Feet First in Furness—Programme of Led Walks (Email)

Volunteer Centre (Email)

Organisational Development Project (Email)

Community Learning Champions (Email)

Working with the Third Sector for Positive Change

Cumbria CVS in Barrow-in-Furness

Projects that Barrow Council for Voluntary Service is involved with

Projects

Gentle walks in the Barrow area designed to provide a weekly opportunity for exercise for groups of people. 

Length about 1.5 miles,  usually 50 minutes to an hour.   Trained leaders will meet you on arrival at the starting point. 

Starting points are: 

Mondays: Dalton Tudor Square 11:00am - walks round the old town 

Tuesdays: ASDA foyer 11:00am - Channelside walk 

Wednesdays: Walney Mill Lane Sure Start Cafe 11:00am - Walney Shoreline   

Thursdays: Greengate Street Sure Start Cafe 10:30am - Barrow Park

Independent Walks

Free pocket packs are available with details of 16 independent walks of similar level developed by the WHI office in Barrow.  

Ring Richard Scott on 01229 823144 or email whi@barrowcvs.org.uk  for more details.

The Organisational Development Projects aim is to build the capacity in the voluntary and community sector of a wide variety of organisations.

The main focus is to work on a one to one basis with a range of organisations, which result from enquires and referral made from publicity and other agencies.

The project is delivered by the Organisational Development Officer who assist organisations to identify their development needs which can include advice on writing constitutions, identifying their training needs and signposting them to relevant training courses.

In addition to this assisting them with applications to funding sources as well as a myriad of other issues which the organisation may need assistance with.

The Organisational Development Officer as well as working with organisations on their development needs, also co-ordinates the Barrow Funding Forum, which meets on a quarterly basis, this group has a varied membership which is drawn from local funders the local authority and representation from the Furness Community Network.

A new initiative, which the project has taken on, is the organisation of Action Learning Sets, which are groups of individuals who perform a similar role, such as Chief Officers, Volunteer Co-Ordinators and Trustees. These informal learning sessions, are designed to assist attendees, with a range of issues and help them to learn from each other, and can form the basis of informal network in the sector locally.

One of the major tasks of the project is to organise an annual funding fair which, is held in Barrow in Furness, this is an idea opportunity to local organisations and groups to come and meet with funders and discuss their project proposals and they fit in with each funders criteria.

Learning Champions encourage and support members of the community to start learning new skills and enjoy the benefits that learning can bring.

Learning champions can help find a suitable course for you. Would you like to take a computer course, improve your Maths and English, learn a new skill or take up a new hobby? Talk to a volunteer Learning Champion who can give you information about local courses and venues, help you enrol, give you support, go with you to a learning provider or signpost you in the right direction to get career or learning advice.

Learning Champions are trained volunteers who offer help that is: Free, confidential, well-informed, friendly, impartial, voluntary, informal and friendly.

Start your journey on the learning path today!

The Volunteer centre is for people interested in getting involved in volunteering to find out about the choice available. The service offers confidential, impartial and independent advice and information to enable people to make an informed choice without any pressure.

The service also registers volunteer opportunities, arranges informal introductions between individuals and organisations, can accompany individuals to meet groups and can help with out-of-pocket expenses. The Volunteer centre also acts as a Registered Body with the Criminal Records Bureau in order to assist with obtaining Disclosure information where this is appropriate due to the nature of the work. For more information on CRB please e-mail Lisa.

The centre is involved in promoting volunteering, enabling participation, providing information/training/research, commenting and campaigning, developing volunteering in partnership, and playing an active role regionally and nationally.

Good practice information is available for individuals and organisations together with a range of help sheets on issues connected to volunteering.

The centre also has printed a "Guide to Good Practice" which is available free of charge, if you would like a copy, then please e-mail Lisa.

The centre also organises networking events for volunteer organisers and can offer a range of information to assist with volunteer management. IF you want to discuss your organisation /group and volunteering, the VC co-ordinator, Lisa Corcoran is available to meet with you.