Just Employment: A Guide to Employing Staff in Faith-based Projects

A guide on employing staff and recruiting volunteers in faith-based projects has been published giving practical advice, case studies and examples and over 50 templates for letters and documents. The guide can be found HERE

Pinpointing the "red tape" burdens which could be lifted

A number of sector responses to the Big Society De-regulation Taskforce have appeared, giving input on the top red tape burdens for voluntary organisations. Volunteering England highlights some of the barriers reported to them:

• CRB checks and the Independent Safeguarding Authority
• Insurance and mileage rates for volunteer drivers
• The "benefits barrier" facing unemployed volunteers receiving benefits
• Confusion over how the new visa system applies to volunteers
• Ensuring that the Borders Act isn't a burden on volunteers and organisations
• Reducing the percetion of the threat of litigation facing volunteers

Young Person's Volunteering Fund, SITA Trust Uk

Grants of up to £10,000 are available for volunteering projects owned by 14-25 year olds. This fund has been created to assist young people aged 14-25 to volunteer their time to create or enhance recreation or leisure facilities that can be enjoyed by the wider community.

SITA Trust can provide funding towards the resources required to transform a derelict piece of land into a community green space or give a local community centre a much needed make-over. Funding can be sought to provide necessary equipment such as tools, paint, plants, fencing and materials.

The Volunteer Management Portal

The Portal is a website for anyone who works with volunteers and within the profession of volunteer management. You can use it to search for support, training and development resources to help you develop your skills, improve your volunteer programme and work more effectively with volunteers.

What's on the Portal?

• Training providers
• Consultants
• Publications, resources and networks
• Peer-support
• Organisations providing organisational health checks
• Organisations providing direct services
• Organisations providing information, advice and guidance 

Managers of volunteers under valued and under funded

A newly published report reveals the need for more training and development for managers of volunteers. It shows that nearly half of the people who manage volunteers have not received any training that would help them in their work, despite the fact that volunteers are crucial to the Government's Big Society.

The full report can be read HERE

One-stop source of volunteering research

The Institute of Volunteering Research, the research arm of Volunteering England, has launched an evidence bank for volunteering research. The bank currently contains all of its own publicly available research produced since 1997, and will include research frpm other bodies later. Entries can be searched by keywords, or by one of 30 themes. Read more HERE

Website for the Institute for Volunteer Research can be accessed HERE

Become a Member of the Solihull Volunteer Management Forum

Solihull Volunteer Management Forum meets to support Volunteer Managers to increase, develop and co-ordinate volunteering within Solihull; to share good practice and knowledge; as well as increase and improve skills base through appropriate training and skills sharing.

By becoming a member you will have access to meetings and minutes, promotional activities, participate in training activities and networking.

Want to become a member of the Solihull Volunteer Management Forum? Download a Membership Form HERE

Celebrating Volunteering

How do you thank your volunteers? National Volunteers' Week was the perfect opportunity for the Solihull Volunteer Management Forum to play its part in thanking some of the people who volunteer within Solihull.

Our contribution to the week long national celebrations of volunteering was a celebration event at the Ramada Hotel, Solihull, on 1st June. The conference room and facilities were provided free of charge by the hotel.

The aim of the event was to thank local volunteers for their much valued work and to raise the profile of voluntary community groups and charities in Solihull, who couldn't maintain their current levels of provision without their volunteer workforce.

The Lord Mayor, Councillor Ian Courts, came along to present certificates of appreciation to all that attended. The Lawrie School of Dance very kindly provided the entertainment and four local ladies volunteered their services as beauty therapists to pamper our guests at no cost.

Organisations that attended, from some 600 in Solihull's third sector, included Making Space, Sustain, Solihull Rethink, Age Concern, Voice UK, Chelmsley Wood Advice and Resource Agency (CARA), Cancer Research UK, Park View Day Centre, Mobility Advice Line and 20 other agencies. One staff member and one volunteer were invited to attend from each organisation. 

The Chairman of Sustain and the Lord Mayor spoke of the value of volunteering to the community, the inspirational role of volunteering, and it's contribution to the local economy, in terms of the roles and activities that volunteers undertake which complement statutory services.

Opportunities to Volunteer as an Environmental Champion

Solihull's Environmental Champions tackle the environmental issues that affect everyone in the Solihull borough, graffiti, littering, cutting back vegetation, pond clearing, painting play equipment, to name just a few. Anyone can be an Environment Champion, the only requirement is an interest in protecting and improving Solihull's environment, and the quality of life of those living within it. Over the coming months the Environmental Champions have a number of projects planned and would welcome your involvement in any project which interests you. Why not join them at one of the following?:

• 29th July - 10am to 12 noon - Community Clear up of Dorridge Park
• 11th August - Plane Grove - Replacing a shrub bed

• 15th August - 10.30 to 1.30pm - Community Clear up of Babbs Mill Park
• 2^nd September – National Grid replanting Laburnum Avenue shrub beds
• 3^rd September – Berkswell project day with National Grid
• 7th September - 10.30am to 12.30pm - Community Clear Up of Malvern and Brueton Park
• 8^th September – Celebration Evening for Volunteers 4.30pm to 6.30pm
• 11^th September – Hillfields Park – Bulb planting project under the umbrella of the Solihull Festivals
• 16^th September – Phase II of Sandhills pond clearing
• 21^st September – 2pm to 3.30pm clean up of open space at the end of Horton Road
• 22^nd September – National Grid Monkspath Bulb Planting and Clean up
• 25^th September – Babbs Mill Park – Bulb planting project under the umbrella of the Solihull Festivals.
• 7th October - 10.30am to 12.30pm - Community Clear Up of Elmdon Park
• 13^th October – national Grid helping with Golden Jubilee Gardens
• 14^th October – 10.30am to 12.30pm – Pride in Olton Community Clean Up
• 16^th October – 10.30am to 12.30pm – Community Clear Up of Hillfields Park

To discuss the projects please contact Trish Willetts on 0121 704 6534. Alternatively you could e-mail pwilletts@solihull.gov.uk

Volunteering has helped give me back my confidence

People volunteer for a myriad of different reasons. Over the next few weeks we will be sharing with you the experiences of some of the people who volunteer in Solihull. This first post is from a Volunteer of the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust.

"When I was asked to write an article on my own personal reasons why I became a volunteer at the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust I was delighted as it was my golden opportunity to share with others the wonderful opportunity of voluntary work for those that have been not only ill, but mentally ill such as myself. As a schizophrenia sufferer I was sent through an agency whose task it is to find voluntary work to help those who've been ill recover and get back into the swing of things.

The staff at the Parkridge Centre – Solihull have been a pillar of strength and have extended the hand of friendship so freely that going to work is one of the highlights of the week –fact! I have found that not only do they give me credit for what I am capable of, they actually try to save up work for the next time I come into the office. The work is fun, interesting, a wide variance of people and someone who is always willing to help if I am unsure about anything.

It is directly due to the National Health Service and the team at the Wildlife Trust that I feel my confidence returning. I feel less isolated and feel worthwhile again as doing voluntary work helps make me feel I am contributing. Thanks to all very very much."

More details of the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust can be found on their website
http://www.warwickshire-wildlife-trust.org.uk