Welcome to the Volunteer Centres Suffolk web site.

The role of Volunteer Centres

 

Brokerage – Our primary function is to match both individuals and groups with appropriate opportunities in our local communities

 

Marketing Volunteering – Encourage local interest in volunteering and community activity.

     

Good Practice Development - Volunteer Centres promote good practice in working with volunteers to all volunteer involving organisations.

 

Develop Volunteering Opportunities

Volunteer Centres work in close partnership with statutory, voluntary and private sector agencies as well as community groups and faith groups to develop local volunteering opportunities. Volunteer Centres work creatively to develop imaginative, non-formal opportunities for potential volunteers.

 

Policy Response and Campaigning

Volunteer Centres identify proposals or legislation that may impact on volunteering and campaign proactively for a more volunteer-literate and volunteer-friendly climate.

 

Strategic Development of Volunteering

As the local experts on volunteering, Volunteer Centres inform strategic thinking and planning at a regional and national level.

 

Volunteer Centres Suffolk

 

On a local level the formation of Volunteer Centres Suffolk Network has improved the strategic development of volunteering in Suffolk. Volunteer Centres Suffolk ensures that the ideas, views and experiences of the VCS partners are expressed in strategic planning at a regional and national level.

 

Volunteer Centre’s Suffolk policy response and campaigning work ensures that volunteering is high on the local agenda and engaged with by decision makers locally.

 

Project Work

In addition to this core work some Volunteer Centres in Suffolk have separately funded projects to meet local needs in their part of the county.

 

Community Transport

Community Transport/ Social Car Schemes are operated under the auspices of Suffolk County Council by the following Volunteer Centres:

•V C Bury St Edmunds

•V C Forest Heath

•V C Framlingham

 

Befriending

Befriending schemes are operated by the following Volunteer Centres:

•V C Forest Heath

•V C Framlingham

•VC Haverhill

 

Furniture Projects

•VC Framlingham operates a furniture recycling project which supplies recycled furniture to needy families in the Suffolk Coastal Area.

 

Youth Volunteering

Youth Volunteering projects are operated by:

•VC Framlingham

•VC Haverhill

 

Projects for Hard to Reach/ Socially excluded groups

•VC Bury St Edmunds – ‘Reaching Out’

•VC Bury St Edmunds – ‘Opening Doors’   

•VC Bury St Edmunds - International Women’s Group

•VC Haverhill – Supported Volunteering

•VC Lowestoft – Working with volunteers with extra support needs

•VC Lowestoft - Mentoring Service for socially excluded men and women

                 

Gardening/Environmental

•VC Haverhill - environmental volunteering project ‘Go Wild’

•V C Haverhill - Gardening Project