Neath Port Talbot Council for Voluntary Service

Volunteer Fair at Neath Workingmens Club, Tuesday 24th January 2012, 11.00am – 2.00pm see flyer for further information.

‘Volunteering: What’s in it for me?’ is a new DVD that has been produced to promote volunteering to young people within Neath Port Talbot. The DVD showcases the voluntary work of fifteen young people from a range of charities from across Neath Port Talbot who volunteered to appear on the DVD including young volunteers from SNAC who assist children and young people with learning disabilities to take part in a range of activities and a young volunteer from the Alzheimer’s Society, who socialises with the patients in Tonna Hospital and works tirelessly in the café there. Adam Amor now the Managing Director of Buffoon Film and Media felt that his volunteering experience with both the Youth Council and Funky Dragon gave him the opportunity to gain many new skills, increased his confidence and assisted him in being able to set up his own media business. The DVD developed by Neath Port Talbot CVS, with support from the Neath Port Talbot 14-19 Network, was produced by Tornado Films and will be used in a variety of locations such as schools, youth clubs and Neath Port Talbot College as a tool to promote the importance of volunteering. All of the young people who took part gave examples of the many new skills they had developed from volunteering and the enjoyment they had from gaining these skills. They wanted to use their rewarding experiences to motivate other young people to volunteer or to help in their community. In the current economic climate the DVD highlights the massive impact volunteering can have on a young person’s career development or future career prospects. Nigel Cram, Youth Volunteer Development Officer, Neath Port Talbot CVS said ‘For many young people Volunteering experience is more important than ever to add to their CV’s and life experiences and this DVD shows examples of young people in the Neath Port Talbot area who have done just that’

For more information about the DVD please contact Neath Port Talbot CVS on 01639 631387.

Further information if needed:

The following young people who appeared in the DVD can be contacted:

Scott Egan- although works shifts - 07584 220379

Amy Williams- will have more chance of contacting her in the morning - 07583 021596

Adam Amor - 01639 680364 or 07791 341862

If you need anything further from Neath Port Talbot CVS please contact Nigel Cram on 01639 631387 or NigelC@nptcvs.org.uk

A day celebrating the European Year of  Volunteering 2011.

Monday 5th December 2011 at the City Hall, Cardiff, 12.00 -4.30pm

Cultural Services Officer Community Arts, Neath Port Talbot are looking for volunteers to help operate two very large puppets during the xmas parade.

Neath Xmas parade is on Friday 18th November and Pontardawe Xmas Parade is on Friday 2nd December. Volunteers would be needed from 5.15pm to get ready for the 6pm parade which lasts for half an hour.

They are looking for three people, at least one adult to carry the main body and two people aged 11+ for the arms.

If you are interested then please contact Lynda Lawrence at Cultural Services on 01639 889907

Neath Port Talbot CVS and Enterprise in the Valleys are holding a Youth Volunteer Awards Evening on 9th November at Neath Port Talbot College and we are inviting organisations and members of the public to nominate those young people aged between 11 and 25 years that they feel deserve recognition for their volunteering. The deadline for nominations has been extended until Friday 30th September. The awards celebrate the hard work and dedication of young people across the County Borough of Neath Port Talbot.If you would like to nominate an individual or a group please  go to the Youth Volunteer Awards Website and complete the  nomination forms online.

Royal National Institute of Blind People – Researcher – Fundraising – Make a difference in your local community, by joining their already successful team of dedicated fundraising volunteers. they are looking for enthusiastic and friendly individuals to assist within their Community Fundraising department.

Volunteers needed to help research target audiences who are willing to support RNIB Cymru to help raise funds for blind and partially sighted people.

The days and times are flexible to suit you and can be weekdays, evenings or weekends. they would like a commitment of a minimum of 4 hours a month.  If you are interested and would like more information please contact Neath Port Talbot CVS Volunteer Centre on 01639 631387 or info@nptcvs.org.uk.

Volunteers  needed for Girlguiding UK – To help girls and young women to develop emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually so as to make a positive contribution to their community and the wider world. Rainbows are aged 5-6 so their weekly meeting is based around the theme of ‘Look, Learn, Laugh, Love’ and consists of games, stories, crafts and songs. Meetings held at Blaenhonddan Primary School, Tyn-yr-Heol, Main Road, Neath SA10 7PE. If you are interested in and would like more information please contact Neath Port Talbot CVS Volunteer Centre on 01639 631387 or info@nptcvs.org.uk

The Community Transport Association (CTA) is delighted that in his Budget today, the Chancellor of the Exchequer has responded to calls from the CTA and Volunteering England, by extending the HMRC Approved Mileage Allowance Payments (AMAP) rate for passenger payments currently in place for business employees, at 5 pence per passenger per mile, to volunteers.  Therefore, with the 5p increase to the AMAP to 45p per mile for the first 10,000 miles, this will mean that volunteers can now be reimbursed up to 50p per mile tax free, when carrying passengers.  Keith Halstead, Chief Executive of the Community Transport Association UK said “The CTA is extremely pleased that the Chancellor has responded to our request to remove this barrier to volunteering.  Thousands of volunteer drivers across the UK, and, more importantly, the communities that they serve through their social car schemes, will be delighted to hear this news”.Further information is available from the CTA Call Keith Halstead on 07917586147 / 0161 351 1475

The WCVA Green Volunteering project aims to help groups increase the number of green volunteering opportunities while ensuring the quality of experiences for volunteers. To achieve this, the project is looking for groups to get involved in action research (working with WCVA to improve an aspect of your volunteering activity) or impact assessment (demonstrating the value that volunteers bring to your work). If you are interested in getting involved in either project, or just want to find out more, please contact Julie Bush, Green Volunteering Co-ordinator at WCVA on 02920 731774 by 14th March 2011.