Volunteers needed

THORNBURY Volunteer Centre currently has over 100 volunteer opportunities available in the local area, the majority of which need no particular experience, just enthusiasm and time. Among the opportunities waiting to be filled are:

• Befrienders for older people, in person and on the telephone, as well as activities coordinators, technology and walking group support.

• Reading buddies, mentors and governors to help school children, as well as leaders for Scouts, Sea Cadets and Guides.

• Volunteers to work with donkey, hedgehog and bird charities.

• Water safety advisers, to deliver RNLI advice in the community, including school and youth group visits, help with water-based activities and carry out free safety inspections of equipment.

• Male swimming helpers for a local stroke support group swim at Thornbury Leisure Centre every Monday morning.

For further information on these and other opportunities, contact Thornbury Volunteer Centre at mail@volunteer-thornbury.co.uk or visit www.volunteer-thornbury.co.uk.

Last call for grants

VOLUNTARY groups and community projects in Thornbury have two weeks in February to apply for grants that are available from South Gloucestershire councillors.

Under the Member Awarded Fund scheme each ward councillor has £3,000 to distribute within their ward.

To find out if they are eligible for funding, organisers can get information from the grants page of South Gloucestershire Council’s website or contact either Jayne Stansfield at jayne.stansfield@ southglos.gov.uk or Maggie Tyrrell at maggie.tyrrell@southglos.gov. uk. Applications need to be submitted by February 14.

"The three Thornbury councillors work together to maximise the impact of this relatively small amount of grant money."