Voluntary Action Arun & Chichester

DSC’S Bitesize Summer Learning. Designed to fit in with your summer, we've put together a special new series of short, sharp 1-hour sessions, all taking place in August. These sessions are just £35 and consist of concise information, providing you with key points to take away

DSC’S Bitesize Summer Learning - Directory of Social Change We know that tough times shouldn’t mean we stop learning. In fact, quite the opposite! So, we’ve pulled together a list of key topics for charities and built our Bitesize Summer Learning sessions, and we’ll be training in a Zoom room near you this summer. All sessions listed are only £35! Dif...

VAAC's members working together to shine bright in Chichester. Alexander Koltsov, the member of the Volya Community Group, which aims to promote Ukrainian art and singing in Chichester took part in this summer's Big Hoot project with Petrikov paining Owl

Art Trail - Big Hoot Chichester and Arundel Watch out for the owls in Chichester and Arundel! A free event, where you get to explore the town centres and enjoy art, all in aid of children's hospice care. From 10 July - 1 September

Drug & Alcohol Partnership and CGL would like to invite you to a lunch and learn session providing you with an update on current drug and alcohol issues, and local services. Thursday 18th July, 12.30 - 13.30 727dcd97-b795-4a3b-b2f3-e34f043f2493@257fdadc-5c0c-4dfa-977e-9386dfd72d22" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/727dcd97-b795-4a3b-b2f3-e34f043f2493@257fdadc-5c0c-4dfa-977e-9386dfd72d22

Our latest e-bulletin is ready to read including what's happening over the summer with events and training across our districts https://aidemail.co.uk/campaigns/vaac/CNkdpZdvcDqGypp4jv4YJTBjo

Win a fire crew for a day! - West Sussex County Council Community organisations in the Chichester district can apply for support from their local fire crew to help complete a project.

We would like to point you to the new dedicated page on VAAC's website for members and partners newsletters. With lots happening across our areas and countywide, we don't want you to miss out on regular updates https://www.vaac.org.uk/news/newsletters
Keep sending in your news!

Become a Community Owner of the Chichester Bike Project. Now up and running and crowdfunding https://chichesterbikeproject.com/

Save the Date!
Thursday 12 September 2024 Coffee Connections
Coultershaw Heritage Site, Station Road, Petworth, GU28 0JE (10am - 12pm)

You are invited along to our next Coffee Connections, our peer-to-peer support drop-in sessions for anyone working with or supporting volunteers. Join us for coffee, biscuits and a chance to chat to other volunteer managers/co-ordinators. A chance to meet your local colleagues, ask questions or raise concerns, or just to catch up informally over a cuppa!

2025 Calendar Competition. Angmering would like to showcase all they have to offer and need your help by sending in your photos https://mcusercontent.com/8e58e5514735fe897f02d0c9d/images/1ec321ad-7b70-56a1-e8f1-d47157c0dd02.png

Come and join Tuppenny Barn at their annual Open Day. https://www.tuppennybarn.co.uk/events/open-day-sunday-30th-june/
Look around their smallholding where you will find the favourite cream tea tent, PYO from the fruit cage, bee talks by their beekeeper, participate in children's activities and find out more about their work in the community and lots more.

Fundraising Everywhere - Data Protection for Fundraisers Webinar- important changes to the law you need to know about. With Mark Burnett, CEO, of Hope & May. June 27th 2024, 12-1pm https://www.fundraisingeverywhere.com/product/data-protection-for-fundraisers-important-changes-to-the-law-you-need-to-know-about/?utm_source=email&utm_medium=mailchimp&utm_campaign=2406DataProtectionWebinarEmail1&utm_content=header+1&goal=0_5ee52c35b0-a59c3a5913-520328679&mc_cid=a59c3a5913&mc_eid=3858a50aa3

My Sisters' House CIO has a vacancy for a Senior Fundraising and Communications Manager https://www.mysistershouse.info/vacancies
closing date for applications is Friday 19th July, 5.00pm

Vacancies — My Sisters' House   Job VacanciesWould you like to become a part of the My Sisters’ House team? See below for more information about the available staff positions.   Benefits of working for My Sisters’ HouseAnnual Leave entitlement 28 days + bank holidaysEmployee Assistance ProgrammeIn house counsellingCharity ...

Small Charities Week 24 - 28 June. Join us for the biggest celebration of small charities - get involved!

Small Charity Week Small Charity Week amplifies, supports and connects small charities right across the UK. Join us to empower your team, access practical support, and make connections.

The Royal Voluntary Service Good Neighbours service provides support to older people living in West Sussex who are living alone and are socially isolated. Good Neighbours offer a free time-limited service of weekly volunteer visits for up to 12 weeks’, with the aim of helping older people re-engage with their local community, become more independent and feel less socially isolated.

Please find out more here: https://www.facebook.com/RoyalVoluntaryServiceWestSussex

Get booked in for .

We know work and family commitments can make it difficult to find the time to attend your screening appointment. If you have been invited to attend screening and are registered with a GP in the area, did you know you can request a Saturday appointment? See details below and get booked in!

*Register now* for the Ask Eve Cervical Screening Awareness Week webinar next Monday, 24th June from 5:30-6:30pm

Find out what's happening in your area with the latest newsletter from VAAC ready to view https://aidemail.co.uk/campaigns/vaac/2ukOrXNIdJicmGE9uGRh2siJ5

Join the conversations during

Refugees Week 17 - 23 June 2024
As part of Refugee Week next week, the Wreath of Friendship – a Ukrainian community artwork – will be on display in Chichester Cathedral, celebrating the British response to the Ukrainian humanitarian crisis, the mutual enrichment of cultures and the joy of craftsmanship.

The Wreath of Friendship will be on display in Chichester Cathedral from the 17 of June until the end of the month.

Apply to the Co-op local community fund https://causes.coop.co.uk/ Funding is for projects that support this year’s themes of people and our planet. Deadline: midnight, 7th July 2024.

Co-op The Local Community Fund supports projects in Co-op members’ communities that help to create Sustainable Futures for People and our Planet.

Our Volunteer Fair with Chichester City Council on Saturday was a great chance for potential volunteers to come and chat with local organisations to see what roles they have available.
Several organisations had volunteers sign up on the day 👏 Thank you to all the local groups who attended; it was also a good opportunity for networking with local colleagues.

For the last day of Volunteers' Week, local volunteer Sh*tou tells us his story.

Sh*tou came to the area as an asylum seeker, and recently attended one of our events to talk about his volunteering journey in this country. An amazing man who just wants to give back to the local community, Sh*tou currently volunteers at Bridge to Unity, Stonepillow, Graylingwell Chapel and UKHarvest!

He says, “Before I arrived in the UK, a lot of things happened to me. I used to be a designer, I had my own career and I have a beautiful family. But that all changed. I am a proud person, and that is one of the reasons I volunteer; I want to give something back.
I’m always thinking, what can I do for this country when I’ve been given so much? I feel very happy to be a volunteer, and I want to thank everyone I meet there. All I have to offer is blood, toil, sweat and tears.”

You can read Sh*tou's full story here: www.vaac.org.uk/perch/resources/sh*tou.pdf

We are looking forward to seeing lots of our organisations at our Volunteer Fair today, for the The Big Help Out weekend in Volunteers' Week 🤩

Why not pop along to Chichester City Council, North Street, Chichester, between 10am-2pm to come and chat to local charities about their volunteering opportunities.

For Volunteers' Week, we chatted with Annette who volunteers at Ferring Country Centre.

She says, “I used to work in the scientific civil service. After having children, I went to work in a mainstream school, but then I had an opportunity to work with children and adults with disabilities. I really enjoyed working with them - they were just lovely. That’s how it all started!
After I moved down to West Sussex to be near my daughter, someone approached me to ask if I might like to volunteer. I now volunteer in the woodwork department at Ferring Country Centre (as well as on the pétanque terrain!): We’re currently making wooden sheep, pigs and llamas to go around the centre, then we going to make some to sell in the visitors centre. The day service customers are so enthusiastic, I supervise them sawing, sanding and building the wooden planters, I can really see them developing and learning.”

Plinth Demo - Community Data Platform
Wednesday 3rd July Online (12pm - 1.30pm)

Community Works, in association with PLINTH is organising this online demonstration of a community data collection platform Plinth to our members and networks. Learn more about a community online case management system, including data collection, evaluation, monitoring and reporting, booking systems, and AI grant writing

Plinth Demo - Community Data Platform Demo of a community data collection platform (data collection, evaluation, monitoring and reporting, booking systems and AI grant writing)

Next series of training from Lucy Stone - Writing for Impact: How can you make your applications and letters to trusts and foundations stand out. Thursday 13th June, 10am - 11.30am https://www.tickettailor.com/events/voluntaryactionarunchichester/1157635
Book your place now.

Volunteers do amazing things! Here you can find out what they get up to!

Celebrating Volunteer Lives : AideMail Monday 3 June – Sunday 9 June, celebrating 40 years of Volunteers’ Week.Volunteers’ Week is a chance to say thank you for the fantastic contribution volunteers make.

During Volunteers' Week, we are sharing some stories of local volunteers.

Today, Emma from Aldingbourne Country Centre tells us about volunteer Lois. “Lois works with us 3 times a week. She brings some brilliant ideas to the group. One of her main ones was making little driftwood houses – we turned them into key holders. I took some to the South of England show and they all sold out! We are currently making some more to put in the shop. Lois also has other ideas to make some coasters with resin since she is the resin queen!”

Congratulations to Community Transport Sussex for the launch of their Chichester Dial-a-ride service. This is much needed in the area and will be a lifeline for many we're sure. Well done to all involved!

Watch their launch video below

CTS Chichester Launch - Jason Flemyng & Miriam Margolyes Endorsement Take a look at our official launch for the Chichester Dial A Ride Depot. It was great for Chichesters' Mayor and town crier to add a bit of glitz to the occa...