Give alittle Gain alot!
As a volunteer you can really have an impact on people's lives and the community around you, as well as making your own life more fulfilled and rewarding.
What you do as a volunteer depends very much on what you would like to achieve. Everyone has a personal reason for volunteering - to make friends or develop new skills. You should choose something that will enjoy and helps you fulfil your personal goals.
There are many volunteer opportunities but for more information visit your local volunteer bureau or at http://www.volunteering-wales.net/index.html
Powys Awards Scheme - Volunteering brings out the Best!
PAWS the powys wide volunteer award scheme for 14-16 year olds
What does it involve?
- You agree to volunteer for up to 100 hours.
- You agree to work with a voluntary organisation or group and undertake voluntary work which will help YOU, your community or the organisation.
- You get a certificate for 20, 50 and 100 hours.
Why Should You Join the PAWS Scheme?
- Volunteering is fun and rewarding. It can challenge you, help you make friends and you can learn more about the community where you live.
- PAWS will help you with your future. Volunteering convinces employers you are right for them, and can demonstrate to colleges and universities that you are a special candidate. PAWS awards are a visible demonstration of your worth.
Who can help?
Your career advisor, teacher, youth worker and Volunteer Bureau can all help you join the PAWS scheme or contact PAVO's Helpdesk on 0845 0093288 or email: info@pavo.org.uk
- To view the PAWS Leaflet click on the link below
Why Should I Volunteer?
Why Not! Volunteering is Easy
It's Quick, Simple and Free to Join and Get Involved
Volunteering is a great way of:
- Meeting new people
- Making new friends
- Learning new skills
- Using the skills you already have to help others
- Gaining new experiences
- Enhancing your CV
- Achieving the community participation element of the Welsh Baccalaureate
In additional to specific roles within individual organisations you will find that there are generally opportunities for volunteer trustees, fundraisers, administrators within most organisations - all of which are usually in great demand!
As a volunteer you will be given the appropriate training and receive payment to cover expenses that relate to volunteering.
But Don't Just Take Our Word For it!
Here's what some Powys Volunteers have got to say....
'As a volunteer I have worked with my county Youth Forum and Funky Dragon and from that I have interviewed people for jobs and been trained to know how to give out grants...not only is it fun but also makes me look good for prospective employers and university. As well as many skills like teamwork and communication and organisation I have made great friends and seen an in-sight to all the opportunities out there for young people with many more still out there. The more people volunteer the more likely they are to have a better opportunity at interviews to get the job but it also builds character and personal skills and there are awards and accreditation schemes, like Millennium Volunteers, which give youths recognition for all their hard work' Daniel Harper
'I do a lot of voluntary services here there and everywhere, I have set up a new Young Farmers Club in the Brecknockshire area, which I have found really enjoyable, we may have only started small but thanks to a lot of hard work and volunteering services from a very small yet close group of people we have succeeded and grown slowly. I also do a lot of work in my local youth club and for the youth forum, not only do I attend youth forum but I also attend the Powys youth Forum which I have found to give me a lot of confidence when talking to big groups of people, I also think that the satisfaction that these opportunities have given have boosted me in lots of ways, I get a lot of satisfaction from seeing that the work that I am doing is making a difference to not only me but also that it is making a difference to a large group of people around the county.' Ellie Coles
Powys Volunteer Awards - Individual Under 25 Award Winners
Click on the names below to read their achievements,
Young Volunteers Supporting Their Communities
- The picture shows one of the volunteers trying out a stone stile on one of the reclaimed footpaths.
For more information about the Youth Led Grants Scheme click here
With a small grant form the Youth Led Grant scheme, young people in Powys have sent up projects to help their local communities.
Llanrhaedr Explorer Scouts used their grant to clear overgrown and neglected footpaths and to produce a booklet of local walks. The paths were improved to enable people with a physical disability to enjoy the countryside. The scouts volunteered their own time to clear the paths, to take photographs, to draw maps and to create a booklet.
Erwood Young Farmers Club
- Young folk dancers performing in front of the audience who attended the fundraising concert.
Erwood Young Farmers Club staged a concert to raise funds for their village hall. The money that was raised helped towards the cost of upgrading the toilets for wheelchair users. The Youth Led Grant money was used to publicise the concert, to pay for room hire for rehearsals, and to provide a PA system. The club members volunteered their time to organise the event, to devise and perform different acts, design posters and to manage the concert on the day.
- One of the volunteers addresses the audience who packed the village hall
Young People at Arts Connection
- Some of the young people in front of the community mural
Young people from Arts Connection used the grant to buy materials to make a community mural and to support the Llanfyllin Community Garden. The young people learned skills in woodwork to make benches and other garden items.
If you have any volunteering projects in your area showcasing the talents and dedication of our bright and enthusiastic young volunteers, do get in touch and we will be happy to feature their stories.
You can contact Powys Volunteer Centre through PAVO by clicking here.
Gwirvol Website
To learn more about youth volunteering in Wales visit the Gwirvol website here. The website has loads of information on how to volunteer, what sorts of volunteering opportunities are available, competitions and accredited schemes.
Gwirvol - You Give You Get
There are several schemes for young volunteers to achieve accreditation for their volunteering. You Give You Get is a new Gwirvol publication that describes the different awards that are available and how to apply for them. The publication is on the Gwirvol website. Click here to view the booklet.
The booklet gives information on the following awards:
ACF Cadets, Agored Cymru, Asdan, AQA, Clubs for Young People, Duke of Edinburgh, Girlguiding Cymru, Lifesaver Awards, Millennium Volunteers, St John Cymru, Sports Leaders, Welsh Baccalaureate, Youth Cymru
Gwirvol Youth Led Grant Scheme 2011 - 2012
Up to £1,000 can be applied for to run a project that provides volunteering opportunities for young people aged 16-25. The young people cam be from an existing group or just young people coming together to run a project of their own choosing. The application must be written by a young person. Past projects have included organising fundraising events to support local charities, local environmental schemes, and improving facilities for older people. There will be a young person's panel to award the grants.
For a Gwirvol Application Pack click here.
If you require a papercopy of the Gwirvol Application Pack email info@pavo.org.uk or telephone 01597 822191.
Applications can be submitted at anytime up to the closing date.
Closing date: 1st February 2012.
All projects Must be completed by 1st March 2012.
Millennium Volunteers
A scheme for 16 - 24 year olds which can fund training, equipment and other expenses. If you and a group of friends would like to start your own volunteering project this could be a good way to start.
As a millennium volunteer, you will be part of a nationally recognised scheme, have access to training and your expenses will be covered. If you complete 200 hours of volunteering you will receive an award of excellence from the First Minister of the National Assembly for Wales. Your achievements will be recognised by employers colleges and the local community.
For more information on Millennium Volunteers you can visit the Millennium Volunteers pages on the Welsh Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) website by clicking here or contact the Powys Volunteer Centre to find out more.
The Millennium Volunteer documents can be found below. If you require them in Word format please contact the PAVO Helpdesk info@pavo.org.uk or telephone: 0845 009 3288.
Wanted: Young People to join "Gwirforce"
GwirVol is a uniquely Welsh, diverse partnership promoting, supporting and driving forward youth volunteering. Gwirforce is a group which has a vital part to play in this partnership.
So what is Gwirforce?
Gwirforce is a diverse panel of young, spontaneous and fun volunteers aged 16 to 25 committed to promoting and driving forward youth volunteering in Wales.
Joining Gwirforce is an excellent way to further your skills, meet lots of new people, change opinions about young people and give something back to your community, not forgetting have lots of fun! Gwirforce is made up of three sub-groups: Ambassadors, Engineers and Marketeers, although all important decisions are made and voted on by the whole panel.
Interested in becoming a member of Gwirforce?
Please contact, for further details: Gwirforce Care of: Canllaw Online,Suite 5, The Octagon, Caerphilly Business Park, Van Road, Caerphilly CF83 3ED
Tel: 029 20 887868
Fax: 029 20 880479
E-mail: ed@canllaw-online.com
To find out more about volunteering opportunities in Powys, check out www.volunteering-wales.net and follow the links. This will link you to your nearest volunteer bureau.
You can also contact us here at the Powys Volunteer Centre.
join PAVO
All voluntary organisations and community groups in Powys are invited to become members of PAVO. Membership is Free ... find out more
Training
PAVO provides training courses on all aspects of running community groups and voluntary organisations ... find out more
Powys Transport Training Agency provides transport related training courses and information ... find out more
Powys Agency for Mental Health
Powys Agency for Mental Health provides information, support, representation networks, advice and training to the Third Sector on any aspect of mental health services in Powys ... find out more
Children and Young People
A network for organisations and groups who support, help, play and work with children, young people and their families, helping them to share good practice, work together and link to the CYP Partnership ... find out more
Health, Social Care & Wellbeing
Have your say and keep informed about how the Third Sector contributes to Health and Social Care services in Powys ... find out more
Community Transport
Community Transport meets the transport needs of communities where these needs are not or cannot be adequately met by public and/or commercial transport ... find out more
Community Development
PAVO's team of Development Officers can provide you with practical support to help develop your community group or voluntary group and its activities ... find out more
Climate Change
Would you like to:
Save money on your energy bills?
Do your bit to tackle climate change?
Access grants and loans to reduce your carbon footprint? find out more...
