Volunteering

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Could You Be a Volunteer on 6Towns Credit Union Board of Directors?

March 7, 2019by Leona in Blog, Vacancies tagged

6Towns Credit Union is currently seeking community minded volunteers who have an interest in the financial wellbeing of people and society at large.

6Towns Credit Union provides financial services to not only the most vulnerable in society but encourages everyone to save something no matter how small. That could be through saving directly from benefits, salary or through payroll deduction.

 

The role:
To provide guidance and support within the board
To make strategic decisions on the direction of 6Towns Credit
Meet once a month for the Board meeting
Receive weekly updates
The role does not require day to day hands on input to the running of 6Towns

In the first instance please email arun.budon@sixtowns.co.uk for an application form.
Please be aware that all applicants must have an unimpaired Credit history.

The deadline for submitting an application is 1st April 2019.

6Towns Credit Union is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.

Home From Hospital Care seeks Volunteers for Befriending and Shopping

February 22, 2019by Mazeline Hemmings in Blog, Volunteering tagged , ,

Home From Hospital Care is a charity that provides aftercare for people who have recently been discharged from hospital. They support Birmingham residents in Birmingham Hospitals and, since January 2019, also support Sandwell residents who have been admitted to City Hospital.

The charity was established in 1972 and aimed to enhance the safety of hospital discharges. Today, HFHC is an essential part of the discharge planning process. They work to optimise recovery, reduce loneliness and isolation and to enhance wellbeing. Their support significantly reduces the risk of re-admission to hospital.

Volunteers help HFHC deliver the service and are most commonly involved in befriending and shopping, but there is also emotional help, benefits advice, aid to attend medical appointments, support with correspondence and form filling, a sitting-in service for carers and a cleaning and handy-man service. The service is for six weeks and it is free.

Home From Hospital Care is currently recruiting volunteers in Sandwell. Following DBS checks and training, volunteers are matched with a service user who they support for an hour each week for a six-week period. Visits can be more frequent if the volunteer feels able to commit to this. At the end of the period of facilitation, the volunteer can take a break, or be matched with another service user. It is important that volunteers commit to the six-week period so that the support provided is reliable and consistent. Home From Hospital Care can help volunteers to gain an NVQ2 with Free Courses in England, in a range of subjects, including Falls Prevention and Working in Health and Social Care.

An illness or injury and a hospital admission can be a difficult and life changing experience. Many people face this alone, or with little support. Having someone there in the weeks following discharge can reassure can transform lives.

For more information contact telephone 07483165930, email admin@home-from-hospital-care.org.uk or visit the website at www.home-from-hospital-care.org.uk

‘Do you have what it takes to join us’ – CVT Shared Lives looking to recruit Paid Carers to an innovative new Scheme across the Black Country.

February 19, 2019by Stuart Ashmore in Vacancies, Volunteering tagged ,

National charity, Camphill Village Trust, has recently been awarded the contract to deliver a Shared Lives Scheme on behalf of Dudley MBC, and are looking to recruit paid Carers to significantly expand this innovative service across the wider Borough and surrounding Black Country areas over the coming years.

As a starting point, Shared Lives is sometimes described as being similar to providing ‘foster care for adults with additional/complex needs’…but it’s so much more than that, as you support the Person to make choices and decisions, maximise independence and lead an ordinary life at the heart of the community just like you and me. Being a Shared Lives Carer, you encourage the Person to develop practical skills, build self-esteem and develop new friendships and social networks in the neighbourhood, which creates a sense of belonging.

CVT Shared Lives will provide a comprehensive induction programme and on-going support to ensure that the highest quality of care is maintained throughout each Shared Lives Arrangement. An Enhanced DBS Check and references are also required. Training will take place in your own home, via e-learning and also as a group at our community hub in Stourbridge. The Assessment process can take between 3-6 months. Once approved by an Independent Panel, you are carefully matched with a Person who comes to stay/live with you on either a live-in, short-break or day-support basis…it’s such a rewarding role!!!

96% of all Shared Lives Schemes inspected by the Care Quality Commission are rated as Good or Outstanding as people are known to lead longer, healthier, happier lives when living in the community. Not only is Shared Lives more cost effective but it also provides a viable alternative to other long-term settings such as hospital or residential care.

Registered Manager for CVT Shared Lives, Kate Morgan, said “We already have 38 households in the area supporting people with a learning disability, mental ill health, autism and physical disability. The recent demand for the service, means there is a continual need to recruit dedicated Carers and by joining our Scheme, caring people can build a paid career from their own home, doing a role they love and which is very much valued by all those involved.”

You must be over 21 years of age and don’t need any qualifications or experience, just the right values, commitment and of course…..a spare bedroom. If you don’t own your own home, you will need to ask your landlord’s permission to use your property as a Shared Lives Arrangement.

As a Shared Lives Carer you can be paid from £370 – £560+ per week, depending on the level of support you provide to the Person who comes to stay/live with you. That works out between £19-29K annually, as well as qualifying for tax relief and receiving four weeks respite.

To find out more about becoming a Shared Lives Carer , please go to www.cvt.org.uk/sharedlives Call 01384 441505. Email sharedlives@cvt.org.uk or follow us on Twitter: @CVTSharedLives

Volunteer Opportunities at Wildlife Trust

February 11, 2019by Mazeline Hemmings in Blog, Volunteering tagged ,

The Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country have ambitious plans to grow their fundraising opportunities and are looking for flexible, organised and friendly individuals to help with community fundraising.  If you are interested in helping to grow your local Wildlife Trust and have good connections in your local community, please get in touch!

Volunteers will support with delivering a variety of community fundraising initiatives e.g. sponsored walks, pub quizzes, raffles, office dress down days and coffee mornings to raise funds for the Trust.

Volunteers may also be suited to member recruitment by supporting the team at community events.

For more information contact Emma Thompson on 0121 523 0094 or email emma.t@bbcwildlife.org.uk.

You can register your interest in volunteering online at https://members.bbcwildlife.org.uk/Volunteer-Registration – be sure to identify on the form that you are interested in volunteering as a community fundraiser.

Seeking Volunteer Chaplains for West Bromwich

January 14, 2019by Mazeline Hemmings in Blog, Did you know...?, Volunteering tagged , ,

Black Country Urban Industrial Mission is seeking to recruit volunteer Workplace Chaplains to visit with people in the Businesses, Shops and Factories of West Bromwich.

Who Are Workplace Chaplains?
Chaplains are men and women from a range of business, employment and cultural backgrounds who are good listeners.Chaplains wish to bring their faith and understanding to the world of work. Each Chaplain is a member of a church who can count on a reference from their church leader, vicar, minister or pastor.

Do you live in or close to the Black Country? Could you offer a few hours a week to be a workplace chaplain, and be part of an exciting area of the church’s mission?

One volunteer chaplain described being a Chaplain as the best experience in his Christian ministry.

A five week training course in basic Chaplaincy skills is planned for February. Dates, times and location will be decided in discussion with those who respond.

There’s no upper age limit, and workplaces can often accommodate different levels of agility. Chaplains may need to spend long periods on their feet.

Contact Bill Mash at bill.mash@bcuim.co.uk 01902 710407 for more information.

A Successful 2018 for Friends of Tividale Park

December 14, 2018by Libby Mahoney in Blog, Did you know...?, Volunteering tagged , ,

The Friends of Tividale Park are a residents’ community group (now in its fourth year) who work to improve Tividale Park in various ways, including fund-raising for new equipment, volunteering, and supporting events.

The Friends of Tividale Park Group support plans to improve the facilities in the park, organise and develop a range of community activities and events, to bring people of all ages together to have fun and enjoy the park.

During 2018, the group have successfully embarked on the following projects:

  • worked with Litter Watch to paint the entrances into the park to enhance the appearance of this local resource,
  • secured funding to purchase six new benches which will be installed on our behalf by Sandwell Council around the park,
  • secured a Co-op Community Fund grant to buy a commemorative World War One bench and
  • held ‘Black Country Gala Festival’ in July to mark the parks 90th birthday which featured five bands, three dance groups, Vikings demonstrations, 30 stalls and much much more.

Our long-term plan within the park is for a community centre and is nearly in fruition as Sandwell Council have cleared an area of land within the park and laid the foundations in preparation for the facility to be put into place in 2019. The Council has also promised 20 Cherry Blossom Trees for the park.

We are currently looking for people to help us to form some new community groups such as neighbourhood watch, walking and running groups who will use the new facility coming in 2019 within the park.

For more information or to become a new member of the Friends of Tividale Park, please email our secretary at secretary@friendsoftividalepark.org.uk or visit our website at www.friendsoftividalepark.org.uk

Your Library Needs You!

December 14, 2018by Libby Mahoney in Blog, Volunteering tagged , ,

Library friends groups are looking for new members to join and help support their library by:

  • Helping shape future library services,
  • Acting as library ambassadors in the community,
  • Fund raising for local events and activities,
  • Supporting at library and community events and
  • much much more.

You’ll have the opportunity to learn new skills with like-minded individuals, support the development of services and community activities taking place within the library.

We would love to hear from anyone who is interested in making a positive difference within their community or would just like to find out more about what is involved.

Meetings are held every six weeks so why not get involved and help us to keep your library a real hive of community activity.

To find out more please speak to a member of library staff or call 0121 569 4911.

BIRCH Refugee Family Befriending Project

November 26, 2018by Mazeline Hemmings in Blog tagged ,

Are you passionate about migrants’ rights? Are you happy to welcome a young refugee to your home in Birmingham and help to reduce isolation? BIRCH – Birmingham Community Hosting Network  – is a volunteer-led charity working to harness the enthusiasm of local people to offer friendship and hospitality to people seeking sanctuary in Birmingham and other boroughs.

The Family Befriending Project matches young refugees (aged 16-25) with volunteer families/individuals who offer to share a weekly or fortnightly meal with them on a regular basis. The young refugees who benefit from this project have all come to the UK alone without their families and the majority are care leavers. They benefit from being welcomed into a family environment and feel better supported and less isolated. The host family does not intend to replace a young person’s birth family but will go some way to meeting some of the emotional needs families usually fulfil, helping young people to feel that they are cared about.

How BIRCH supports you
Befriending a vulnerable young person can be a big commitment and BIRCH is on hand to support you every step of the way. They will match you based on a number of factors including family size, age and gender of children, location, preferences and hobbies. The Refugee and Migrant Support Practitioner will accompany the young person on their first visit and support the match on an ongoing basis.

What is BIRCH looking for?
BIRCH welcome families of all shapes and sizes from single people to large extended families. If you would like to find out more please get in touch with Helen Hibberd. Email helen@birchnetwork.org, call 07709645097 or visit www.birchnetwork.org

Practical Considerations
Volunteers must be able to commit to weekly or fortnightly meetings with young people and be willing to undergo a DBS check.

Murray Hall Volunteer Recruitment Event

November 26, 2018by Mazeline Hemmings in Blog, Volunteering tagged , ,

Murray Hall Community Trust is a registered charity supporting people in Sandwell and the surrounding areas. To celebrate its twenty-fifth anniversary in 2019, Murray Hall will honour the support given by volunteers and hope to recruit more volunteers to enable them to continue to support the most vulnerable in the community.

Murray Hall will be holding a Volunteer Recruitment Event on Thursday, 22 November 2018, 12 noon to 2.30 pm, at The Bridge, St Marks Road, Tipton DY4 0SL.

Volunteering can be an enriching experience and can enable you to meet new people, try new things and gain valuable experience.

The volunteer recruitment team will be on hand on the day to tell you more about the various volunteering opportunities across Murray Hall’s services, and talk you through the application process.

If you are interested in volunteering but cannot make it on the day, please call 01902 826 513, when a member of the team will be happy to help you.

React Martial Arts

November 15, 2018by Libby Mahoney in Blog, Children & Young People, Health & Wellbeing, Local Impact Spotlight tagged , ,

Who are React Martial Arts?

React Martial Arts was set up in August 2014 as a kickboxing organisation designed to make kickboxing and martial arts more accessible to all.

For more information on the organisation visit their website at www.reactmartialarts.co.uk

1) Tell us what you do.

We run Kickboxing classes for ages 5+ at St Michael’s School, Rowley Regis on Tuesday evenings between 19:00-20:00. Classes are taught in a controlled and fun environment to encourage everyone to develop at their own pace, with regular grading’s to allow students to show what they have learnt.

We also take a small group of fighters to compete locally, nationally and internationally. And lastly we sometimes do work in schools such as special martial arts taster days.

2) What is your proudest achievement?

Our proudest achieve is having two England squad members who recently won a gold medal each at the ICO World Championships. In total taking 6 medals from 6 categories.

3) What is the most valuable lesson you have learnt about working with people in Sandwell?

The most valuable lesson we have learnt about working with people in Sandwell is that people need to take things at their own pace and it’s important to listen to what they want and where they are on their individual journey.

4) What are your plans for the future and some of the challenges you face?

Our plans for the future are to continue to make Kickboxing accessible to all and to educate our community that despite common misconceptions that martial arts promote violence and fighting, martial arts is about teaching control, discipline and can help to tackle mental health concern.

5) How can SCVO help to support your organisation in the future?

SCVO can help through reiterating the above point that Kickboxing is not just about fighting but about teaching respect, discipline, and control whenever possible and supporting is to share our accomplishments and success to a wider audience enabling us to demonstrate to others where kickboxing as a sport can take them.

If you’d like to find out more about these services and Tuesday evenings session at St Michael’s school please contact Arron Walker on 07539 383 299 or via email at reactmartialarts@outlook.com

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