Purposes of the Volunteer Centre

Our Volunteer Centre aims to help people in need, through the actions of local volunteers.

The services we offer reflect the nature of the small semi-rural local community in the New Mills area, ranging out to Hayfield and Furness Vale. We seek to identify gaps in community care which can appropriately be met by volunteer activity. This requires us to be continually responsive to changing needs, as expressed by our service users.

Currently we provide help for people who have needs arising from being elderly, disabled, house-bound, isolated, physically or mentally ill, visually or hearing impaired, or from learning difficulties. Our assistance takes the form of car transport, shopping, befriending, group activities, training, information provision and general practical work.

To fulfil these tasks, the Centre seeks to recruit, support and train volunteers. Our objective is to provide volunteering opportunities for everyone, irrespective of age, disability, race, gender, belief or background. While the primary purpose of recruiting volunteers is to serve the needs of the local community, the benefits for those who volunteer are also recognised and encouraged.

The Volunteer Centre aims to provide work experience for those who are unemployed, and encourages volunteers to develop their potential and confidence. A variety of training is available to enable volunteers to accomplish our objectives with aptitude and safety. We are always keen to learn of any special skills volunteers have to offer, and to assist in employing these within the Centre or directed to other voluntary organisations.

Mission Statement

1. To identify gaps in community care, to respond to the needs of the elderly, the isolated, people with physical disabilities, mental health problems or learning difficulties; meeting those identified gaps which can appropriately be met by volunteer activity.

2. To recruit, support and train volunteers and offer opportunities for integration, thus enhancing the quality of life for both client and volunteer.

Activities of Organisation

1. For house-bound clients - transport/escorting for medical appointments and to social groups, a weekly shopping service and escorted shopping trips, befriending, occasional gardening and DIY, working with groups.

2. Social and educational activities for client groups - 60-Not-Out Group, Craft Group, Art Group, Cookery Group, Lip Reading Class, ShopAround Group, Tea Dance, Stroke support Group, Handicraft Group, Tia Chi, and Family Tree Workshops.

3. For volunteers - opportunities to participate in the local community and voluntary sector activity; encouragement to discover their potential by improving self-worth and confidence; work experience - e.g. office and computer work, newsletter/poster design and printing, DIY for the Centre; social events e.g. fund-raising coffee mornings; various training courses.

4. Volunteer brokerage, general information provision and person-centred counselling service offered.