Working in partnership with the Thurmaston Action Group (TAG) and the Rural Community Council of Leicestershire and Rutland (RCC), Thurmaston Old School Church and Community Centre applied to Prohelp for a “Feasibility Study”. We agreed that we needed to be able to use the whole building more effectively. There is only one room, large as it is, that can be used regularly, yet there is plenty of space in the whole building. Prohelp is a national organisation of professional people who will give their professional advice free of charge to community groups.

A local firm of Architects, Parkinson Dodson and Associates undertook the Feasibility Study. They submitted their proposals at the Old School Management Committee meeting in October. Their plans will enable the building to fully meet current standards, and will also allow many different usage configurations on both the ground and first floor. Access to the first floor will enable people with disabilities to see the large railway track the Model Railway Club has, as well as access to meeting rooms, kitchen and toilets.

Voluntary Action Charnwood (VAC) has been particularly supportive in providing us with an opportunity to attend a recent event about the Big Lottery Fund’s programmes. VAC’s “e-mail alert” service, which gives information about the current availability of funding, and their on-line “Funder Finder”service will be part of our toolkit for this project.

Thurmaston Old School has been self-supporting since 1990, thanks to committed volunteers from both church and the village community. We would like to know what services the Thurmaston community would like see in the Old School. Some suggestions so far have been a post office, a youth centre, a music centre for budding musicians, a café area to serve visitors to both Watermead Park and the village, a computer class for the slightly bewildered, another suggestion is for a local artists’ studio.

So with thanks to TAG, RCC and VAC, we have taken the first step in developing the Old School as a place for the community, but we need to know what the community thinks.

Please write, ring Bob Davis on 0116 269 4938 or drop into the Saturday coffee mornings and tell us.

Bob Davis

Charnwood Mental Health Befriending Scheme is for adults aged 18 – 65 in the Charnwood area who experience mental ill-health. The Befriending Scheme exists to give people an opportunity to build positive friendships that reduce isolation, build trust and confidence, and provide support to people during their recovery. We aim to provide a supervised and trained volunteer (a befriender) who will build a supportive friendship with an individual (friend) who has requested a befriender.

‘Friends’ can refer themselves, or be referred by a key worker already offering support in another capacity. Volunteers come from all walks of life with a variety of different skills and experience. They do not need to be experienced in mental health as basic awareness training is provided. In addition to training and on-going support, volunteers gain valuable experience and learn how to build on their existing interpersonal skills. We currently have a small group of extremely dedicated volunteers, and are always keen to hear from anyone who may be interested in joining the team. Our next training course will take place in February 2007.

If you would like further information about the Befriending Scheme, please telephone Sue Davies on 01509 233475 or mhbs@cvsmht.plus.com.

Sue Davies

We are very proud to announce that Loughborough Building Society – ‘The Loughborough’, has chosen The Bridge as its charity of the year. This is fantastic news for us as it will help raise our profile within the local community and The Loughborough will be recognised not just as a financial institute but as a local community society, interested in local issues.
As well as an initial donation, the Loughborough staff have a half-day each year during work time to volunteer with us, and we will be looking at ways in which they can get involved. Suggestions so far are: gardening, bag packing at local supermarkets, administration and helping with our projects and awareness days. The Loughborough staff may also do their own in-branch fundraising for us.

We hope the partnership will be beneficial to us both, and that we will have a very positive
relationship in 2007. We very much look forward to working with The Loughborough.

On another note, The Bridge has been very successful at the recent SupportActionNet Awards. Sarah Coupe, our Mediation Manager, attended the conference after we submitted an application for an award. We were short-listed and are very happy to announce that we won a Highly Commended award for our Mediation Service. The service supports 15 to 18 year-olds who are threatened with being evicted from the family home and has an excellent success rate. Ruth Kelly, Minister for Communities has recently talked about mediation being one of the best ways to prevent homelessness in this age group. There are plans for more funding for new and existing projects.

If you would like any further information regarding the above, please do not hesitate to contact me on 01509 260500.

Emma Bull

Central government is encouraging local councils to procure services, and get Voluntary and Community Organisations, VCOs, to take the opportunity to earn new funding, especially if they can readily meet the requirements of the service specification. The challenge is to do so and recover all costs involved, including receiving a contribution to overheads.

Some VCOs currently have ‘Commissioning’ Agreements with Leicestershire County Council, rather than Service (Level) Agreements, SLAs, and these are negotiated and agreed between the Council, as purchaser, and VCO, as provider. They sometimes recognise the “added value” from the voluntary sector, often through volunteers assisting in providing the service. As such, this is over and above the monetary value of the ‘contract’, and how the VCS can demonstrate it provides more than the Private Sector.

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By Neil Lambert, Chief Executive

Loughborough Volunteer Centre held two workshops this autumn for people who co-ordinate volunteers.

The first, ‘Getting Volunteers Involved’, considered the benefits that volunteers bring, then looked at volunteer’s motivations; creating and marketing volunteering roles; and the selection and screening process of getting volunteers on board.

The second, ‘Keeping Your Volunteers’, looked at the retention of volunteers. We covered the induction, training, support and supervision of volunteers, including methods to keep volunteers motivated and make sure they feel recognised and rewarded.

A lot of topics were covered during the two mornings, which contained lots of opportunity for discussion and participation. As well as the obvious benefits, participants enjoyed the opportunity to get together and share experiences with other people in a similar role. It was also a great opportunity for Volunteer Centre staff to get to know local volunteer co-ordinators better.

The sessions were part of a programme of similar workshops organised around the County by the LeicesterShire Volunteer Centres network; demand was high and feedback good - so we hope the programme will be repeated next year. The Volunteer Centre can be contacted on 01509 631770 or volunteer@voluntaryactioncharnwood.org.uk

By Kerrie Fletcher

The Student Rag has donated a 14-seater minibus to the Project for use by community and voluntary groups.
If your group would like further information about using the minibus, booking a driver or the training required for someone from your group to drive the minibus, please contact June Helmore on 01509 631761 or june.helmore@voluntaryactioncharnwood.org.uk.

These services may be of benefit for people who have difficulty with, or are unable to use, public transport.

Shopmobility
Shopmobility is a scheme for people with limited mobility. The scheme allows users to borrow self-propelled or battery-operated wheelchairs, as well as battery-powered scooters.
The scheme is free, provided by Charnwood Borough Council, and is located in the Town Hall Passage.

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Our Indian summer has past and all of our produce has been harvested. Despite a tricky season, we expect our final figure for sales of fruit, vegetables and plants to equal that of last year. Our replacement greenhouse was the result of last year’s success and next year I think we will be looking to refurbish one of the polytunnels. We are very grateful for the kind volunteers who helped with the watering rota. A lot of produce would have been lost without their assistance.

Following discussions with the gardening volunteers, we decided to take a break and go on an outing. This took place in late September and on three separate days a group was taken to visit Tropical Bird Land in Desford. Everyone had a great time and for many it was a totally new experience. The staff at Bird Land were very welcoming and we’d like to thank them for their help in making our time there so enjoyable.

By Bobby Smith

An exciting new website for volunteering in Leicester and Leicestershire has just been launched by the LeicesterShire Volunteer Centres network. It aims to be a portal for volunteering in the City and County, with information for volunteers and organisations, and links to local Volunteer Centres and to the do-it.org.uk volunteer opportunity website:
www.volunteeringleicestershire.org.uk

A half day workshop for people who are new to volunteering, or thinking about volunteering. It offers the opportunity to explore in more detail what volunteering means, what the benefits are, and what a volunteer and an organisation can expect from each other.

You will also have the chance to meet other volunteers and share experiences. A light lunch is provided. Places must be booked in advance.

Forthcoming dates:

Wednesday 22nd November 2006, 12.00-3.00pm, at Vine House Loughborough Road, Shepshed.

Thursday 11th January 2007, 9.30am-12.30pm, at John Storer House, Wards End, Loughborough.

Thursday 15th February 2007, 9.30am- 12.30pm, at Syston Community Centre.

For more information or to book a place contact Louise Hall on 01509 631770 or louise.hall@voluntaryactioncharnwood.org.uk

Clockwise Credit Union is a not-for-profit, co-operative looking for volunteers to assist in the opening of community information and service points throughout Loughborough. If you would like to get involved, please contact Stuart Calder on 0116 265 7147 or scalder@leics.gov.uk