Nexus June 2019

NEWS FROM THE HAMPSHIRE CVS NETWORK 

Action Hampshire

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Basingstoke Voluntary Action

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Volunteers’ Week 2019—Collaborative Funding Conference

Communities First Wessex

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Community First New Forest

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Gosport Voluntary Action

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Hart Voluntary Action

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One Community

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Rushmoor Voluntary Services

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Unity

Unity, in partnership with One Community and Community First New Forest,

One Community celebrated Volunteers’ Week this year by hosting a Funding Conference at the Celebrating Crosfield Hall, Romsey on 5 June.

Volunteers in Groups from across the three areas came together to hear guest speakers Volunteers’ Week— from the Lottery, Institute of Fundraising, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Community p2

Foundation, Action Hampshire and Chuffed.org who provided updates on latest

New Forest Hidden funding streams, charities raising income through social enterprise and Heroes Rewarded— Crowdfunding. p3 Community First’s Whole Week of Volunteers’ Week Events—p3 A Busy Volunteers’ Week for GVA—p4

Produced by Hampshire Councils for Voluntary Service, who would be delighted to have your feedback. Please contact Julia Allan 023 8090 2457 jallan@1community.org.uk Featured articles represent the views of the contributing CVS

Attending the day were nearly 80 people from 54 organisations including Parish and Town Council representatives, all of whom were able to network and enjoy a busy agenda.

Pat Dean from Andover Stroke Club said: “We enjoyed it and found the information interesting. It has given us plenty to think about.

We particularly enjoyed the opportunity to network with groups we do not normally meet with.”

“Some very positive ideas. Crowdfunding isn’t so scary after all!” said Sarah from Jane Scarth House.

Youth Awards nominator, read out at on the night, brought tears to her eyes. A volunteer manager who accompanied some of her volunteers to the Fareham presentation said: “I really enjoy the evening, it is so positive, and it really makes me

Volunteers’ Week 2019— Celebrating Volunteers Making the most of Volunteers’ Week 2019 , One Community held two Volunteer Awards events on consecutive evenings.

The first was at The Point in Eastleigh on Tuesday 4 June and the second at Ferneham Hall in Fareham on Wednesday 5 June.

Over the two events 152 volunteers from 26 organisations were recognised, receiving their certificates from the Mayor of Eastleigh Cllr Darshan Mann and the Mayor of Fareham Cllr Pamela Bryant.

The presentations provided the opportunity to tell the individual stories of the volunteers, both amusing and touching in turn. The organisations represented reflect the diversity of the roles undertaken, from Front of House volunteers welcoming visitors to Westbury Manor Museum in Fareham, to Street Pastors, who have been listening, caring and helping people on the streets of Eastleigh on Friday nights since July 2009.

Guests described the events as “life affirming”, volunteers spoke of feeling valued, and another said that the lovely words written by her

Fareham Certificate Presentation feel part of something wonderful.”

The Eastleigh event incorporated the Mayor of Eastleigh’s Youth Awards, celebrating the work of young volunteers, aged 11-18, in the borough, an initiative that is supported by The Lions Club of Eastleigh. Silver and Gold Award runners up and winners were announced and certificates presented to 11 young people.

Eastleigh Certificate Presentation On Friday 7 June, staff and volunteers at One Community’s Information Centre in Fareham Shopping Centre were delighted to welcome Suella Braverman MP for coffee and cake, to round off Volunteers’ Week chatting about the role of volunteers and the difference they make to our community.

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Volunteers’ Week— Hidden Heroes Rewarded Community First New Forest has been able to reward three of its volunteers with a much needed break away from home through the Room to Reward scheme. Room to Reward is a unique volunteer-recognition charity created to say “thank you” to the Hidden Heroes – inspirational volunteers who give up their time to make a difference to those who need it most. It partners with hotels nationwide, which donate their unsold rooms and charities can nominate their Hidden Heroes for a break.

Katrin and Ashley were New Forest Nightstop volunteer hosts (pictured left) who helped deliver a community hosting service. Despite having their own family of teenagers and jobs and busy lives, they offered up their spare room to someone who found themselves suddenly homeless and referred to Nightstop. They have hosted since the middle of 2017 and opened their home on 65 nights since then to welcome a Nightstop guest and to provide them with a safe place to be, a bed, an evening meal, a shower and the chance to do some laundry. From this safe platform, guests could access other agencies and services to help them move on from Nightstop. Although the Nightstop service has ceased, Community First New Forest wanted to recognise the fantastic contribution Katrin and Ashley have made.

Another recipient of the reward scheme is John Baker (pictured left) who has driven for Community First New Forest’s Call and Go service for over 10 years and the Young Carer service for 5 years. He has helped hundreds of older people get out and about on a weekly shopping

trip and given Young Carers the chance to do activities and have much needed time out from their responsibilities. Due to health problems he has taken the difficult decision to give up driving.

The break provides the perfect chance to thank him for all his help over the years.

Volunteers’ Week—Community First’s Week of Events Every year thousands of people across the UK celebrate National Volunteers’ Week (1-7 June). Community First had a particularly busy week, organising a series of events throughout the seven days.

The first event was the Havant Volunteer Awards where over 120 people came together to recognise the outstanding contribution volunteers make in Havant Borough.

There were six award categories: Young Person of the Year, Large & Small Team, Unsung Hero, Lifetime Achievement and The Mayor’s Special Commendation. The Lifetime Achievement Winner, Walter Taylor, has been a volunteer at Hayling Island Community Centre undertaking many different roles. He is currently the President and it is estimated he has volunteered over 10,000 hours of his time. Walter commented: “Even at the age of 90 I enjoy every aspect about volunteering and would encourage anyone to get involved in their community. I am very honoured to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award and thank you Community First and Havant Borough Council for putting on such a good event.”

On the Wednesday, residents of Bordon had the opportunity to talk to Volunteer Service staff about volunteering opportunities available in East Hampshire. The event was organised NEXUS PAGE 3

by Radian Housing at Café 1759. The team was also at The Discovery Centre in Winchester on the Wednesday and Thursday to be on hand to talk to any potential volunteers.

As part of Community First’s Employee Volunteering Scheme a team from Wärtsilä, based in Havant, did their bit for Volunteers’ Week by doing a beach clean on Hayling Island on the Thursday.

Due to heavy rain the Social Action Day planned for the Friday was cancelled. Local businesses and residents of Bordon were looking forward to spending a morning helping the Deadwater Valley Trust doing some conservation tasks at the Bordon Enclosure.

The final event was in Fareham on 8 & 9 June with staff attending the D-Day 75 event at HMS Daedalus. The Fareham team was on hand to talk to the visitors about their service and it was a fitting way to end Volunteers’ Week 2019.

Volunteers’ Week 2019— A Busy Week in Gosport!

Gosport Voluntary Action had an extremely successful and busy National Volunteers’ Week, which saw two outreach sessions, a visit from the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, Mrs Arabella Birdwood, and a chance to say thank

you at the Annual Volunteer Awards Ceremony.

Both outreach sessions at Gosport Leisure Centre and Gosport Discovery Centre proved popular and attracted many visitors enquiring about volunteering, resulting in signing up some new volunteers to several groups and projects.

Mrs Birdwood visited GVA giving the team

the opportunity to talk to her about their projects, introduce those who access GVA services, and for some fantastic volunteers who dedicate their time and energy to GVA to discuss why they enjoy volunteering. Mrs Birdwood also met some of the community groups GVA has supported, including the Friends of Stanley Park, and the young volunteer group Loud and Proud.

A highlight in the calendar is the Annual Volunteer Awards where GVA recognises and celebrates the time, care and dedication volunteers in Gosport give. More than 120 people attended the Awards Evening and an amazing 83 volunteers, representing 19 Gosport organisations, received awards for one, five, ten or 20 years of voluntary service.

Charlotte Yonge statue complete with rainbow shawl.

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