On Friday 18th November a team of volunteer mentors and volunteers raised money for Children In Need. The event took place at the Bunny Hill Customer Service Centre and the volunteers made cup cakes and then sold them to raise £35.

Dionne Smith a Project Worker with the Mentoring Project said, "This has been a fantastic event! Everyone has had a great day and it has been an excellent way for   volunteers to show their support for such a good cause!"

Projects needed for the Employer Supported Volunteering Scheme

Does your organisation have a room that needs painting, a gardening or conservation project or a fundraising opportunity?

The Volunteer Centre Sunderland has been approached by a number of larger organisations looking to support their local community as part of their Employer Supported Volunteering Scheme (ESV).  Some even come with a small resources budget!

Employer Supported Volunteering (ESV) is becoming more and more popular with companies and the public sector as they learn the benefits of becoming involved, for their employees, the community and the business.

A survey of over 200 top business shows that 94% think volunteering helps to increase the skills of their workforce (source: Timebank 2002).

By engaging employees in volunteering it allows them to access a wide range of personal development opportunities and skill enhancement, such as team building and leadership, confidence building, negotiating and networking. 

Volunteers can also help with an organisations reputation and credibility. In today’s climate this is especially important as employees are ambassadors for their organisation and by linking in with the local community and by helping to make a difference - the reputation of the organisation in the community that they operate may be strengthened.

If your organisation has any opportunities for the ESV scheme, however big or small, please contact Jeff at the Volunteer Centre.

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Good Practice Guide:

Why provide training for Volunteers?

• Training demonstrates that the group / organisation has high standards.
• Training lessens the likelihood of mistakes & other problems.
• Some groups / organisations use training courses as a part of their volunteer selection procedure.
• Training allows new volunteers to learn about the group / organisation & their specific tasks.
• Training also allows existing volunteers to perform their roles better & to take on new roles as the group / organisation changes.
• Training gives volunteers an opportunity to learn about the political, social and economic setting in which the group / organisation operates.
• Training can heighten personal skills & awareness, so the volunteers can function more effectively as individuals & therefore do their voluntary role more successfully.
• It can also improve interpersonal & group awareness, so volunteers can both work more effectively with colleagues & deal more sensitively with the group / organisation's client group.
• Providing standardised training can ensure consistency in approach by different volunteers & continuity over time.
• Training helps to minimise risk (for example, health & safety training).
• Benefits to your organisation can include, better staff / volunteer harmony & increased volunteer retention rates.
• Training can help volunteers feel valued.

Source: Volunteering toolkit for organisations in Sunderland. Do we need to train our volunteers. Section 6. Page 19.

Volunteer Centre Training

Our next training session is on:

Dealing with difficult volunteers & situations

Tuesday 7th February 2012, 1.30pm - 4.30pm

Venue: VCAS,

21 Frederick Street Sunderland SR1 1LT.

All training is £20 per person (voluntary / community sector) £30 (other).

For further information on the course content please contact the Volunteer Centre on 0191 567 8902. A link to the booking form is attached below:

Booking Form

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 to 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:

Monday 16th January 2012 from 10:30am to 12.00

Venue: TBC

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

The Volunteer Centre will provide information on Risk Assessments for Volunteering Roles.

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.

Why not follow us on Facebook and Twitter:

http://www.facebook.com/volunteer.sunderland

  http://twitter.com/sunderlandvols

Volunteering Information Stand!

The Volunteer Centre Sunderland will have an Information Stand at the City Library, in Fawcett Street on Tuesday 17th January 2012 from 1.00 - 3.30pm. This will help potential volunteers to meet representatives from the Volunteer Centre to find out more about volunteering.

The Volunteer Centre Sunderland currently has 438 different volunteering opportunities from 345 different organisations and the opportunities are available in the Sunderland, Washington, Hetton and Houghton areas.  

These events are proving very popular and are designed as a One-Stop-Shop for both potential volunteers and organisations from the VCS who would like to find out more about good practice or register an organisation or volunteering opportunity with the Volunteer Centre.

If your organisation has any volunteering opportunities or you would like more information upon good practice with anything connected to volunteering then please contact the Volunteer Centre Sunderland on (0191) 567 8902.

Volunteer Information Stands at the City Library and Arts Centre,

Fawcett Street, Sunderland, SR1 1RE.

• Tuesday 17th January 2012 from 1.30 - 3.30pm.
• Tuesday 20th March 2012 from 1.30 - 3.30pm.

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Volunteering Information Event - Tuesday 14th February 2012

The Volunteer Centre has it's next Volunteering Information Event on:

Tuesday 14th February 2012 from 1.30pm to 3.30pm

Venue: Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens, Burdon Road, Sunderland, SR1 1PP.

This event is open to the the public and is designed to promote the opportunities available to potential volunteers and is a chance for VCS organisations to attract volunteers.

If your organisation would like to attract volunteers then please book a place at this event. A link to the booking Form is attached below.

                                      Find your Perfect Volunteering Match!

event booking form

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