LeicesterShire volunteers gain website, guides and workshops as centres join forces
29/06/2007
LeicesterShire volunteers gain website, guides and workshops as centres join forces
The LeicesterShire Volunteer Centre Network was set up in 2005 to provide member centres with a framework within which they could work together, giving an existing informal forum a structure and turning talk into action.
Building on firm foundations
For a number of years, representatives from volunteer centres across LeicesterShire had met regularly to swap ideas and discuss issues. ChangeUp/CapacityBuilders start-up funding of £65,000 gave this loose alliance the resources needed to develop into a proper network.
Working together and sharing ideas
“Meeting and sharing ideas are useful things to do, but it is even better when this results in practical action. This is about working together more effectively,” says network co-coordinator Kerrie Fletcher.
More effective use of time and resources
The network encourages individual groups to act together on key projects that would be useful to all centres -- limiting duplication and ensuring time and resources are used more efficiently.
Achievements to date
Among the many concrete achievements thus far is a network website www.volunteeringleicestershire.org.uk and a Good Practice Guide for volunteer managers. A marketing strategy is in development and will be put into action during the coming year.
"None of these things would have happened without ChangeUp funding. Nobody would have had the resources,” says Kerrie Fletcher.
Training workshops rolled out across the region
The network has also developed and held training workshops -- Getting Volunteers Involved and Keeping Your Volunteers – in each district. Seventeen workshops were attended by 191 participants. Participants say they found the workshops informative, useful and thought-provoking.
Developing peoples' skills and knowledge base
"The work the Network has been able to do in providing training for volunteer involving organisations has not only provided valuable knowledge and skills to frontline workers, but has enhanced our reputation,” says Rosemary Leeson, Deputy Chief Executive and Head of Community Care at North West Leicestershire Council for Voluntary Service.
Feedback from the sector
Volunteer centre managers say they have increased confidence. “To know there is a team of people out there to answer my many, sometimes basic, questions, and to support me every step of the way gives me the confidence to tackle this new role,” says Joanna Burrows, Neighbourhood Capacity Building Worker at Voluntary Action Melton.
Appreciation from the frontline
Frontline organisations say they are appreciative of the more professional approach volunteer centres now take in supporting them. The network currently brings together 12 volunteer centres across the county.
Birmingham-based CapacityBuilders is the national agency responsible for managing the £70 million ChangeUp programme.
