In partnership with voluntary groups and local town and parish councils, the Isle of Wight Rural Community Council is introducing new way of being able to volunteer. Volunteer Development Officer, Helen Snashall, tells us more. Ed
If you’ve ever felt that you would like to support a group in your local community but not sure which one or whether the skills you’ve got match the organisation’s needs then spare a few hours a month to become a Voluntary Support Team Member and help make a difference to many local groups in your area of the Island.
Team members will be supported and trained to provide specialist advice to groups in their area on specific topics including applying for funding grants, managing finances and preparing accounts, governance, IT and supporting volunteers.
In total eight teams will be set up across the Island made up of a combination of current community activists and new volunteers. It is hoped the first two teams will be operational by the end of the year, and one of these pilot teams will be covering South Wight.
Mike Bulpitt, Chief Executive of the RCC said, “This innovative approach to supporting local groups will bring rich dividends across the whole island. The island has a large number of very small organisations and it is these groups in particular that will benefit from the extra support these teams will be able to provide.”
The project is funded by the Big Lottery Fund. The Big Lottery Fund distributes half of the National Lottery good cause funding across the UK. The Fund is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need.
To register your interest in being a team member please contact Helen on 01983 539377 or e-mail volunteer(at)iwrcc.org.uk
Image: Aidan Jones under CC BY-SA 2.0
