Dave Thomas, Volunteering Development Officer at NCVS, continues his series of articles in support of Leaders of Volunteers. This time, Dave looks into what local groups can do to celebrate their volunteers during Volunteers' Week.

Volunteers' Week serves as a platform to celebrate, promote, and support volunteering, recognising it as a fundamental pillar of social cohesion, community resilience, and positive social change. This year, for the first time, it runs from Monday 3 to Sunday 9 June.

Earlier last year NCVS engaged with community organisations to understand why some communities (especially those from South Asian backgrounds) were not accessing NHS Talking Therapy services.

Based on the findings of the engagement we are pleased to say that we have partnered with Al-Hurraya to deliver training for community leaders and organisations supporting diverse communities. 

Last year, a number of national charities jointly promoted a volunteer event to mark the coronation of King Charles III. This was the Big Help Out, and it is being run again this year at the end of Volunteers’ Week (Monday 3 to Sunday 9 June 2024).

Here at Nottingham CVS, we will always prioritise local voluntary groups, so we acknowledged the Big Help Out but didn’t promote it. Now, in its second year, we have an opportunity to use the national publicity that it will generate to attract, retain, and celebrate volunteers in our local communities.

This funding is now closed

Funding is available for registered charities and smaller voluntary organisations benefiting people in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire through the Boots Charitable Trust.

The independent registered charity wholly funded by Boots UK has, to date, donated over £10 million to charities across the city and county. The Trust also helps smaller voluntary organisations in Nottinghamshire which are too small to qualify for charitable status but who still desperately need financial support for their projects.

Dave Thomas, Volunteering Development Officer at NCVS, continues his series of articles in support of Leaders of Volunteers. This time, Dave looks into the use and significance of inclusive language in volunteering.

Many of you will have responded directly, either personally or on behalf of your organisation, to Nottingham City Council's budget proposals for 2024/2025. In reducing support to our communities, especially to some of Nottingham's most vulnerable citizens, the proposals will have a dramatic impact on VCSE sector service provision, and on the health and wellbeing of all Nottingham people.

While the consultation and survey has closed for responses, there is more to do. We must continue to stand up for Nottingham and do everything we can to save our sector.

Dave Thomas, Volunteering Development Officer at NCVS, continues his series of articles in support of Leaders of Volunteers. This time he has some tips to help identify and resolve "imposter syndrome".
 

In the past few weeks, I have had a number of conversations with Leaders of Volunteers facing a similar crisis of confidence in their own ability.

NCVS Volunteering Development Officer, Dave Thomas, writes:

Volunteers really can do anything! Every day, in organisations and groups across Nottingham, volunteers are stepping up to tackle a myriad of different challenges. The most effective volunteers also have good leadership. That’s where Leaders of Volunteers come in.

We're pleased to announce that NCVS is part of a new Active Travel social prescribing pilot project in Nottingham. The trial will give healthcare professionals and social prescribers the ability to refer patients to services that promote walking, cycling and wheeling delivered within the community.

Locally, the project is called 'Travel Well' and is led by Nottingham City Council in partnership with the Nottingham City Place-Based Partnership, Nottingham Community and Voluntary Service (NCVS) and Nottingham City GP Alliance (NCGPA).

Dave Thomas, Volunteering Development Officer at NCVS, has been reviewing some of the latest reports on VCSE sector trends, helping to draw out the facts and figures which relate to volunteering.