Applications are invited by Voluntary Action Charnwood for an Investors in Volunteers Coordinator based at John Storer House. Please click on the heading above for the advert, job description and application form.

Whilst the sun shone brightly visitors to the Mela were able to spend time talking to VAC staff at their display stand.

The photograph shows Amina talking about her work as a Community Development Worker based in the Hastings and Lemyngton Wards. To read more please click on the link below.

The Charnwood Gardening Project Open Day took place on Tuesday, 15 June from 11 am - 2 pm. The Mayor of Charnwood opened the new Sensory Garden (see photo) and spent time talking to volunteers and supporters of the Project. Please click on the link below for more details.

On Monday, 14 June local carers were invited to JSH to enjoy a 'cuppa' and a chat to celebrate National Carers' Week. Nicky Morgan, MP for Loughborough, and the Mayor of Charnwood, Cllr Jill Vincent, joined in the celebrations. To read more about the event please click on the link below.

The Mayor of Charnwood joined with local volunteers at John Storer House to celebrate the completion of the latest Local Community Audit. To read more please click on the link below.

National Volunteers' Week takes place annually in the first week of June. This year Voluntary Action Charnwood and Voluntary Action LeicesterShire worked in partnership to provide a 'Celebration of Volunteering' at John Storer House on Wednesday, 2 June 2010. The event was attended by Leicestershire's Lord-Lieutenant, Jennifer, Lady Gretton and the Mayor of Charnwood.

The picture shows Lady Gretton talking to Janet, a valued volunteer in the JSH Catering Team at the Tea Bar, watched by Neil Lambert, Chief Executive of VAC, and Jim McCallum, Volunteering Manager at VAL.

Please click on the link below to see more photographs and read more about the event.

Voluntary Action Charnwood and Voluntary Action LeicesterShire shared a stand at this year's Picnic in the Park. Please click on the link below to see photographs and read more about our stand at Picnic in the Park - June 2010.

Happy Birthday to Phillis!

On Thursday 27 May 2010, Phillis Beale celebrated her 90th Birthday with her friends in the Stepping Stones Group at John Storer House.

Phillis was presented with a bouquet and enjoyed a slice of birthday cake.

On Tuesday, 20 April 2010 the first Annual Public Meeting of the John Storer House Foundation was held at John Storer House in the Club Room. The meeting was well attended by Friends of JSH, Trustees and Staff.

Neil Lambert, Chief Executive, welcomed everyone to the meeting and explained the purpose was to keep Friends updated on the latest funding news, but also to acknowledge their support and further encourage their active participation and input into the organisation.

Charnwood Borough Councillor, Paul Harley, the Lead Cabinet Member for External Relations including the Voluntary and Community Sector was pleased to provide an update on the 2010/2011 funding to be provided by Charnwood Borough Council. He also announced an ongoing commitment to John Storer House for the next two years and then answered questions from the Friends.

The Service Managers had been requested to provide their individual service reports and they gave a brief outline of each of the services and how they can be accessed.

Catering and refreshments/Well-being Activities – Wendy Smith
Community Transport – June Helmore
Well-being Services – Karen Chamberlain
Other Tenants and Service Providers – Neil Lambert

The Friends of JSH were then encouraged to provide suggestions on how to improve and expand on the services currently provided. Many helpful suggestions were made about how to improve communications both internally and externally and also how to extend participation in the events that currently take place. Members of staff would be requested to follow up these suggestions as appropriate.

Neil Lambert then provided an update on the fundraising situation for new premises including the potential to develop the current building, subject to the findings of a recent survey by the original architects.

The Friends generally agreed that the meeting had been informative and had presented them with the opportunity to have their concerns addressed by both trustees and staff whilst also providing a forum for them to provide useful input. Finally it was agreed to hold the meeting on an annual basis.

Alasdair Nicholson, Chief Executive, and Helena Coxshall, Deputy Chief Executive, of Third Sector Hebrides travelled down from the Western Isles at the end of February 2010 to visit Voluntary Action Charnwood on a study visit sponsored by the Scottish Parliament.

According to Helena Coxshall, Voluntary Action Charnwood had been identified as a ‘leading light’ in the voluntary sector in England. Third Sector Hebrides is also known for its innovative and dynamic support of volunteering, local organisations and social enterprise in Scotland. The premise for the visit was for the two organisations to learn about each other’s work, evaluate their successes and failures and identify new and creative ways forward.

Following in-depth discussions with Neil Lambert, Chief Executive of Voluntary Action Charnwood, the visitors were given a tour of John Storer House so they could see the busy, thriving House and understand more about the work of Voluntary Action Charnwood in and around the Charnwood area.

Helena Coxshall, Deputy Chief Executive and their Director of Change Management said; "Loughborough is my home ground and I was delighted to be embraced by the team at John Storer House and Voluntary Action Charnwood. The energetic atmosphere and enthusiasm from the staff and community gives a firm foundation for this organisation to continue to grow and flourish. An encouraging visit and one that reminds me what the voluntary sector is all about".

Alasdair Nicholson, Chief Executive, said "There is obviously a lot of commitment from all the staff at John Storer House and Voluntary Action Charnwood to the people they serve and to the "well being" activities which are being delivered. There is a strong ethos and tradition, but equally the development potential to do more with the facilities available in what are obviously continuing to be a period of challenge and change."

During the visit Neil Lambert was kindly presented with handmade chocolates made by Hebridean Chocolates, a local social enterprise venture based on the Isle of Lewis. A report on the visit will be prepared and provided to the Scottish Parliament.