Good news for the Volunteer Centre

We have recently had funding success which will enable us to increase the work of the Volunteer Centre. The one thing that always frustrates us is that once funding is secure the deadlines to recruit workers and complete the project are always very tight. We have been busy writing job descriptions, advertising posts and working out where new staff will be based in our already crowded offices. Not surprisingly in our current recession we have had a lot of interest in the new vacancies and we hope to have everyone in place well before Christmas.

The first new piece of work will provide a toolkit for anyone who recruits and retains volunteers. This will look to setting up quality volunteer management programmes which in turn will mean volunteers feel more supported. In addition the worker employed will help 50 small groups with volunteer management.

The second new piece of work is working closely with both GPP and JobCentre Plus helping our growing number of unemployed people in the city. GPP has recently set up the Peterbrough @Back to Business Club', for unemployed people with a focus on professionals and managers recently made redundant. This project is to support them with the running of the club. In addition the Volunteer Centre is working closely with Jobcentre Plus Advisors who are identifying people under the Flexi New Deal Programme wishing to use volunteering as a way of going back into work. Funding from EEDA is at present only guaranteed to March 2010 but it is hoped this can be extended to March 2011.