Positive Response to Welcome To Volunteering! Project

Published on: 22 Jul, 2013
Updated on: 22 Jul, 2013

There was a positive response at the launch of the Welcome to Volunteering! initiative, held at St Saviour’s Church in Guildford.

Pictured from left at the launch of Welcome to Volunteering!: the project co-ordinator Nigel Smallbone; Voluntary Action South West Surrey trustee and chair of the meeting, Ruth Goddard; and the welcome project manager from Southern Addictions Advisory Service, Fru Toth.

More than 40 people attended to hear about the project that aims to support anyone in Guildford, Waverley and Surrey Heath boroughs who are facing challenges getting into voluntary work.

The project is being run by Voluntary Action South West Surrey and its co-ordinator is Nigel Smallbone. At the launch event he said: “Volunteering is good for people – their health and wellbeing. It improves feeelings of usefulness, of contributing, having fun, learning new skills and is good for their CVs.

“There are a lot of people who may feel that volunteering is not for them, or if they do, they find it hard to get into volunteering and don’t know how to go about it. They may have practical issues and barriers such as language difficulties, a disability, child care needs or can’t afford travel costs.”

The project will be working with people giving them practical support and good advice. This will be done in a number of ways: such as helping people decide what support they would like, finding ‘taster’ or longer term voluntary placements, go with them to interviews and help with journey planning, be on-site in their new placements during the ‘early days’. It will also be providing group learning sessions in areas such as confidence building and customer care, and to provide mentors and one one-to-one support on topics such as IT and interview skills.

The launch event included a number of guest speakers – including some existing volunteers; while there were also discussions and ‘bite sized’ learning sessions for project mentors.

If you would like to know more, or may perhaps have a client / person you would like to refer, for a confidential no obligation chat call Nigel Smallbone on 01483 504626 or call or text 07979 750490. Email: n.smallbone@vasws.org.uk