Volunteer Network and Learn Events

These events give the network an opportunity 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.

Here is an outline of the last 3 events:

Volunteer Network and Learn 1st March 2022 – Face to Face – John Storer Charnwood

VAL hosted the first Face to Face Volunteer Network and Learn Event in Charnwood at John Storer House in Loughborough. We introduced 3 speakers for the event: Paul Akroyd – Fare Share East Midlands, Luke Green – Active Together, and Reena Owen from Blind Veterans who talked about how they managed with volunteer engagement during the Covid Pandemic and gave an outline of the work the organisations carry out

Feedback from day:

‘Good to meet other people and understand what other resources are around.’ – Nicki Macmillan – Falcon Support Services

‘Face to Face great to hear from the speakers as well as around the room as to how the voluntary sector is post Covid. Great to connect with the various groups represented. To keep up to date with VAL’s provision’ – Tori Haines – Rural Community Council – Hinckley 

‘Useful to meet others and hear how they operate shared challenges and solutions.’ – Cat Smith Fareshare Midlands 

‘Connecting with others in the network will be needing more assistance with recruiting volunteers in the future.’ – Paul Holden – Macular Society 

‘Introduction to other local organisations allow me to spread the word of our organisation.’ – Reena Owen – Blind Veterans

Volunteer Network and Learn – 14th June 2022, Blaby District Council Offices

VAL hosted a Face to Face Volunteer Network and Learn Event at Blaby District Council offices in conjunction with Blaby District Council. This was the second face to face network event with 20 organisations attending on the day everyone who attended enjoyed the chance to network with organisations in the Blaby area others organisations

Feedback from day:

“Thank you for inviting us to today’s meeting and giving us the opportunity to tell other groups/ important Council people/ VAL people what we do. We really enjoyed it”

“It was evident that others enjoyed it too and have taken away some positive actions for their groups”.

Volunteer Network and Learn – 6th September 2022, Melton College

VAL hosted a Face to Face Volunteer Network and Learn Event at Melton College conferencing space. This was the third network event this year and we met face to face with 21 organisations attending on the day. The event was opened by Mark Frisby from Access All Areas in Melton who gave a presentation.

Diana Wood from Melton in Bloom and Jeremy Filor from Melton and Oakham Waterways Society who gave engaging presentations about how they involve organisations and the impact on Melton.