News and Events
SKILLS SHARE
Volunteer Centres in Herts have a NEW SKILLS SHARE project. We will be working with voluntary groups and businesses in an exciting new way! The aim is to match people with professional skills to organisations that need specific help for short term pieces of work. Examples could be:- designing a web site, setting up a database, helping develop a business plan, introducing a risk management process, reviewing policies, giving advice on health and safety.
We are encouraging voluntary and community groups to help us to design our project by spending a few moments considering the sort of help they could find useful.
Please click here to complete a quick online survey which gives you the opportunity to tell us the kind of skills your organisation might need. It will take about 10 minutes. Thank you!
FIRST ORGANISATIONS TO SIGN UP TO THE VALUING VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT 6 POINT PROMISE
At the AGM of Volunteer Centre Dacorum on14th October, 5 organisations received certificates following their successful completion of the Valuing Volunteer Management 6 Point Promise self assessment.
Abbeyfield (Hemel Hempstead and Berkhamstead) Society
Dacorum Mencap
Mediation Hertfordshire
Community Action Dacorum
Dacorum Citizens Advice Bureau
All volunteer-involving organisations in Hertfordshire are encouraged to join this initiative which will raise standards of volunteer management. Help is on hand from the Volunteer Centres - if your organisation requires 1:1 support, template documents or training, please be in touch with your nearest Volunteer Centre.
Please contact Volunteer Centre Dacorum for details of the next training session which is on 23rd February 2012.
VALUING VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT AWARDS 2011
Bishop Stortford Museum carries away top prize!
The Valuing Volunteer Management Awards were presented by the High Sheriff of Hertfordshire, Lord Charles Cecil, at the Annual Open Meeting of Volunteer Centres in Herts on July 11th at Beales Hotel, Hatfield. The meeting was attended by over 70 representatives from the voluntary and statutory sector, the Leader and Vice Chairman of Herts County Council and the Mayor of Welwyn Hatfield District Council. The speaker was Tony Edwards, Deputy Chief Executive of Volunteering England.
1st prize: Bishops Stortford Museum received a certificate, a crystal trophy (which is kept for a year) and £300 thanks to sponsorship from Herts Community Foundation. There were also runners up:-
2nd prize: Turnford Netball Club received a certificate and a cheque for £100.
3rd prize: Herts Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre received a certificate and cheque for £50
Volunteer Centres Herts achieve Quality Accreditation from Volunteering England
Volunteer Centres in Broxbourne & East Herts, Dacorum, Hertsmere, North Herts, Royston, St Albans, Stevenage, Three Rivers and Welwyn Hatfield have achieved VCQA. (Volunteer Centre Quality Accreditation) from Volunteering England.
The accreditation involves submitting a substantial portfolio of evidence for external assessment. The evidence must demonstrate that the Centres fulfill the 6 core functions of a Local Volunteering Development Agency. Centres which achieve the standard are able use the VC branding and are recognised as centres of excellence. The Centre Managers (shown in the photo with Tony Edwards, Deputy Chief Executive of Volunteering England) are absolutely delighted with this result. VCQA certicates were presented at the Volunteering Herts Open Meeting on July 11th 2011. Kathe Edwards, Manager of the Volunteer Centre in Three Rivers (furthest left in the photo) co-ordinated the quality accreditation work across the network. Thank you Kathe - great job!
Good news for volunteer drivers!
Budget 2011 included an increase in the approved mileage rate and the extension of the passenger allowance to volunteer drivers. Read more ...
Volunteering England welcomes safeguarding update. Read more ...
The Government unveiled the proposals to scale back the vetting and barring scheme, as widely expected, and CRB system to 'common-sense levels while ensuring vulnerable groups are appropriately protected'.
Volunteer Centres Hertfordshire Olympics project gains Inspire Mark
The Volunteering Legacy in Hertfordshire project being run by Volunteer Centres has gained the prestigious Inspire Mark from LOCOG and becomes one of the exceptional projects inspired by the Games across sport, culture, education, sustainability, volunteering and business. We are delighted!
We worked with Herts County Council Libraries to help people who do not have home internet access to apply as Games time volunteers.
Other parts of the project will include encouraging organisations and sports clubs to develop Olympics Inspired opportunities.Watch this space! Learn more about the Inspire Mark ...
Pictured are:- Joseph Ballard, Inspire Programmer,
2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games with Hannah Gray, Heather Allen and Loretta Borg from Volunteer Centres Herts.
TUC and Volunteering England Charter aims to strengthen ties between volunteers and staff
The TUC and Volunteering England signed a Volunteers’ Charter in December to strengthen ties between paid staff and volunteers.
The Charter sets out a series of principles for employers to follow to encourage a good working relationship between volunteers, employers and paid staff. The Charter principles describe the complementary role that volunteers should have with paid staff. The TUC will be publishing new guidance to accompany the Volunteers Charter. For the full text of the Charter, please visit the TUC website