to the group?

No, all the reading is done within the group so you do not have to read a book in advance.

Who can join a group?

These groups are open to anyone who would like to hear literature read aloud in a small informal group setting. We meet in libraries and other community centres and people from diverse backgrounds benefit hugely from these groups. Because the literature is read aloud, reading ability is not important.

If you would like further information, please contact the Volunteer Centre on: 0121 544 8326 or via e-mail: vcsadmin@btconnect.com

If you are interested in these roles you must:

• Have a full clean driving license.
• Have excellent communication skills.
• Have a caring attitude towards children & young people.
• Be over 21 years old.

Development training and an induction sessions are provided, as are mileage expenses and the opportunity to get involved in lots of activities in and around Sandwell!

If you would like further information, please contact the Volunteer Centre on: 0121 544 8326 or via e-mail: vcsadmin@btconnect.com

Over a period of time the centre recognised that a high proportion of volunteers asking for help had mental health concerns, and needed extra support to engage in volunteering. The Lottery funded this project for three years until May2011. 

With the recession and impending cuts a number of applications to funders had been submitted by the Centre without success.  Jean Taylor – Chief Executive Officer commented ‘I am delighted that the centre has now secured funding for this project to continue for a further two years.’

If anyone would like to find out more about this unique service contact Mina Sonariwo Project Co-ordinator on 0121 544 8326 or email mina@volunteercentresandwell.co.uk