Volunteering Update Bulletin August 2018

August 2018 volunteering update

Dudley Volunteer Awards 2018 You still have time to nominate!

Dudley Volunteer Awards is an annual event held alongside Dudley CVS's Annual General Meeting.

Local volunteers [both individuals and groups] can be nominated, winners are chosen by a panel made up of the Mayor, local decision makers, voluntary sector and business reps, and our Dudley CVS Chairman. Nominations for Dudley Volunteer Awards are now open and everyone nominated for the awards is invited along to the Dudley Volunteer Awards celebration in October. You can nominate now on this year’s Awards blog by visiting the Nominate page.

Training

Tools and techniques to manage volunteers effectively

Do you think you need to update your volunteer management systems?

Have you suddenly acquired volunteer management responsibilities and don’t know where to start?

Why not book a place on our next training session on 3rd October 2018 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tools-and-techniques-to-manage-volunteerseffectively-tickets-48592404189

Whatever your needs, our special full day session on volunteer management techniques and tools is bound to help!

You will take a journey through every element of good practice for a volunteer programme, right from preparing necessary policies before involving volunteers, through planning volunteer involvement, recruiting, supporting, retaining, to volunteers leaving. Every learner will be provided with resources with information sheets, publications and sample documents to take away and of course, the Volunteer Centre will be happy to support learners as they develop their systems, offering ongoing support and information.

Volunteers and the Law Do volunteers have the same rights as employees?

Health and safety doesn’t apply to volunteers does it?

Are you aware how easy it is to create a contract with volunteers?

Many volunteer-involving organisations are not aware of the legal implications when working with volunteers. Our session aims to dispel myths and clarify your legal responsibilities. We also use actual case studies where volunteers have taken organisations to court, to help demonstrate bad practice when involving volunteers.

Our training session is on 20th November 2018, so if you are interested in attending, please do visit the site and put your name on the waiting list for the next session, which is likely to be in September or October 2018 now. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/volunteers-and-the-law-tickets-48592247721 The charge for the training is £10 to cover the cost of room hire and refreshments.

What will the session cover?

• • • • • •

Defining volunteering and when someone is not a volunteer Who can or cannot volunteer and conditions that may apply How current legislation has implications for volunteers and volunteer involving organisations Identifying volunteers’ rights and the responsibilities of organisations when involving volunteers Taking steps to avoid creating employment conditions with volunteers Evaluating a legal case study and discuss the likely outcome

Community Information Point Network and Training

Healthwatch Dudley has taken an innovative approach to information giving

We have teamed up with local organisations to train an army of information champions to give community information.

Information points have been springing up all across Dudley borough in libraries, cafes, pharmacies and other places where people already access information about local services. For more info and to book your free training place please click here.

Connecting / Events

Connect with other groups and potential customers via INTERESTSME Are you a voluntary, community, faith or not-for-profit group? Do you struggle to reach new customers and make new contacts? You need to list your events on InterestsMe There’s a local one for Dudley borough and if you aren’t from the local area, there is probably one for your area too. Why not have a look?

Information Have you visited www.volopps.com yet?

It’s our new searchable online portal for volunteering opportunities and we are hoping to do a formal launch in Volunteers Week.

Volunteers - Please do feel free to signpost any clients looking for voluntary work that way

Volunteer-involving organisations – If you involve volunteers our services are completely FREE and we can promote and share opps with potential volunteers, including our daily OPP OF THE DAY. Why not get in touch. Just drop Eileen an email on eileen@dudleycvs.org.uk

Funding

Looking for funds for your group or organisation? Anyone can sign up to receive our free regular funding bulletins, along with our electronic newsletter by contacting Dale at Dudley CVS on dale@dudleycvs.org.uk