Volunteer Co-Ordinators Newsletter & Updates

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The Volunteer Co-Ordinators group is a peer network of volunteer co-ordinators and managers from around Southampton.

Find writing for your organisation a challenge?

Have a look at these 8 Top Tips for Charity writing.

According to The Foundation for Social Improvement recent study, smaller charities are at higher risk of closure because they don't collaborate.

What do you think?

Bookkeeping Workshop!

Due to popular demand SVS and Rachel Cooper from Welbeck Accountancy are working together to offer a unique training workshop for community and voluntary groups on:

How to do bookkeeping and make it useful. This is aimed at staff and volunteers who are responsible for book keeping and financial reporting.

Find out more here

Introduction to Bid Writing Workshop

A timely workshop for community voluntary organisations in the process of looking at exploring or maximising their success of securing potential bids. This is at a time of change /transition within commissioning and tendering frameworks in Southampton.

Find out more Here

You may have seen us post this on social media earlier on in the month. But for those of you who need volunteers to move around Southampton have you considered plugging into the Pokémon Go community?

This is the advice from Vinspired.

Our new Volunteering Video!

We've got a new video on our website created for us by Solent Creatives about why people volunteer.

Check it out!

Personally I feel the voice over stands out (jokes!)

Hello!

Wow, well, the summer came and then it went didn't it? We were lucky enough to get some glorious days over events like the Mela festival where we were out promoting volunteering - and SVS's projects to the public. It was a lovely day and some pictures are below.

It's been an incredibly busy couple of months. With a high increase in volunteering queries - from events such as the Mela and that coupled with annual leave has meant that I'm working through questions, queries and referrals as fast as I can but please bear with me.

On top of lots of volunteer referrals SVS is offering the sector lots of opportunities to network and learn over the next few months, from Risk Assessment & Funding Training, to How to work with the Media and Recruit Volunteers. All of that below with the links you'll need to access it.

Well, I had better get back to replying to emails and posting lots of great new opportunities on our website!

Friday Forum

This months Friday Forum is not to be missed. We've got two very different but very interesting topics for you...

Making the Most of Media (9:30 - 10:45)

This session brings together the Voluntary Sectory and local media organisations to discuss opportunities for involvement, promotion and working together. Invited speakers from Solent Creatives, Awaaz Community Radio and the Daily Echo (subject to availability).

What is Domestic Sexual Abuse and Violence and the new integrated services available. (11:00-12:00)

Southampton is launching the first intergrated MARAC and MASH model in the country. This exciting new development involves our multi-agency partners working together to risk assess and respond to High Risk Domestic Abuse (DA) within MASH.

You don't need to book - just turn up!

Volunteer Management Training!

Recruiting Volunteers

This is the second in a series of Volunteer Management training offered to you for FREE from the Volunteer Development Team here at SVS. This 2 hour session will look at:

Writing Adverts & Role Descriptions
Where to Advertise
Taking advantage of social media
Recruitment Fairs and Local Events
Much More!

Tuesday 30th August - 9:30 (registration) Starts at 10:00 runs till 12:00.

Book Now!

Volunteer Coordinators Forum

Swiftly after the volunteer management training we have our quarterly volunteer coordinators forum keep in touch, peer learn and get updates from across the city!

Please note the sign up form has changed so that we can provide you with a networking list when you arrive!

Book Now

Beautiful Day at the Mela promoting Volunteering! Our Fish For A Reason game went down well with everyone :)

Volunteer Certificate Scheme

Nominations will soon be re-opened for the scheme. Launched over 30 years ago this scheme is a brilliant way to give your volunteers external recognition for the work that they do for your organisation. I've attached the forms - I will accept them from now!

We're looking to hold the celebration at the mayors parlour during Trustees Week (7th - 13th November) so please don't forget that your Trustees are Volunteers too! (most likely Thursday the 10th)

We had to cancel the last celebration due to lack of nominations which was really disappointing so please don't forget to nominate your volunteers.

(If you nominated someone for the last round please be assured these nominations will still be put forward for this round).

Information

Nominations

Best From The Web

The Future of social care: The role of volunteers - Interesting (if slightly old) article from the guardian came across my path this month after reading this one about how Volunteers may help Social Services from "keeling over".

I watched this live a few weeks ago - this video seminar from the NCVO about how Brexit will impact the voluntary sector.

This is a lovely article written by someone with a visual impairment who volunteers and how volunteering has changed their perception.

Although here at SVS we've seen a massive surge in prospective volunteering numbers over the past few weeks, a recent survey suggests volunteering numbers are static nationally? However, statistically we're usually a little different here in Southampton our age and gender ratios never match the average so maybe we're in for a boost?

Following the House of Lords Select Committee on Charities holding its first evidence sessions early in July, a Call for Evidence has been issued to the Sector.