Volunteering Focus - 11 September

Volunteer Fair 2024

Wednesday 11 September

Renfrewshire Volunteer Fair: The countdown is on

Only TWO WEEKS to go until Renfrewshire’s Volunteer Fair at the Methodist Church. Pop by for a cuppa and find out which local groups need volunteers, which types of roles are available to suit your needs, and hear first-hand from Renfrewshire’s volunteers. No need to sign up, just pop by anytime between 10-12:30pm! 

A member of the Renfrewshire Volunteer Managers Forum had been in touch to advise they have launched Volunteer ‘Wellbeing Wednesday’ sessions, as an opportunity to get their volunteers together over a cuppa for a chat and to connect. These meetings have no set agenda, instead they bring in home baking and have the option to do a book swap. This idea inspired my ‘Wellbeing Corner’ in our previous newsletter, as it’s so important to take an hour – or a quick 5 minutes – out of your day for yourself!

The team at Engage are taking part in MacMillan Coffee Morning in a few weeks where we will be taking time out of our day to come together as one, connect and most importantly – eat lots of cake! Why don’t you join in and host a Coffee Morning of your own? More information on how to sign up here Charity Coffee Morning | Macmillan Coffee Morning. Coffee Morning is usually the last Friday of September each year. This year's Coffee Morning day is Friday 27 September 2024. However, you can host any time of the year, whenever suits you best.

Research has shown volunteers feel more integrated and appreciated in their roles when they are invited to social events with members of staff. 

Renfrewshire’s Volunteer Manager Forum is an opportunity for all volunteer managers/coordinators in Renfrewshire to share resources and best practice, to network and organise events, to share information and keep updated. We currently host forum sessions in person quarterly.

To make sure we are supporting our members in the right way, we want ensure the content of our forums are led by you and your needs. As a result, we are asking members of the network to complete this short survey (see below) with any specific topic areas, or challenges you are currently facing that we can discuss during the next forum. Suggestions could include PVGs, how to involve younger volunteers, reward and recognition etc.

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=M8xJXvX9u0yJbfwX9BMnE4pKFgonsdBJo0JoSYxe9vBUMkwxTzlDR1BHRElDUDEwRjA5VERXQ0JFUi4u

Renfrewshire's Employability Week

Engage were delighted to be involved in Renfrewshire’s FIRST EVER Employability week. It was a busy week jam packed with events. Thank you to Barnardo’s for having us along at your open day where we promoted the benefits of volunteering as a pathway to employment. We also had two great sessions at the Russell Institute, where we heard first hand testimony of the employability skills you can gain whilst volunteering and also how volunteering can be a pathway to employment.

Thank you to Lesley Compston from Klas Care and Mags Gibson from Home-start for volunteering their time on the day to share their personal experiences.


         



Get in touch if you would like to find out more about Volunteering and where to start.

Barnardo's | Children's charity | Barnardo's (barnardos.org.uk)

Home – new - Invest in Renfrewshire

Need a Team Kinetic refresh?
Team Kinetic are excited to share details of an upcoming online conference on Wednesday 25 September. It promises to be a fantastic opportunity for professional development, networking, and learning about the latest trends in volunteer management. This is an excellent opportunity to learn, connect, and grow, and we encourage you to mark your calendars and reserve your spot today.

Key Details:

• Date and Time: Wednesday, September 25th. 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
• Venue: Online via Google Meet
• Flexibility: Attend the sessions that interest you the most and drop in and out as needed
• Tickets: Free for TeamKinetic users
• Click here to register and secure your ticket!
  (TeamKinetic Admins should check their in-system notifications and email for the code to access free tickets)

Disclosure Act Information Sessions: Book your space today!
It’s less than nine months to go until most of the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 (the Disclosure Act) will be implemented. Are you and your organisation prepared?

Did you know that changes are being made to the current disclosure system as the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 will be implemented on 01April 2025. The Disclosure Scotland Act 2020 will improve the disclosure system in Scotland by removing unnecessary barriers for people with convictions as they seek employment or other opportunities. To support you through the changes, Volunteer Scotland are hosting FREE information sessions.

• Monday 30 September, 2pm -4pm
• Tuesday 08 October, 10am-12pm
• Wednesday 23 October, 2pm-4pm

More information, and further dates here The Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 - Volunteer Scotland