News

The Volunteer Centre has released its new Autumn Training Programme. The programme contains details of training organised by the Centre for volunteers and volunteer involving organisations. Included are Child Protection Training, Designated Officer Training, Basic First Aid (accredited), Dealing with Diversity, and Managing Volunteers. Training for volunteers is important for their developmemnt and often provides an opportunity for networking and meeting other volunteers. Volunteers are more likely to reamin with organisations who encourage ongoing training and development, the Volunteer Centre realises this and is always open to new suggestions for training needs of volunteer involving organisations in the Causeway area. For details on training courses contact the Volunteer Centre.

Recently the Norhtern Walking Partnership launched this years walking programme. Walks take place in areas such as Giants Causeway, Slemish, Downhill etc and range from 2 to 22 miles in length. The Partnership are currently recruiting volunteers to help with the programme - opportunities exist with registering walkers or leading and marshalling the walks. This is an ideal volunteering opportunity for anyone who likes to get outside, do a bit of walking and meet likeminded people.

Chest Heart & Stroke Causeway are having a ''Trek'' on 31st May o8. The organisation is currently looking for volunteers to help marshall along various points or to help with the registration of the walk. Volunteers need to be available for the Trek on Saturday 31st May 2008 from approx. 8.30am – 5pm or for whatever time they can give us. It will also be required for the volunteers to attend an orientation/training meeting on Saturday 24th May from approx. 10.30 – 12.30pm at the Giants Causeway visitors centre. This is a great opportunity for a volunteer who enjoys walking or being outdoors to get fit while extending their social circle! For more information contact the Volunteer Centre or Anne Norrie, 028 90266713.

It’s Valentine’s month and love is in the air. And for about the same time it takes to buy and send a Valentine’s card you could make a significant change in someone else’s life by volunteering. More people than ever before are registering at the Causeway Volunteer Centre for placements in the Coleraine, Moyle and Ballymoney areas – so join the crowd!

The Causeway Volunteer Centre has hundreds of volunteer opportunities to choose from. Here are just a few:

· Many people are physically impaired and find themselves isolated in their homes. The CVC Befriending Scheme organises befrienders for those members of the community in need. Could you reach out to someone one hour a week?

· Northern Ireland Chest, Heart and Stroke organisation is looking for volunteers to help out at the Coleraine ‘Stroke Club’, a weekly club for those with a stroke-related illness. They also need talented fundraisers and public relations enthusiasts.

· Do you have an abundance of love to give? N.I. Mother and Baby Association needs volunteers to help mothers with babies aged under two.

· Good at talking to people? Parents Advice Centre needs volunteers to give telephone support to families experiencing difficulties.

If any of the above placements interest you, or you want to find out more about volunteering in general, get in touch with the Causeway Volunteer Centre on 028 7035 8285, come in and see us at 70a Union Street, Coleraine, or visit fill in an enquiry form found on the contacts page of our website.

According to a UK psychologist, the end of January is the most depressing time of the year. One way to snap out of your stupor is to make an easily attainable goal – and what could be easier and more fulfilling than volunteering. You will not only reap the positive benefits – but you will also help someone else to start the New Year in a happier frame of mind.

And it’s easy! Just contact the Causeway Volunteer Centre. We make the volunteering process simple. You tell us what you are interested in and we’ll find a placement that is perfect for you. Short on time? Don’t worry. Whether you want to help one hour every two weeks or many hours every day, our placement organisations will be happy to work with what suits you.

New placements just in include:

Positive Futures – this organisation works in support of families who have a child with a learning disability. They are looking for volunteer befrienders with direct experience of children with a learning disability.

The North West 200 – if you’re itching to burn rubber get involved in one of the world’s fastest road racing events. Volunteers are needed now to start getting the course ready for the big day in May.

The Greenshed Project – It may not be the ‘Antiques Roadshow’, but if you’re a lover of old furniture, this project which recycles and sells old furniture is for you. They urgently need volunteers to staff their shop and help to sell the re-vamped furniture.

HUNNI – this local breast feeding support group is looking for volunteers with breastfeeding experience to help with their befriending and informative service.

There are hundreds of other placements currently available. If you would like any more information about the placements above, or about volunteering in general, give us a call on 028 7035 8285 or come in and see us at 70a Union Street, Coleraine, or send us an email.

The Causeway Volunteer Centre has cause for celebration as recent figures reveal that the number of volunteers registered at the Centre has increased
by nearly 50% over the past twelve months.

The number of registered host organisations, who recruit volunteers through the Centre, has also increased significantly by 30 %.

Anne Cummings, Causeway Volunteer Centre Manager, says: “Our proactive publicity campaign and outreach initiatives are obviously doing the trick. Once people know where to go to get involved in volunteering, making that phone call is so simple.

“We’ve made a conscious effort recently to spread the word about our centre and volunteering in general to as many people as possible through a variety of communication channels. Let’s hope our success continues.”

The Centre currently has a huge database of voluntary placements, and no matter what your preference we will have something that fits.

On Wednesday 17 October Margaret Ritchie MLA, Social Development Minister, dropped into the Causeway Volunteer Centre for a cup of tea and a chat to catch up on the area’s volunteering news.

Minister Ritchie met the Centre staff and members of the management committee before sitting down for a brief discussion about how the Centre operates in the community.

Anne Cummings, Causeway Volunteer Centre Manager, said: “We were delighted and honoured to be included in Minister Ritchie’s visit to the area. There is no substitute to meeting someone of her level in person and being able to discuss with her the successes and challenges we face at the Causeway Volunteer Centre.

I hope she left with a realistic picture of the role we play in the voluntary sector in Coleraine, Ballymoney and Moyle. It was also a great opportunity to ask in person for a flash new building from which to operate! We look forward to her next visit.”

The Volunteer Centre has organised an information session with Access NI (the new body responsible for police checking volunteers). This session was organised in responce to questions and confusion within the local community about the new police checking system. The session is open to any groups who work with children or vulnerable adults around the Causeway area. The event is taking place on 28th May at 2pm in the West Bann Development Centre, Coleraine. Ring the Volunteer Centre to book a place.