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.