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-OUR PROJECTS-

VOLUNTEER
CONNECTIONS

PROJECT MISSION

Through our Volunteer Connections project, we aim to increase the level of volunteering amongst small charities and voluntary organisations in South West Surrey to enable them to deliver their services more effectively.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

ONE-TO-ONE SUPPORT

We will provide one-to-one support to groups particularly short of volunteers, and needing training to use digital platforms to promote an organisation’s volunteering opportunities.

VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR NETWORKS AND TRAINING

Our regular volunteer forums will connect volunteer coordinators who normally work in isolation, whilst training opportunities will aid recruitment and supervision of volunteers.​

SUPPORTING MARGINALISED GROUPS

We aim to support organisation's in putting Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) policies into action to increase diversity in volunteering, which is not accessible to some minority groups.

DIVERSIFYING VOLUNTEER WORKFORCE

Our volunteer coordinators will provide targeted outreach to encourage volunteering in underrepresented groups, for example refugees and younger people.

WHO RUNS
VOLUNTEER
CONNECTIONS?

Volunteer Connections is run by Voluntary Action South West Surrey, which is the Council for Voluntary Service for Guildford and Waverley. Our membership, made up of voluntary and community groups, is in excess of 600 organisations. We run a Volunteer Centre which provides a volunteer recruitment service to over 400 organisations, as well as residents in Guildford and Waverley who can find out about volunteering roles and about the services provided by the voluntary sector.

Having an overview of the voluntary activity in our area means we can see where the gaps are and can help identify where groups could work together. Because we work with voluntary organisations, local authorities, local health services and individuals, and because we have run community projects and facilitated others in setting up new community groups, we are in a unique position of having experience of what services local people need, what is already being provided and where the gaps are. Our experience of working with individuals and supporting them into volunteering gives us an understanding of how to help groups become more effective with their volunteer recruitment.

Our Volunteer Connections Volunteer Coordinators will be responsible for the running of the service day-to-day, and are keen to engage with organisation and individuals that are interested in the service.

Alice Sheppard

Alice Sheppard

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Kate Jones

Kate Jones

Helena Routledge

Helena Routledge

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THE PROJECT

Background

Voluntary groups are invaluable to our communities

Our local voluntary groups provide vital services for a wide range of people: elderly, people with disabilities, struggling families, people with long term health conditions (mental & physical), people suffering social isolation.

Provision includes lunch clubs, advice services, food banks, peer support, community transport, befriending, social groups, walks for health, arts and environmental groups, etc. These groups are increasingly called upon to fill the gaps left by diminishing public services at a time when the cost-of-living crisis has increased demand; the existence of a strong voluntary and community sector promotes community cohesion, improves the places people live and are a vital element of civic life, everybody benefits when they thrive.

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Sign up below to receive project updates, alongside key information about our network meetings and trainings for Volunteer Coordinators.

Our Events

  • Volunteer Connections Lunch and Learn
    Volunteer Connections Lunch and Learn
    Tue, 28 Jan
    Microsoft Teams
    28 Jan 2025, 12:30 – 13:00
    Microsoft Teams
    Come along to discover how volunteering can help you! Our next session will feature Artventure and The Meath Epilepsy Charity.
  • Volunteer Coordinator Training Event
    Volunteer Coordinator Training Event
    Thu, 30 Jan
    Guildford
    30 Jan 2025, 10:00 – 14:00
    Guildford, Guildford, UK
    Do you want to attract more volunteers? This FREE beginner's guide to Better Impact will help you to manage your profile on our website and attract more volunteers. There will be plenty of "hands on" time, where you can update your listing and ask questions. A light lunch is provided afterwards.

As part of our project, we are proud to put on a mixture of events, aimed at engaging our local community organisations and potential volunteers. For example, our Lunch and Learn sessions are perfect opportunities to discover how volunteering could become a part of your life. We are pleased to have a variety of organisations join each event to explain more about the roles they have on offer. Please see the list of upcoming events being run by Volunteer Connections below.

Our Lunch and Learn sessions are perfect opportunities to discover how volunteering could become a part of your life. Please click the below for more information about these sessions.

OUR 
HIGHLIGHTS

Our newest project has already produced some exciting moments, with great events, networks and meetings happening on a regular basis.

 

If you would like to see what we have been doing, browse our highlights page. If you would like to see what we have coming up, view our events page.

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What Clients Say

"Thank you for having me [at the Volunteer Connector's Network], it was great to meet everyone and chat about the fantastic work we are all doing and volunteers."
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