Volunteer Managers Forum Minutes

9th January 2009

Dorridge Room, John Lewis, Touch Wood

Present / Apologies
Terri Knibb – Castle Bromwich Parish Council
Eric Knibb - Castle Bromwich Parish Council
Amanda Henshaw – Warwickshire Wildlife Trust
Janet Down – Solihull Life Opportunities
Cookie Vetor – Solihull Life Opportunities
Phil Cleaver – Family Care Trust
Michelle Taylor – West Midlands Fire Service
Sophia Nasreisfahany - SMBC
Vicky Odams – Community Relations SMBC
Manjit Johal – Sustain
Ali McCarrick - V
Jodie Stirrup – V
Jess Bishop - V / David Collins
Joy Whitehouse
Jagjit Lidher
Lauren Lovatt
Lorraine Doran
Maureen Durham
Item / Action
Welcome and introductions was followed by an opportunity to network. / All to note
National and Regional Update - Manjit
Manjit presented updates, please find attached to the minutes.
Manjit asked if there are certain things VMs would like to see on the updates. Suggestions were put forward for:
Information on funding streams for organisations to access for VM activities
Information on any legislation changes that effect volunteering
Summary version of the Manifesto for Change / All to note
Volunteer Week
Those present had a discussion on how we want Volunteer Week activities to look like this year. This year is an important year celebrating 25 years of Volunteer Week. It was suggested that this year there should not be one identity where potential volunteers can register their interest but organisations should promote their own opportunities. Janet Down said that word of mouth works better then having stands.
Ideas:
1. An idea was put forward of having Taster Days at organisations throughout the week. Having a menu of activities. Each organisation who wanted to participate would have a Taster Session and show around interested people, maybe twice in the week. This would limit the amount of time they would put in. Potential volunteers could choose and sign up to visit the organisations of their choice. This idea would need careful organisation and planning for it to work well. There will also be need for transport to take people to different organisations.
2. Having a general stand to represent those organisations not participating was favoured by Manjit. We could have a central stand to register interest to Taster Events and general volunteering interests.
3. Celebrating Event – this was discussed in a previous networking session to have a Promotion Event and Celebrating Event during Volunteer Week. Some present at this meeting said it is difficult to get volunteers to attend a celebrating event as they do not have the time for this as well as their volunteer time. Some organisations would find it difficult to attend also. However, we could think of other ways such as filming the week’s activities or taking photographs. We could have articles in Total Society and Solihull Times about the week’s activities. Have photographers from both to attend events in the week. It was suggested that Sustain could get a snap shot from organisations on how much time volunteers spent in a week and how much this time added to monetary value for the week for all organisations.
4. Funding – idea was put forward for organisations to put forward an amount they could contribute to the costs of running the event. Manjit pointed out that if the VMs come up with an action plan it could be possible to get funding from other sources and groups who have to meet the National Indicator 6 target (participation in regular volunteering), such as The Stronger Community Group. There could be an opportunity to access both for funds for the week.
We will need a time line of activities, such as actions, marketing, promoting materials, costs, etc. Jess pointed out that Tammy (trainer for National Occupational Standards) was happy to facilitate a strategy forward on this.
Other ideas and thoughts are welcome from Volunteer Managers please either attend the next networking meeting or email either Jess Bishop – or Manjit Johal – / All to note
New Chair and Chairperson
Jess pointed out that under the Terms of Reference for the VMF the Chair and Vice-Chair are in position for 6 months, therefore Jess as Chair Person and Phil Cleaver as Vice Chair are up for re-election. Selection for new chair and vice-chair to be discussed at next meeting. / All to note
Future Meetings
For your information future meetings will include the following:-
13th March – Networking, case studies, regional and national updates
April – working group for volunteers week (date to be confirmed)
8th May - Training from the National Occupational Standards Key Area D – Manage and develop volunteers
12th June – Networking and feedback from volunteers week
10th July – Speaker/personal development
14th August - 10.00am to 12.00 – forward planning
Please note some dates may be subject to change depending on venue hire. / All to note
Next Meeting: Friday 13th February 1.30 pm to 3.30 pm
Agenda –
Key Area C - Recruit and Induct Volunteers
Chair/Vice-Chair election
Meeting Venue
Venue – Please note – This is now changed to:
Solihull Women’s Institute
745 Warwick Road
Solihull
B91 2DG
The Institute is directly opposite the petrol station near House of Fraser.
There is free parking which can be accessed by turning for the hospital entrance on Warwick Road. The car park is clearly marked and so are the spaces. We need to use the spaces marked WI first and can use the church spaces if all the WI are full. / All to note

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