Volunteering in Warrington

Warrington has a thriving voluntary sector with over 22,000 people regularly involved in volunteering opportunities. We are extremely proud of the committment that local people put into their communities and would encourage anyone thinking of volunteering to get involved! Many people don't realise their volunteering contribution but every little helps, even if it is only an hour spent with an elderly person having a chat! That hour can make such a difference to someone's life.

If you have thought about volunteering but don't know where to start, contact the Warrington Volunteer Centre on Suez Street, Warrington who will be more than happy to help you.

Warrington has a Code of Practice for Volunteering that has been developed in partnership with representatives from the Third Sector and public sector.

Olympic Volunteering

The Third Sector Partnership Team are currently working with the Warrington Volunteer Centre and the Council's Olympic Sub Group to encourage and promote volunteering opportunities for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. As well as helping to increase participation in volunteering it will contribute towards leaving an Olympic legacy in Warrington. A workplan to encourage and support Olympic Volunteering opportunities has been produced by the team and the Volunteer Centre.

BIG plans for Orford Library

Thanks to BIG (Big Lottery Fund) we plan to relocate Orford Library from Poplars Avenue to within the Orford Park Community Sports Hub when it is complete at the end of 2011. To help us do this we are inviting local people to become library volunteers. There are lots of ways you can get involved. If you want to learn a new skill, make new friends and help shape the future of your library then we would like to hear from you. To find out how you can be part of this new, exciting project contact Wendy Molyneux on 07730 075966.

Arts & Sports Engagement Team (ASET)

The Warrington Borough Council Arts & Sports Engagement Team work to develop active, entertaining and creative programmes and opportunities for people to participate in arts and sports activities. If you would like to volunteer and get invovled, follow this link to their website.

Information on Community Chest, Arts & Sports grants can be found on the funding page.

Volunteering England launches two volunteer management initiatives

A different kind of investment – what does your organisation stand to gain? Volunteering England today launched the Value Volunteer Management Campaign to increase awareness of the value and importance of investing in volunteer management. Many key organisations have already shown support, including the BBC, Microsoft, Barnardo’s, RSPB, National Trust and PDSA. New Support Resource for People Managing Volunteers Volunteering England’s new Volunteer Management Portal, launched this today, acts as a gateway to the world of volunteer management with links to over a thousand resources across England. This means that - for the first time - information on support, training and development opportunities for people managing volunteers is available to view in one single place. If you work with volunteers, or know someone who does, this invaluable new resource will help you locate a wide variety of training providers and consultants, support and development opportunities. Visit the portal at http://www.volunteering.org.uk/vmportal

These organisations know that investing in professional and strategic volunteer management really boosts the value they gain from volunteering, leading to increased budgets, raised organisational profile, strengthened service provision, improved community relations and much, much more. Visit the campaign site at http://www.volunteering.org.uk/valuevolunteermanagement and find out what your organisation stands to gain.

You can show your commitment to volunteer management by signing the online endorsement, or by providing a quote or case study. Both these initiatives are funded by the Office for Civil Society as part of Capacitybuilders’ Volunteer Management Programme.

For portal related enquiries please contact VMportal@volunteeringengland.org

To find out more about the campaign contact valueVM@volunteeringengland.org

Read our Volunteer Management Blog on i-Volunteer