Curious about volunteering? Free Workshops in July

Posted on June 13, 2013 by Charlotte

If you missed our last series of free workshops as during Adult Learners Week, there’s still a chance to take part. Volunteer Centre Hackney will be running the same workshops again  in July.

‘ I found the information very helpful, will refer this workshop to friends and family.’ Adult Learners’ Week workshop participant

These sessions are ideal if you’re curious about volunteering and don’t know where to start, or if you’re interested in how volunteering can build your CV and help towards employment. Places are FREE but must be booked in advance. For more information and to book, click the links below.

Get Involved in your Community,10 & 11 July : Explore volunteering and discover how getting involved can help you achieve your goals.

Stepping into Employment,15 & 16 July : Finding the perfect placement to help build your CV and find the ideal job.

Posted in VCH | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

VCH Job Vacancy: Project Co-ordinator, 4G Digital Outreach

Posted on June 12, 2013 by Charlotte

Volunteer Centre Hackney is looking to recruit a Project Co-ordinator for a short term paid role to co-ordinate and and deliver our new 4G Digital Outreach project.

4G stands for 4th Generation. It is a new digital technology being rolled out across London to improve mobile internet speed. As a result of this, there is a chance that people’s television and Freeview will receive interference and their viewing may be disrupted. VCH is being contracted to deliver outreach talks and information to groups of people aged over 75, people who are visually impaired or registered disabled. We need to deliver talks and visit charities and small groups where people who meet these eligible criteria may attend in order to inform people of what is happening, and give support and information on how to obtain help.

The project is running for two months and initially for the first 3 weeks, we are looking for someone for 5 days a week, and in the last 5 weeks, for 2-3 days a week.

To read the full job description and details of how to apply, click here to read the Project Co-ordinator Job Description . We’re looking to recruit someone as soon as possible to deliver the project – the deadline for applications is this Monday, 17 June at 5pm. If you have any questions please feel free to give us a call on 020 7241 4443 and ask to speak to Charlotte or Lauren.

Posted in VCH | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Open House at VCH – your community needs you!

Posted on May 29, 2013 by Charlotte

From 1st-7th June, join Volunteer Centre Hackney in celebrating the success of volunteers in Hackney who dedicate their time, energy and creativity to make our community a better place. Volunteers’ Week is an annual national event which celebrates the amazing contribution that millions of volunteers make across the UK. For Volunteer Centre Hackney this is a great chance to recognise and celebrate the amazing impact volunteers make in our community.

If you’re curious about volunteering and want to find out more, come along to our Open House event on Thursday 6 June from 3 – 8pm. Come down, meet community organisations and volunteers from Hackney and find out what it’s really like.  Some of the organisations taking part include Hoxton Hall, Headway East London and City & Hackney Mind amongst others. 

Flyer for Open House, 6 June

You can also keep track of what Volunteer Centre Hackney is up to during Volunteers’ Week 2013 by  liking us on Facebook and following @vchackney. If you currently volunteer, we’d love to hear about your experience – so if you have a story or picture to share, post it on Facebook and tweet us using #volunteersweek and #hackneyvolunteer.

Posted in VCH | Leave a comment

Celebrate Hackney’s amazing volunteers with #volunteersweek

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Charlotte

Volunteers’ Week 2013

Every year, June sees people across the UK celebrating Volunteers’ Week. This is an annual campaign which celebrates the amazing contribution that millions of volunteers make across the country.

Volunteers’ Week takes place this year from 1 to 7 June. It’s a great opportunity to recognise and promote the difference volunteers make to organisations and to say thank you for all their hard work. We’ve got lots of plans for Volunteers’ Week. Here’s how you and your organisation can get involved:

  1. Thank You Certificates: If you have volunteers you’d like to thank, VCH can provide Volunteer Week Certificates to show your appreciation –just send a list of names to us at VCH and we’ll do the rest.
  2. Lights, camera, action! We want to highlight lots of great volunteers on our website and will be making a short film to show just what volunteers do. Let us know if you have some volunteering stars who might want to take part.
  3. Open House, Thursday 6 June. Our last Open House event was a great success, so we are planning another. If you’re an organisation who wants to take part and host a stall or if you’re interested in finding out more about volunteering, then this event is for you!
  4.  Hackney Needs You. We know that Hackney is home to many fantastic volunteers who are passionate about what they do – and we want to hear from them! If you volunteer and want to share your experiences or pictures of volunteering, like our Facebook page and post your comments to our Facebook page or Twitter and help spread the word about volunteering to the rest of the world!

VCH staff and volunteers are also available to attend events, whether to present certificates, provide information to people interested in volunteering or to take photos for wider publication. We love to spread the word about volunteering, so if you’d like us to take part in your events just contact us and let us know.

For more detailed information about our plans, check out our Volunteers’ Week 2013 information sheet, or call Charlotte on 020 7241 4443, ext 208.

Posted in VCH | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Free Volunteering Workshops for Adult Learners’ Week, 18 – 24 May 2013

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Charlotte

Are you interested in getting involved in your local community? Want to develop skills that will look great on your CV? Volunteering might be just what you need! As part of Adult Learners’ Week, Volunteer Centre Hackney is running 2 FREE workshops where you can find out more about volunteering.

Get Involved with Your Community / Wed 22 May, 10am-1pm
This workshop will take you through the different routes into volunteering, give you an idea of the hundreds of opportunities available and show how getting involved can help you achieve your goals and make a difference to your life.

Stepping Towards Employment / Fri 24 May, 10am – 1pm
Volunteering is a rich source of work experience, vital to find employment. Learn how to find the perfect placement to suit your needs and how to get what you want to find that perfect job.

To book for these workshops and find out what else is on offer during Adult Learners Week, please visit http://www.learningtrust.co.uk/adult_learning/adult_and_community_learning/AL_week.aspx

Posted in VCH | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Don’t be a Dinosaur! Become a PACT Volunteer

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Sharon

Prepare, Adapt, Connect and Thrive (PACT), a Big Lottery funded environmental group based in the Manor House area of Hackney, is looking for local people to take on volunteer roles promoting the message of sustainable living in the face of climate change.

Manor House  PACT  works directly with local residents offering advice and practical support on making their homes energy efficient and cost effective. They also provide training, volunteering opportunities, work experience and jobs for local people, and run environmental projects in the Manor House and Woodberry Down area.

PACT Champion
Volunteers are needed to train to carry out Green Deal Home Assessments in residents’ homes, where they will offer energy efficiency advice and practical support.

Better Neighbourhoods Delivery Team volunteer
Help us to improve our understanding of how local people will be affected by climate change by volunteering on our Citizen Science project.

Love to cook or want to learn?
PACT meals are about giving local people access to cheap healthy food. Volunteer chefs are needed to help cook a bi-monthly feast. This is great opportunity to develop a range of cooking skills, meet new people and join in the feast.

A feast fit for all!
Can you help us to find venues to host our bi-monthly feasts? We are looking for Venue Liaison volunteers to find spaces in the community to hold our PACT meals.

New River Festival volunteers
Would you like to organise a festival and gain event management experience? We’re looking for volunteers to help us organise a festival in September 2013 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the opening of the New River.

If you would like to find out more about these and other PACT volunteer roles contact: Trish Disbrey, PACT Volunteer Coordinator
0207 2414443 ext 203/07565 336777
trish@vchackney.org
www.manorhousepact.org.uk

 


Posted in VCH | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Could you be a PACT Champion?

Posted on February 18, 2013 by Charlotte

Volunteer Centre Hackney is excited to be one of the partners working with the Manor House Development Trust (MHDT) – and we’re looking for people who are interested in working with local people in their community. If you’re a resident of Manor House, we need you to become a PACT Champion. 

What is it? Being a PACT champion means identifying and engaging with vulnerable residents in your community by learning how to give energy saving advice and provide practical support on energy efficiency directly in their homes. In return we are offering you the chance to develop new skills, increase employability and to learn about the effects of climate change.

You will receive training on green deal awareness and you will be provided with a certificated course in customer care to help you conduct visits confidently. We also want you to feel supported, so throughout your time with PACT you will have access to one to one support from the PACT domestic energy assessor and our PACT volunteer coordinator. Following your training, you will accompany the domestic energy assessor on 3-4 home visits to ensure that you are ready to continue to the next stage where you will carry out home visits independently.

Who are MHDT? MHDT is a community-led, charitable Trust that works in partnership with local residents, community groups, voluntary sector, private sector, and public agencies to bring about lasting social, economic and environmental improvements for the benefit of Hackney residents.

So what can I do next? With the skills you will gain there is the potential for PACT Champions to progress to become facilitators for PACT Closer Neighbours Group beginning in the summer of 2013. This is a short term post with a flexible, part-time commitment, and offers a small fee.

PACT Champion training is taking place soon, so don’t delay if you want to take part. To register your interest or for more information please contact Trish on 020 7241 4443 (ext 203) or email her, trish@vchackney.org.

Posted in post, VCH | Leave a comment

Hackney Homes Winter Newsletter

Posted on February 6, 2013 by Sapna

Click here to view the Hackney Homes winter newsletter, which includes an article about how Hackney Homes volunteers are playing an important role in tackling anti-social behaviour.

Posted in VCH | Leave a comment

Free One Stop Advice Surgery on Monday 11 February

Posted on January 30, 2013 by Sapna

Free advice sessions on volunteer management with Volunteer Centre Hackney can now be booked at the One Stop Advice Surgery on Monday 11th February. Sessions can also be booked on the day, with advisors from the Community Accountancy Project, Ethical Property Foundation, HCVS and the Safeguarding Officer – who will be advising on the new changes to the CRB process.

Changes to the CRB process have now come into force, with the aim of reducing barriers to volunteering and reducing administration. Volunteers must now be regarded as working on a regular basis with vulnerable people before a CRB check can be sought from the organisation that is now called the Disclosure and Barring Service. Organisations should also be able to check for updates for volunteers without having to apply for a new check every time they start a new volunteering role. For more information on this, please book an advice session with the Safeguarding Officer from Hackney Council at the One Stop Surgery.

To book for any of these free advice sessions, including Volunteer Centre Hackney’s sessions at the One Stop Shop Surgery on Monday 11th February, click here: http://www.hcvs.org.uk/events.php?event=103

Posted in VCH | Leave a comment

New Year Training at VCH

Posted on January 23, 2013 by Sapna

New Year brings new training opportunities at Volunteer Centre Hackney with a range of new volunteer management training courses planned in 2013. Our first session kicks off on Monday 18 February and will explore delivering a successful volunteering programme.

Learn how to support and motivate volunteers, and how to get the best out of your volunteering programme. Further sessions include:


Wednesday 27 March Supporting Volunteers with Mental Health needs

Wednesday 10 April Working with Young Volunteers

All courses run from 9.30am – 1pm, and include refreshments; cost is only £25 per person. Places are limited. To book your place, email us at info@vchackney.org or call 020 7241 4443.

For more information, click here to read the latest News Update.

Posted in VCH | Leave a comment