Volunteer Week
From NHP Volunteers Week Event Wednesday June 8th
To mark the end of Volunteers’ Week, on Wednesday June 8th NHP held a celebration event to say THANK YOU!
After an ice breaker quiz, some speeches, presentation with volunteers’ feedback, and Staying Well awards, there was food and touching stories shared as we reflected on the difference our Volunteers make to our community.
North Halifax partnership wouldn’t be the same without you.
From Upper Valley Volunteers’ week event June 6th
On Monday 6th June 22 we held a volunteers ‘Thankyou’ event at Hebden Bridge Town Hall Café. The purpose of the event was to say thank you to our telephone befriending volunteers and to give them a chance to meet up with each other.
All volunteers were supplied with tea and cake and a good time was had by all. The conversation turned to befriending and some useful ideas and suggestions were shared amongst volunteers and staff.
All telephone befriending volunteers were sent a Volunteers’ Week certificate and are very much appreciated for the time they and commitment they put into the service.
Does being a telephone befriender for Staying Well sound like something you would like to do? Find out more about what that involves and if you would like to join our team of Telephone Befrienders!
Staying Well Telephone Befriending Scheme
Full training and support will be provided and you will be making impactful difference to someone’s wellbeing. Many of our volunteer telephone befrienders have commented how this scheme has improved their own wellbeing!
Trustee Volunteering Event at the Square Chapel Thursday 30th
Have You Considered Volunteering with a Difference?
Becoming a Trustee could be the role for you
The VSIA and CMBC are hosting an event on
Thursday 30th June at Square Chapel Arts Centre
from 5.30pm to 8pm
The event is aimed both at organisations looking to recruit trustees as well as individuals with an interest in becoming a trustee and what that means.
You will receive information on the role of trustees and the many benefits for an organisation and the volunteer.
Refreshments will be provided in the event.
If you’d like to take part, please let us know as soon as possible.
- Places for voluntary groups at the event will be limited to maximum of 2 people per organisation
- We’d like it if one of those could be an existing Trustee who can share their Board experiences to potential new Trustees
- Once confirmed with a place, groups will be invited to a brief preparation session before the event (on Zoom) so that we can advise on how to ‘sell’ your organisation and what kind of things to remember to tell a new person
After the event we’ll put you in touch with those who are interested in joining your board / committee or would simply like a longer conversation with you.
To book places for your organisation, email Charlie at charlie.johnston@vsialliance.org.uk as soon as possible.
More information:
Staying Well Awards ceremony
Way back in January 2020, Staying Well set out to hold an awards ceremony to celebrate the fantastic work their volunteers and groups are involved in.
Without all the wonderful things going on in our communities to reduce loneliness and isolation and keep people healthier and happier, Staying Well could not do what they do.
Staying Well want to take this opportunity to say thank you. The people of Calderdale nominated over 100 groups, organisations and individuals across the borough who are all working and volunteering to make our communities a better place.
A panel of judges selected winners in 10 categories:
1. Staying Well Lower Valley Award
Christ Church, Hipperholme
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2. Staying Well North & East Halifax Award
Men United
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3. Bringing People Together Award
Sheila Jackson, Shakeela Zaman
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4. Staying Well Upper Valley Award
Tuesday 2 O’clock Club
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5. Staying Well Central Halifax Award
Raziea Yousaf
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6. Calderdale Cares Award
Bankfield Surgery Practice Health Champions
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7. Contribution to Community Resilience Award
Calderdale Friends of Dorothy
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8. Dedication to Communities Award
Shabir Hussain
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9. Outstanding Individual Award
Kevin Sheils
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10. Active Calderdale Award
George Watson
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The COVID pandemic may have prevented Staying Well from holding the party they had in mind, so instead they have made a film to celebrate and highlight all those who were nominated and won awards, showcasing the brilliant groups and activities they are involved in.
Congratulations to everyone! You can watch the video here https://youtu.be/3rQOYtfBoNs to see just how awesome the people of Calderdale are.
If you would like more information on Staying Well, please visit www.stayingwellhub.com
Volunteering with North Halifax Partnership
Be at the heart of providing a better future for all generations!
Our opportunities include telephone befriending, office experience, becoming a
board member, parent forum members, early years experience and much more!
We will be holding a Drop – In on Wednesday 8th June between 4.15pm – 5pm
at Caygill Rooms, The Piece Hall (on the top level)
Come chat with us and find out more about the exciting opportunities to become involved with us and see how you can give back to your community!
For more information, call 01422 251090 or visit northhalifaxpartnership.org
Staying Well are looking for volunteer telephone befrienders
At Staying Well we believe that talking to someone who will take the time to listen can be very beneficial to your health and wellbeing!
If you are looking for a volunteering opportunity that can make a huge positive impact to someone, you may want to become a Staying Well Telephone Befriender.
We are looking for people from all walks of life, of any age, having a friendly, chatty approach, willing to reach out to someone who needs somebody to talk to.
You only need to commit 30 minutes a week but those 30 minutes can mean the world to someone.
Many of our telephone befrienders have shared that those sessions have improved their own wellbeing.
If you would like to know more, get in touch with Sharon Gibson, our Befriending Coordinator on:
t: 07825 089 288
e: sharon.gibson@nhpltd.org.uk
Induction and training will be provided.
For more information visit Staying Well Telephone Befriending section
Case Study
To get an idea of the work Staying Well does and which a Telephone Befriender may eventually be able to do, please read this case Study: (name has been changed)
Client G
After an initial conversation with Client G’s daughter, it became apparent that Client G was feeling quite lost with himself and very isolated socially. Client G lost his wife 2 years ago and has been feeling quite lonely and isolated, he suffers with dementia and this can cause some confusion. He had been attending [Venue A] and is thoroughly enjoying this but was very uncertain about trying any other community groups alone.
After various conversations with Client G’s daughter, [Venue B] community group in Elland seemed to be appealing. Initially I took Client G to [Venue B] and introduced him to everyone, helping him fill in the paperwork, which he seemed quite overwhelmed with. He sat on a table with a few other male members of [Venue B] and seemed to settle In well and enjoy himself. I spoke with Client G later that day and he said ;
‘I really enjoyed the group and everyone has made me feel so welcome. I definitely want to go again.’
He has continued to attend twice a month and seems to be really benefiting from attending this group especially from a social perspective. However he is also enjoying the various speakers and presentations [Venue B] have to offer.
Client G’s Daughter feels that the initial support from Staying Well gave Client G the confidence to eventually attend the group independently. She also feels attending [Venue B] and looking forward to this has improved his mood and mental health. I am now in discussions with Client G’s daughter looking at other groups that her dad may be interested in trying in the coming weeks.
Volunteers Week – find about volunteering opportunities near you
Volunteers’ Week is an annual celebration of the contribution millions of people make across the UK through volunteering.
Held each year in the first week of June (1st-7th) it is the opportunity to thank everyone who give their time for free to beneficiary causes, improving the lives of those around them, be it in their immediate community or even far and wide.
If you would like to volunteer, there are several opportunities. Take a look at some of these below.
Calderdale Making Space are on the look out for enthusiastic volunteers for several roles that will help them provide the services that they do in various locations across Calderdale.
View available positions
North Halifax Partnership is currently looking to recruit volunteers to join in many of its services. We hold a Volunteer Drop-In event at the Piece Hall on Wednesday the 8th of June where you can find out how you can become involved.
Attend our Volunteering Drop-In event at the Piece Hall on Wednesday 8th of June from 4pm
Staying Well are looking for Volunteer Telephone Befrienders.
You will receive full training and can commit to as little as half an hour a week – which can make a huge difference in someone’s life!
Be a Staying Well Telephone Befriender
Sure Start Children’s Centres are always looking for keen volunteers to assist in all aspects of running our nurseries.
There will be a two day volunteer course at Wellholme Park Children’s Centre for anyone interested in becoming a volunteer with us.
Next Sure Start Children’s Centre Volunteering Course at Wellholme Park Children’s Centre
For those interested in volunteering within our Sure Start Children’s Centre, we will be holding two training sessions at Wellholme Park Children’s Centre on Wednesday 15th June and Wednesday 22nd of June from 12 pm – 2 pm.
Volunteering can help you make friends, learn new skills, advance your career, or simply make you feel happier and healthier, not to mention being part of the high quality childcare service Sure Start Children’s Centres are proud to provide to the local area!
More information on Volunteering for Sure Start Children’s Centres
If interested, you need to book your place and complete both courses.
Sure Start Children’s Centres and North Halifax Partnership will be holding a drop-in event during Volunteers Week (1 – 7th June) which is the perfect chance to hear about our volunteering opportunities.
Find out about the NHP Volunteering Drop-In event
Latest Volunteering opportunities with Making Space Calderdale
Calderdale Making Space are on the look out for enthusiastic volunteers for several roles that will help them provide the services that they do in various locations across Calderdale.
Take a look at the available roles and read further to find out more about what Making Space Calderdale does.
- CWSC Volunteer fundraiser Flexible / can be done from home
- CWSC- Volunteer Getting Online Support Various days/times
- CWSC- Volunteer group support As and when needed
- CWSC Volunteer Office Admin Assistant Various days/times
- CWSC- Volunteer phone support – Various : Mon – Fri 9am 5pm
- CWSC Volunteer Shopping Assistant – Various days/times
- CWCS Volunteer Young Adult Carer Group Support 3-6 hours per month / evenings and weekends
- CWSC Volunteer Awareness Raising and Promoting
About Carers Wellbeing Service Calderdale
Within our service we offer specialist support to young adult carers aged 18-25 and as part of this we run monthly activity sessions for the group. These sessions may include bowling, meals out and day trips. We are looking for a volunteer to support our young adult carers lead during these sessions.
Why should you volunteer?
This is a great opportunity to meet people, learn things whilst also utilising your skills and experiences. You would be making a difference supporting people to have fun whilst also using their strengths to build confidence. You would be encouraging people to keep active either physically or mentally which has positive benefits on health and wellbeing.
To find out more about these positions, please contact Aidan Greenwood
e: Aidan.Greenwood@makingspace.co.uk
t: 01422 369101
Express interest in becoming the Volunteers’ Week Pin Badge Designer by March 31
For Volunteers’ Week 2021, we wanted to do something special to thank the volunteers of Calderdale by creating the first Volunteers’ Week pin badge – and who doesn’t love a pin badge?
Thanks to the artistic flair of Memory Lane Cafe volunteer, Georgia, we designed a glow-in-the-dark pin badge that was given to Calderdale volunteers as a thank you for their hard work and dedication, especially during such a difficult year.This small token of big appreciation went down so well last year that we would like to do it again! All we need is this year’s designer!We are looking for a local volunteer who has a love for design/art/illustration and would be up for co-creating our next pin badge, seeing them proudly displayed on volunteers’ coats around the borough!
If you would like to nominate one of your volunteers to help create the 2022 Volunteers’ Week pin badge, please email emma.worsley@cvac.org.uk by Thursday 31st March 2022.
Calderdale Lower Valley blog 