volunteering
Neighbourhood Watch Week 17-23 June 2019
This week is Neighbourhood Watch Week 2019 where we’ll be celebrating the amazing work our volunteers do in their communities. We’ll be looking at areas where you expect Neighbourhood Watch to operate in and around (burglary) as well as some more unexpected ones (knife violence and social isolation).
Our message this year is that when it comes to Neighbourhood Watch, there is #MoreThanYouExpect.
To kick start the week we have today the national neighbourhood watch organisation has launched Neighbourhood Watch Inspiration, a collection of the most innovative work being undertaken by our volunteers across England and Wales.
The database contains examples of how Neighbourhood Watch groups are changing their communities for the better. In each case, volunteers explain how they developed their project, the impact it had on their community and how they overcame any challenges.
Neighbourhood Watch Inspiration allows users to contact the author of each example with the hope of generating fruitful conversations between members.
We’re encouraging members to tell their stories on social media. How has Neighbourhood Watch helped your community? Why should people start their own schemes? Be sure to use the hashtag #MoreThanYouExpect when you post!
Befriending Volunteer Opportunities with Age UK
Are you looking for a way to share your time and give something back to the community?
Age UK Calderdale and Kirklees are currently recruiting volunteer befrienders. Join them in helping older people love later life through personalised activities, friendship and getting out and about – just having a chat and a cuppa!
Contact Age UK Calderdale and Kirklees on 01422 252040 or email: enquiries@ageukck.org.uk for an application pack.
National Volunteers’ Week 1-7 June 2019
Volunteers’ Week (1-7 June) is a time to say thank you for the fantastic contribution volunteers make.
During the week, hundreds of events and celebrations take place across the country, saying thank you to volunteers and recognising their invaluable and diverse contribution to the UK.
On Wednesday 5 June, 12:00pm-2:00pm there will be a volunteering showcase in the Albany Arcade in Halifax Borough Market, providing information about volunteering opportunities across the Calderdale area. Have your lunch and find out more.
Across this Volunteers Week website (https://volunteersweek.org/) you’ll find inspiring volunteering stories, ways to get involved in the week and free downloadable resources to help make your celebrations a success.
You can also download a communications pack containing key information about the purpose and aim of the campaign, how to get involved, key messages and statistics and template posts that you can use across your organisations’ social media accounts.
The campaign was established in 1984 by Volunteering England, which merged with NCVO in 2013. NCVO now leads this UK-wide campaign.Volunteers’ Week is a time to say thank you for the fantastic contribution volunteers make.
Gig Buddies Receives 2 Years Continuation Funding to Continue to Tackle Social Isolation
In March Gig Buddies Calderdale was pleased to receive 2 years continuation funding to expand the team and continue to tackle social isolation in Calderdale.
Gig Buddies Calderdale has been going strong since it launched as a pilot project in June 2017. Led by Gig Buddies and Engagement Coordinator Gemma Hailwood-McCallion, based at Square Chapel Arts Centre, Halifax, the aim was to try to address the barriers that prevent people with a learning disability accessing local arts and entertainment. The scheme has proved popular and as a result, has been awarded a two-year continuation fund of £46,000 from the Henry Smith Trust as well as continuation funding from Calderdale Council, to help expand the team and continue its work in the community. The project has also confirmed its very first ambassador – the stage and screen actor Darren Jeffries.
Gig Buddies Coordinator, Gemma Hailwood-McCallion said: “Gig Buddies has been a wonderful project to be involved with and has reached out to so many people who were otherwise isolated and bored in their homes. We’ve been able to go out into mainstream venues to enable people to have a great time in a safe environment, just like everybody else does! It’s been fabulous working with such a dedicated and fun group of volunteers without whom, the project would simply not have worked. I am excited to be expanding the team for Calderdale, to our quest to help people ‘Stay Up Late’. What is also hugely exciting about where we are now, is that we have our very first ambassador; Darren Jeffries has been along to some of our socials and has been a real hit! It’s great to hear that we are appealing to more and more people who can help us spread the word about Gig Buddies.”
Stage and screen actor & Gig Buddies Ambassador, Darren Jeffries said: “It’s an honour and a privilege to be ambassador for Gig Buddies Calderdale. As a lover of live music, comedy and theatre, the idea of anyone being denied access to these life-affirming experiences because of circumstances beyond their control is frustrating and unfair. I’ll be supporting the Gig Buddies team every step of the way, as well as looking forward to plenty more memorable evenings with our brilliant Gig Buddies members.”
Pioneered by Brighton-based Charity Stay Up Late, Gig Buddies connects people with a learning disability with volunteers who share a similar passion for entertainment, culture and live events; and supports them to access all the great events and gigs going on in the community.
Since the birth of Gig Buddies Calderdale, the scheme has matched over twenty-five pairs of buddies, held fifteen social events which have introduced over fifty people to the local entertainment scene, connecting people who may have otherwise missed out on the growing number of events that have been showcased in Calderdale over the past two years.
The funding, that has been awarded by the London based Henry Smith Trust and is being administered by the Calderdale Community Foundation, will enable the project to match even more pairs of buddies, increase the number of social events and expand the team by creating two new post to support the continued work.
The new roles include a Project Assistant and a Quality Checker, the latter being a role for a person with a learning disability. This will enable the team to ensure the work being done and the way in which it’s being doing done, is accessible to the people it seeks to engage with.
The Gig Buddies initiative is funded by Adult Health and Social Care, The Henry Smith Trust as well as the West Yorkshire Business Consortium. The partnership with Square Chapel Arts Centre, Calderdale Council and the Brighton based charity Stay Up Late will continue for a further two years.
For anyone wanting more information about Gig Buddies Calderdale or to become a ‘Gig Buddy’, please contact Gemma Hailwood-McCallion gemma@squarechapel.co.uk, or call 01422 353073.
Training Course for Volunteer Lay Chaplains (Mental Health)
The Spirit In Mind project has been established to promote collaboration between the NHS and different faith communities and is being developed in line with the NHS plan to achieve an integrated system of health promotion and preventative care which is necessary to meet the future health needs of the population. The project seeks to build on the experience of faith organisations in responding to social and health care needs i.e. their deep understanding of local health needs and priorities as well as their strong local presence and direct channel in to deprived and hard to reach neighbourhoods.
The project is now looking to recruit Volunteer Lay Chaplains (Mental Health) as an exciting opportunity for involvement in NHS pastoral ministry.
There will be a 12 week course commencing Monday 2 September 2019.
They are seeking people with a strong faith background and enthusiasm, openness, sensitivity and commitment to join a lively and highly motivated team of chaplains, trainers, counsellors and volunteer support.
There will be:
- Comprehensive training
- Ongoing support and professional development opportunities
- Experience of working within a vibrant and caring NHS healthcare team
- Participation in innovative faith and healthcare projects
- Involvement in a very rewarding sphere of pastoral ministry
Following an initial informal discussion with members of the chaplaincy team, suitable applicants will be invited to complete the Trust’s volunteer recruitment process. This includes a reference from their local minister or faith leader as well as clearance checks for safeguarding purposes.
If you are interested or would like further information, please contact the Pastoral and Spiritual Care Department on 01924 316282 to speak to Revd Stephen Oakley or Revd Mike Gartland
stephen.oakley@swyt.nhs.uk / mike.gartland@swyt.nhs.uk.
The training will be at Fieldhead Hospital, Ouchthorpe Lane, Wakefield WF1 3SP and will follow the timetable below;
| Week 1 | 2 September 2019 | 9am – 4pm | Welcome to the course
Mental health awareness |
| Week 2 | 9 September 2019 | 9am – 4pm | Volunteer mandatory training
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| Week 3 | 16 September 2019 | 9.30am – 12.15pm | Reflective practice
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| Week 4 | 23 September 2019 | 9am – 12.15pm | Verbatim
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| Week 5 | 30 September 2019 | 9am – 12.15pm | Verbatim and role play
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| Week 6 | 7 October 2019 | 9am – 12.15pm | Communication in difficult circumstances
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| Week 7 | 14 October 2019 | 9am – 12.15pm | Developing an understanding of Islam |
| Half term break
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| Week 8 | 28 October 2019 | 9am – 12.15pm | Speakers from wards, staff and service users |
| Week 9 | 4 November 2019 | 9am – 12.15pm | Grief and bereavement
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| Week 10 | 11 November 2019 | 9am – 12.15pm | Understanding the bigger picture
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| Week 11 | w/c 18 November 2019
Dates/times to be arranged |
Ward visits | |
| Week 12 | 25 November 2019 | 9am – 12.15pm | Final day, allocation, feedback and thoughts |
Volunteer – Drop the Knife CIC and Charity
Drop the Knife was formed with the aim of providing a cohesive educational package on anti-knife crime and gangs into schools and colleges, and youth, sports and community-based organisations.
The idea to start the company came from Will Flint who was stabbed 12 times on the 1st January 2017 in Birmingham. Although Will has made a full recovery, he still has effects from the injuries he received. They have now formed the CIC company with three directors including Will who is the CEO. Will has made several appearances on television and radio talking about knife crime and his story, most recently on various BBC Radio stations.
They are based in the Piece Mill, Halifax (on Horton Street by the Piece Hall) and are looking for volunteers that can put in a couple of hours a week helping to organise fundraising activities or helping with sponsored events. Voluntary Ambassadors are also required to deliver their educational package in schools. If you are interested in helping with the CIC & Charity, please contact through their website: www.droptheknife.org.uk or contact Brian Reeves: brian.reeves@droptheknife.org.uk.
