New Chief At The Helm Of Voluntary Action

Published on: 3 Jun, 2021
Updated on: 2 Jun, 2021

Voluntary Action South West Surrey (VASWS) has a new chief executive officer who is settling into his post with the charity.

Lance Lathino has taken over from Carol Dunnett who has retired after more than 10 years with the charity, and whose office is in Castle Street, Guildford.

Lance Lathino is the new chief executive officer of Voluntary Action South West Surrey.

Voluntary Action helps people find volunteer roles and supports groups and organisations who require them. It is Guildford and Waverley Borough Council’s official Council for Voluntary Services and Lance brings to his new post a wealth of experience in the charity and volunteer sectors.

His says the work of Voluntary Action is integral to supporting community groups, especially over the past year due to the pandemic. This also includes its work supporting people with their mental health, and its social prescribing service.

Volunteers’ Week -June 1 to 7.

The charity has a good deal of local knowledge, and knowing what is “happening on the ground” means its can provide help to people down to the simple tasks, adds Lance.

Lance says the pandemic has resulted in more people becoming aware of the volunteer sector, and many more people have helped out during it by volunteering.

He cites there have been many different types of volunteering roles people have stepped up to do; from befriending others by making phone calls, to helping charities with their promotion using social media and digital marketing.

Voluntary Action South West Surrey’s office in Castle Street viewed through an archway from the Castle Grounds, Guildford.

With current restrictions hopefully lifting soon, Voluntary Action is planning and looking ahead to reopening its office to visitors, while continuing with its services that are available online.

Lance said there will be further training for staff and its own volunteers and Voluntary Action will continue to raise the profile of volunteering on behalf of the sector it supports.

Hailing from the valleys of South Wales, Lance is proud of his heritage. He began volunteering at the age of 13 as a cadet with St John Ambulance. Initially attending first-aid classes on a Thursday evening. He then attended local events, fetes, rugby matches snd so on, as a first-aider.

He also took up voluntary work with young people becoming a youth leader and then as a play worker for a charity in South Wales.

Lance is currently a trustee of a charity in London that supports young people who become homeless, something he has experienced himself. He is also a governor of a London primary school.

As for Lance’s career, he has worked for a number of charities as well as Tower Hamlets Borough Council, for which he was its team manager for holiday childcare. His work involved delivering Ofsted-led registered childcare.

Lance has also worked for a charity in south London called Kids City, in which he was its deputy head of operations. It provides recreational and educational activities during out of school hours and during school holidays.