Volunteer Coordinators’ Network Update 61
July 24, 2008 by chuffinghogHi Everyone,
I’m off work ill at the moment (nothing too serious, but thanks for asking.) Due to a miracle of advance planning, most of this update was written at the beginning of the week when I was at work, so I am able to upload this from home. I’ll send out your email notification when I get back to work, but if you stumble across this in the meantime, that’s great.
From the feedback that I have had over the past couple of weeks, it looks like the blog format is here to stay. Thanks to everyone who has given me their views - and apologies to the two people who preferred the plain text email.
This week’s info starts with some feedback from the VCN meeting on Monday:
- VCN Meeting Feedback - Monday 21st July
- The Next VCN - Monday 18th August - 10am - 12
- VCN Membership Update
- Queen’s Award For Voluntary Service
- Nottingham’s Proud of You Awards
- 25th October - CSV Make a Difference Day
- Bulwell Vision Bulletin - Out Now
1. VCN Meeting - 21st July
A small and very select group of us gathered on Monday afternoon, so we decided to abandon the planned Speed dating activity and to have a broad-ranging discussion in which we shared experiences of working with volunteers across several very different organisations. Many thanks for their involvement and contributions to Skylarks, Parent Partnership Project, Young Potential as well as our own Volunteer Centre Volunteer Coordinator and another couple of staff from the Volunteer Centre team. I found this discussion very interesting and I learned a lot about how different organisations work with their volunteers.
2. The Next VCN - Monday 18th August - 10am - 12
That’s pretty well it, except to say that the plan at the moment is that we’ll have a discussion under the working title: “Who Needs Volunteering Policies“. Please come along and bring your own policies along as examples. Also please bring any problems, issues or questions that you may have in this area.
However, it would be most unusual if we actually stick to the planned topic, so even if you have no interest in volunteering policies, come along anyway because there could well be cake on offer - for a reason that I won’t go into right now.
3. VCN Membership Update
I have been asked by a few people when their membership of the VCN is up for renewal. Lots of us used to renew every August.
At the start of this year, we decided to run VCN membership from January 1st to December 31st, so you won’t be asked to renew until the end of the year.
If you come across an organisation who isn’t a member of the VCN, but who should be, we’re having a Summer Sale! A new group joining now will pay only £10 for the rest of the year.
4. Queen’s Award For Voluntary Service
On Tuesday, I went to a presentation about this award. Recipients of this award are a fairly exclusive club, but some of the organisations in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire who already have this award are also very good at looking after their volunteers. You can see the list of past winners, the criteria (which basically says that you must involve two or more volunteers in what you are doing) and the application process on their website http://tinyurl.com/6ey24f
According to Literacy Volunteers, who won the award a couple of years ago, the award brings a great deal of prestige that certainly makes volunteer recruitment and retention easier and it can potentially impress funders, local government and other people and organisations.
The awards organisers would very much like to receive more nominations for Nottingham groups, but you will have to find someone outside the group to do this as you can’t nominate yourself. A job for your mum, maybe?
5. Nottingham’s Proud of You Awards
Yes, it’s a seriously cheesy title, but these local awards provide a chance for you to nominate your own volunteers for fifteen minutes of local fame.
The Award Categories are:
- Caring Award
- Danielle Beccan Young Achiever Award
- Good Neighbour Award
- Green Champion Award
- Inspiration Award
- Boots Local Hero Award
- Respect for Nottingham Award
The closing date for nominations is 19 September 2008. Details from http://tinyurl.com/57mkwk
Thanks to our Marketing Officer, Gill Woodard for sending this to me.
6. 25th October - CSV Make a Difference Day
The Volunteer centre Network and Volunteering England go big on Volunteers Week each June, but the other big volunteering celebration is CSV Make a Difference Day. This year it falls on Saturday 25th October 2008, with activities taking place on the day or a week either side. Like Volunteers’ Week, it can be a great way to raise awareness of your volunteering activities and to find yourself new volunteers. You can sign up for special emails with resources, tips and volunteer advice at www.csvcampaigns.org.uk/volunteers
Let’s face it, we can all use good ideas for recruitment, retention and recognition.
7. Bulwell Vision Bulletin - Out Now
Michelle Cooke, the Neighbourhood Volunteering Worker in Bulwell has sent me a PDF of her newsletter that is packed with details of projects and activities being driven by volunteers in the Bulwell area. Even if you aren’t based there, it’s worth a look for some great ideas.
You can contact Michelle at michelle.cooke@bulwellvision.org, or get your copy by email from me. Please request your copy by using the Comment link below.
Ride Safe
Dave