EVENTS Dumfries and Galloway Community Volunteers

[McVicar Marketing]

Hi,

I thought anyone living in Dumfries and Galloway might be interested in the forthcoming Dumfries and Galloway Community Volunteers events.

Drop-in Event Information:

• 
  Sanquhar: Thursday 3rd December 2009| 6.30pm-8.30pm| Sanquhar Town Hall, | Church Road, Sanquhar

• Dumfries: Celebrating International Volunteer Day| Saturday 5th Dec |11am-2pm |OASIS Youth Centre | Newall Terrace, Dumfries

This is a new volunteering service, which will match the skills, interests and schedules of the volunteers to volunteering opportunities - rather than trying to fit you into rigid ways or lending your support to your community.

I've included the (full and extended!) press release as below.

Please do pass this on to anyone in the Dumfries and Galloway region.

www.dgcommunityvolunteers.co.uk

Thanks,
Inga

Press Release – 30th November 2009 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Inga McVicar, McVicar Marketing | T: 0782 444 3654| E: [email protected]

Launch of Dumfries and Galloway Community Volunteers

In order to keep pace with the appetite for opportunities to volunteer in Dumfries and Galloway (in particular Nithsdale),Dumfries and Galloway Council (Community Learning and Development Nithsdale),the Dumfries and Galloway LGBT Centre, (part of LGBT Youth Scotland) and Relationships Scotland have joined together to provide the brand new volunteer service Dumfries and Galloway Community Volunteers.

Launching with two drop-in information events running in the lead up to, and on, International Volunteer Day (5th December),Dumfries and Galloway Community Volunteers will offer a wide range of volunteering opportunities, all of which will directly help provide support for some of the most vulnerable people in Dumfries and Galloway’s community.

Volunteering: providing a crucial role in rural communities

During times of economic difficulty, volunteers play a crucial role within rural communities by working to ensure that vital community services remain open, and also have sustainable futures. Vulnerable people living in rural areas face additional barriers such as rural isolation and a comparative lack of services. Volunteers help to overcome barriers for people like children and young people, adults with learning difficulties, people with mental health issues, older people, and those experiencing poverty and social exclusion. Volunteering also brings a range of benefits for the volunteer, including, for example, widening their skill base to assist with successful job and further education applications

In stark contrast to reports of charities experiencing a decrease in donations, Dumfries and Galloway has not experienced an obvious decrease in the number of people willing to volunteer their time and skills to help their community. The main push behind promoting the forthcoming drop-in information events is coming from current volunteers who are keen to encourage more people to contribute their time and talents for the benefit of their local communities.

“Our volunteers help us to provide a crucial service throughout Dumfries and Galloway.. If we didn’t have any volunteers, we would not have a Dumfries and Galloway LGBT Centre, and would not be able to offer many of our vital services. With the recent flooding of the LGBT Centre, due to the overflowing of the Nith, Dumfries and Galloway Community Volunteers is a joint project which comes at a critical point for our services. As one of only three LGBT centres in Scotland, the loss of the centre would have a dramatic impact on our region.”

Grace Cardozo, Dumfries & Galloway Services Manager, LGBT Youth Scotland

“The Community Learning & Development Service in Nithsdale requires the support and work of volunteers to further develop youth work and adult learning services. By joining together with LGBT Youth Scotland, the Dumfries and Galloway LGBT Centre and Relationships Scotland, we will be able to offer volunteers an unparalleled quality of volunteering experience, while they, in-turn, will help further expand our services”

Provost Jack Groom of Dumfries and Galloway Council

“We are keen to welcome volunteers from throughout the community, and will provide training and support throughout all of their volunteering work. The structure of our joint project will ensure that our volunteers gain real benefits from volunteering, as well as their work directly benefitting other individuals in our community.”

Jim Carruthers, Manager, Relationships Scotland

Examples of the benefits of becoming a volunteer include:

• Learning New Skills
• Meeting New People
• Being Involved In Projects & Events
• Helping Individuals To A Better Quality Of Life
• Making A Real Difference To Your Community

Partnerships

Dumfries and Galloway Community Volunteers is able to offer unique quality of experience to its volunteers due to the three partners involved in this project. Each partner brings a different range of experiences and approaches in supporting voluntary work, and, by working together on this project, are able to offer a range of volunteering roles to ensure that volunteers can find opportunities which match their skills and interests.

Volunteering opportunities include:

• Mentoring And Befriending
• Volunteer Youth Workers
• Events Volunteers
• Office Based Volunteers
• Volunteer Adult Learning Tutors
• Community Development Agents
• Gaining Recognised Qualifications To Become A Relationship Counsellor Or Mediator

“Our volunteer programme in Dumfries and Galloway has, to date, grown relatively organically. By joining forces with Dumfries and Galloway Council (Community Learning and Development, Nithsdale) and Relationships Scotland, we can provide an even better experience for volunteers, adding even greater value and benefit.”

Jodie Fleming, National Volunteer Co-ordinator, LGBT Youth Scotland

How to get involved

Anyone interested in volunteering as part of Dumfries and Galloway Community Volunteers can find out more by attending the forthcoming drop-in information events. Current volunteers and staff team members will be at each event to ask questions and chat to; information packs will be available; and refreshments will be served. In addition, the launch of Dumfries and Galloway Community Volunteers is being celebrated by a free scratch Advent Calendar, copies of which can be picked up from the events (while stocks last).

Event Information:

• Sanquhar: Thursday 3rd December 200| 6.30pm-8.30pm| Sanquhar Town Hall, | Church Road, Sanquhar
• Dumfries: Celebrating International Volunteer Day| Saturday 5th Dec |11am-2pm |OASIS Youth Centre | Newall Terrace, Dumfries

For anyone who cannot attend one of the events, information, news and discussions can be found on:

www.dgcommunityvolunteers.co.uk

Facebook

Twitter

And/or on Partner profiles and pages on Facebook, Bebo, Myspace and Twitter

And by texting VOLUNTEER to 0778 148 17 88

— ENDS —
NOTES TO EDITOR:
1) Drop-in Information events | Thursday 3rd December, 6.30pm-8.30pm, Sanquhar Town Hall, Church Road, Sanquhar | Saturday 5th December, 11am-2pm, Oasis Youth Centre, Newall Terrace, Dumfries
Dumfries and Galloway Community Volunteers
2) Members of the press are invited to attend a photocall at 7pm on 03.12.09 (Sanquhar Town Hall),and 1pm on 05.12.09 (Oasis Youth Centre, Dumfries). Please contact Inga McVicar, McVicar Marketing T: 0782 444 3654 E: [email protected]
3) Spokespeople, current volunteers and service users, from all partners involved in the management of Dumfries and Galloway Community Volunteers, are available for interview. Please contact Inga McVicar, McVicar Marketing T: 0782 444 3654 E: [email protected]
4) Project Partner: Dumfries and Galloway Council, Community Learning & Development (Nithsdale). Part of Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Community and Support Services
5) Project Partner: LGBT Centre OUTFront Our Centres
The Dumfries and Galloway LGBT Centre is at 26 Brewery Street in Dumfries and is only one of three LGBT Centres in Scotland. Facilities and services includes groups, 1-2-1 support, volunteering opportunities, chill-out room, book, magazine and DVD library, community café space and internet access.
6) Project Partner: LGBT Youth Scotland LGBT Youth Scotland
LGBT Youth Scotland was established in Edinburgh in 1989 and is now a national youth organisation committed to championing the inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender young people in the life of Scotland.
7) Project Partner: Relationships Scotland Relationships Scotland
Relationships Scotland is a Scottish Charity created by the merger between Relate Scotland (previously Couple Counselling Scotland) and Family Mediation Scotland. Our vision is for: ‘Accessible and appropriately resourced family and relationship support services in every community in Scotland as a right not a privilege’
8) All press enquiries to: Inga McVicar, McVicar Marketing T: 0782 444 3654 E: [email protected]