National
Volunteers Week
1st-7th June 2008

Be proud to be a volunteer!
Volunteers' Week is a national celebration of volunteers and volunteering
which takes place from 1st – 7th June each year. It plays a huge part in
raising the profile of England’s 22 million volunteers while encouraging
others to get involved.

On 7th June, South Warwickshire Volunteering Forum celebrated volunteering
with "Picnic in the Park".

“Picnic in the Park”
Volunteers who are members of the South Warwickshire Volunteering Forum (SWVF) were invited to ‘Picnic in the Park’ which was held at the Pump Room Gardens in Leamington on Saturday, 7 June to celebrate Volunteers’ Week 2008.

The event was opened by Anna Tyre, High Sheriff of Warwickshire and what a fun afternoon it turned out to be for all volunteers with good food, games, music and dancing!Volunteers' Week is the UK's annual celebration of volunteers and from 1st - 7th June, groups across the country hold events to recognise and reward their existing volunteers and to recruit new ones.

Nick Rabson, volunteer with Bath Place Community Venture said: "Volunteering means an opportunity to do something you enjoy and share the results with those who will benefit - lots of us experience these feelings. At the Picnic in
the Park even more did do that - and we were able to relax on a
warm summer's day!"

Chris Lancaster, the Co-ordinator of the South Warwickshire Volunteering Forum
(who is also the manager of the Volunteer Centre for Warwick District) said: “Volunteers give their time free all year – this has been a wonderful opportunity for us to say a big thank you to all our volunteers. Volunteers’ Week is the perfect opportunity to give volunteers the public profile they deserve. The
South Warwickshire Volunteering Forum is very proud to be celebrating with
the volunteers themselves and also those who manage and look after them
to help maximise the impact of their efforts.”

During the afternoon Anna Tyre, High Sheriff of Warwickshire was presented
with a cheque (see next page) for £8,800,000 which is the economic social
value that the South Warwickshire Volunteers gave to their local
communities over the last year.

Volunteer Centre Booklet

Volunteer Centres across Warwickshire have produced a new booklet for prospective volunteers. It aims to give potential volunteers an idea of
what services a Volunteer Centre provides, why and how to
get involved in volunteering.

Chris Lancaster, the Centre Manager for this District said “The Volunteer Centre aims to make volunteering more accessible, fun and enjoyable for individuals of all ages. The booklet will provide a cohesive consistent approach as to how Volunteer Centres work across the county and is an aid to enable people to volunteer. Volunteering is fun can be challenging, interesting, rewarding and makes a difference to volunteers and the people or groups they support.”

If you would like to find out if volunteering is for you, Chris Lancaster at the Volunteer Centre would love to hear from you – just call her on 0845 051 1170. Or call in at the office in Leamington situated on the ground floor of the Town Hall on the Parade.

To viww our new booklet please click here.

Latest Volunteering Opportunities:

British Trust For Conservation Volunteers

Learn new skills, get great exercise, have fun and meet new friends.
BTCV wants to help you to look after and learn more about your local environment.
We make this possible by running events and activities in your area where you can join in.
These events might be woodland management, repairing dry stone walls, building a fence, renovatinga pond, repairing a footpath or a wide range of other “countryside” tasks.
You could be helping on a community food growing initiative or a community arts event or even attending a classroom based training course.
Its fun, its different, its good for you.
No experience needed – full training provided.
Transport to and from site provided
Tools, protective clothing, hot drinks and water provided
Volunteers should be 18 years and upwards.
Volunteers should have current Tetanus immunity.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Contact Tahaira Ali: T.Ali@btcv.org.uk
01926 430574 or 07740 899584
For current activity programme see our local website: www.btcv.org/warwickshire

 

BTCV Practical Project Volunteer Officer Vacancies

Role:
This is an ideal chance for anyone looking for a career in the environment. VOs assist with the management and organisation of practical projects. You will be required to lead the midweek volunteers on day tasks. There will be opportunities to attend meetings and site visits, liaise with clients and the media and receive training.
REQUIREMENTS
You will need to be 21 or over, have a full clean driving licence which is at least 2 years old. You also need to be able to commit to the post for a minimum of 6 months.
Contact Tahaira Ali: T.Ali@btcv.org.uk
01926 430574 or 07740 899584
Local website:www.btcv.org/warwickshire

 

 

Radio Warneford
Volunteer Broadcaster Sunday Mornings

Role:
Fancy doing something different on Sunday mornings? Our team put together and broadcast four hours of programmes between 9.00am and 1.00pm. As part of the Sunday morning team you will find yourself chatting to patients on the wards, putting together items for broadcast, playing a little music in the studio and generally brightening up someone else's day.
Skills: You don't need any particular qualifications to join the team. If you like meeting and talking to new people, can work effectively as part of a team, like music, have bags of enthusiasm and a sense of fun, then you are just the
sort of person we are looking for!
Don't worry if you have no experience of broadcasting; we provide a complete training programme. You must be at least 18 years of age but there is definitely no upper age limit!
Contact: Ley Bricknell on 01926 401402 or recruitment@radiowarneford.com

 

 

Warwickshire Wildlife
Magazine Co-ordinator

Role:
The purpose of the role is to coordinate the delivery of Warwickshire Wildlife Trust (WWT) magazines by volunteers. Duties include: Coordinating the magazine delivery (3 times a year). Allocating area codes to new members (3 times a year). Liaising with volunteers
and Trust staff. Working with the public. The new magazine is ready in Spring (March), Summer (July) and Winter (December).

Skills:
Ability to work as part of a team and on your own. Organisational. Specific training will be given. Customer service skills, Benefits to you includemeeting and working with other volunteers; Responsibility and a great asset to the trust; Helping to give back
to your local community.

Contact
Amanda Henshaw
024 7630 2912

 

 

Anxiety Alliance
Helpline Volunteer

Role:
You would be working from your own home. After training you will be manning our helpline for those who suffer anxiety disorders. This is an interesting and varied position.
You would gain satisfaction from helping others and seeing the progress that they make.

Skills etc:
Able to empathise with people.
Good telephone manner.
Interest in mental health service users.
Would suit someone recently trained in counselling although full training is given.

Contact: Sheila Harris on 01926 851608

 

 

Helen Ley Care Centre
Events Co-ordinator

Role:
To support the Fund Raising Co-ordinator to deliver a calendar of successful fundraising events and activities. Including recruitment of volunteers t implement arrangements for each event.
Skills, etc
Good communication and organisation skills. For more details including a task description please contact Liz Stickney at Helen Ley Centre.

Contact: Liz Stickney on 01926 331915

 

 

Circles Network
Personal Support - Volunteer Dog Walking

Role:
To aid visually impaired woman walk dogs in local park for approximately 2 days a week for 2 hours a day. The woman concerned will need to be present at all times. Calm, understand and patient nature desirable. This opportunity will take place in and around Warwick.

Skills, etc:
No particular skills required but interest in dogs, walking, exercise, educational special needs, visual impairment issues would help. Need to be robust both emotionally and physically.

Contact: Craig Weetman-Taylor on 07979 210625

 

Cafe helper - Quaker Community Café, Warwick

To take orders from customers, operate the till, keep cafe tidy, fill dishwasher. Spend time with customers, who may want to chat. Opportunity for volunteers to do in-house training and obtain a Food Hygiene certificate if they so wish. Opportunity to progress to some cooking/managing, etc. A free 2-course meal is available to volunteers.
Annette Cook
01926 771775

 

Minibus Driver – Age Concern, Leamington Spa

For Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Driving a 14-seater minibus on a rota basis to carry elderly people to and from lunch clubs at Dale Street, Leamington. Journey times are 9.00-10.15 am and 1.00-2.15 pm on Tuesday and Thursday and 9.15- 10.30 and 2.00- 3.15pm on Wednesday. Normally an escort travels to assist passengers to from their homes
Jim Weir
01926 – 425014

Administrator - Leamington and Warwick Sea Cadets

To take control of the office - updating records, filing, handling money, typing and sending letters, etc.

Contact
Vickie Weavill
leamingtonscc@hotmail.com
07813 280393