VOLUNTEERING INFORMATION PACK

WWW.HEALTHYCOMMUNITIES.ORG.UK

Building Healthy Communities Dumfries and Galloway: Volunteering Information Pack December 2015©

INTRODUCTION Building Healthy Communities (BHC) in Dumfries and Galloway is a region wide project based on the “Healthy Living Centre” concept and is a partnership of public, community and voluntary organisations that have been working together since 2001.

BUILDING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES VISION BHC is a strong dynamic partnership, which reduces health inequalities using a community development approach, to promote the health and wellbeing of individuals, families, communities and organisations in Dumfries & Galloway.

There are four Building Healthy Communities Area Partnerships located across Dumfries and Galloway. If you would like more information, you can contact the Community Health Development Worker or the Community Health Support Worker in your local area at the addresses or numbers below. For other areas of Dumfries and Galloway, please contact the Regional Office. •

West Wigtownshire ( DG9 Area) Innistaigh, Dalrymple Street, Stranraer, DG9 7EH Murdo Macleod - Community Health Development Worker Julie Robertson - Community Health Support Worker Tel: 01776 700632

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The Machars ( DG8 Area) 1 George Street, Whithorn, DG8 8NS Nathalie Guillaume - Community Health Development Worker Samantha O’Malley - Community Health Support Worker Dave Groves - Community Health Support Worker Tel: 01988 501111

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Dumfries & Lower Nithsdale (DG1 and DG2 Area) NWRC, College Drive, Lincluden, Dumfries, DG2 0BX Sheila Campbell - BHC Manager (Regional) / Community Health Development Worker Carolyn Watson - Community Health Support Worker Tel: 01387 279279

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Upper Nithsdale (DG3 and DG4 Area) Nith Buildings, Kelloholm, Sanquhar, DG4 6RX Billie Lockhart - Community Health Development Worker Vicki Monteith - Community Health Support Worker Tel: 01659 67701

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Regional Office - Ryan South, Crichton Hall, Bankend Road, Dumfries, DG1 4TG Kelsey McGowan, Team Secretary Tel: 01387 244433 Sheila Campbell, BHC Manager Tel: 01387 279279

Building Healthy Communities Dumfries and Galloway: Volunteering Information Pack December 2015©

Map of Dumfries and Galloway showing Postcodes.

BHC PROJECTS Building Healthy Communities, along with partners are also involved in pilot projects within Dumfries and Galloway. For further information about these projects, please contact the people below: Thomesena Lochhead – Health & Wellbeing Specialist/Communities Tel: 01387 272776 Midpark Community Cafe: Rebecca Jones – Community Cafe Co-ordinator Suzie Thorpe – Community Cafe Co-ordinator Ryan South, Crichton Hall, Bankend Road, Dumfries, DG1 4TG Tel: 01387 246950 TCAT/Move More Project: Renata Brittainova – Macmillan Support Officer/Monitoring Assistant Ryan South, Crichton Hall, Bankend Road, Dumfries, DG1 4TG Tel: 01387 246950 Helen Mackintosh – Self Management Programme Worker /Move More Macmillan Development Officer for the East of the Region North West Resource Centre, College Drive, Lincluden, Dumfries, DG2 0BX. Tel: 01387 279279 Position Vacant: Self Management Programme Worker /Move More Macmillan Development Officer for the West of the Region

Building Healthy Communities Dumfries and Galloway: Volunteering Information Pack December 2015©

HOW WE WORK TOWARDS THE VISION In each of these areas an Area Partnership has been established (made up of local people, volunteers and organisations). Each Partnership has a Community Health Development Worker (CHDW) and a Community Health Support Worker (CHSW) to encourage participation in local health activities/initiatives, to recruit and support Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) and to work with these volunteers to develop themselves and thus implement the Area Partnership Action Plans. Regional Partnership The Regional Partnership includes the Community Health Development Worker as well as two representatives from each of the 4 Area Partnerships. Representations from relevant partners are also invited, when appropriate. Local Area Partnerships The local Area Partnerships give the opportunity for community members to become actively involved at a local level in promoting health and wellbeing. The programme is designed to enhance the quality of consultation with local people on a range of issues relevant to their area, enabling them to decide if action needs to be taken i.e. initiatives or training. Each Area Partnership has elected officers and is supported by a CHDW and a CHSW. Community Health Development Workers Have a wide range of responsibilities - for example: • • • • •

Recruiting, training and supporting volunteers Developing initiatives Supporting the local area partnership Promoting the programme at local, regional and national levels Working with a wide range of partners towards common goals

Community Health Support Workers Have a wide and varied role - for example: • Provide support to the Community Health Development Worker • Provide support to Community Health Volunteers as and when required • Responsible for all administration duties, financial records, volunteer expenses, files etc • Provide support to the development of initiatives Building Healthy Communities Dumfries and Galloway: Volunteering Information Pack December 2015©

Community Health Volunteers A Community Health Volunteer (CHV) is a person who does something willingly and without being forced or paid to do it, for the benefit of others OR for the benefit of themselves. WHY DO WE NEED VOLUNTEERS? Volunteers can: Bring their assets into their communities. This adds value to the service by enhancing and extending service provision within the community such as: • Using their assets to assist with or run initiatives • Befriending, Transporting and Supporting • Providing information and support individually or within groups Volunteers cannot: • Substitute for paid staff or in any way contribute to cost cutting • Be considered cost free – Volunteers must be offered out of pocket expenses, they must also be offered appropriate training to enable them to carry out their voluntary activities effectively. WHY DO PEOPLE VOLUNTEER? People volunteer for many reasons. The most common are • Achievement and satisfaction from doing something worthwhile • The chance to use existing skills and learn new ones • To get out of the house, make good use of their time, make new friends and develop self-confidence At the very least volunteers can expect • • • •

A smile and to be introduced to staff and other volunteers Clear information about what is expected of them Tasks that are of interest with appropriate training and support A thank you at the end of their volunteering day DON’T BE OUT OF POCKET

Building Healthy Communities aims to remove the barriers that prevent individuals taking part in volunteering and activities. We are able to provide volunteer expenses to all individuals who become a Community Health Volunteer with the BHC programme.

Building Healthy Communities Dumfries and Galloway: Volunteering Information Pack December 2015©

GETTING INVOLVED IN BUILDING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES Building Healthy Communities offers equal opportunities to all individuals who wish to become volunteers. People who are interested in doing something new, learning new skills, accessing training and being supported through the process of making life changes will be offered first step support and can become involved or access the programme in a number of different ways. For example:

Becoming a Participant Becoming a participant can be the first step in becoming involved within the BHC volunteering programme. For example: • Gives the opportunity for people to participate within a range of taster sessions, activities and initiatives • Broadens social networks and builds confidence and skills • Encourages participants to begin to reflect on their current life situation and work towards change with local support if required

Becoming a Buddy “Buddying” offers Community Health Volunteers the opportunity to pass on their skills and experience to others. All “buddies” will receive the same support as other volunteers including: – • An induction to the BHC programme • A needs assessment using evaluation tools suitable to the individuals • Access to training and learning through a Personal Development Plan with ongoing support and 1 to 1 supervision as and when required

Taking up a Volunteer Placement (work experience and work shadowing) • Working with a range of partner organisations, Building Healthy Communities is able to support those volunteers working towards gaining employment or accessing further education to gain practical workplace experience. This is achieved by identifying an appropriate partner agency for a placement opportunity, then providing 3-way support and developmental meetings between volunteer, placement organisation and Community Health Development Worker

Building Healthy Communities Dumfries and Galloway: Volunteering Information Pack December 2015©

Through Active Citizenship (volunteering & participating within the community) This may be of interest to Community Health Volunteers who are interested in participating in decision making processes within the Area Partnership and/or becoming representatives of Building Healthy Communities within a wider context e.g.: rural partnerships and other local organisations. They will receive additional training relevant to their involvement such as: • Committee skills • LEAP training (evaluation & planning tool) • PA (Participatory Appraisal) training (evaluation & consultation tool)

Becoming a Leader (facilitator) Community Health Volunteers will have the opportunity to take a lead role in activities and initiatives or act as a facilitator or organiser. They will receive the same training and support as other Community Health Volunteers plus additional training needed to carry out these roles effectively, e.g.: • Leadership Courses, Team Building and Group Work Skills • Any relevant training which build their capacity in this area Once a decision has been made by an individual that they are interested in becoming a Community Health Volunteer for Building Healthy Communities, they will need to complete an application form, a volunteer agreement and an equal opportunities monitoring form. The CHDW or CHSW will then: • Introduce them to the Volunteer Induction and Personal Record Folder which will be discussed and explained thoroughly • If appropriate, Disclosure Scotland procedures and the need for Disclosure will then be discussed and the appropriate form completed • Staff member or buddy will then discuss once again the opportunities available to each individual, meeting times with staff, personal development plans and the systems BHC use in monitoring the programme and the development of the CHV. • The CHV will then be introduced to a method of evaluating self development and progression. • Personal Development Plans will be developed and reviewed on a regular basis. This will involve a one to one meeting between CHV and CHDW/CHSW. • The CHV will also be encouraged to keep a diary of their experiences, stories of their volunteering, photographs or a scrapbook.

Building Healthy Communities Dumfries and Galloway: Volunteering Information Pack December 2015©

Please take time to read some of the comments and experiences of Volunteers past and present “Volunteering gives me a sense of pride which does wonders for my confidence and well-being” – J “Volunteering for the Jills of all Trades gives me something very different to do. I had never wallpapered or tiled before and now I can take these skills into the community, meet new people and help other folk” – C “Volunteering has given me the confidence to meet new challenges and new people, to give something back to the community and help others. I am now able to give support to others and feel supported myself.” – S “Firstly, when I first arrived at the BHC office, I was a broken shell of a man that had lost my way in life and clearly had no outlet and desperately wanted a better life for myself and my family. The Staff’s patience is second to none and all worked together to build me back up from the brink of despair. Today, I can honestly say that I am now a fully determined individual, radiating with self confidence, enthusiasm, motivation and above all, just happy.” - L “As a volunteer for Building Healthy Communities, I have been given the opportunity to gain new skills and build on skills I already have. This has given my self confidence a real boost, I feel I’m doing something worthwhile that benefit myself and allows me put something back into the community.” – C “I

have changed so much in the last year. I am more outgoing, not scared to give my opinion. I have the confidence to try something new. There has been a change in all aspects of my family’s life and mine.” –C If you feel that this pack has inspired, encouraged or interested you in any way, please don’t hesitate to contact your local area for further assistance or fill out the application form and send it to your local office Thank you

Building Healthy Communities Dumfries and Galloway: Volunteering Information Pack December 2015©

Building Healthy Communities

Community Health Volunteer (CHV) Application Form Name: …………………………………………………………………………………........................... Address: ………………………………………………………………………………………………... ………………………………………………………………………… Post Code: …….................... Home Tel no: …………………………………… Mobile:……………………………………….................. Email: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………

Please tell us about your life experiences, work experiences (paid or unpaid) and future aspirations.

Please tell us about any skills you have (for example, driving a car, playing a musical instrument). Please include your hobbies and interests.

How do you think volunteering with BHC will help you achieve your aspirations?

Signed: ………………………………………………………………………… Date: ………………………………

Building Healthy Communities Dumfries and Galloway: Volunteering Information Pack December 2015©