ITV Fixers are having an open day!

ITV Fixers is a media campaign aimed at 16-25 year olds. It is designed to give young people the opportunity to ‘fix’ something they are passionate about in a new and creative way! We help people to make films, websites, hold events, poster campaigns..... the list is endless as long as it can make a difference and benefit at least one other person. In the past our groups have tackled issues such as, homelessness, mental health, equestrianism and healthy living.

On the 2nd September we are opening our offices to youth workers, organisations and young people to come along and get a taste of what we do!

We’ll be open between 10am and 3pm so feel free to drop in anytime. Our staff will be on hand to show people around, give an introduction to what ITV Fixers is and show off some of the projects our young people have done. Our creative resources team will be around to show some of the behind the scenes stuff from our film making, design and website projects!

If you want to come along or for any more information please don’t hesitate to get in touch, contact details below.

Cuthbert House, City Road, All Saints, Newcaslte Upon Tyne, NE1 2ET

Please respond or for more info contact Lindsey@itvfixers.com or call (0191) 3506253

(If you can’t attend but would like to know more about ITV Fixers, one of our team can come out to talk to individuals or groups any time, just let us know!)

Sunderland Partnership Volunteering Strategy

The draft Sunderland Partnership Volunteering Strategy is now going through a formal consultation until 5pm on the 17th September 2010.  You can access the Draft Sunderland Partnership Volunteering Strategy consultation questions included within and its covering letter from Canon Stephen Taylor, Chair of the Sunderland Partnership. 

This Strategy will provide the basis for partners and organisations to work together to raise the profile of volunteering and increase the number and diversity of volunteers in the City. Responses received during the consultation period will be used to develop the strategy further and inform its accompanying action plan, which will support the Sunderland Compact's Volunteering Code of Practice.

We would appreciate if you could view Volunteering Strategy and Action Plan and send any comments on to Sarah Grey, Community Development Team, Sunderland City Council on 0191 561 5017 or email sarah.grey@sunderland.gov.uk. 

Welfare Rights Training

Sunderland City Council Welfare Rights Service are providing training to Macmillan Volunteers who are based at Sunderland Royal Hospital.  The focus of the welfare benefits training is to advise clients who are diagnosed with cancer although information will be provided on the general benefit rules. 

We would like to invite volunteers who work within Sunderland to attend this free training. 

It could be that volunteers are interested in attending some but not all the modules.

A copy of the training plan is attached to the link below and anyone who is interested in attending the training or would like further information will need to contact Lynne Wynd on(0191) 5536791

or email lynne.wynd@sudnerland.gov.uk

Volunteer Training Plan click here

Volunteer Centre Training

The Volunteer Centre has spaces remaining on the following training sessions:

• Volunteers and the Law -12th October, 1.00pm - 4.30pm

• Volunteer Recruitment and Retention - 16th November, 1.00pm - 4.30pm

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

New Career for volunteer Paul

After a recent redundancy situation with my previous employer, I decided to embark on a new career path. The path I chose to embark upon was Youth work. This led me to a volunteering event at a local church hall where several volunteering organisations were on hand to give advice about the different avenues open to volunteers. One particular group caught my attention, the Oblivion Youth Project.

Miss Donna Knight was the ambassador for the group at the event, with the job of recruiting volunteers for Oblivion. After a very informal chat to Donna about the benefits of volunteering and the possibility of gaining employment and training through this avenue I decided to enrol as a volunteer.

Having been at the project for almost a year now, Donna has been on hand to help guide me through the multitude of training options available to me. This has materialised into having successfully completed ‘The Introduction to Youth Work Course’, and Brief Interventions Alcohol Awareness level 2, not to mention the many non accredited courses I have attended. Ultimately this has led me to having been successfully employed through the Future Jobs Fund for six months which will hopefully lead me into full time employment in my chosen field.

I would like to Thank Donna for all her help and support throughout the last year.

“Paul had been very committed to the youths within Oblivion throughout his volunteering opportunity and due to all his hard work and commitment he was able to gain full time employment as a Sessional Youth Worker through the Future Jobs Fund Scheme with Oblivion.  All the staff at WCDT and Oblivion would like to say a Big Thank You to Paul”.   Donna Knight – Projects Support Officer.

CSV Make a Difference Day – 30 October 2010

On Saturday 30 October make sure you take part in CSV Make a Difference Day, the UK’s biggest day of volunteering!

Every year tens of thousands of people across the country take part through anything from creating community gardens to helping out isolated neighbours with their shopping, teaching financial literacy or renovating community centres.

Free resources include a Handbook packed with ideas and advice and an Action Pack containing t-shirts, posters, certificates (and free chocolate!) to help publicise your activity and thank volunteers.

This year the campaign is encouraging more families to volunteer together for the day, and a range of brilliant family friendly volunteering How-to Guides is available for inspiration.

Events for the campaign can take place between 23 October and 7 November. Anybody who wants to get involved can find an event on the campaign website, get in touch and go along on the day!

To request any of the free materials, email difference@csv.org.uk or call the team on Freephone 0800 284 533. To find out more about this year’s campaign, visit www.csv.org.uk/difference.

If you work with or manage volunteers and want to learn more about how you can make the most of their passion, join Volunteering England.

Volunteering England is the national development agency for volunteering.
They are committed to increasing the quality, quantity and impact of volunteering in England.

Why Join?

1. Keep your finger on the pulse
Volunteering England has the specialist expertise and knowledge to support organisations and individuals in their work with volunteers. Being a
member of VE is an essential way of keeping up to date with new initiatives and changes across the sector.

2. Have your voice heard
Be involved in representing the volunteering movement at a national level. If you want a say in the future of volunteering then you can have your
voice heard by joining an organisation which is at the centre.

3. Save your pennies - It’s not expensive and could even be FREE!
Depending on your turnover the annual membership fee ranges from £0 to £192 -with a FREE category for smaller community based organisations with a turnover of less than £30,000. You can learn more about Volunteering England’s membership categories by visiting their website.

How to join

If you qualify for a free membership or choose to pay by card you can join online today and get immediate access to exclusive members’ only
benefits. Simply visit www.volunteering.org.uk/joinus and click on the relevant link.

Otherwise please feel free to contact the membership team:

Email: membership@volunteering.org.uk Tel: 020 7520 8949