Could you help people in Cornwall through their bereavement of loosing a loved one?

BBASS

The Bereavement, Befriending and Advocacy Support Service (BBASS) aims to support people who are aged 50 and over, through the journey of loosing someone close with a terminal illness, to a new life without their loved one. Voluntary Befrienders support a person through their bereavement journey. The Voluntary Avocates help those facing loss/in post-bereavement to access information and services, attend meetings on their behalf, as well as to explore choices and options with them, whilst all respecting the individuals views and wishes.

Neither role requires any experience, but volunteers are required to be non-judgemental, reliable, professional, caring, empathetic, consistent, a good listener, able to give support then withdraw, committed to the development of others, respectful of confidentiality and calm in difficult situations. A DBS (CRB) check will be required and students will need to attend 5 specific training days related to the role. There is the opportunity to undertake further additional training should you want it. Car or public transport, related parking costs and out of pocket expenses for teas and coffees will be paid in full.

To find out more and get involved contact:

East Cornwall – joeh@volunteercornwall.org.uk

West Cornwall - Simonl@volunteercornwall.org.uk

Admin – AndrewP@volunteercornwall.org.uk

Telephone - 01872 265307

Volunteer Cornwall will be at UPSU's Volunteer Fair in the Roland Levinsky Building on Campus the 26th September 2013. Join us then to find out more about volunteering whilst completing your degree, as well to discover what organisations (like Volunteering Cornwall) are seeking student volunteers.

Two volunteers wanted for the International Society for Economic Botany Conference - 29th June 2013

Volunteer opportunity coming up on Sat 29^th June at the International Society for Economic Botany Conference being held at the University. The conference is looking for a couple of student volunteers to help out with a reception and one of the workshops. If there is anyone still around who might be interested in helping out they will be able to attend the conference for free in return for their help, so this might be of most interest to volunteers with an interest in botany.

Specifically the organisers of the conference are looking for a volunteer who can go to Sainsbury’s to get food and drink, paper cups, plates, napkins etc, and then set it all out for the reception in Sherwell on Saturday afternoon, and a second volunteer to sit in on a workshop and take notes of the meeting, help distribute resources during the meeting etc.

There is more info on the conference here: http://cms.gogrid.econbot.org/index.php?module=content&func=view&pid=45.

Anyone who is interested they should email Miguel Franco: M.Franco@plymouth.ac.uk.

Workshop Abstracts

Become a Volunteering Mentor to Vulnerable Adults with Volunteer Cornwall

The Volunteering in Vulnerable Adults (VIVA) project focuses on adults with a physical, mental, learning or sensory disability, and providing them with the support, encouragement and training they need to start, and then maintain a volunteering programme.

VIVA mentors are required on a voluntary basis to provide a 1:1 partnership with a vulnerable adult volunteer, known as a “partner”. They provide a listening ear, engender confidence, encourage integration with other volunteers, and enable their partner to proceed and grow in their volunteer role.

Opportunities to become a mentor are available across the county of Cornwall. No experience is required, but volunteers are required to be non-judgmental, reliable, professional, caring, empathetic, consistent, a good listener, committed to the development of others and respectful of confidentiality. A DBS (CRB) check is required and volunteer mentors will need to attend 3 specific training days related to the role. There will be the opportunity to undertake further training. Car or public transport, related parking costs and out of pocket expenses for teas and coffees will be paid in full.

To get involved, contact AlanC@volunteercornwall.org.uk or AndrewP@volunteercornwall.org.uk - Tele: 01872 265307

Volunteer Cornwall will be at UPSU's Volunteering Fair in the Roland Levinsky Building on campus on the 26th September 2013. Join us then to find out more about volunteering whilst studying, as well as to find out more about local community organisations like Volunteering Cornwall whom are seeking volunteers.

South West Film and Television Archive Volunteer

Spend Your Summer Engaging Young People With The Great Outdoors!

Passionate about the outdoors? Enjoy working with young people?

Keen to share your enthusiasm and inspire the next generation?

Then the Natural Connections Project needs you!

Natural Connections is an exciting new project which aims to support schools to provide their pupils with regular opportunities to learn outside, in the natural environment and raise their aspirations!

Come and get involved!

Opportunities include:

 Carrying out practical work in the school grounds;

 Preparing innovative resources for outdoor lessons;

 Assisting teachers to deliver lessons

 Providing support to pupils, especially those with additional needs, to engage

 Getting involved in community events

… and putting your skills to good use!

In return you will:
- Have the opportunity to put your expertise to good use
- Develop new skills, for example, with engaging young people in learning
- Gain experience in working with young people with different needs
- Learn how to use the natural environment to inspire young people to learn
- Receive training and support
- Need to commit to a minimum of one morning/one afternoon a week during school terms
… and be part of a ground breaking project!

If you are interested, please keep these dates free:
Thursday 27th & Friday 28th June for induction and introductory training
Friday 5th July - Empty Classroom Day

For more information, or to register your interest please contact Emily: emily.cannon@plymouth.ac.uk or ring 01752 585397

Respect Festival – Volunteer Ambassadors Required

Respect Festival – Volunteer Ambassadors Required

Introduction and background to Respect

The annual Respect Festival is a fun and innovative way of celebrating the huge diversity of people living here in Plymouth as well as a way of raising awareness of racism and discrimination, to improve and build community relationships.  The first Respect Festival was organised by Plymouth and Devon Racial Equality Council in 1998, and marked the publication of the enquiry into the death of Stephen Lawrence.

Plymouth Respect Festival is the largest celebration of diversity in the South West and is regularly attended by over 20,000 people over the two day event.  The festival takes place in October and coincides with 'Black History Month’. The event normally takes place at last weekend of October but will be moving to the 12th and 13th October to enable local schools to participate in the Festival.

2013 marks the 14th year of Plymouth's Annual Respect Festival and heralds a new and exciting location for the event; The Roland Levinsky Building at Plymouth University.  The event has traditionally been held at the Guildhall in Plymouth; however the move to the University Campus opens a new chapter in the history of the event and cements PDREC's relationship with Plymouth University.

Volunteers have always been an intrinsic part of the Respect Festival; however with the new change of date and location, volunteers will play a more vital role in ensuring that this year's Respect is as welcoming to our friends both old and new.  To ensure the success of this year's festival we have therefore created the role of Respect Ambassadors to help promote Respect in the run up to the event and assist public and facilitators on the day.

Respect Ambassadors' Role:

·         To promote the Respect Festival on University campus and through use of social media

·         To identify events within the University that could include promotion of Respect

·         To represent the Respect Festival off campus when applicable

·         To liaise with Dan Thompson, Kaos Productions (the Respect Artistic Director) when he is on campus in Pen Arts, every Wednesday

·         To provide information to visitors during the Festival (12-13 October)

·         To provide assistance to organiser and facilitators during the Festival (12-13 October)

The ideal candidate should be:

·         Relatively outgoing

·         Have an understanding of diversity and cultural difference

·         Ability to think and work independently as well as part of a team

·         Willing to undertake anti-racism training (half day)

·         Available for the duration of the Festival itself

The Respect Ambassadors will be provided with a branded t-shirt and will be provided with vouchers for the International Food Market as part of the Festival and free tickets for any paid performances.

If you feel that you are interested in joining Respect as an ambassador and can commit your time and energy, please send a CV and cover letter to Dan Thompson, Artistic Director for the Respect Festival c/o Peninsula Arts, Plymouth University, Roland Levinsky Building, Drake Circus, Plymouth. PL4 8AA or email dan@kaosproduction.co.uk. 

Mayflower School Community Activity Day - Volunteers Wanted

Your Local Children

Your Local School

Your Local Community

Needs YOU !!!

On 5^th July 2013 Mayflower Community School is opening up our doors in an attempt to bring our community together for a day of positive action.

As part of our desire to play a more direct role in Community Activity we are already running a community gardening club and helping to host the Annual World on the Green Community Festival this summer.

Now we are asking for support from our community and its business to support us on the 5^th July as we have a day of activities to develop our school environment, our work with the community and most importantly our children’s opportunities for Learning Outdoors. 

How Can You Help?

The simple answer is in any way you can.

We are looking for volunteers on the day, for no matter how long or short a time, to help with tasks like digging, erecting fences, planting

We are looking for donations of materials required for creating raised beds, fences, planting areas, paths etc – these could include wooden boards, fencing, concrete mix, materials for creating paths and also seeds and bulbs to plant, top soil, manure and so on.

We are looking for loan of tools and other equipment to help with the tasks on the day for example spades, forks

If you can help in any way we would love to hear from you via school.office@mayflower.plymouth.sch.uk or 01752 365730