Transcript How Southwark Works

An Introduction to
Being Active in the
Community
AIM: To provide an overview of what ‘Being
Active’ means and an explanation as to the
process of becoming an Active Citizen
LEARNING OUTCOMES
•
Understand what Being Active means
•
Understand the different ways that you can be
active
•
Understand the benefits of Being Active
Understand the opportunities that are available to
you
•
Additional knowledge for those wishing to Be Active
•
Knowledge of how the registration and recruitment
process works
What does Being Active mean?
Exercise 1:
Can you answer
‘YES’ to any of
the following?
Have you ever helped a
neighbour with their shopping?
Have you
ever
answered a
questionnaire
about the
quality of a
public service
you receive?
??
Have you ever taken part in a
campaign to change or improve
something in your
neighbourhood?
?
Do you get involved in
community events?
If you answered Yes to any of the
questions, though you may not realise it,
you are an active citizen!
Being active is about:
• Being involved in your
community
• Having your say, and
expressing your views
• Taking part in the decisions
that affect you
The different ways you can Be Active
• GOOD NEIGHBOUR – Helping a neighbour,
responding to the needs of friends or acquaintances
• CITIZEN GOVERNOR – Lay Magistrate, School
Governor, Charity Trustee, Housing Association
Board Member
• MANAGED VOLUNTEER – working in a charity
shop, desk administration, befriending schemes
• CONSULTED CITIZEN – View Giver, Community
Council, completing surveys
• COMMUNITY ACTIVIST – Campaigner, organising a
network, discussion forums, lobbying
• COMMUNITY GROUP MEMBER – Women's group,
art club, gardening club
What is a Community Group Member?
• Someone who is part of
either an organised
community group or an
informal collection of
people who come
together for a purpose or
unite around an issue.
• E.g. citizens may be part
of a regular play group
to which they bring their
children.
What is a Consulted Citizen / View Giver?
• Public bodies such as Southwark Council,
Southwark Primary Care Trust or
Transport for London want to involve
people and communities in improving the
planning and delivery of the services they
provide.
• They consult people by engaging with
them and asking them what they think.
• Public bodies can engage with people via
public meetings, citizen panels, media
forums, workshops, surgeries, public
exhibitions, surveys / questionnaires
• What should I expect as a Consulted
Citizen / View Giver?
What is a Managed Volunteer?
Exercise 2:
FACTS & MYTHS
Sort through the cards provided and
divide the facts from the myths about
volunteering. When you have finished
stick them up on the flip chart paper.
Definition:
Volunteering is generally
described as an unpaid activity
where someone gives their
time to help an organisation or
an individual who they are not
related to.
The differences between a volunteer
and an employee
As a volunteer:
• You do not get paid (but you may get
your expenses met
• You do not have a contract of
employment, but a volunteer’s
agreement
• Roles are more flexible and ‘tailor made’
Similarities between a volunteer
and an employee
•
•
•
•
•
You have to go through an application process
You may have to attend an interview
You are working within a role description
You have a supervisor/manager
You will have the initial challenges of getting to know
people and feeling comfortable with what you are
doing
• You have to work within an organisation’s policies and
procedures
• You are a representative of that organisation
What should I expect as a Volunteer?
• You should have an induction where you are told about
the organisation and where policies are explained to you –
• You should be told who your supervisor is and how to
contact them. It is important that you have a named
supervisor who you can go to with any problems or
queries.
• You should receive adequate training to be able to carry
out your role. The exact nature of the training you receive
will depend on the role, but you will probably need at least
basic training about the tasks that you will be doing.
• Reimbursement of expenses
• Insurance cover
• A reference
Opportunities available to you
• Office – Develop your IT, administrative and
research skills
• Marketing/Media – Desktop publishing skills,
opportunities in press, PR and event
management
• Community Work – Areas such as regeneration,
community consultation, organisational support,
business advice, Black Minority Ethnic work and
disability support
• Advice work – If you want to gain counselling
and advice skills you could do so volunteering on
telephone help lines, at a Citizen Advice Bureau,
advice and advocacy projects
More opportunities…
• Business, management or support – Skills in
HR, marketing and fundraising
• Teaching & Training – Develop skills through
helping with Adult or child education projects,
including sport
• Children & young people – Within schools;
teachers assistant, homework clubs, mentoring or
summer schemes (CRB)
• Practical – Gardening, bricklaying, decorating,
house building
• Social care – (care of elderly, mental health,
homelessness and disabilities
Who can be an Active Citizen?
The simple answer is:
ANYONE!
You do not need any previous experience or
special skills to volunteer
Think about what special experiences you can
bring with you
What are the benefits of Being Active
and volunteering?
“Improve the quality of life in
you community”
“Gain
new skills”
“Builds confidence and self esteem”
“IMPROVE YOUR ENGLISH”
“Meet new people”
“Help
People”
“Improve relations
between different
communities in
your area”
“Have
fun!”
“Influencing
/changing
something in
your area”
More benefits…
“Could be your first step into employment”
“You get the
chance to check out
whether this area
is right for you”
“FREE TRAINING
could cost you £££ otherwise”
“Stops your skills from going rusty”
“EXCELLENT REFERENCES”
“Ease yourself back into work”
“Experience
different “Build up contacts to help find a paid job”
Cultures”
Why do organisations want to
involve Active Citizens?
• By involving volunteer’s the community is
given a voice and the community has a
stake in what the organisation does /
delivers
• Volunteer’s can steer and shape services
• Community cohesion – building links with
other groups
• To respond to a specific service / need
Why does the government want to
encourage Being Active?
• Community Empowerment White Paper, Communities
in Control: Real People, Real Power sets out
government’s commitment to encouraging active
citizenship with measures such as extending the duty
to involve and the duty on local authorities to respond
to petitions.
• WHY?
– Greater understanding of how government works
– Greater understanding of the reasons for decisions
– Greater ownership of decisions. Local authorities are
better able to respond to local needs through
engagement with people
Obstacles to Being Active
“Maybe I can’t find
the time”
“Is there a minimum age for
Being Active?”
“Will Being Active cost me anything?”
“There is nothing I feel passionate about”
“Will Being Active affect my benefit payments?”
“What if
I am ill
one day?”
“I
don’t
have
any
skills”
“Do I need to hold a UK passport
or be a British national to volunteer?”
Registration
& Application
Registration & Application
VOLUNTEERING
1. Register with your local Volunteer Centre
2. We will send you 8-15 opportunities that match
your interests / needs
3. Read through the role descriptions, days/time
needed, location etc
4. Select your preferred roles and phone contact
person
5. Ask any questions (such as whether support
and training are provided)
6. Decide which opportunity best matches your
needs / interests and apply for it
The Recruitment Process
• Interview / informal chats
• References
– (academic, professional, family)
• CRB checks
• Training and induction
Becoming Active:
1. Register with the Active Citizen Hub
2. Contact or attend your local Community
Council meeting
3. Join a network – who else is interested in
the same thing?
4. Go on to further training at the Active
Citizen Hub
Important questions to ask yourself
1. Why do you want to be
an Active Citizen?
2. What do you want to
gain from this
experience?
3. Can you commit to the
time/days you have
agreed to?
4. What group of people
would you like to help?
Myths and Stereotypes
Have we covered all of the
facts and myths brought up
earlier in the training session?
Next steps
Complete registration forms and send to:
Volunteer Centre Southwark
FREEPOST Lon 15216
London SE1 9BR
Tel: 0800 018 5692 / 0207 403 2936
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.volunteercentres.org.uk
AIM: To provide an overview of what Being
Active means and an explanation as to the
process of becoming an Active Citizen
LEARNING OUTCOMES
•
•
•
•
•
Understand what Being Active means
Understand the different ways that you can be
active
Understand the benefits of Being Active
Understand the opportunities that are available to
you
Additional knowledge for those wishing to Be Active
Knowledge of how the registration and recruitment
process works
Our Contact Details
Tel: 0800 018 5692 / 0207 403 2936
Email:
[email protected]
Web:
www.volunteercentres.org.uk
Web: www.do-it.org.uk