Volunteering Forum - Update

The Volunteering Forum gives organisations the chance to network; share information and discuss good practice.  There are presentations and good practice workshops and provides organisations with the chance to find out more and ask questions about anything connected to volunteering.

The Volunteering Forum are currently updating the contact information for members.

So if you are a current member, or a new organisation wanting to take part, please complete the Proforma and return to Jeff on the contact details below.

To update information click here

City Library - Organisation Drop In

Volunteer Centre Sunderland are holding a Drop In for any organisation wishing to find out how the Centre can support them around volunteering related issues.

The event is open to both members and non-members of the Volunteer Centre.

So if you would like to find out more about how the Volunteer Centre can support you in recruiting volunteers, accessing free training and advertising or good practice information, advice and guidance, then this event is for you!

City Library & Arts Centre, Fawcett Street

Monday 5 September

1:00pm until 3:30pm

Independent Age - The Big Tea

From 1-7 October (which includes UN International Day for Older People on 1 October), people up and down the country will be enjoying a brew to help raise funds for Independent Age, the charity which provides a support community for thousands of older people.

To find out how you can organise a Big Tea of your own and to receive a free Big Tea pack contact Kay White on 0191 2365039 or email Kay

Young People Eager to Help You Out!

A group of 10 young people are looking for projects to carry out over a 10 week period.

Ideally projects would take place on a Thursday for a duration of 4 hours.

If you are able to provide a volunteering project, please contact Sharon on the details below.

The Independent Safeguarding Authority

The Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) is a non departmental public body, sponsored by the Home Office. The ISA’s main responsibility is to make independent barring decisions on people referred to the ISA – usually following an employer’s disciplinary process. The ISA must also statutorily bar people convicted or cautioned of a relevant offence. These are called autobars.

There is a legal duty to refer relevant safeguarding information to the ISA when an employer permanently moves or removes an employee/volunteer following:

• harm to a vulnerable adult or child, or
• evidence that the person presents a risk of harm to a vulnerable adult or child.

The ISA then uses the information it received from the referring organisation as evidence to consider through its fair, transparent and consistent decision-making process. Its aim is to consider risk and balance this with whether it is proportionate and appropriate to bar the person from working or volunteering with children and/or vulnerable adults.

The ISA’s decision making is underpinned by the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act (2006) and is still making decisions, despite the roll out of the Vetting and Barring Scheme being halted in June 2010 while the Coalition Government undertook a Review. This Review was completed earlier this year and amendments to the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act (2006) are now contained within the Protection of Freedoms Bill currently going through Parliament. However at this point, it is still business as usual and an offence not to refer someone you believe has harmed or could cause harm to a child or vulnerable adult.

It is important to note that:

• a person who is barred from working with children or vulnerable adults will be breaking the law if they work or volunteer, or try to work or volunteer with those groups; and
• an organisation which knowingly employs someone who is barred to work with those groups will also be breaking the law.

For more information on the ISA’s decision-making process or the duty to refer, please visit the ISA’s website www.isa.homeoffice.gov.uk or contact them on 01325 953795.

  Before your organisation recruits volunteers

It is a good idea before you involve volunteers in your organisation to sit down as a group and work out a list of reasons why you need volunteer involvement. Try to draft each point into a statement that will explain why you need volunteers to your staff, user group and potential volunteers.

Why should your organisation involve volunteers?

Good reasons to involve volunteers:

• To extend the service offered
• To involve the local community
• To add value to services
• To bring a unique approach to the work of an organisation

Bad reasons to involve volunteers:

• To replace paid staff
• Because it looks good
• Because you feel you should

 Source: Volunteering toolkit for organisations in Sunderland

Spark Response Happy to Help

Employees from Spark Response took action and offered their support to the Alzheimer’s Society in Sunderland on Tuesday 16th August 2011 as volunteer painters and decorators. A team of nine dedicated staff painted the hallway and two bathroom areas at the Old Havelock Hospital where the Alzheimer’s Society is based on Hylton Road.

Spark Response are contact centre and fulfilment specialists based at Follingsby Park, Gateshead and have been operating for over 20 years.

Edward Duffy (Human Resources Manager) from Spark Response said, “The staff at Spark Response are committed to helping the local community by raising funds for charities throughout the year.  Today, the management team wanted to do something hands on and actually try to make a little bit of a difference to our local branch of the Alzheimer’s Society who do such a fantastic job.  It took a few coats but it’s satisfying work and something a bit different from the day job!”

Victoria Meston a Support Worker at the Alzheimer’s Society said “The Spark Response team have done a fantastic job and have made the hallway brighter, cheerful and more welcoming and even chose and bought the paint!  This will certainly make a big difference to our service users and it is great that Spark Response have supported us!”

David Curtis Chief Officer at Volunteer Centre Sunderland said, “We are always happy to help match enthusiastic volunteers with organisations that need their help. We are always looking for new opportunities for groups to get involved with and for new groups of volunteers to get involved.”

If your organisation would like to register a possible group challenge or if you are a company which would like its employees to play a part in the community, please contact Volunteer Centre Sunderland www.volunteersunderland.org.uk

Photograph of the Spark Response Team.  Clockwise from bottom left, Stephanie Duggan, Dawn Ferris-Lawson, Trevor Flack, Vivian Gallagher, Andy Pullan, Alison Raine, Edward Duffy, Peter Slee and Natalie Sehnal

CSV Make a Difference Day – 29 October 2011

This autumn make sure you get involved in Make a Difference Day, the UK’s biggest day of volunteering!

Last year more than 70,000 volunteers were involved in over 2,000 activities, ranging from renovating homeless shelters to creating community gardens, teaching IT skills or helping housebound neighbours. This year’s campaign will focus on activities that combat loneliness and isolation in society.

Organising an event is a great way to raise the profile of what you do and encourage first-time volunteers to get involved. Free resources to help and inspire organisers and participants include a Handbook packed with tips and advice, How-to Guides, t-shirts, certificates and more!

The day takes place on 29 October, with activities between 22 October and 6 November. For more information visit www.csv.org.uk/difference, call us on Freephone 0800 284 533 or email difference@csv.org.uk.

Make a Donation

Support Volunteering in Sunderland

JustTextGiving:  Text VOLS11 £2 / £5 / £10 to 70070 to donate now. 

e.g. VOLS11 £2

Volunteer Centre Training

Our next training session is on:

Attracting & Retaining Diverse Volunteers

Tuesday 13th September , 1.30pm - 4.30pm

Bunny Hill Customer Service Centre, Hylton Lane, SR5 4BW

All training is FREE for VCS organisations and a £20 per person charge is levied for statutory or out of area organisations

For further information on the course content and how to book a place please visit our Training Page

Web links

The Volunteer Centre is offering you a chance to publicise your organisation by having your

web-link on our website and Facebook page.

Should you wish to take up this offer please email sunderlandvc@aol.com with your details.

Volunteering Case Studies

The Volunteer Centre is looking to update its bank of volunteering case studies/good news stories and is interested in hearing from any organisation who may be interested in sharing theirs.

Don't worry if you don't have these already as staff can give you support and advise you on how to write them.

All shared case studies will be used to help the Volunteer Centre to raise the profile of volunteers as real stories can prove be a very powerful tool to help organisations recruit new volunteers and generally raise the profile of involved organisations.

If you think you can help or would like to know more please get in touch.

Sunderland Volunteering Forum

The next Sunderland Volunteering Forum will take place on:

Friday 23 September from 10:30am at Sunderland Mind, 14 Norfolk Street, Sunderland, SR1 1EA

A presentation will be given a VCS organisation who is yet to be confirmed.

The Volunteer Centre will provide information on How to Monitor and Evaluate your Volunteer Programme

For those who aren't aware the Forum is a way for the local statutory, community and voluntary sector groups to come together and share good practice and information on volunteering issues. 

Meetings are very informal and open to anyone who recruits and manages volunteers.  Should you wish to know more about the forum please visit the page or if you wish to be added to the mailing list please get in touch with Jeff.

Updating your Volunteering information (member organisations only)

In order to maintain our records and ensure that they are as us up to date as possible we are asking all members organisations to let us know about any changes to your :

     -    Volunteering opportunities
     -    Organisation information
     -    Contact details etc.

This is the information we provide to your potential volunteers and therefore it is in your best interests that we maintain it as accurately as possible in order to save you time.

You can view what information we currently hold and are advertising by viewing them on     www.do-it.org and searching for your organisation in the search box or by contacting the Volunteer Centre on the contact details below.

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