Volunteer Centre Nottingham
And Community Work
What is Volunteering?
• “An activity that involves spending time, unpaid, doing
something that aims to benefit the environment or
individuals or groups other than (or in addition to) close
relatives”. – Volunteering England
Who Volunteers?
• 2140 people have found volunteering through
the Volunteer Centre in the past year
• 65% are women
• 44% are under 25
• 58% are out of work
Volunteer Centre Nottingham Statistics
• 80% of people think about helping out in their
community but don‟t know where to start
Volunteering England 2006
What are the Benefits of
Volunteering?
• Benefits to the individual
Increased skills and employability
Boosted confidence
Try something new
Use existing skills
Give time because they can‟t give money
Social aspects
• Benefits to the
organisation
Increased capacity
Increased diversity
Personal touch to
service
Passion and enthusiasm
• Benefits to the
community
Community cohesion
Clean streets and
improved environment
Less pressure on public
services because of
increased health and
reduced crime
What the Volunteer Centre can
offer you
• Work with organisations
Recruiting volunteers
Volunteer handbook or policy
Advice on things like volunteer expenses,
role descriptions, interviewing volunteers
etc.
Help on making your opportunities „youth-
proof‟
Volunteer Co-ordinators Network
Work with individuals
• Search opportunities on www.do-it.org
• Book an appointment with the Volunteer
Centre to see an advisor
• If your client is 16-25 there is added
support from the vInvolved Team and v50
award
What Volunteer is out there?
• Range of categories
Art
Computers
Media
Mentoring
Fundraising
Advice, information and support
Museums
Music
Local events
Legal work
Sports
Environment
Education
Examples of opportunities
• Volunteer Dream Maker with Caudwell
Children
- Supporting a family plan a week holiday in Florida for their child with
a life-limiting illness
• Activity Assistant with Elizabeth Fitzroy
Support
- Assist adults with learning disabilities in activities such as arts and crafts,
music and literacy
• Pod Recycle with Sprout
- recycle and repair existing IPods, game consoles and PC's. These are
given and loaned out to people who cannot afford them
What we can‟t do
• No bank of volunteers
• Can‟t recruit a volunteer immediately
• Can‟t give a list of good opportunities
• Help with funding
What we can do
• Help if you have any problems with
organisations you place volunteers with
• Advise on what makes a good opportunity
• Arrange taster days for young people
• Point you towards Group Development for
other support needs
Contact us
Volunteer Centre appointment
0115 934 8428
vInvolved
0115 958 5089
v.involved@nottinghamcvs.co.uk
Jenny Idle www.do-it.org
Volunteering Development
Worker Help desk
jennyi@nottinghamcvs.co.uk 0115 934 9548
0115 934 8400 (reception) helpdesk@nottinghamcvs.co.uk