Voluntary Action SWS News – Page 7 – Voluntary Action South West Surrey

17th April 2019

VASWS 2019 Annual Conference

It is that time of year again where we at VASWS feel extremely positive after another fantastic annual conference.

The conference took place on Tuesday 9^th April at the Surrey University and was hugely successful, giving all those who attended the perfect opportunity to challenge, inspire and celebrate the work of the sector.

The theme of this year’s conference was: ‘Are We Making A Difference’ delving into the topic of impact, exploring how much change the charity and voluntary sector really is making.

Delegates listened to poignant talks from leading experts including the Charity Commission’s Head of Policy and Guidance, Jane Hobson; Senior Consultant Charlotte Lamb from New Philanthropy Capital; Executive Director of Surrey County Council, Michael Coughlin; Jason Gaskell from Surrey Community Action and Kate Peters from the Community Foundation for Surrey, plus more.

As well as thought provoking talks, delegates attended workshops delivered by trained practitioners covering a range of topics such as Guildford Borough Council’s new Health and Wellbeing strategy to learning how to give effective presentations. There was also the chance to visit the bustling marketplace and chat to some key organisations as well as mingle and network, meeting fellow colleagues and forming new relationships strengthening solidarity in the sector.

We are thrilled that so many could join us and be a part of the day. For more information about next year’s conference, please keep checking ourwebpage or contact us by clicking here.

28th March 201928th March 2019

Tackling Loneliness – Voluntary Action South West Surrey invites you to a seminar on loneliness to launch their new Community Point service

Nearly all of us experience feelings of loneliness at some time in our lives but for some, it can be a genuine challenge and pose major health risks such as heart disease, an increased risk of dementia and depression. VASWS is running a free seminar on loneliness, aimed at professionals across health, social care, education, voluntary, community and faith groups and anyone who might be interested in supporting people affected by or at risk of loneliness and/or social isolation.

Community Point is a new service based in Guildford Town Centre where people can drop in and find out about community activities and services. Its Community Connectors will take their time to listen to people to find out how best to help them and offer support to those who may be feeling anxious or uncomfortable about approaching groups or organisations directly. Funded by the National Lottery, it is based at Voluntary Action South West Surrey premises in Castle Street and covers the Boroughs of Guildford and Waverley.

Event details:

Thursday 2 May 2019

10am – 12pm (Coffee from 9.30am)

St Nicolas Church, Bury Street, Guildford GU2 4AW

To book your space, please click here.

For more information, please contact Lynda Mussell, Community Point Co-ordinator via,l.mussell@vasws.org.uk and 01483 565456

RSVP by 26 April 2019.

14th March 201914th March 2019

Voluntary Action South West Surrey launches new Social Prescribing service

Happy #SocialPrescribingDay! We’re delighted to announce that we are offering a new Social prescribing service that gives people more choice and control over the way their health care is provided.

New member to the Voluntary Action team Jane Soothill explains how the service works and what users can expect from it. She said: “We’re excited about this new opportunity to connect people across Guildford and Waverley boroughs with what’s going on in their community and to create new links between community groups and some of our most vulnerable and isolated residents.

“Social prescribing is part of the NHS Long-Term Plan’s commitment to personalised care, which gives people more choice and control over the way their health care is delivered. Social prescribing is an integrated approach to health and social care, and offers a more holistic understanding of what it means to live well.”

Jane and another new member of the Voluntary Action team, Nicola Freeman, will be busy as link workers for the scheme.

Jane added: “You can speak to your GP, or any local agency such as community nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, social workers or local authorities, about social prescribing.

“They can put you in touch with the right support for you. This may be with myself or my colleague. Nicola. We will support you to create a personalised support plan that will link you to the people, activities and resources that might help you to feel better and live well.

“There are a number of benefits as social prescribing is a way for health and social care professionals to prescribe the sort of help and support that doesn’t come in the shape of a pill.

“GPs often see people who are feeling lonely, isolated, stressed or worried about work, money or housing. Sometimes people become cut off from their local community because of challenges associated with managing a long-term health condition, or because they are caring for someone who couldn’t manage without their help.

“Social prescribing recognises that people’s lives are complicated. One aspect of a person’s life, such as a disability, ageing or a long-term health condition, often has an impact on another such as work, skills, relationships and confidence. Social prescribing addresses this head on. It tackles social isolation, loneliness and stress by joining the dots between health care and social provision.

“It also provides a pathway for personal learning, individual wellbeing, resilience and behaviour change. It empowers people to set their own agenda for living well.

“It isn’t just about individuals. It’s about communities too. We will work collaboratively with voluntary organisations and community groups to increase the strength and capacity of our local community. Where gaps are identified in local provision there will be support to set up new groups and services.”

For more details contact Jane Soothill at V oluntary Action South West Surrey on 01483 504626. Email: j.soothill@vasws.org.uk

13th March 201913th March 2019

Voluntary Action South West Surrey Annual Conference

Our renowned VASWS annual conference is back and will take place on Tuesday 9^th April at the University of Surrey in the Rik Medlik building. The conference is an opportunity for organisations within the charity and voluntary sector to join together and discuss key issues within the industry.

The theme of this year’s conference is ‘Are We Making a Difference’ addressing the key questions: Are we doing enough? How can we measure the impact we are making? Could we be working better and more effectively? And, how would we do that?

The VASWS conference line-up

To explore this theme, we have a line-up of highly interesting talks and workshops delivered by acclaimed industry experts.

The line-up of speakers includes: The Charity Commission’s Head of Policy and Guidance, Jane Hobson; Senior Consultant Charlotte Lamb from New Philanthropy Capital; Chief Executive of Surrey County Council Joanna Killian; Jason Gaskell from Surrey Community Action; Kate Peters from the Community Foundation for Surrey and more. There will also be an opportunity to attend informative workshops in the morning and afternoon.

VASWS conference workshops

The workshops will give you a chance to network with fellow colleagues and gain inspiration and new ideas through insightful discussions. Various topics will be covered in the workshops including how to maximise and measure impact, seek funding and measure the contribution of volunteering to your organisation. The workshops will also explore ways of working with student volunteers from the university and tips will be given about developing personal skills around presentations and confidence and an opportunity to input into Guildford’s strategic plan on Health and Wellbeing.

Tickets cost £25.00 and there will be plenty of time for networking, visiting the stands at the market place, an option to hear local historian David Rose talk about volunteering through the ages, free parking and a sandwich lunch.

How to book tickets

We have a limited number of free tickets available for groups that are volunteer led and have an annual income of less than £5,000. Contact us directly to apply. Or to book tickets please visit our Eventbrite page.

What you said last year

“I thought the day was excellent and the morning panel was incredibly strong and interesting. Your team did a brilliant job.”

“I wanted to thank you and your team for organising such an inclusive and timely conference.”

“speakers were inspirational.”

“I made contact with organisations I have wanted to connect with for some time, in a positive and hopefully fruitful way.”

“I really enjoyed the speakers. Great venue!”

7th February 20197th February 2019

Time to Talk Day 2019

Mental Health problems including depression, anxiety, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder affect one in four of us. A recent study of 301 diseases also found mental health problems to be one of the main causes of the overall disease burden worldwide.

To reduce the volume of people suffering from cognitive and emotional problems there are various initiatives, projects and services raising awareness about the importance of maintaining good mental health and the powerful and positive effects of talking to someone. In particular this years’ Time to Talk Day focuses on just this – encouraging people to take the first step of talking to someone about their feelings and situation and breakdown the taboo surrounding mental health.

Through talking to someone, a wide range of services could be uncovered that have been created to help people get back into the swing of things – mentally, physically, professionally and socially.

How can volunteering can help?

At Voluntary Action South West Surrey we have a team of highly experienced professionals who work closely with people suffering or recovering from mental-ill health to help them get back on their feet. Our team will help you start volunteering or help you attend local activities to reduce and prevent loneliness, enhance confidence and skills.

The first project is Welcome Buddies helping people suffering from mental-ill health to move on with their lives by pairing them with a buddy in the local area who can support them to join in with main stream activities and volunteering.

The second service, funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, is Welcome to Volunteering. This project helps those who are suffering or recovering from mental-ill health to find a suitable volunteering role. As part of the programme the team will also offer individual taster sessions for volunteers, attend interviews for volunteering roles, provide support on the first day of the volunteering and offer individual on going one-one support.

Both projects will help individuals make a contribution to their community, learn new skills, broaden horizons, make friends and most importantly – improve mental wellbeing.

We believe that volunteering can have many benefits for mental health and with Time to Talk Day raising awareness about the positive impact of talking, please contact us for a chat and to find out more about how volunteering can enhance mental wellbeing and improve the community.

9th January 20199th January 2019

New Year, New Volunteer?

The festive season is now at an end and ahead of us is a fresh new year. To start the year, you may have created a New Year’s Resolution (or two) and be making changes to enhance your lifestyle and wellbeing. One New Year’s Resolution that is music to our ears is volunteering and getting involved with the local community.

Whilst this is our favorite type of resolution, it’s important to remember that volunteering is a commitment to yourself and the people in your community and you should try to stick with it for as long as possible, unlike some resolutions which notoriously fail.

According to a study in the Guardian, 10% of resolutions have been kept by year’s end and 25% fail before 15^th January. Furthermore, 12^th January is known to be ‘Quitter’s Day’ – The day we all seem to give up on our goals and slump back into old habits. If this is indeed the case, it doesn’t look good for those volunteering.

How can we help you to volunteer?

If volunteering is on your 2019 resolutions list, we can help you try and stick with this for as long as possible. We have hundreds of volunteering opportunities and highly experienced volunteer advisors who can help to find something you are passionate about supporting.

Once you’ve found an organisation or project you’re interested in you will begin to feel the benefits; your wellbeing will be enhanced as well as the lives of the people you are helping – it will almost be impossible to want to stop.

If you’re not sure where to start, please visit our list of opportunities online and begin scrolling. When you have found something you’re interested in please apply online, or pop in for a chat with one of our volunteer advisors at our centre in Guildford for more help and information. Good luck and we hope to see you soon!