Ow Bist Community Kitchen Opportunity! COME & FIND OUT MORE! 2pm-4pm | Monday 14 Sept READ MORE Frequently visited pages: COMMUNITY HUBS VOLUNTEER ADVICE YOUTH SUPPORT Ի՞նչ է FVAF-ը: FVAF-ը նշանակում է Forest Voluntary Action Forum: Մենք աջակցություն ենք առաջարկում տեղի քաղաքացիներին, համայնքային խմբերին և գործողություններին՝ նրանց համար ամենակարևոր բաներն անելու համար: Սա ներառում է հետևյալը. աջակցություն և զարգացման խորհրդատվություն վերապատրաստում տեղեկատվություն ցանցային հանդիպումներ դյուրացնելով ներկայացուցչությունը կամավորների հավաքագրում կամավորների տեղավորում և աջակցություն Մենք նաև իրականացնում ենք բազմաթիվ նախագծեր տեղական համայնքի հետ և նրանց համար, ինչպիսիք են Դեկանի երիտասարդական ասոցիացիան, տոնական գործունեության արշավները, Forest Youth Music Network-ը, The GEM Project-ը, The Forest Compass Directory-ը, Walking with Wheels-ը և շատ ավելին: Լրիվ մանրամասների համար տես մեր նախագծերի էջը: «Ավելի ուժեղ համայնքներ կառուցելը Դինի անտառը» Իմանալ ավելին JOIN OUR MAILING LIST Get the latest community news and check out exciting volunteering opportunity in or around the Forest of Dean... Գնացեք Facebook Useful publications: FREE directory of the many volunteering opportunities available locally... DOWNLOAD Մեր գործընկերները We work with so many amazing and supportive partners. Find out more here... How to contact us Forest Voluntary Action Forum Ow Bist Forest Community Space Dockham Road Cinderford , Glos. GL14 2AQ Email us: contact@fvaf.org.uk Tel: 01594 822073 Copyright © 2021 Forest Voluntary Action Forum. All Rights Reserved. Forest Voluntary Action Forum is a charity (1141126) and company limited by guarantee (07557852) registered in England and Wales. The registered address is The Belle Vue Centre, Cinderford, Glos, GL14 2AB. Travelling in the Forest of Dean Forest Of Dean Climate Action Partnership has created a handy interactive guide to travelling in the Forest of Dean. DOWNLOAD HERE

Our Team. Our head office is based in Cinderford but everyday you will meet members of the FVAF team out and about supporting the community and building strong partnerships with other local organisations and groups... Chris Brown Chief Executive Officer Nick Penny Head of Operations Deb Cook Head of Development Catherine Best Communications & Fundraising Manager Teresa Allewell Finance Manager Cherry Potter-Irwin Finance & Administration Officer Fliss Simister Youth Team Manager Lisa Robertson Youth Development Officer Katy Virgo Youth Development Officer Courtney Middleton Project Coordinator Jodie Atkins Youth Support Worker Adam Lambert Youth Projects Manager Krissie Carter Neighbourhood Connector Mark Evans Neighbourhood Connector Alex Digby Community Team Manager Melanie Benn Community Builder Teresa Rose Community Connectors' Facilitator Pete Harper Community Connector Flora Croysdale Digital Inclusion Community Builder Piers Cardiff Forest of Dean Climate Action Partnership Coordinator Becky Moorcroft Forest of Dean Climate Action Partnership Coordinator Meet our trustees. We have a highly skilled board of trustees who meet regularly to monitor, challenge and guide what FVAF does now, and in the future. Bob Rhodes Chair of Trustees Josh Bond Vice Chair of Trustees Jonathan Gault Trustee - Treasurer Patricia Le Rolland Trustee Sid Phelps Trustee Diana Martin Trustee Rob Toomer Trustee Roger Deeks Trustee Interested in becoming a FVAF Trustee? Talk to us! Contact Chris is ceo@fvaf.org.uk 01594 822073

Our partners We work with, and are supported by so many fantastic organisations. The projects and services we deliver in partnership with others, and the funding we receive makes it possible for us to support voluntary activity and community action in the Forest of Dean. These are just some of the organisations we currently work closely with:

FVAF-ի մասին FVAF-ի մասին Մեր պատմությունը Մենք կամավոր ծառայության խորհուրդն ենք և Դեկանի անտառի կամավորական կենտրոնը: Մենք օգնություն ենք տրամադրում Շրջանի հարյուրավոր կամավոր և համայնքային կազմակերպություններին, որոնք իրենց հերթին ավելի լավ են կարողանում իրականացնել իրենց աշխատանքը տեղական համայնքում և դրա համար: 1994թ.-ին ձևավորվելուց ի վեր մենք զարգացրել ենք համբավ՝ խրախուսելու, ընդունելու և ընդլայնելու համայնքային գործողությունները Դինի անտառում: Մենք հավատում ենք, որ համայնքային մոտեցումների միջոցով մենք քաղաքացիներին հնարավորություն ենք տալիս զարգացնել հմտություններ, ճկունություն և սոցիալական կապիտալ՝ ապրելու ավելի երջանիկ, ավելի լավ կապակցված կյանքով: Գրասենյակային ծառայություններ Աշխատակազմ և հոգաբարձուներ Քաղաքականություն Մատչելիություն և կայունություն

Lydney Link up soundbite Lydney Link Up 00:00 / 04:01 Lydney Link Up Julie at the Lydney Habour 00:00 / 01:17 Conversation with Vilnis Lydney Link Up 00:00 / 02:17 Lydney Link Up Mia's experience 00:00 / 01:49

Our publications Forest Compass Edition 3 Volunteering in the Forest of Dean FVAF Annual Report 2024/25 FVAF Annual Accounts 2024/25 FVAF Annual Report 2023/24 FVAF Annual Report 2022/23 FVAF Annual Report 2021/22 Insights into the Experience of commissioning for small VCSE organisations in the Forest of Dean By Chris Brown My Networks publications My Networks Scoping Project Report, Oct 2022 by Simon Price Supporting documents: Mental Health Scoping Project – Survey Results Co-production – How we facilitated My Networks Scoping Report The Forest of Dean Mycelium Mental Health Project A report from the Undergrowth by Simon Price, Anwen Jenkins, Pete Harper, Miranda Thomason and Teresa Rose Useful community publications The Digital Divides Report and Recommendations By Digital Divides Steering Group Learnings from the Forest By Forest of Dean Climate Action Partnership (FODCAP), Holding The Space, Thirty Percy, and CCRI.

Volunteer Heroes Crowned! The community turned out in force on Wednesday 7 September to see local volunteers crowned at a glittering awards celebration evening we held at the AccXel Training Centre in Cinderford. We created the Forest Volunteer Awards to recognise and celebrate the amazing efforts of local volunteers in the Forest of Dean. Earlier this Summer, we asked local people to nominate those volunteer heroes who have demonstrated exceptional and outstanding support to the local community over the past 12 months. The response was amazing and we received hundreds of nominations. An expert panel had the tough task of shortlisting the nominations and picking the winners. However, one category - Volunteer of the Year – Peoples’ Champion – was decided by a public vote with almost 900 votes cast. The winners were crowned at a special evening, held at the stunning conference space at the impressive AccXel Training Centre, which was provided for free to FVAF by local construction company the KW Bell Group, who were the main sponsors of the event. Volunteer of the Year went to Les Cockle, volunteer fundraiser at Great Oaks Hospice whilst Forest of Dean Host Ukrainians and Ukraine Community Hub jointly picked up the Community Voluntary Group of the Year. Young volunteers were celebrated with Keira Stone, volunteer at disability group, Together We Can crowed under 16 years old Young Volunteer of the Year, whilst in the 17 – 25 years old category, Chloe Whatley and Jordan Terrel were rewarded for their tireless hard work volunteering at the Sea Cadets in Lydney. Lisa Tootell was crowned Outstanding New Volunteer of the Year for her amazing impact for the Girl Guides in the Forest of Dean and Hips Social were recognised for supporting the local community and investing in improving the local area. The winners were presented with an award, a framed certificate and £100 Amazon voucher, kindly provided by sponsors the KW Bell Group. Deb Cook, Volunteering Manager at FVAF said “So much of what happens within our community is because of people who give their time and energy for free. We think that recognising the amazing efforts of volunteers and organisations is incredibly important which is why we have been so pleased by the reaction of the local people who have supported these awards by nominating and voting.” Deb added, “It has been an incredible evening and we are so lucky and proud of the strength of the amazing voluntary sector we have in the Forest.” Master of Ceremony for the Forest Volunteer Awards was Kate Clark, BBC Radio Gloucestershire presenter who kept the guests entertained with her expert hosting skills. Award winners were announced by guest presenter; Roger Deeks (FVAF Trustee), Nicola Bird and Yvonne Bell (KW Bell and main sponsor), Sue Middleton (Verderer of the Forest of Dean), Andy Lewis MBE (PT2 Para triathlete), Neill Ricketts (Founder of Versarien and chair the Forest of Dean Economic Partnership). The celebration evening was made possible thanks to generous sponsorship for the following local organisations: KW Bell Group and AccXel Training Centre – main sponsors Hot Tubs Rock Versarien The Midcounties Co- Operative FOREST VOLUNTEER AWARD WINNERS: Volunteer of the Year – Peoples’ Champion WINNER: Les Cockle – Great Oaks Hospice Highly Commended: Hannah McGowan (FOD Hosts of Ukrainians Support Group), Martin Elsmore (The Golden Triangle Club), Steve Gregory (FVAF / Walking with Wheels) and Mark Jones (Community First Responder SWASFT) Community Voluntary Group of the Year WINNER: FOD Hosts of Ukrainians Support Group and Ukraine Community Hub Highly Commended: Together We Can, Newnham Archery Club, Dean Radio, The Friends of Longhope Church and The Rewild Project Outstanding New Volunteer WINNER: Lisa Tootell – Girlguiding FOD South Division Highly Commended: Sarah Maxfield – Berry Hill Memorial Institute Young Volunteer of the Year 16yrs & under WINNER: Keira Stone – Together We Can Highly Commended: Toby Niblett – Lydney Youth Hub Young Volunteer of the Year 17 – 25yrs JOINT WINNERS: Jordan Terrell and Chloe Whatley – FOD Sea Cadets Community Impact Award WINNER: HIPs Social Highly Commended: Recycle Shop CIC Newent and Wilde Earth Journeys

Քայլել անիվներով. հաճախակի տրվող հարցեր Ի՞նչ է «Tramper»-ը: «Tramper»-ը ամբողջ տեղանքով էլեկտրական շարժական մեքենա է: Այն ունի մինչև 4 մղոն/ժ սահմանափակ արագություն, որն իդեալական է քայլողներին կամ փոքր երեխաներին հեծանիվներով ուղեկցելու համար: Trampers-ի ամբողջական ճշգրտումը կարող է լինել գտնվել այստեղ : Ո՞վ կարող է օգտվել այս ծառայությունից: Անիվներով քայլելը բաց է 14 տարեկանից բարձր և 25-ից ցածր քաշ ունեցող ցանկացած քարի համար, ով դժվարանում է քայլել ժամանակավոր կամ մշտական շարժունակության դժվարությունների պատճառով: Ի՞նչ երթուղիներով կարող եմ օգտագործել այն: Հասանելի երթուղիները ներառում են դեպի Սայմոնդի Յաթ ժայռ և դեպի Վայ գետ՝ Սայմոնդս Յաթ՝ Forest Holidays-ից և Cyril Hart Arboretum-ից, Mallards Pike-ը և Family Cycle Trail-ի մասերը The Speech House-ից: Աշխատանքի ընդունվելիս կտրամադրվեն երթուղիների քարտեզներ։ Ե՞րբ է հնարավոր վարձել: Tramper-ը կարող է վարձել շաբաթը 7 օր 9:00 - 5:00 (ձմռանը ժամերը կարող են ավելի կարճ լինել, որպեսզի վերադարձնեք մինչև մթնշաղ): Ինչպե՞ս կարող եմ պատվիրել մեկը: Խնդրում ենք նախօրոք ամրագրել ձեր Tramper-ը մինչև օրը՝ հիասթափությունից խուսափելու համար: Խնդրում ենք ուղղակիորեն կապվել թրամփերի կայքերի հետ՝ պատվիրելու համար: Անտառային արձակուրդների համար զանգահարել 01594 837165 Խոսքի տան համար զանգահարել 01594 822607 Որքա՞ն արժե Tramper վարձելը: Tramper-ն արժե ընդամենը 2,50 ֆունտ մեկ ժամվա ընթացքում: Առաջին անգամ օգտագործողների համար կա նաև տարեկան 10 ֆունտ ստերլինգ անդամավճար Countryside Mobility-ին կամ 2,50 ֆունտ ստեռլինգ երկշաբաթյա համտեսի նստաշրջանի համար: Իսկ եթե ես նախկինում երբեք չեմ օգտագործել դրանցից մեկը: Մի անհանգստացեք: Դրանք շատ պարզ և անվտանգ են շահագործման մեջ, և յուրաքանչյուր օգտվողին կտրվի լիարժեք ինդուկցիա՝ ապահովելու համար, որ նա իրեն ապահով և հարմարավետ զգա՝ հաղթահարելու մեր զարմանալի արահետները: Իսկ եթե ես լրացուցիչ օգնության կարիք ունենամ: Մենք խնդրում ենք, որ բոլորը ուղեկցվեն արահետներով, որպեսզի միշտ ինչ-որ մեկը ձեզ հետ լինի: Եթե ցանկանում եք փորձել Tramper-ը, նախքան նրան վարձելը, խնդրում ենք զանգահարել մեր կենտրոններից որևէ մեկը՝ պայմանավորվելու համար: Ինչո՞ւ ես պետք է դառնամ Countryside Mobility-ի անդամ: Countryside Mobility-ը պատասխանատու է Trampers-ների տրամադրման համար, և այդ իսկ պատճառով դրանք առաջարկվում են նման մատչելի գներով: Նրանք նաև աշխատում են ապահովելու համար, որ յուրաքանչյուր կայք, որը հյուրընկալում է Tramper-ին, դա անում է անվտանգ և հեշտությամբ հասանելի եղանակով: Այս անդամակցությունը նաև հնարավորություն կտա օգտագործել Trampers-ներից որևէ մեկը Հարավ-Արևմուտքում գտնվող Countryside Mobility բազմաթիվ կայքերում: Լրացուցիչ տեղեկությունների համար այցելեք Countryside Mobility կայքը: Դուք կարող եք լրացնել անդամակցության ձևերը կենտրոնում մինչև աշխատանքի ընդունվելը: Կարո՞ղ եմ օգնել այս նախագծին: Անիվների հետ քայլելը ապավինում է կամավորներին՝ մեր ծառայությունը խթանելու համար: Եթե ցանկանում եք օգնել տարածել մեր ծառայության մասին տեղեկությունը, կամ ցանկանում եք օգնել այլ կերպ, խնդրում ենք զանգահարել 01594 822073 կամ էլփոստով walkingwithwheels@fvaf.org.uk : Կտրամադրվի ամբողջական ուսուցում և աջակցություն: Ի՞նչ անել, եթե ինձ անհրաժեշտ լինի չեղարկել ամրագրումը: Մենք խնդրում ենք, որ դուք առնվազն 24 ժամ ծանուցեք չեղարկման մասին, որպեսզի մենք կարողանանք վարձել Tramper-ը մեկ այլ օգտվողի: Չեղարկելու համար խնդրում ենք կապվել այն կայքի հետ, որով պատվիրել եք What is a Tramper Who can use this service What routes can I use it on When is it available to hire How can I book one How much does it cost What if I've never used one of these before What if I need additional help Why do I have to become a member of CM Can I help wit this project What if I need to cancel a booking

Role: Youth Projects Manager Salary: £30,000 – £37,000 (subject to experience) Hours: up to 37.5 hours per week, Monday–Friday (some evenings/weekends may be required) Contract: Permanent Location: Forest of Dean District (Cinderford) Are you passionate about empowering young people and the communities that support them? FVAF are looking for a Youth Projects Manager to lead our group support and capacity building work, strengthening youth and community provision right across the Forest of Dean. JOB DESCRIPTION: Youth Projects Manager FVAF JOB APPLICATION FORM HOW TO APPLY Please read the above full job description and download the application form. Please note CVs will not be accepted. Application deadline: Sunday 5th July, midnight For an informal discussion about the role, please contact fliss@fvaf.org.uk Send completed application forms to Fliss Simister at fliss@fvaf.org.uk

NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN! CLOSING DATE: MIDNIGHT SUNDAY 19 JULY 2026 Nomination Form 2026 Please select in which category you would like to nominate the individual or group. Your Volunteer of the Year Young Volunteer of the Year 21yrs & under Community Organisation of the Year Grassroots Award - Voluntary Group of the Year ESV Business in the Community Award FoD Dementia Action Alliance Diversity & Inclusion Award FoDCAP Community Climate Action Award Name of the volunteer/group being nominated: Name of the organisation or group linked to the nominee (for individual nominees only) Volunteer role or role of group Contact details for nominee (email and telephone) If you are providing personal contact details, do you have permission to share this person's information? If not, no problem—we will use the general contact details of the group or organisation associated with the nominee instead. Yes No Reason for nomination - please provide a brief description which outlines why you think this individual or group stands out. What makes them special and worthy of being celebrated? Your name Your email address Are you happy for us to keep your contact details for the purpose of this nomination only? Yes No Submit

Peer Development Developing the space between us to enable better Community Health and Wellbeing. Mycelium seeks to promote connectedness between people and encourage collaboration in service development in the Forest of Dean. Mycelium seeks to promote connectedness between people and encourage collaboration in service development in the Forest of Dean. We wish to do so to develop a counternarrative to ‘siloed working’ and the overbearing competitiveness between people, organisations and within emerging systems. We value both lived and professional experience equally and work from a horizontal, narrative informed, peer advocacy model with co-production and action research principles at its core. What do we do? We offer Peer Advocacy, Peer Mentoring & Peer Development for individuals, groups and organisations living or working in the Forest of Dean. For People from our Communities We work with individuals providing 1 to 1 support. Using peer advocacy and peer mentoring principles we can help you to develop a ‘recovery practice’ that enables you to get back up after a crisis, or travel safely through a difficult period in your life. We can help you: to understand and respond to social care needs or a health condition and can help you to cope with a situation that is causing you emotional distress. to find information, to build confidence as you begin to identify, navigate and try out the wellbeing and self-help resources that are available to you in your local community. if issues arise when trying to build yourself up again - we can be there and help you to learn about yourself, your world and your rights. to travel through the complexities of recovery from a health condition, from mental illness, trauma or addiction - to raise your voice about what is important to you as you do so. to access advice from the best expertise available and can then support you to understand, choose between and explore the options opened up for you by that advice. to access community groups and projects and help them in turn to become more confident, compassionate and efficient when supporting individuals experiencing mental health difficulties. Peer advocacy will work on up to three specific community advocacy issues at a time, but the Peer mentoring will be open access, an ‘in the background’ wrap around support that will attempt to respond to your unique circumstances and complex needs whilst still trying to link you in with the best expertise available to you. For Volunteers and Professionals “Project Support” - We work with individuals developing groups and organisations With consultancy, reflective practice and ongoing support we can help lived experience practitioners, peer support workers and staff with lived experience who are working in the VCS and local health and social care settings, to use their experiences of illness or mental distress in a way that is safe, effective and compassionate for both them and the people they are supporting. We can help: you to develop an idea, a workshop, a group or a project that has arisen from your own unique situation, lived experience or from the skills and awareness gained on your recovery journey. provide or link you in with training, information, supervision and a support structure around you to enable you to turn this awareness into a skill that can benefit others in your local community. projects, groups and organisations develop their co-production strategies and be a point of contact with transformed mental health services and the wider supports available. We can enable you to implement these strategies in a non ’tokenistic’ & authentic way. you to stay well and practice self-care whilst working and using your lived experience to help others who are going through health conditions or mental distres s. What does ‘Peer’ mean? “PEER … One that is of equal standing with another” The ‘Peer’ in Peer Advocacy, Peer Mentoring and Peer Development points to shared concerns and experiences. Peer support is when we come together with others who have been through or are recovering from something similar. It is about ‘mutuality’ - helping each other through conversations, activities and spending time together. It can help us not to feel so alone or unusual, to realise that there is a possibility of life beyond and outside of the condition, distress or situation encountered. Peer services connect people and create opportunities for ‘giving back’; they can help us to take notice of the skills and knowledge we have gained on our journeys while also creating opportunities to use these skills to build better services and communities for the future. Who are we? We are all local people with both professional and personal experience of disability, illness, mental distress and/or have been carers for people navigating social and health care systems. We are all individuals who have had extensive experience of managing our own recoveries from illness and mental distress and have learnt much from doing so. We all feel that talking to someone who has ‘been through’ and managed to successfully survive and navigate something similar in the past can be incredibly helpful to those who are feeling isolated with that condition, situation or circumstance in the present. Though we understand the importance of being supported by someone who understands from ‘lived experience’, we also recognise the importance of skill and learning. We know how important ongoing development is to help convert that learning into a constructive, safe and effective practice that enables others. We have all received extensive previous training and are committed to continued professional development alongside the “lived experience” knowledge that we draw upon. We have all benefitted from Peer Advocacy, Peer Support or Peer Mentoring ourselves and are passionate about its enormous benefits for good community mental health and wellbeing. We have all had extensive previous experience of co-production work, collaborative working, community development and promoting diverse voices. What have we done so far? Developing Action Research & our Narrative Model for locality-based peer development Over the past two years Mycelium has been drawing together people with experience, professionals and those passionate about community development, to overcome barriers to discussion and rally around shared concerns or stories. The aim of this has been to increase understanding about mental health illness and, most importantly, move towards improvement of the current situation for individuals, families and the Forest communities. We have developed a Resource Hub, Community-based Recovery Education Sessions and a Community of Practice group for those working with individuals with mental health challenges. We have facilitated extensive community-based action research to ascertain need and identify a network of allies. This has been published alongside papers on co-production and has all been fed into the Community Mental Health Transformation undertaken in Gloucestershire. Who are we for? We have supported the growth of community initiatives that allow everybody’s voices to be heard and we want change to continue to be driven by well-being and mutual aid. We are listening, learning and offering opportunities for all community members within the Forest and invite you to join us on this exciting journey. Anyone 16 + who is living or working in the Forest of Dean. Anyone who feels that they could benefit from support from individuals with experience of managing their own recovery from mental health difficulties, addiction, mental distress or a health condition. Anyone facing challenges in accessing the support that they want and need help to find information, understand their rights, build a support network or develop an advocacy plan of action to raise their voice or complain about the care they have received. Anyone with either diagnosed or undiagnosed conditions and people waiting on waiting lists for assessment. Our aim is to respect all perspectives and encourage action and improvement in the lives of all across our Forest communities. How do I find out more, get involved or access Mycelium support? For more information drop Simon Price (Project Manager and Mental Health Researcher) a message at Simon@fvaf.org.uk or call 07394 945046 to arrange a meet up and find out more about Mycelium Peer Development.

Recovery & Wellbeing Café “A Community Created Curriculum of Curious Conversations” Weekly Face-to-Face Discussions & Recovery Educational Sessions Each Wednesday (Term Time) at Café 16 in Coleford from 6-8pm. “A safe space to create who you are, not be told what to think.” Join conversations with a diverse range of people with professional & lived experience of different subjects, local people who have gained understandings about the impact current concerns have upon mental health, recovery and wellbeing. We are building a supportive space where, as critical friends, we can learn together and support each other with our individual understandings. All curious & compassionate folk welcome.