Ashby Emergency Services Day

If so you are invited to showcase your organisation as part of a volunteering village to those attending the Emergency Services Open Day at Ashby Bath Grounds on Saturday 1 June 2024.  

Coalville Emergency Services Open Day attracts thousands of visitors, and we expect the first of its kind for Ashby in the Bath grounds to be a huge success.    We expect this to be a packed event with lots of families and residents of Ashby and further afield.

Leicestershire County Council, North West Leicestershire District Council and Voluntary Action Leicestershire are working together to deliver this opportunity for groups to showcase their organisation, encourage membership, and most importantly recruit new volunteers.


If your organisation would like to take part, please email VAL’s helpline helpline@valonline.org.uk and register your interest by 30 April 2024. Explaining how you would like to showcase your work, fundraise, and give people a taste of what it is you do.  


Volunteers Week 2021

Whilst restrictions on events remain in place and Voluntary Action LeicesterShire are unable to hold their usual schedule of events and workshops for the second year in a row, they’re taking the year’s celebrations online again with a series of virtual events. In addition, they will be using their social media platforms and website throughout the week to share real life case studies and stories.

In the last year the pandemic has brought in a new wave of volunteers in the region, with over 5,000 people registering to volunteer with VAL, filling over 12,000 volunteering opportunities including supporting vaccination centres, befriending, shopping and food bank support. That’s on top of the many other volunteers who have provided local charities, businesses and communities with vital resources to continue operating through the unprecedented times. To continue to support and help through the next stage of restrictions unlocking, VAL hopes that the community will continue offering and pledging their valuable time for local projects.

In the last year VAL has relaunched its volunteering website. It’s free for organisations to sign up and advertise volunteering opportunities, and potential volunteers can also sign up and apply directly to volunteer roles.

Kevin Allen-Khimani, Executive Manager – Public Sector Contracts & Projects at VAL, commented:

In what has been an unusual and tough year with the Coronavirus lockdown affecting us all in many ways, we are proud to be able to play a part in providing support and advice to our amazing volun-teers and help the sector function and survive in a time where it has been needed most.

Here at VAL, we’ve seen an increase in registrations from the Leicestershire community who want to volunteer their time and skills to help others. It’s hugely commendable and we hope that this is the real legacy to Covid-19, upon which we can build and develop further in the future.

Kevin continues

We’re looking forward to celebrating them all throughout Volunteers’ Week, as well as showcasing the incredible volunteer opportunities there are in the local area. We hope that we can build and develop on the impact the last year has had on the sector and continue to inspire people to actively get involved.

Virtual Volunteers Week activities

Tuesday 1st June – Volunteering Network and Learn Event, 10am – 12pm

A networking opportunity for Volunteer Involving Organisations (VIO’s) who operate in the public, private or voluntary sectors to come together to share good practice, get updates on changes to volunteering policies and learn about how to best recruit, manage and train volunteers.

Wednesday 2nd June – Recruiting and Managing Volunteers Webinar, 10am – 12pm
This free 2-hour online Zoom training course gives those who are managing or working with volunteers the chance to hear from experts and acquire the skills and resources to recruit and support volunteers effectively.

Book here

Thursday 3rd June – Youth Volunteers Fair, 10am – 4.30pm

A virtual volunteering fair for 16-25 year olds who are looking to find out about volunteering and how to get involved in supporting Leicester and Leicestershire communities. VAL have sourced organisations who can offer unique youth volunteering opportunities that are both engaging and highly beneficial to personal and professional development. For each of the three Zoom sessions throughout the day, five different organisations will showcase what they do, what youth volunteering roles they can offer and run a quick fire Q&A session.

Book here

Keep an eye on our social media channels throughout the week for more celebrations of our local volunteers throughout the pandemic.


A new VAL Volunteering website is coming soon

In 2017 we launched our own volunteering website where volunteer involving organisations (VIOs) can advertise opportunities for free and potential volunteers can sign up and apply.

On Monday 12 April we’ll be launched the new and updated version of that website which will provide a better experience for users.

What’s new?

  • A cleaner updated look and feel to make it easier to manage and find opportunities
  • A better search function, with keyword searches and autofilling
  • Improved geographical search,
  • The ability to add remote volunteering
  • Improved signup process

What happens next?

The existing volunteering site will close on Friday 9 April while we transfer data over and get the new site ready to go live.

When the new site launches, all existing users will be notified by email and given a link to claim their accounts on the new system and all users will be directed to the new website URL.

If you’re an existing user and you don’t receive an email to claim your account on 12 April, just drop us an email at volunteering@valonline.org.uk.


Volunteer Stories – Volunteering into an Apprenticeship

John Storer House

Read case study by Matthew Coleman-Haynes – Apprentice, John Storer Charnwood

After finishing my GCSEs, I started volunteering through John Storer House whilst I was unsure what step to take next in my education. I started off by volunteering at their allotment, which appealed to me because of the mix of indoor and outdoor activities working with adults with learning disabilities. This was a unique opportunity and I found it very rewarding.

The following academic year, I embarked on A level courses alongside my volunteering. Just before Christmas time, I chose to do an extra day of voluntary work at John Storer House itself. I worked with adults with learning disabilities, the elderly and people suffering from dementia. With this group we did activities such as craft, games and sewing.

I enjoyed my voluntary work so much that I started looking at apprenticeships in Health and Social Care. I decided this was something I wanted to pursue rather than following the A level path. I was very fortunate as John Storer House offered me the opportunity to complete an apprenticeship through them. I am now just over halfway through my course and have had no regrets.

Volunteering exposed me to a career path that I would never have considered previously but one that is perfect for me.

Image: Matt at the beach as a volunteer with John Storer House


 

 

 

This case study has been provided by Charnwood Borough Council

 


Volunteer Stories – Helping people

VAL was contacted by the City Council Warden for Evington, Thurncourt, Humberstone & Hamilton on  May as they wanted assistance for a lady who lived in a flat and was shielding. 

It was becoming a struggle and she had requested a sewing machine to make some PPE for the NHS as that would improve her mental wellbeing.  VAL contacted various organisations in the city and repeatedly put out requests via social media.  As a result of a post in the Leicester Covid-19 Mutual Aid Facebook Group a sewing machine was donated and was picked up by a VAL staff member on Saturday 16 May. The recipient said she was absolutely blown away by the gesture and was over the moon.  The donor provided a nice note that outlined how the machine worked and also donated a stash of fabric.

Image above: Lady who kindly donated the sewing machine


Volunteer Stories – Making a difference

VAL were contacted by Cllr Adam Clarke on Thursday 23 April 2020 regarding an elderly constituent in his AylestoneWard who was self-isolating and wanted someone to tidy up her garden. 

We looked at the registered volunteers in this area and contacted someone who had given previous volunteering experience of community gardening.  We contacted this volunteer on Friday 24 April, who was very keen to get involved with the project and on Monday 27 April she spent several hours tidying up the garden and left the elderly person very happy.

Comment from volunteer:

‘It was a bit of an epic garden, it hadn’t been touched since last autumn, I’m not sure but I think she was widowed last year and didn’t know where the garden tools were. Thankfully I took my own mower, strimmer, shears and stuff so was able to hack through the meadow.  At least now, she can look out onto a mown lawn’


Volunteer Stories – Oasis Pre-School

Oasis Pre-School is a not for profit, community preschool for children aged 2 – 5 in Asfordby, Melton, with a specialism around SEN and disabilities. Whilst the nursery has been able to remain open 3 days a week to support families of frontline workers and children classed as vulnerable

With the help of local volunteers, it has also taken on the role of running a food donations pickup and delivery service for local people, along with a clothes bank.

The nursery also sends ‘Home learning’ activities to families through the post, as keeping in-touch with families every week, through social media and on their Facebook page. www.facebook.com/oasisfamilycentre/

Asfordby is an area of deprivation and the pre-school works with many families from disadvantaged backgrounds.  The pre-school’s role in the community is therefore more than just being a nursery, it provides a focal point for the entire community.


 

This case study has been provided by Leicestershire County Council

 


Volunteer Stories – Melton Learning Hub

The Melton Learning Hub is a charity which supports young people and the elderly and vulnerable, primarily in Melton Mowbray, but also further afield. The Hub offers a wide variety of vocational qualifications to young people 14-19 who are excluded or at risk of exclusion from mainstream education.

The Hub has linked up with Melton Borough Council to create a food bank from its premises. A number of volunteer drivers and staff from the Hub are delivering food to families and people in need across Melton. The service is promoted through Facebook and other social media and is continuing to help people in isolation but also those people who have experienced a sudden loss of income.

The Hub has an industrial kitchen on site (funded by a grant from Leicestershire County Council 5 years ago) which is being used to prepare food for delivery to local people who need food parcels. A team of 22 volunteer drivers are helping with deliveries of food, essentials and also in supporting the vulnerable and elderly with getting to doctors and hospital appointments.

More details about Melton Learning Hub can be seen here:

http://meltonlearninghub.org/about-us/

 


 

This case study has been provided by Leicestershire County Council

 


Volunteer Stories – Coalville Education Partnership

Coalville Education Partnership (CEP) is an alternative education provider, which supports students who are excluded from mainstream education. One of the activities undertaken by the organisation is to offer training around cooking and meal preparation for young people.

The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has meant that CEP have been unable to offer their usual activities to young learners. The organisation has however, responded quickly by utilising their on-site kitchen facilities to prepare food and deliver this to people living in Coalville and surrounding area.

Jason Knibbs from CEP said,

“Putting our catering kitchen to good use and cooking for those in need is a ‘no brainer’. Before COVID-19 we used to cook for older and vulnerable people once a week. However, that had to stop. We’ve got a catering kitchen with equipment and a contract with the charity FareShare, so I decided to make a difference and provide meals for communities in North West Leicestershire.”

Jason and his small team of cooks and support staff receive a variety of food and do not know what they will get until its delivered. From there they create meals such as Spanish chicken, roast dinners and cottage pies.

While CEP creates hundreds of meals a week, a team of 60 volunteers from the Hugglescote, Donington Le Heath and Coalville Community Response Hub deliver the meals twice a week.

Founder of the community organisation, Jade Edwards, said that she only started out cooking meals for her mother. The mum-of-four, from Coalville, said:

“I’m a carer for my mum, so when the government restrictions came in I took meals round for her and her neighbours asked for help with meals and shopping. I put what I was doing on social media and asked for people to adopt a street to help vulnerable people and within two weeks I had more than 40 volunteers. I love delivering meals in the community and seeing the smiles on people’s faces. What we are doing is making a huge difference and I’ve had people say that they wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the service we are providing. It wouldn’t be possible without our volunteers.”

 


 

This case study has been provided by Leicestershire County Council


Volunteer Stories – Lutterworth Crisis Action

Lutterworth Crisis Action is an inspiring community initiative which has been established to provide support to residents in Lutterworth during the Coronavirus pandemic. The scheme, which is led by St Mary’s Church in Lutterworth, came about through initial conversations between the church and a number of committed community organisations based within the town, all of whom felt the need to develop a local response to help people get through the crisis.

The agencies involved in the scheme include:

  • St Mary’s Church
  • Age Concern Lutterworth
  • Lutterworth Town Council
  • Lutterworth Community Transport
  • Lutterworth Volunteer Centre
  • Lutterworth and Villages Foodbank

The scheme recruits local volunteers and mobilises them to provide support to those most in need, particularly for people in households who are self-isolating during the Covid-19 crisis. The main tasks undertaken by the volunteers include delivering groceries and other essential shopping; collection and delivery of medication; transport to essential medical appointments; and befriending support to reduce loneliness.

In total, the initiative has recruited nearly 150 volunteers and provided support to over 200 local residents who are impacted by the Covid crisis.

More details can be seen at www.lutterworthchurch.org/crisis

 


 

This case study has been provided by Leicestershire County Council