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WVSDA News
Welcome to the WVSDA News Section. Please see the latests news and events from Putney Creche, the Voluntary Sector Development team and the Volunteer Centre Wandsworth below!
WVSDA with its partners, The Best of Wandsworth, Wandsworth Business Club, Stake Communications and Teal Marketing, are launching a fundraising week to provide local businesses and residents with a means of supporting local charities within Wandsworth borough.
The inaugural Wandsworth Charity Week will run from Monday 27th September to Sunday 3rd October 2010 and aims to raise awareness of and money for charities in the London Borough of Wandsworth.
Wandsworth Borough has more than 800 voluntary and community groups, many with too few resources to run their own fundraising events or gain access public sector funds. Wandsworth Charity Week will provide a way for residents and businesses to support the local causes that benefit local people.
According to Ben Richardson of Wandsworth Voluntary Sector Development Agency (WVSDA), the restrictions for most grants and public sector funding can prove prohibitive for small, under-resourced charities.
“At a local level, the greatest need is often among those entities without a voice or way to access grant funds. This is why the monies raised by the Wandsworth Charity Week will be distributed by a Small Grants Scheme which is a more accessible source of funds for local charities.”
The week provides businesses, schools and individuals with opportunities to contribute, from a Summer Fete to corporate team competitions, classroom activities and a Gala fundraising evening.
For information on how you, your school or your employer could contribute, call Ben on 020 8875 2847. A dedicated website and fundraising pack will shortly be available.
With the Big Society developments, and Olympics looming volunteering is being raised on the national agenda and Greater London Volunteering wants to ensure that volunteers are fully supported and have a fulfilling experience.
The Charter was developed by GLV’s Experts in Volunteering Team in close consultation with London Volunteer Centres. It gives clear guidance to what makes excellent volunteering experiences, and provides assurance for volunteers considering their involvement in an organisation.
Organisations that have signed up to the Charter have made a clear commitment to offering their volunteers a supported and flexible volunteering experience. These organisations vary from small community groups, such Somali women’s groups, to regional groups e.g Tottenham Hotspur Foundation as well as national volunteer involving organisations such as Guide Dogs for the Blind and Age UK. See a full list of Charter Signatories on www.expertsinvolunteering.org.uk/web/charter_view
The Charter helps organisations to prepare and support volunteers, and is followed up with advice, training and referrals to develop volunteering programmes
GLV is very excited to have ELHAP, an organisation based in Redbridge as their 100th Charter Signatory.
ELHAP is one of the leading adventure playgrounds for children, young people and adults with disabilities. A unique and magical independent charity, ELHAP offers much needed adventure play opportunities to over 5500 children and young people each year from North East London and Essex.
"2.5 million Londoners support local communities and individuals to enjoy and contribute to our great city. I welcome the London Volunteer Management Charter as an exciting initiative that will continue to improve volunteers’ experiences in our capital." Mayor of London, Boris Johnson
For further information please go to: www.expertsinvolunteering.org.uk or www.glv.org.uk
Contact: Jen Anderson, Experts in Volunteering Development Worker East
Greater London Volunteering
Telephone: 020 8536 1937 | Email: jennifer@glv.org.uk