We enable individuals to find and secure volunteering placements, both short term and longer term. Whilst meeting the obvious need for volunteers in the town for hundreds of charities and not for profit organisations, we also make a big difference to the lives of local residents. Many people are isolated, lonely and have additional support needs, such as mental health needs, ex-alcohol or drug dependency, long term unemployed, suffering poverty and general poor health. We help step by step, through training, drop in sessions, and Volunteer Voices networks, to rebuild their self-worth, improve their wellbeing and develop their resilience to volunteer and to restart living their lives.
We plan strategically the volunteering needs of the town. Practically we have to register all the organisations that recruit volunteers, we promote their opportunities. Individuals are then able to register with us to find out about the opportunities available. We provide a matching service (when funding is available) to ensure that both the individual and the organisation are a positive match. We are currently funded to deliver a supported volunteering project called WAVE (Wider Access to Volunteering for Everyone). We have developed a 8-12 week training programme on topics such as: equality, health and safety, communication skills and safeguarding. In addition to support those who need further help we have developed a number of very short one hour workshops to strengthen their wellbeing and resilience. These are delivered during the drop in sessions each week so any ex WAVE client can attend to gain inspiration and keep developing skills stay connected and eventually find a pathway to volunteering, training or paid employment.
