Volunteering Projects/Schemes
‘The Xtra Project!’
The Xtra Project is an European Engagement Gateway funded project that will run between April 2013 and June 2014.
This Project engages with participants that are furthest away from the labour market, who have a work limiting health condition, and give them the opportunity to develop the skills and experiences needed to increase their employability.
Trained volunteer mentors are placed in a number of voluntary organisations and charities within Neath Port Talbot. These mentors are there to support any potential volunteers who need a little ‘xtra’ support.
Participants will also benefit from training opportunities and employability support.
For further information, please contact Gemma Richards GemmaR@nptcvs.org.uk at Neath Port Talbot CVS Volunteer Centre on 01639 631387.
Social Services Volunteering Scheme
Recruits, supports and trains volunteers on behalf of Neath Port Talbot Social Services Department. Volunteers can be linked with either individuals or groups of people who have been referred by Social Services. These could be children, young people, older people, those with physical or learning disabilities and those with mental health problems.
For more information please contact the project Manager, Gaynor Pickin, GaynorP@nptcvs.org.uk or contact the volunteer centre on 01639 631387.
“ She is a lovely lady – she’s wonderful – she takes such a lot of my worries from my mind.”
Independent Visiting Schemes
Neath Port Talbot Council for Voluntary Service provides independent visitors for children and young people who are looked after by Neath Port Talbot Social Services Department and at Hillside Secure Centre. These schemes provide support and a listening ear for these children and young people who have little, no or inappropriate contact with their parents and family members.
For more information please contact the project Manager, Gaynor Pickin, GaynorP@nptcvs.org.uk or contact the volunteer centre on 01639 631387.
“I knew there was someone there just for me. When you are a child in care it is difficult to find people you can trust and who really care about you – she has been such a positive influence on my life and I will always thank her for what she has done.”
Supporting Families Project
The project will match volunteers with families who have children aged 0-5 years. Volunteers visit on a regular basis and will be able to offer practical help, advice and support to parents, whilst also providing fun activities for the children.
If you would like further details on this project or would like to volunteer yourself, please contact the Project Manager, Beth Walsh, BethW@nptcvs.org.uk, or contact the volunteer centre on 01639 631387.
“she gives me encouragement, is caring, brilliant with the children and is exactly what I need.”
The Enablers Project
Provides support to parents of disabled children through a volunteer befriending service. Our volunteers are themselves parents, carers and family members of children with a disability who can:
- Provide one to one support in a non judgemental and friendly way.
- Signpost to other services
- Provide a listening ear
- Allow parent carers the opportunity to be themselves and not just carers.
For more information please contact the project Manager, Lisa Woodin, LisaW@nptcvs.org.uk or contact the volunteer centre on 01639 631387.
NPT Youth Fund
Neath Port Talbot Youth Fund is a group of young people who volunteer for a very important role, awarding grants of money to young people’s projects in Neath Port Talbot.
The Panel is run by young people, for young people, and has the power to award £50 -£500 per project! Young people who volunteer with the panel have the chance to get involved in all sorts of different activities, from training days and designing a logo for the project! If you would like to volunteer with NPT Youth Fund, please contact Nigel Cram, at Neath Port Talbot CVS on 01639 631387 or NigelC@nptcvs.org.uk
Also, if you are a young person who is interested in applying to NPT Youth Fund please contact Nigel Cram NigelC@nptcvs.org.uk / 01639 631387 or check out our Grant Schemes Page
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Hearty Lives Neath Port Talbot
Hearty Lives project is a new initiative funded through the British Heart Foundation to improve the health of individuals across Neath Port Talbot through increased awareness of healthy life style choices.
People living in Neath Port Talbot and especially men have a higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD), obesity, alcohol abuse and mental ill health than most counties inWales.
Men in the most deprived twenty per cent of the borough on average live 9.2 years less than those in the least deprived, and have 20.1 years shorter healthy life expectancy.
More people in this area experience heart disease than in 19 out of the 21 Welsh Local Authority Areas. The borough also has the highest proportion of people who report a long term limiting illness inWales, reflecting the high levels of ill health and disability in the area.
The British Heart Foundation Cymru and the Premier League Charitable Fund are joining forces in an attempt to cut heart disease in some of Neath Port Talbot poorest areas. They are jointly funding a three year project which will see a new partnership formed between Neath Port Talbot Council for Voluntary Service and Swansea City AFC Community Trust to deliver the Hearty Lives initiative. Hearty Lives will be working closely with Abertawe Bro Morgannwg Public Health Team, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg Health Board (ABMU) and Neath Port Talbot Local Authority.
Our aims
- We are looking to recruit and train community members to deliver positive and accurate health messages in their communities. (All volunteers would receive full training before commencing their volunteering. The training would include volunteer induction training and British Heart Foundation ‘Pass It On’ Training plus relevant courses covering 4 key areas, Smoking, Safe Alcohol Consumption, Healthy Eating and Physical Activity)
- To use Community Health Volunteers as a valuable asset to support individuals to achieve long lasting lifestyle changes.
More information
For more information about Hearty Lives Neath Port Talbot, please contact Natalie Fletcher the Hearty Lives Volunteer Coordinator on 01639 631387 or email NatalieF@nptcvs.org.uk or please visit The British Heart Foundation’s website
Community Links Befriending Project
The Community Links project will address social isolation, exclusion and loneliness particularly in people aged 65 years and over. The overall aim is to enhance quality of life and improve emotional health and wellbeing.
The project will provide a befriending service that will be tailored to individual needs. Through volunteer befrienders, older people will benefit from; companionship, human support and contact, and if they choose to do so, from re-engaging in the lives of their communities.
We have an open referral system, people can refer themselves, or be referred by family, friends, neighbours, GP’s or Social Services.
If you would like further information or if you feel that you could benefit from either project please contact Emma Jones on 01639 631246 or emmaj@nptcvs.org.uk
