VAL Blogs


  • Volunteers Week 2021

    Helen Oparinde, Development Officer in VAL’s Voluntary Sector Support team, celebrates Volunteers Week by talking about how she volunteers, giving back to her local community.

  • International Women’s Day 2021 – Celebrating women’s achievements

    Helen Oparinde, Development Officer in VAL’s Voluntary Sector Support team marks International Women’s Day by highlighting the contribution that women make to the local VCSE sector.

  • Student Volunteering Week 2021 –Young Trustees bringing value to trustee boards

    Helen Oparinde, Development Officer in VAL’s Voluntary Sector Support team, celebrates Student Volunteering week and considers how young people can strengthen our local VCSE sector.

  • New Year resolutions for the local VCSE sector

    Helen Oparinde, Development Officer in VAL’s Voluntary Sector Support team looks forward to 2021 and considers what New Year resolutions we may want to consider.

  • UK Charity Week 2020 – Time to Celebrate and Donate

    Helen Oparinde, Development Officer in VAL’s Voluntary Sector Support team, reflects on 2020 in terms of charity fundraising, looking at how UK Charity Week can help raise the profile of the local Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector as it continues to provide support during the pandemic into 2021.

  • Trustees Week 2020 – What’s new to read and action

    Helen Oparinde, Development Officer in VAL’s Voluntary Sector Support team, took time out to chat virtually with Nick Mott Head of Guidance & Practice of the Charity Commission about their plans to launch some new trustee guidance during Trustees Week.

  • Charity Commission Annual Public Meeting 2020 – what should we action?

    Helen Oparinde, Development Officer in VAL’s Voluntary Sector Support team takes time out to listen to the recording of the Charity Commission’s annual public meeting and considers what learnings the local VCSE sector can take from it.

  • Being a charity trustee – your contribution will make a difference

    Linda Jones, the Chair of VAL's board of trustees, talks about how the role of a charity trustee can be a rewarding experience as well as a vital one for charities.

  • Flexible Furlough during local lockdown

    Helen Oparinde, Development Officer in VAL’s Sector Support team re-examines the government’s coronavirus job retention scheme and the relevance in local lockdown.