Our Voluntary Action team had a fantastic volunteering day last week at the beautiful Springbok Estate, home to Care Ashore – a residential home providing care and support for veteran seafarers. We were warmly welcomed by the wonderful staff and residents and spent the day giving the tea shack and outdoor furniture a fresh new look with a coat of paint. Although the weather was very hot, it was a day full of teamwork, fun, and plenty of laughter. It was incredibly rewarding t

To mark Alcohol Awareness Week, last week, two community outreach events were delivered in partnership with Surrey County Council and other local health and support services: • Guildford Farmers' Market • Crown Court, Godalming The events were delivered collaboratively with representatives from Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust iAccess Drug & Alcohol Team, and the Surrey County Council One You Surrey, Smoking Cessation Service. The Godalming event also inclu

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Join us for our next Mini Conference exploring Equity, Diversity & Inclusion in practice. Led by Ali Fisher from Plans with Purpose, this interactive workshop will build confidence, encourage discussion and provide practical tools to create more inclusive organisations.

Our Alcohol Champions Project is hosting community outreach events in Guildford and Godalming during Alcohol Awareness Week, alongside partners from iAccess and the Royal Surrey Mobile Liver Health Check Unit.

As part of Alcohol Awareness Week 2026, Voluntary Action South West Surrey's Alcohol Health Champions Project is hosting community outreach events in Guildford and Godalming and promoting a new awareness video to encourage healthier conversations about alcohol and signpost people to local support.

Volunteers’ Week gave us another brilliant reason to get out into the community, this time at the welcoming Altitude Coffee Bar in Cranleigh. The atmosphere was buzzing from the moment we arrived — friendly faces, great conversations, and of course, excellent coffee. Several local residents dropped in to chat with us, alongside representatives from a range of local organisations who were keen to share insights into Cranleigh’s current needs. It was exactly the kind of open, i

Volunteers’ Week gave us the perfect opportunity to recognise the incredible people who give their time, energy and heart to our community. On Tuesday 2 June, we welcomed volunteers to our Millmead office in Guildford for a relaxed morning of conversation, connection and a little local history. The day began with coffee and cakes served by our Volunteer Connections team member Kate Jones, creating a friendly space for volunteers to meet, chat and share stories. It was a simpl

The Body Coach Foundation has officially opened its very first grant window — and it’s all about helping children and young people across the UK get moving, feel good, and thrive. The new Get Kids Moving Fund will award grants ranging from £1,000 to £10,000 to organisations that are improving young people’s physical activity levels and wellbeing through movement. From community sports clubs to youth charities and grassroots groups, the fund aims to support the incredible work

Sickness absence can hit charities hard. Small teams, stretched resources and specialist roles mean even one unexpected absence can disrupt services. A clear, compassionate approach helps you support staff while keeping your organisation running smoothly. What Charities Need to Focus On 1. Encourage Early, Honest Communication Open conversations help you understand issues sooner and offer support before problems escalate. Make reporting procedures simple and ensure managers

Supporting your community doesn’t always start with a big commitment — sometimes it begins with a friendly chat over a good cup of coffee. That’s exactly the spirit behind our upcoming drop‑in event hosted at Altitude Coffee Bar in Cranleigh. On Thursday 4th June, from 9:30am to 12pm, residents are invited to stop by, meet the team, and explore the many ways they can get involved in local volunteering. Whether you’re looking to share your skills, meet new people, or simply

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We are delighted to share these 30-second, short videos from our Alcohol Health Champions project, in partnership with Surrey County Council. With thanks to our Volunteer Champions; Isabel, Melissa and Alex for taking part, with a brief cameo appearance from Hilary, the Project Lead for VASWS. Look out for our pop-up, outreach events in Guildford and Godalming during Alcohol Awareness Week in July. Further details to follow. Surrey Drug and Alcohol Support https://www.youtube

What a beautiful sunny day we had, last Thursday, for our final Alcohol Health Champions Training Day, in this 12-month project, in partnership with Surrey County Council. A lovely, engaging group of delegates, from charities & organisations across Guildford & Waverley, with a 'guess the units' quiz, fantastic training materials, role play & an awesome lunch on the enclosed patio. Silverbirch House Care Home - Barchester Healthcare looked after us beautifully. And Nell, our T

As we move further into 2026, March offers a valuable moment to pause, reflect and look ahead to the opportunities spring will bring for our communities across South West Surrey. View our latest newsletter by clicking on the link below. https://eocampaign1.com/web-version?p=54e51f4c-2e89-11f1-badd-b3c86f156fa9&pt=campaign&t=1775130348&s=e788d9206ca9748951c858d79ab3980148f203023c8660641f29666b339e4a99

We had the perfect day yesterday to film the Surrey County Council Media Campaign for our Alcohol Champions Project. With thanks to Melissa at Dose of Nature for hosting us so well, in such a beautiful location. And to Markus, our brilliant videographer! If you would like to attend the FINAL Alcohol Health Champions Training Day, in this 12-month Project, on 23rd April, please email h.holness@vasws.org.uk Surrey Drug and Alcohol Support

As we move further into 2026, February offers a valuable moment to pause, reflect and look ahead to the opportunities spring will bring for our communities across South West Surrey. View our latest newsletter by clicking on the link below. https://eocampaign1.com/web-version?p=2fa3e954-1636-11f1-bdd5-0f35b9c9b607&pt=campaign&t=1772455840&s=3e0121657d6d4c0c7152bc8fa199936031861cb9238e02c9bd012c06e1883981

A little sneak preview from our filming sessions for the Alcohol Health Champions Project, delivered in partnership with Surrey County Council . Huge thanks to Melissa from Dose of Nature for volunteering to take part, and to the Guildford Borough Community Wellbeing Team for kindly welcoming us to The Hive. We’re also grateful to Alex from Waverley Active Travel and Isabel from the Hale Community Centre for agreeing to be filmed, along with the wonderful team there who h

Join the West Surrey and North East Hants Support Group of the National Eczema Society for an information afternoon with a talk on Saturday, February 28, by Professor Tess McPherson, Associate Professor of Paediatric and Adolescent Dermatology at the University of Oxford. It takes place at Guildford Baptist Church, Millmead Guildford GU2 4BE, and there will be displays of the society’s literature, as well as refreshments. Prof McPherson, who is also consultant dermatologist a

As Co-Chairs of the VCSE Strategy Group for Guildford & Waverley, we along with Citizens Advice South West Surrey, are carrying out a survey to help give us a clearer understanding of the impact that the structural changes happening within local government and health will have on us as a sector. Please could we ask that you complete the survey by Sunday 22 nd February . https://forms.gle/iRWTb7wZsW71rk6B6 Why we are asking for this information Local government and heal