Tuesday October 27 , 2009

Introduction

Hi Everyone
We hope you all remembered to put your clocks back, and are getting ready for the last bit of sunshine we've been promised.... Welcome to the 4th e-newsletter from the vinvolved Oxfordshire team which we are sending out monthly to all our volunteers (& to all of you that have yet to start something). This is to keep you updated with what’s happening with us, and to inform you of some of the great opportunities we have on our system and to encourage you to get volunteering! Enjoy!
 

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Meet the team

Each month we will profile one member of the team for you to find out a little more about us, each of us will answer the same 10 questions
This month.... introducing GERT
1. Who are you & what do you do? Gert, my real name isn’t Gert but I like Gert best so that’s what I get called. I am a youth volunteer advisor during the day. I find young people in the South and Vale awesome placements and dish out certificates. I also help make publications for the scheme including the brand spanking new handbook and wall planner . If you don’t have either of these things and want one get in touch with your YVA! Work isn’t all I do though! I try and do exercise ( I see it as a nasty side effect of my love of cake!) I swim every week and play badminton as much as I can, generally with my boyfriend who beats me every time!! I am useless! I have an allotment which I do my best to grow things in.... my dream is to grow a giant marrow and win a giant marrow contest with it! I am also a fairly normal 25 year old, i like popping to the pub to play darts and pool or watch the football or cricket. I have even been known to occasionally have a small glass of wine......!

2. Describe yourself in 3 words – Quiet, calm, sensible Ok... not really... I wish! Loud, erratic, silly!..... its more fun this way!

3. Who was your hero as a child ? I have no idea if I had a real hero in my youth. I was genuinely upset when i found out i wasn’t going to grow up and actually be Kylie ( I still am I think!) but I think my mum is my biggest hero, she was when I was younger too but I didn’t really know then to what extent. The woman is amazing, I remember how naughty me and my brother were! I don’t know how she did it!

4. What do you like most about your job? Any bad bits? Home time and lunchtime! Home time beats lunchtime but only by a whisker! I love all of my job, i really love visiting volunteers at their placements, I love seeing what amazing things you all get up... invitations in the post please ! Bad bits...I’m not a fan of our database and spend a lot of time getting cross with it but its ok.... it could be worse! It could be all on paper for me to lose, I can be a bit scatty!

5. What’s your claim to fame? I once went to the Queens new years eve party at Sandringham.... honest! It was well flash.... got to dance with the Duke of Edinburgh and he called me a tiller girl!

6. What have you learnt from volunteering? I found out about loads of cool job opportunities since volunteering. I have never been one of these people who have known from being young what they wanted to do for a living. My plan was always to try stuff and cross things off the list of possibilities if I didn’t like them. Volunteering gave me the chance to sample loads of different things from working with disabled adults, producing local drama events, organising charity events even learning circus skills with children! The trouble with my plan was I loved everything and still couldn’t decide so I chose to promote volunteering to other people so they can have as much fun as I did... and still do!!

8. If you won the lottery, how would you spend your millions?  Frivolously! I’d buy a big house, get all my mates to move in and spend the rest of  it doing fun things everyday!

9. Do you like bananas? No They are totally disgusting! They smell weird and they turn into slime as soon as they are in your mouth..... blurghh!!

10. In your opinion, which is the most interesting volunteering opportunity that young people can do in Oxfordshire at the moment?  The Abingdon Health and wellbeing centre are currently looking for people to help design and build a garden at their centre. They have a huge budget and want everything from vegetable patched to a sensory space. I’m a real outdoors girl and love creating things so I think this is a very exciting opportunity!

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News

COMING SOON...

v's new Good For Nothing campaign, which highlights the  extraordinary contribution made by young volunteers. A series of four billboard  advertisements will be appearing on buses and tubes during November. Let us know if you spot the publicity material and tell us what you think!

V CASHPOINT

v cashpoint is STILL open! vcashpoint offers you guys up to £2,500 to turn your ideas for volunteering projects into reality. Application forms are available on the national website www.vinspired.com This is great chance to make things happen, and we can give you a hand to do it!

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Latest Opportunities

1. SAMARITANS – Listening Volunteer – Oxford  18-25? If you feel you would be able to listen, give callers your full attention and completely forget about yourself when doing so, you might like to consider becoming a Samaritan volunteer. You will have no message - not preaching, advising, counselling, or selling. Just listening, providing absolutely confidential and non-judgmental support, giving people the space to talk about their feelings. You might guide the conversation to talk about how they are feeling - a realm that is so rare in everyday life for many people. You will have extensive training, and commit to 4 duties a month, including 1 night shift. If you prefer to do mainly evenings, we ask that you do one weekend day shift a month. Day and evening shifts are 4 hours long, and night shifts from 10.30pm-7.30am (with a 3 hour break in the middle). Depending on the time, this might be talking to people face-to-face in the centre, and/or answering calls or emails..... Contact us for more info, quoting REF 1589

2. Oxfordshire Association for Young People – Drama/Arts/Sports in youth clubs – various towns across the county 16-25? Interested in young people - maybe thinking of getting into youth work or teaching? Love art and/or crafts - happy to share your enthusiasm for manga / tie die / graffiti / you name it? OAYP has recently started the "TADA Team" (Travelling Arts and Drama Activities), going to a different youth club in the county each week, and we'd love enthusiastic volunteers like you to help make it happen... Sessions last between 1 and 2 hours, usually on weekday evenings; and groups will be of about 12-16 young people. Similarly with drama - happy to share your enthusiasm for Beckett, forum theatre, e'en the Bard Himself?  We’re also looking for volunteers to assist running our sport and activities programme for young people in Oxfordshire. You'll help set up and participate in traditional games of football, cricket, basketball, etc; but also possibly other activities such as yoga, twae kwando, meditation, or even circus skills! You don't need to have any particular skills or knowledge - the most important thing is enthusiasm and willingness to get involved - but coaching experience always welcome, and if you have any particular interest or passion, you'd be welcome to share it on occasions. We've got loads of materials and resources - we just need your energy and ideas! We're based in Garsington, but are happy to pick you're up from pretty much wherever (or pay for your transport). REF OAYP
 

 3. Nov 5th - you don't have to blow up things to make a political difference… - Oxford, ideally people from across the county   16-18? Want cheaper buses across the county (for young people)?! There's currently a campaign to ask the various bus companies in the area to consider introducing free bus travel for children and young people in the county who have bought a year's pass (for about £50) - to help them access positive activities (including volunteering!), be environmentally conscious, and also to become bus users of the future (the companies' benefit). The group urgently needs help making video interviews for a presentation to the bus companies in Oxford on 5th November, as part of the national "11 Million Takeover Week", when young people can get more involved in the running of public services. Your views on price / availability of local buses (for getting to school/college, say, or even volunteering roles!!) would be really valuable. They'd also like as many young people as possible to be there on the day. It's from 5-6.30 in the Grand Jury Room in County Hall next to Oxford Castle.Get in touch asap to get involved - quote REF 1581

4. Oxford Inspires - Steward at the Winter Community Lantern Festival – Oxford – Nov27th!!  18-25? Want to get into the festive spirit early? Always fancied wearing one of those yellow jackets (more likely to get spotted on local TV...) Play a crucial role in helping put on what will be a spectacular, beautiful evening of art, culture, and community good will - on Friday November 27th. Oxford Inspires has an excellent track record of putting on big collaborative arts events locally. This winter, they're organising the turning on of Oxford's Christmas lights - with a difference... Local artists have built eight huge lanterns (reflecting Oxford landmarks) and then gone into local schools to help children build many more! These will all be paraded throughout town in two processions, taking in museums and other cultural places that will stay open that night, and meeting on the mound at Oxford Castle. As they go along, with lots of music and jollity, children will turn on the Christmas Lights one by one.The event needs lots of stewards to keep people safe (making sure people don't cross tape, knowing fire evacuation plans, etc) and to give directions if need be. You might be positioned on a road along the route, or outside somewhere like the Pitt Rivers museum, MOMA, or the castle itself. Please get in touch ASAP quoting REF 1588

5. Boys’ Brigade – Youth Leadership Trainee – Various towns and villages across the county 16-25? Interested in Christian youth work (young people today need guidance more than ever before, yet there are fewer community youth leaders now than ever before)? Sports, expeditions, campcraft, music, etc! If you are over 16, have time on your hands, or want more than a 9-5 job or university, why not accept the challenge and train to become a youth leader through the Boys' Brigade? Even if after the extensive training (possibility of doing Youth Leadership award or Sports Leadership NVQ) you decide that this is not for you, the experience is very uplifting and some employers offer benefits to trained youth leaders. As a volunteer with the Boys' Brigade you will be involved in the delivery of the weekly programme in your local company. You will also get involved in the running of at least one regional event. REF1542

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How are you getting on?

Justin Donovan and Dan Armitage are members of the BYHP YAT. They have started their FA level 1 football coaching at Chipping Norton on Saturdays, and have secured a place on the Drayton league of five-a-side. They had their first match planned for last Monday. Both Justin and Dan are enjoying the training very much, despite having to be there for 9am on a Saturday and training until 6.30pm

You could be featured here next month - Please keep us up to date with what you are doing, so that we can then support you to achieve your v50 / & v impact awards.
We’ll also invite you to a celebration event in your area!
 

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Volunteer of the month

Each month we are going to feature one of the many young people who currently are volunteering in Oxfordshire, asking them the same 5 questions -
Introducing ... MO WARNER

Q1.What Volunteering do you do / have you done?
I have been volunteering since I was 11 at a school café. Now I volunteer at the Katharine House Hospice shop; I am a co-leader for Girl Guides, and I have recently joined the student union at OCVC in Banbury as the Clubs and societies officer.
Q2. How did you hear about the vInvolved team?
I heard about vInvolved when Lorna was at the college for a V drop-in.
Q3.What have you enjoyed most about volunteering?
Feeling appreciated. I have been able to do lots of outdoor activities with the Girl Guides like climbing mountains and horse riding. I have learnt how to be a good teacher to younger children. I am really looking forward to making my ideas happen at the college, like sponsored car washes, raising money for the student fund, throwing themed parties. I start training this week for a sponsored event to swim the same distance as the English channel.
Q4. How has volunteering helped you / how do you feel it'll help you in the future?
Volunteering has helped me appreciate what I have and who I am. It has made me more aware of other issues going on in the world, which is important to consider when living your own life.
Q5 If you could have dinner with a famous person, who would it be & why?
Michael Buble, because he sings like an angel. I was listening to him on the radio last night and it was very uplifting and relaxing.
thanks Mo!  If you'd like to be featured in next month's newsletter get in touch! 
 

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Youth Action Team's - YAT's

In this section every month we hope to give you an update on one of the YAT's (Youth Action Teams) we are currently working with. If you are a member of one of our YAT's get in touch to share with others what you are currently doing and the difference you have made so far.

BALL YAT.

Last year the winter ball was held for the first time at Oxfords town hall attracting 250 young guests from across Oxfordshire. They were treated to a gourmet 3-course meal and entertainment from some of Oxfordshires most talented young performers, and the BALL YAT organised it! The did everything from designing invites, booking the venue, the menu, the bands the whole thing. They did an excellent job and due to popular demand the winter ball will be happening again.  Volunteers roles will include organising every aspect of the event, from planning to the running of the ball itself. Thhis is a fantastic opportunity to get involved with a hig profile, successful project, and to earn yourself valuable experience in event planning.

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What have we been up to?

Each month we're going to give you a snap shot of what we've been up to and where we've been!

Since the last newsletter, The V team has been working hard promote volunteering and help volunteers find exciting placements.

OCVCLorna has been working in partnership with OCVC this month to launch the college’s in house student mentoring scheme across all four campuses, which will start after half term. Nickia Blackstock, who runs the project will be supporting all student mentors to achieve vAwards and has been promoting the value of the vInvolved award scheme to support future career and education aims.

At the OCVC Bicester campus Lorna joined Nickia recently where students enrolled onto the mentoring scheme and v award scheme at the same time and also shared a free lunch! Students got the chance to mix with other students that they had not met before and it was a good chance to chat to each other and find out more about the current volunteering roles which students are already involved in.

At the Banbury campus, a small group of art students plan to use monthly art sessions as a cunning way of introducing student mentoring informally. Lorna is guiding these students with their plans to ensure they all take an active role within the project and make a success of this great idea. Nickia is taking the Banbury volunteers bowling next week during half term to celebrate!

What else have we been up to?

Gert has been spending a lot of time at Abingdon and Witney College and Wheatley Park School, meeting with the students and helping them find volunteering opportunities and she also did a talk for Duke of Edinburgh Awards.

At the beginning of the month, Lorna, Luan and Gert all attended the Oxford University Freshers Fair. It was a big event with a marquee outside the exams hall and the YVAs spent the days handing out freebies and talking to students interested in doing some volunteering.
 

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