Nexus november 2017

NEWS FROM THE HAMPSHIRE CVS NETWORK 

Action Hampshire

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Basingstoke Voluntary Action

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Communities First Wessex

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Community Action Fareham

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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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Test Valley Community Services

4 Buses in 3 Years for TVCS—p2 Celebrating Walk Leaders in the New Forest—p2 New SW Hants Volunteer Managers’ Network—p2 GVA tackling social isolation—p3 New Volunteer Advisor Service for Petersfield—p4 New publicity for North East Hants Social Prescription Service—p4

Challenging Times for Community Transport Providing critical Community Transport for older and vulnerable people and providing help for disabled residents to get out and about is an important part of our role in the CVS network. One Community, Communities First Wessex, Community Action Fareham, Rushmoor Voluntary Services and Test Valley Community Services among others are joining forces to raise awareness about the impact of cuts and to engage in a dialogue to explore other options for maintaining some services. The petition led by One Community in Eastleigh has garnered more than 10,000 signatories and Community Action Fareham and Communities First Wessex have collaborated on surveys of customers, press releases and public meetings.

Our customers are rightly concerned about the proposed cuts in funding which could see a dramatic reduction in subsidies for Community Transport and public bus services from 2019. Community Transport is a crucial lifeline enabling older people to live independent, happier and healthier lives and stay in their own homes for longer. Significantly reducing access to shops, essential health and care services and social support, including lunch clubs and social activities, means customers would quickly become isolated and be much more likely to require more significant and costly support from Adult Health and Care budgets and from our NHS services.

We recognise the challenge and difficult choices facing HCC and other funders but welcome the opportunity to engage in dialogue and negotiation to explore other ways of delivering transport and protecting at least some services for those on low incomes and those most isolated in our communities.

Link to interview with a Fareham Dial-A-Ride customer: https://goo.gl/cjspna

Produced by Hampshire Councils for Voluntary Service Contact Julia Allan 023 8090 2457 jallan@1community.org.uk Featured articles represent the views of the contributing CVS

Four Buses in Three Years!

Test Valley Community Services (TVCS) used the unveiling of their fourth new bus to join their fleet of vehicles in three years to say thank you, with a bouquet of flowers, to Mrs Sheila Green. Sheila is a volunteer from the Weyhill Seniors Club and has been running the club for over 50 years, and has been booking transport for the club on a weekly basis since September 2009.

Mrs Green said, “We are all thrilled because over 30 of our members are able to get to our club, members who wouldn’t be able to attend otherwise. We are thankful for the service and as for the volunteer drivers … there is nothing like our drivers!! We can’t do without those buses and TVCS.” TVCS Chairman Dorothy Baverstock commented, “We are thrilled to have received funding from the Department of Transport for this new bus, which will be used to reach rural communities, and we are even more delighted to be able to congratulate Mrs Green on the time she has tirelessly given to Weyhill Seniors who are one of our most regular customers.”

The new bus will join the established fleet of 10 buses providing a range of community transport services for the most vulnerable in the Borough.

Community First New Forest Celebrates Walk Volunteers Dedicated New Forest Healthy Walks Leaders came together from across the New Forest to enjoy a walk in the late October sunshine. It was a real treat to be walking around the seashore by Keyhaven, taking in the beautiful views and NEXUS PAGE 2

sharing their walking experiences. Many of the Walk Leaders have a wealth of knowledge about the local wildlife and area, which adds interest to the regular Healthy Walks.

In recognition of their dedication and hard work over the last year, 26 Walk Leaders were treated to a fabulous cream tea at Otters Nursery after the walk.

Walking is a great way to improve your health and fitness and there are currently 1200 regular walkers. Regular short guided healthy walks take place every week throughout the New Forest area to help keep people fit and healthy.

These free walks offer a great opportunity to get out in the fresh air and meet new people. More information can be found at http:// www.cfnf.org.uk/healthy-walks/ New training courses for Volunteer Walk Leaders will be available in the New Year. Please call Healthy Walks on 01425 482773 at Community First New Forest for more information on becoming a Walk Leader.

New Volunteer Managers’ Network for South West Hampshire In a piece of collaborative work across the Southwestern CVS Cluster, One Community, Test Valley Community Services (TVCS) and Community First New Forest (CFNF), have established a new Volunteer Managers’ Network. The aim is to facilitate a network of those people who are responsible for the volunteers within their organisation – whether they are a paid member of staff or a volunteer themselves—for mutual support and training.

The Cluster will organise three meetings a year, one in each district. The first was an Eastleigh-based meeting on 19 October at the Lakeside Centre, Lakeside Country Park (close to

Keith gave an interesting presentation on Loneliness in Older People. The new GVA branding, website and volunteering database was showcased and a complimentary lunch was served with an opportunity for networking. The event was attended by GVA member groups and supporters along with staff, and attendees were asked to give feedback on how loneliness and isolation amongst the older people in Gosport could be both identified and tackled. This information will be used to shape GVA’s services for the future. Long standing Trustee Ivor Feist stepped down from his role and was thanked by GVA’s Chief Officer Nicky Staveley for his loyal support over the years.

the motorway and railway station with plenty of parking). It was well attended on the day by managers from a wide range of statutory, volunteer and community organisations, and many more Volunteer Managers have asked to be included on the mailing list, to receive notes and notifications of forthcoming meetings.

Consultation before the event informed the topics covered, which began with an awareness raising session on the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which comes into force on 25 May 2018. Other topics covered in smaller groups were Top Tips for Recruiting Volunteers, Volunteers with Extra Support Needs, and Volunteering from Home.

Pictured above are One Community’s Charlotte Walker and Sue Heath-Caldwell, who facilitated the first Volunteer Managers’ Network Meeting.

Picture: Nicky Staveley introduces Keith Berry of Together Canterbury.

Gosport Voluntary Action – Tackling Loneliness and Social Isolation On October 3, Gosport Voluntary Action held their Annual General Meeting in the Council Chamber at Gosport Town Hall. The keynote speaker was Keith Berry from Together Canterbury, the Diocese of Canterbury and the Church Urban Fund working together.

Picture: Ivor Feist is thanked for his valued support as a GVA Trustee.

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New Volunteer Advisor Service for Petersfield

For further information on the project please contact Julie Eden, julie.eden@cfirst.org.uk.

Volunteering opportunities can be found on Community First’s dedicated website www.volunteerwessex.org.

New Publicity for the North East Hampshire Social Prescription Service

Community First is pleased to announce a new Volunteer Advisor Service in partnership with Hampshire County Council Library Service.

Beginning with Petersfield Library every Wednesday from 1 November 2017.

Volunteer Advisors will be providing advice and guidance to help local people find volunteering opportunities in East Hampshire.

They will also give information about community groups and services, so helping people feel connected to their community. The Advisors will also be part of the Library team and will help to support the transformation of the service. It is hoped that similar schemes will follow in the rest of East Hampshire, Havant and Winchester.

Petersfield Round Table has kindly donated £800 towards much needed equipment such as tablets for the scheme. Paul Baker, Chairman of Petersfield Round Table, says, “Round Table supports local charities and we are delighted to be able to make a donation and help to get this scheme off the ground.”

Julie Eden, Volunteer Service Co-ordinator at Community First, says, “We are really looking forward to getting this new project started in Petersfield as we are conscious that people often like to have the opportunity to talk face to face with someone who can advise on volunteering and the different roles that are available.”

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The North East Hampshire and Farnham CCG commissioned service, Making Connections, (for which Hart Voluntary Action is the lead agency) is trialling wider outreach work and increased use of volunteers for the remainder of this 2017 and into 2018.

To date patient referrals to the Making Connections social prescription services has been through their GP or via local multi-disciplinary health and social care teams, and over 16 months the service has handled over 400 referrals. Now the aim is to widen the reach to deliver more signposting and guidance to help people improve the self-management of their health and wellbeing.