Volunteer! Issue 1

Ashton • Stalybridge • Denton • Mossley • Hyde • Audenshaw • Droylsden • Longdendale • Dukinf eld

Advice • Befriending • Cooking • Counselling • Fundraising • Campaigning • Publicity • Clerical • Conservation • Gardening

Volunteering is about giving your time to do something useful.Whether you’re helping people, the local community or the environment, volunteering is a rewarding activity for all ages.You can make new friends, learn new skills and even have some fun!

The newsletter of Volunteer Centre Tameside

Autumn 2014Volunteer!

Giving your time to help others not only makes a difference to your community but it can change your own life too! That was the message coming loud and clear from this year’s Pride of Tameside Volunteer & Community Awards.Theawards,atAshtonTownHallinJuly,wereheld to celebrate and recognise the contribution of an estimated 26,200 volunteers from across Tameside.Thereareover1000clubs,societies,campaigngroups,youthclubs,communitygroups and faith groups across our area. They do amazing work and all rely on volunteers. Volunteers come from all communities and all ages groups. Between them contribute an astounding 73,900 hours every week!

Among the award winners this year was Lisa Edwards. A few years ago Lisa found herself at risk of becoming homeless. She turned to the Adullam Homes Housing Association for advice and help. With their support Lisa was able to get herself back on her feet and she now gives back as a volunteer advocating for vulnerable people at risk of homelessness. When asked why she volunteers Lisa said “to give back the same help that was offeredtome”.

OtherwinnersincludedEddieandJohnfromDenton who run a swimming class for disabled kids,Elliotwhoteachesfootballandlifeskillstokids in Mossley and Lynne from Ashton who raised over£20,000forasportspitchinherlocalpark.

The Awards were organised by local charity ‘Community and Voluntary Action Tameside’ and ChiefExecutiveBenGilchristspokeformanywhenhe said “This is what real community is all about – givingsomethingback.”

“This is what real community is all about – giving something back.”

Volunteers are changing lives across Tameside

Meet the volunteers!Alan Fish (pictured left) and volunteers atFriendsofKingGeorgevPlayingFields have planted thousands of plants and hundreds of trees.

Abbie Williams (pictured right) has raised money and awareness of Meningitis through sponsored events and fund raising at school.

NancyNieldhasorganisedbrews,arranged tombolas and knitted forcharity,inhersupportRASHCommunity Forum in Stalybridge.

Emma Seagrave (pictured right) supports young people with severe learning and medical needs at Tameside College.

EddieAdderleyandJohnNolanteachnewskillsandbuildconfidencein young people through volunteering with a Scout group in Denton.

OutloudChloe and Jake are volunteers for Outloud, a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) support group. Outloud recently won a Pride of Tameside award for their work offering advice and support to young people, aged 14-19. Chloe (pictured above) and Jake tell us about what they do and why they do it.Chloe Walker

During my volunteering I’ve helped design a new logo for thegroup,helpedleadaschooldayatDentonCommunityCollegeandattendedManchesterPrideParade.Forme,volunteering is a great way to get out the house and get a couple of hours break from being a young carer. It also provides me with the social skills I’ll need in the future and achancetomeetnewpeople.Itcanmakeadifferencetoyoung people because it gives them an opportunity to talk tosomeoneclosertotheiragegroup,someonetoturntoandhelpsthemco-operate.Ithinkitmakesadifferenceinthe community too and can encourage people to volunteer themselveswhichthenmakesadifferenceintheirownlives.

Jake Adshead

InmyroleatOutloudIleaddiscussions,supportothermembers,leadcookingactivitiesandhelpwithdeliveryof sessions in schools. Volunteering provides me with usefulskillssuchasfacilitation,firstaid,andpeersupport.Myvolunteeringalsotakespressureoffthemainworkersandoffersafreshperspective,someoneelseforyoungpeople to turn to.

These are the top 5 volunteer opportunities that are trending at the moment in Tameside.1. Group Support Volunteers

These opportunities rely on volunteers to help run groups with people who requireextrasupportandcanapplyto a wide range of ages and abilities. Noexperienceisnecessaryasallofferfull support and training.

2. Tameside Hospital

A wide range of opportunities such asWardvolunteer,Diningcompanion,MobilityScooter,Meetandgreet.Wherepossible,youcanevenchoosewhich ward you would like to volunteer on and there a lots of time slots to choose from.

3. Catering

Whether you just like brewing up or would prefer a more hands on approach inthekitchen,thereareplentyofroleavailable throughout Tameside. We even have roles where you can help someone else in the kitchen.

4. Teaching

Nowtheschoolholidaysareover,thereare opportunities for helping children who needalittleextrasupport.Perhapsyouwould like to share a skill? There are opportunities to share your talents and meet others with the same interests.

5. Child Care

We have plenty of opportunities to help lookafterchildren,basedinavarietyof settings. This includes a wide ranges ofagesfrom0-5,5-11andupwardsgetting involved in messy play or helping provide more hands on support. Weonlyrecruitfornotforprofitandcharitable organisations.

Volunteer Top 5

Ashton • Stalybridge • Denton • Mossley • Hyde • Audenshaw • Droylsden • Longdendale • Dukinf eld

Advice • Befriending • Cooking • Counselling • Fundraising • Campaigning • Publicity • Clerical • Conservation • Gardening

Volunteer Centre Tameside is part of the Community and Voluntary Action Tameside familyCommunity and Voluntary Action Tameside (CVAT) is a Registered Charity (No: 1148056)Company Limited by Guarantee (No: 7930346)

Volunteer Centre Tameside 95-97 Penny Meadow Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 6EPTel: 0161 339 2345www.cvat.org.uk/volunteering

We can help you choose from the large range of voluntary opportunities available in Tameside and our expert advisors can answer your questions. • Call us on 0161 339 2345forachatandtomakeaconfidential,

informal appointment with one of our advisors.

• Call into our shop on Penny Meadow in Ashton-under-Lyne Monday to Friday 9.30am—4.30pm.

• View volunteer opportunities and apply online using our website www.cvat.org.uk/volunteering

Volunteer Centre TamesideWe believe volunteering is a force for good inTamesidebecausewe’veseenthedifferenceit makes to individuals and communities.

HereattheCentre,wehaveexperiencedstaffwho can help you choose the right opportunity andansweranyquestionsyoumayhave,so if you would like to make an appointment please call or pop in and see us. We are open Monday to Friday 9:30 till 4:30. There are 100’s of opportunities throughout Tameside and we canhelpfindthebestoneforyou.

We’ve been supporting volunteering in Tameside since 1975 and as part of Community and Voluntary Action Tameside (CVAT) we’re working tobuildandsupportstrong,vibrantvoluntaryand community action in Tameside.

Want to Volunteer?

KATHERINE STREET

KENYON ST.

A627

B61

70

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Park Parade

Park Parade

A627è

A6043A6140

CO

WH

ILL LANE

STAMFORD STREET WEST

STAMFORD STREET CENTRAL

PENNY MEADOW

Volunteer Centre

Tameside

Ashton-under-Lyne Train Station

Ashton-under-Lyne Bus Station

Ashton-under-Lyne Tram Stop