Volunteering News

What you told us about volunteering.

Thanks to everyone that filled out one of our online surveys. If you missed it they are still open and we would love to hear what you think. So far the results are looking interesting, see for yourself:

95% Of Volunteer Involving Organisations said that volunteering had increased the confidence or improved the self esteem of their volunteers.

75% said that volunteering had improved the physical or mental health of their volunteers.

Almost 50% said that volunteering had led to/assisted their volunteers to find paid employment.

96% said their organisation could not operate without their volunteers

The majority of organisations had between 6 and 15 volunteers with one organisation reporting 190.

The amount of time volunteered varied greatly from just one hour per month to more than 40 hours a month per volunteer.

Adding up the number of hours volunteered with just the 24 organisations who gave us details equals a staggering 51,192 hours a year. At a cost of £296,913.6 to replace at minimum wage!

If we apply this formula to all the volunteer involving organisations we have registered with us. Volunteers are worth £3,360,000 to the economy of the Western Isles each year

We also asked people who had recently asked us about starting to volunteer about their experiences so far:

95% of the volunteers said volunteering had had a positive effect on their lives
95% said they would recommend volunteering to a friend

Quotes from a recent volunteer survey about their volunteer experience:

Its a great way of meeting people, learning new skills, sharing your own and making a difference to organisations.

It helped me develop another interest that also benefited my work as a therapist and also gives me an opportunity to help out an organisation that I have always thought highly of and even more so after the training session.

Was feeling pretty lonely when i moved here and it helped boost my confidence.

Sharing my skills and making a difference (was the best part of volunteering) as it was highlighted at the training session how important the volunteers are to the organisation and that there are more volunteers than paid workers.

Wanted to do something for young people locally (I teach here) but it has also improved my relationships with pupils in class
Help us gather statistics on Volunteering in the western Isles by answering one of our short surveys:

Are you a volunteer? click here

Do you work for an organisation that uses volunteers? click here

The Voluntary Action Fund Helping Scottish Communities from the grass roots up.

The Voluntary Action Fund Scotland’s leading independent grant-making body investing in small voluntary and community based organisations throughout Scotland has announced its funding priorities for 2010-2011 for its Community Chest grants programme.

Voluntary Action Fund operates a number of funding programmes furthering the legacy of grass roots grant making and robust practice it has established over the last 28 years aimed at promoting the inclusion of those most excluded within their communities. Its Community Chest programme aims to help improve local communities and the lives of people most in need. Applications are welcomed from small community and not-for-profit groups who can apply for a small grant up to £1,000 to fund general activities or a specific project.

Each year the Voluntary Action Fund targets different regions throughout Scotland this year it particularly welcomes applications from groups based within North Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire and West Dunbartonshire. As well as being eager to fund groups in the target geographic areas, The Voluntary Action Fund is especially keen to hear from groups who work with disability or health related issues, provide childcare or whose beneficiaries face exclusion due to their ethnicity, disability gender or sexual orientation.

A key benefit of the fund is the opportunity to be involved with a range of training events. Free training is offered to all groups applying for a grant on topics such as charity law, making successful funding applications, managing money and measuring success.

Previous recipients of Community Chest funding have included, Art Trek Artists of Glasgow, where a grant of £1,000 provided funding to run an 8 week arts workshop for people with learning disabilities. Inverness based HAPIS received a grant of £1,000 to contribute towards the running costs of the group, enabling the group to offer free counseling sessions to mothers and families affected by Post Natal Depression. Other projects include funding for after school clubs, a drop in centre for people affected by mental health issues, a meeting place for elderly people and a Youth Café.

Chris Smith the Community Chest Grants Officer said ‘’The small pots of funding we can provide through the Community Chest programme really will make a significant difference to people's lives, whilst also sustaining and developing the activities of the community groups involved. We’re excited to see what varied and inspired applications we’ll receive throughout the year and the difference the Community Chest funding will make to the communities of Scotland”.

Applications for the Community Chest programme are welcome throughout the year with the next deadline being the 31 December 2009. Groups wishing to apply for a Community Chest grant can download an application form and guidance notes from the VAF website at www.voluntaryactionfund.org.uk. Alternatively call 01383 620780.

DR’s Support Charity Knitters

DR Macleod’s have stepped forward to help the Volunteer Centre Western Isles with an unusual problem: how to transport a mound of beautifully crafted knitted garments from Stornoway to Fife.

The Loving Hands knitting project has proved hugely popular with island knitters, and the Volunteer Centre has been receiving donations for months – leaving them with increasing transport costs for the garments. Several boxes were dispatched at the start of the summer, but by September, there were bags and bags of tiny baby clothes, cot blankets and hats awaiting transport from the Stornoway office.

“We were wondering what to do about the situation,” explained Kirsty Macdonald, Joint Manager of the Volunteer Centre, “and then we decided to see if we could get help from one of the local hauliers. We approached DR Macleod’s who were very happy to transport the knitting, securely packaged, down to their depot in Glasgow. Someone from the charity Loving Hands will collect it from there.

“We are very grateful indeed for this help from DR’s, as it means we can continue to encourage local knitters to keep knitting and bringing their work to us. We have a range of patterns in our offices that people can use for the project. We started with another project a few years ago that asked people to knit teddies and squares for blankets for use by the emergency services, but this has now finished. We were delighted to find a new knitting project called Loving Hands that we can work with instead.”

Loving Hands, a Fife based charity, distributes knitted garments to a number of different charities including at present: Linda McDonald Foundation; Blythswood Care; British and International Sailors Society and Feed The Children.

“Knitters can of course give knitting to our own Blythwood shop here in Stornoway,” continued Kirsty. “They are about to finish off their Shoebox Appeal for this year and hats, scarves and other items are needed for this. Whatever they choose to do, it is wonderful that so many people are willing and able to spend time making beautiful things to help those who desperately need them. This is armchair volunteering with real impact!”

Volunteering Team Challenges

The Volunteer Centre has been asked by a couple of groups for ideas for team challenges that can be undertaken by either a work group or a student group from the college. We have already had some interesting ideas coming to us and would like to open up the whole idea a little wider. We hope that we will be able to match ideas to groups and offer a new range of interesting opportunities for those wanting to volunteer.

Team volunteering can be a fun way to build relationships in a group, and can achieve specific tasks while also offering the satisfaction of getting the job done. Tasks that can easily be accomplished in half a day or a day are usually the best ideas, but sometimes a group might want to take on a longer project.

If you have any ideas, get in touch with us!

RNID Volunteer Support Pack

RNID is currently running a project focusing on enabling organistions to create volunteer opportunities for the deaf and hard of hearing, as well as supporting volunteers that work with the deaf and hard of hearing community.

This informative and useful pack is now available on loan from our office in Stornoway. It covers all you need to know to involve deaf and hard of hearing volunteers in your organisation. It has a simple, easy to use format and covers topics such as: understanding deafness and hearing loss; recruiting volunteers; supporting volunteers; better communication.

Well worth taking time to read!

Pack also available from RNID 0141 341 5330  e mail rnidscotland@rnid.org.uk

Congratulations to our latest MV Award recipient

 

Matthew Matheson recently received his 100 hours and 200 hours MV Awards. Matthew has been volunteering with Western Isles Association for Mental Health and Alzheimer Scotland Lewis and Haris branch and has gained a great deal from his time with these organisations. Matthew said he would reccomend volunteering to others: 'It has given me a lot of confidence and an insight into other people’s lives.'

 Working with Children and Vulnerable Adults changes in legislation

Pending parliamentary procedure, new regulations affecting disclosure checks are expected to come into force on 29 June. For more information visit www.crbs.org

Half price advertising and chance to win £100

Events monthly are currently offering small community groups and charities in Lewis and Harris the opportunity to place a 9cm x 9cm advert for only £17.25 including VAT and be entered into a monthly draw to win £100. The advert can be extended for an extra month for an additional £11.50 and when you get a chance in another price draw.

Please email adverts to   info@hebevents.com or post to office 2/3 Clintons Yard, Rigs road, Stornoway. Tel 01851 705671.

Make sure you quote Bobby's Special deal for Charities and community groups. Closing date for the next issue is 2nd July.

Facing Up to the Challenge of 2011

Volunteers' Week 1st- 7th June

Generations Working Together - Practical support for intergenerational working

Does your organisation/project involve volunteers/staff/clients from a range of age groups. If so, you may be interested in the Generations Working together Network. You can receive regular updates from the Scottish Centre for Intergenerational Practice by joining your local intergenerational network. Joining the network is free and you will receive the regular newsletter, information on funding, meetings, new publications and updates on research and examples of best practice.  Simply complete the online membership form:

http://www.scotcip.org.uk/network_membership_form.html

9 Organisations achieve WAVE standards award

The Volunteer Centre Western Isles was proud to present the first ever Western Isles Awards for Volunteering Excellence (WAVE Awards) to local organisations on Tuesday 24th March in the Bridge Centre, Stornoway. The awards were given to nine organisations for their high standards of volunteer management and commitment to their volunteers.

The awards recognise the effort that goes into managing volunteers and clearly shows where a good standard has been achieved. This will be reassuring to volunteers that they will get a quality opportunity with that organisation. The awards cover areas such as volunteer policies, induction, training, support and rewards for volunteers and other relevant policies.
The nine awards were presented by Sandy Matheson, Lord Lieutenant for the Western Isles, who spoke eloquently about the value and inspiration of volunteering in the islands.

The organisations receiving awards (pictured above) on this occasion were: Alzheimer Scotland Lewis and Harris Branch & Services; British Red Cross; Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland; Western Isles District Scout Council; Alzheimer Scotland Day Centre in Leverburgh; Crossreach Lifestyle; Bridge Community Centre YMCA; Advocacy Western Isles and Save the Children.

If you would like your organisation to work towards the WAVE award please contact your local Volunteer Centre office.

Eye on Volunteering

You may have seen in the last few issues of Island Eye newspaper, that they are running articles about volunteering. The Volunteer Centre are very pleased to be working with Michelle from Island Eye to promote volunteering and local volunteering opportunities. We are always looking for good news stories from anywhere on the Western Isles, so if you have a volunteer that you think it would be good to do an article about or are in need of some volunteers contact Roy on 01851 700366 or roy@volunteeringwesternisles.co.uk for more information.

European Year of Volunteering 2011

The European Commission has announced that it has started to prepare for the European Year of Volunteering 2011.
This announcement follows an intensive two and a half year campaign co-ordinated by the European Volunteer Centre.

Congratulations to our latest MV Award recipients

200 Hour MV Award of Excellence for Jane.

Young volunteer Jane MacDonald, 19, from Lochmaddy received her Millennium Volunteer Award of Excellence recently, for 200 hours of voluntary work with local organisations. Jane has been volunteering at Craigard Day Centre and at OFTTI Benbecula for over a year. Her hard work was recognised in the form of a certificate signed by First Minister Alex Salmond. Jane received her certificate from Nikki Morrison, Youth Development Worker with the Volunteer Centre Western Isles. Nikki said, ‘Jane has shown a great deal of commitment to her voluntary work, both with Craigard and OFTTI, and is a good example of how volunteers can help an organisation and improve their own skills and knowledge through their placements.’ If you would like to find out more about MV Awards or volunteering in your community, please contact your local VC office.

Youth Scotland Board member named Volunteer of the Year

Duke of Edinburgh Awards

Stacey receives her 200, 100 and 50 hour MV awards.

Stacey Smith has been volunteering with Community Education as the Vice Chair of the Youth Voice and as a committee member of the youth council since August 2006. Stacey started volunteering because she wanted to get more involved in the community and hopes to go on to a career in community education in the future. Pictured left, Stacey Smith and Erica Campbell from Community Education.

Young Volunteers at UCRS

On Saturday 31st January, young volunteers from UCRS received their WAVE awards from Volunteer Centre Western Isles. WAVE stands for Western Isles Award for Volunteering Excellence, and is awarded to volunteers under 16 for their contribution through volunteering. The young people at UCRS have shown great commitment, reflected by 9 of the 11 volunteers receiving their 100 hour Outstanding Achievement Award. The fact that they only signed up for the scheme during September and October, shows just how many hours of their own time they do give up to help at the stables. The girls received their Awards from Nikki Morrison, Youth Development Worker at the Volunteer Centre, and celebrated with a buffet.

An update on stewart's trip to Peru

We told you in the Autumn that Stewart Johnson from North Uist would be
undertaking some volunteering in Peru. Some of you have asked how he got on, so
when I saw him recently I asked for a brief update. Here’s what Stewart had to say:

‘From September to December last year I was in Peru, volunteering at the Colegio San Andres (a Free Church mission school) in Lima. At the school, I taught English to classes ranging from primary 3 to S5 and was assisting in PE classes from nursery to S5. The experience was fantastic and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The most enjoyable part of the trip was getting to know the children of the school,
and encountering an altogether  different culture. Being there also gave me an opportunity to learn Spanish which was excellent. Although I missed family and friends and found the huge city life of Lima difficult at times, I am planning on going out to Peru again in March till the beginning of May.’
We all wish Stewart continued good luck with his volunteering.

Protection of vulnerable groups scheme

Here is a link to the latest progress bulletin which provides an update on plans to implement the Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme (PVG Scheme).
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/Young-People/children-families/pvglegislation/pvgupdate-march2009

Working together for the future of the voluntary sector, the voluntary sector support groups in the Western Isles met together to plan and co-ordinate future work in the face of major changes to structures and funding expected to be in place by 2011 throughout Scotland. At the meeting were Alasdair Nicolson, Third Sector Hebrides; Kirsty Macdonald and Terri Davies, Volunteer Centre Western Isles; Gillian Scott-Forest and Morag Munro, Harris Voluntary Service; Helena Coxshall, Uist Council for Voluntary Organisations and Jessie Macneil, Voluntary Action Barra and Vatersay.