NEWS
Volunteering Herts gets £100,000 boost from the Big Lottery Fund
PRESS RELEASE: 15 August 2011
Volunteering Herts, the network of quality accredited Volunteer Centres in Hertfordshire, is delighted to be one of 15 Volunteer Centre networks chosen by Volunteering England to work with them over the next 2 years on a national £1.9m Big Lottery Funded project. It is the BLF's largest ever grant for volunteering and was developed to strengthen volunteering in local communities in response to the effects of the recession and the increased demand for Volunteer Centre services.
The Big Lottery Fund solicited the bid from Volunteering England, which will manage the project nationally and distribute funds to the 15 partners. A £100,000 slice of the total project funding has been secured by Volunteering Herts for a 2 year project.
Loretta Borg, Director of Volunteer Centre Broxbourne & East Herts, said "This 2 year BLF project is a great oppotunity for Volunteer Centres in Hertfordshire. The funding has come at a time when Volunteer Centre services are struggling to meet the increased demand from unemployed people who are accessing our services in order to gain skills and increase their employability through volunteering and personal development and employability training that we provide. We will be appointing a part-time County Development Worker to extend current Volunteer Centre collaborative work and to work with local organisations to help develop new volunteering opportunities and improve volunteer retention through good management.
Although this is a short term project it will demonstrate our ability to respond and be effective in supporting people and communities in difficult times. Beyond this 2 year project, our long term aim is to ensure that all Hertfordshire communities have access to consistent Volunteer Centre services".
Valuing Volunteer Management Awards 2011
Bishops Stortford Museum carries away top prize!
The Valuing Volunteer Management Awards were presented by the High Sheriff of Hertfordshire, Lord Charles Cecil, at the Annual Open Meeting of Volunteer Centres in Herts on July 11th at Beales Hotel, Hatfield. The meeting was attended by over 70 representatives from the voluntary and statutory sector, the Leader and Vice Chairman of Herts County Council and the Mayor of Welwyn Hatfield District Council. The speaker was Tony Edwards, Deputy Chief Executive of Volunteering England. For a full story click here.
Volunteer Centres Herts achieve Quality Accreditation from Volunteering England
Volunteer Centres in Broxbourne & East Herts, Dacorum, Hertsmere, North Herts, Royston, St Albans, Stevenage, Three Rivers and Welwyn Hatfield have achieved VCQA (Volunteer Centre Quality Accreditation) from Volunteering England.
The accreditation involves submitting a substantial portfolio of evidence for external assessment. The evidence must demonstrate that the Centres fulfill the 6 Core Functions of a Local Volunteering Development Agency. Centres which achieve the standard are able to use the VC branding and are recognised as centres of excellence. The Centre Managers (shown in the photo with Tony Edwards, Deputy Chief Executive of Volunteering England) are absolutely delighted with this result. VCQA certificates were presented at the Volunteering Herts Open Meeting on July 11th 2011. Kathe Edwards, Manager of the Volunteer Centre in Three Rivers (furthest left in the photo) co-ordinated the quality accreditation work across the network.
Volunteer Centres Hertfordshire Olympics project gains Inspire Mark
The Volunteering Legacy in Hertfordshire project being run by Volunteer Centres has gained the prestigious Inspire Mark from LOCOG and becomes one of the exceptional projects inspired by the Games across sport, culture, education, sustainability, volunteering and business. We are delighted!
We worked with Herts County Council Libraries to help people who do not have home internet access to apply as Games time volunteers.
Other parts of the project will include encouraging organisations and sports clubs to develop Olympics Inspired opportunities. Watch this space! Learn more about the Inspire Mark ...
Pictured are:- Joseph Ballard, Inspire Programmer, 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games with Hannah Gray, Volunteer Centre Stevenage, Heather Allen, Volunteer Centre Dacorum and Loretta Borg Volunteer Centre Broxbourne and East Herts.
Cheshunt and Waltham Cross Community Website
Broxbourne Council had developed a new community website, initially covering the Cheshunt and Waltham Cross area.
The website provides information about organisations, businesses, crime statistics and services to Cheshunt and Waltham Cross. The Website also provides visitors to the area, such as during the London 2012 Games, with information about accommodation, local tourist attractions and factilities, as well as history and heritage.
The content has been assembled from existing webpages, publications and links to other information sources. Information and maps have been linked to other local websites. There is also information about shopping centres, including parking prices and locations, links to business search tools and relevant websites, such as the Pavilions Centre.
Residents are asked to visit the website and suggest content and additional information that they would find useful and interesting. Please email additional content in the form of images or documents to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
To view the website click here:- www.cheshunt-walthamcross.co.uk
EVENTS
Carnival of Light
The Carnival of Light will be held in Hoddesdon town centre on Saturday 10th December 2011 between 2pm and 7pm.
From 2pm the event will consist of Craft and Charity stalls selling seasonal goods alongside a full afternoon's entertainment programme and children's fairground rides. The Carnival procession wil arrive in the high street around 6pm followed by a display of fireworks.
Further information can be obtained from the Community Safety Team on 01992 785555 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it