The 2009 Young Achievers Awards are now open for nominations.

The Awards recognise inspirational volunteers, activists and social entrepreneurs aged 16-25 years old.  Nominations are open until 27th September 2009.  This years eight winners will receive £1,000 cash prize for their projects, money can’t buy prizes  and a years support for their future projects.  A further 24 runners us and shortlisted young people will receive cash prizes and development opportunities.

To find out more and how to nominate please visit www.youngachievers.co.uk

The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service

In 2002, in celebration of Her Majesty's Golden Jubilee, the Queen's Golden Jubilee Award for Voluntary Service by Groups in the Community was established. Its purpose is to recognise groups of individuals who are giving their time freely for the benefit of others. It is the highest honour that can be bestowed upon groups of this kind and is equivalent in status to the MBE. As such, the Queen's Award not only serves to provide recognition of volunteer groups, but also demonstrates the high respect in which volunteering is held.

In common with the UK National Honours, there are no deadlines for the receipt of nomination forms. Award nominations will be considered at any point within 3 years of the nomination. Therefore, nominations should not be made for a particular year's Award. If you know of a volunteer group that devotes its time to helping others in your local community, and deserves recognition, nominate them for an award.

This is a great opportunity to recognise your volunteers and is another way to say 'thank you'.  If you would like to now more about the Award and to down load application forms please visit www.queensawardvoluntary.gov.uk

TRAINING

First Steps

ETEC Development Trust will run two, four-week courses from September aimed at getting people on the right track for vocational training.

First Steps to Playwork starts on Tuesday 15 September between 10am and 12.30pm.  Further sessions take place on Tuesday 22 September, Tuesday 29 September and Wednesday 7 October.  Topics covered include the roles and responsibilities of a play worker and what games play workers can play with children.

First Steps to Community Development Work begins on Wednesday 16 September with sessions on the following three Wednesdays between 10am and 12.30pm. Topics covered include understanding meetings and committees.

Both courses are free and take place at ETEC, Hudson House, Moor Terrace, Hendon, Sunderland.

Final sessions for both courses cover evaluation and progression routes for those, who want to continue with training in either community development and playwork.

The courses are funded by Sunderland City Council . They are available to anyone working or living in Sunderland, aged 19 years-plus. Courses are aimed at  people, who want to gain a basic understanding in either Community Development Work or Playwork

For further details on First Steps in Community Development Work call Louise Harlanderson on 0191 5146150 or email Louise.harlanderson@etec.org.uk.

For further details on the First Steps to Playwork call Georgia Reed on 0191 514 6150 or email Georgia.reed@etec.org.uk.

Volunteer Training - Dealing With Difficult Volunteers & Situations

Due to the success of the Speak Up Speak Out training recently delivered by Adam May Training we will be holding a second set of training.  This will look at Dealing with Difficult Volunteer & Situations. A brief overview of the training is given below:

Even with the best management systems in place, some situations can be challenging and difficult to handle!

Discover ideas and develop the skills and strategies for managing these volunteers. Give and receive practical advice and support from fellow professionals on the real-life issues that you are dealing with.

"What's in it for me?"

    * Discover how self esteem affects behaviour
    * Practice in giving feedback assertively
    * Understand conflict management styles and identify your own
    * Address current problem situations in a supportive environment

The subsidised training will cost £65 per person and will run

Tuesday 27th October 2009 or Wednesday 28th October 2009 9.45am -4.30pm  

If you would like know dates and times or book a place please contact us at at the Volunteer Centre.

                                                                                                                                        EVENTS

St Oswald’s Hospice – Starlight Stroll

St Oswald’s Hospice is organising a 5 mile Starlight Stroll on Friday 25th September in aid of their Children’s Service.  The walk, which begins at Midnight, will start and finish at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland.  Around 500 walkers are expected to take part, all taking steps to make a difference to local children and families lives. 

To ensure the safety of the walkers and to keep them on the correct route, we desperately need marshals to help out on the night.

Marshals will work in pairs along the route, and our St Oswald’s van will drop them off at their relevant stations and ensure all Marshals are looked after. 

Marshals will be fully briefed and will be required to man their station for a couple of hours.  Once the last walker has walked past them – they’ll be relieved and can come back to the Stadium for a well deserved bacon buttie and hot cuppa!

If anyone is interested or you know someone who might be, please contact Dorothy Alderton on either Tel: 0191 285 0063 ext 367 or email dorothyalderton@stoswaldsuk.org

Introduction to Volunteering Event

On September 15th we will be holding an Introduction to Volunteering Event in the North of the city from 10.00am -12.00noon. The idea of the session is to introduce people to volunteering and give them the chance to meet with organisations who can offer a range of different opportunities.

This will be a great opportunity for anyone thinking of volunteering as it will give you the opportunity to have all your questions answered and the rare chance to meet with representatives from local organisations, on a one to one basis. If you would are looking to find out more about volunteering and be interested in coming along you will need to contact us on (0191) 5678902 to book a place.  Also if any voluntary organisation is looking to recruit some new volunteers and would be interested in attending please get in touch.

Happiness and Wellbeing Network

A Happiness and Wellbeing Network had been set up in Sunderland by a multi-agency steering group, replicating what is already happening in South Tyneside.  The next meetings will take place on

Thursday September 24th, 3pm – 5pm at Sunderland City Library on Fawcett Street.

The network aims to provide a forum for sharing and developing ideas and contribution to the improvement of mental health, happiness and well-being in Sunderland and is open to the public.

If anyone would like further info on the network or future meeting dates please contact Jacqui Nixon from the NHS South of Tyne & Wear on 0191 516 8498.

 CSV Make  A Difference Day

The campaign this year takes place on 31 October 2009, with activities from 24 October to 7 November. Make a Difference Day is your chance to take action and make a positive change in your community. By acting together through a collective day of volunteer action, we can create a wave of kindness across the UK this autumn!

The Handbook includes all the details on how to organise your event, from identifying the perfect project, to recruiting volunteers as well as gaining the support of local celebrities and MPs. It also includes a number of templates, such as sample press releases and a request for in-kind support from local businesses. I’ve attached it to this email in pdf format, so you can forward it to the other voluntary organisations you’re working with easily – I hope that’s okay.

Registrations for this year’s campaign are now open through our website

and by phone on 0800 284 533.  Once registered, we will send you a free Action Pack including posters, t-shirts, stickers, balloons and volunteer thank-you certificates to help your event run without a hitch.

If you decide you aren’t able to take part in the campaign directly but would like to publicise it, I can provide a short piece of text for that purpose. Just let me know if that’s required.

Volunteering Forum

The Volunteering Forum's next meeting will be held on Wednesday 16th September, Wearmotuh Commuinty Development Trust, Swan Street, 10.30am -12.00noon.  Any organisation that involves volunteers in their services is welcome to attend. For further information on the aims of the group and to access previous minutes please click on the following link. Volunteering Forum.

World Mental Health Day - 10th October

To mark this year World Mental Helath Day an event has been planned by a multi agency steering group to raise people awareness of this years theme of a Five a day for health and happiness

The event will be held at the City Library on Fawcett Street from 11.00am - 3.00pm and the market place in the twon centre (outside of WH Smiths) from 12 noon till 3.00pm and will centred around the

Five a day for health and happiness areas.  These include:

Connect with people around you

Be Active

Take Notice

Keep Leaning

Give

Within the City Library there will be a range Relaxtion Therapies, Mini Health MOTs, poetry, childrens activities, a book swop area and organisations providing information on relevant topics, such as Volunteering, Mental Health, Leisure and Learning, Reading etc.  At the marquee there will be a range of fun activities for people to get involved in such as belly dancing, street dancing, exercise, childrens entertainment, Art and Conservation activities.

The event is free and all members of the public are welcome.

New free resource for community groups

Have you ever wanted to make your neighbourhood cleaner, greener, safer, but not known where to start? Perhaps your group is already doing this, but could use some new ideas?

The Sustainable Communities North East Initiative has created a new toolkit, to help voluntary and community groups throughout North East England. The Brighter Futures Together toolkit is a free, practical, easy-to-use website. It can give you information and advice, as well as telling you where you can go for further help. The website is at www.brighterfuturestogether.co.uk. It’s not just about being green! It’s about helping improve the lives of people across the region, with happier societies, stronger local economies and a protected environment.

The toolkit features lots of different worksheets about simple action for sustainability. There are sheets on community safety, energy efficiency, health, sustainable travel, and even starting a credit union or a community-owned shop. You might already be doing some of this, and you might find other ideas for the future. There are also sheets that give general help on things like planning projects, fundraising, and how to work with the media.

The toolkit’s free to use, and we hope that lots of communities across the region will find it useful. Please visit the website. Use the worksheets, and send the link on to any friends who might be interested. A folder version of the toolkit is available if internet access is problematic for you. Sunderland CVS has a copy for you to look at. If you’d really like your own copy, let us know, and we can provide one for you.

If you would like support using the toolkit, feel free to contact Mary at the CVS.

Please feel free to distribute to your friends, family and colleagues.