A proposito di FVAF A proposito di FVAF La nostra storia Siamo il Consiglio di servizio volontario e il Centro di volontariato per la foresta di Dean. Forniamo assistenza a molte delle centinaia di organizzazioni di volontariato e di comunità nel Distretto che a loro volta sono più in grado di svolgere il proprio lavoro nella e per la comunità locale. Da quando ci siamo formati nel 1994, abbiamo sviluppato una reputazione per incoraggiare, abbracciare e migliorare l'azione della comunità in tutta la Foresta di Dean. Crediamo che attraverso approcci guidati dalla comunità consentiamo ai cittadini di sviluppare le competenze, la resilienza e il capitale sociale per vivere vite più felici e meglio connesse. Servizi d'ufficio Personale e amministratori Politiche Accessibilità e Sostenibilità

Current job vacancies at FVAF Work for us. We are passionate about nurturing talented, compassionate, community minded team players. Join our friendly and supportive team! We don't have any vacancies right now but check back soon! Trouble downloading the documents? Contact communications@fvaf.org.uk or 01594 822073

Resource Hub/Library Leaflets & literature on wellness, recovery, self-help & coping with mental distress. The group office, based above the Library at The Main Place in Coleford, is available for members to use as a safe and confidential space. We keep material that may be of use to members – and we are happy for people to provide us with leaflets that they would like shared. To read the My Networks Scoping Project Report please visit: www.fvaf.org.uk/publications

Summer Holiday Activities & Food We’ve teamed up with Gloucestershire Cou nty Counci l and arranged a packed timetable of FREE fun! The HAF programme is open to all school aged children, who live in the Forest of Dean, and who qualify for free school meals. If funding allows, s ometimes activities are extended and offered to all children and young people across Gloucestershire through the Holiday Activities Programme (HAP). There's something for eve ryone - we've got sports clubs, cooking, crafts, play sessions an d so much more... You need to be registered to book | All sessions mus t be pre bo oke d REGISTER HERE For information or support with the HAF Spring programme contact: HAFParentEnquiries@gloucestershire.gov.uk or ring the HAF helpline on 01452 427960. BOOKING NOW OPEN! CHECK OUT THE TIMETABLE **PLEASE NOTE: You can only book 4 activities at a time - please wait 24 hours before you book again** For more information visit the Gloucestershire County Council website here

KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE Young people who are moving towards adulthood have the right to make informed choices about how they connect to their local community. This can involve risk, for guidance read: Building Connections: One minute guide to Risk Assessment

Mycelium My Networks Mental Health Project Mycelium - Forest Mental Health Project The Mycelium Project aims to create an infrastructure in the Forest of Dean that: Influences change in statutory services for mental health services and support. Provides training to build a network of Lived Experience Practitioners who will support peer workers in the healthcare and voluntary and community sector. Offers support, supervision, safeguarding, visibility, and accountability. Click on the image to find out more information: Forest of Dean Mental Health Locality Partnership Peer Development Recovery & Wellbeing Café Resource Hub/Library

NOMINATIONS NOW CLOSED! Award categories The FVAF Volunteer Awards 2024 will recognise and celebrate the amazing efforts of volunteers and organisations in the Forest of Dean. We want to hear about all those heroes have demonstrated exceptional and outstanding support to the local community over the past 12 months. THIS YEAR WE HAVE 6 CATEGORIES: Your Volunteer of the Year – Peoples’ Champion This is an unsung hero who has gone above and beyond for their community or has an inspiring story. We’re looking for volunteers who give their time and input to provide valuable services to communities in the Forest of Dean. Perhaps without these volunteers’ significant contribution, organisations might not be able to sustain the work they do OR maybe they have brought transformative change to other people or their own personal story by volunteering. PLUS The winner of this award will be decided by you! Once we have shortlisted the nominees, we will be asking you to vote for who you think most deserves to be crowned Volunteer of the Year 2024. Young Volunteer of the Year 16yrs & under Young Volunteer of the Year 17 – 21yrs Split into two age ranges, this category recognises a young person who has shown a real commitment to their volunteering and/or overcome serious problems and made a positive difference in their own life or other peoples’.  It will celebrate the work carried out by young people who give up their time to help their community; in school, at youth clubs or a voluntary organisation. Grassroots Award for Voluntary Group of the Year Celebrate and honour those small grassroots organisations who are making a real difference in the community. These inspirational groups, run entirely by dedicated volunteers, will have had a positive impact on the people living in the Forest of Dean. We want to hear stories of lunch clubs, sports clubs, social and hobby groups, support groups, or any local group who are completely reliant on the tireless efforts of volunteers to help make a big difference to either in a small local area or in the wider community. Community Organisation Award This award recognises the outstanding contribution of larger organisations in the Forest of Dean who have made significant impact through delivering community projects, and/or positive change in the district. These could be any community or voluntary sector organisation including Charities, community organisations such as CIC’s or CIO’s, or larger groups who have a mix of staff and volunteers. ESV - Business in the Community Award This award is a chance to acknowledge the positive social impact local businesses have had in the local community. It recognises those organisations who have proactively committed to supporting and encouraging their workforce to volunteer for one-off projects or regular time to work with local charities or community projects. Or businesses who have actively supported the community in other ways. FoD Dementia Action Alliance Accessibility & Inclusion Award We are looking to recognise groups who are making admirable efforts towards being welcoming and inclusive to all. This award is not to reward perfection. We want to celebrate a commitment to enhancing accessibility and removing barriers. This might be by making physical improvements and considerations, creating clear and accessible communications, or building volunteering projects/programmes that help people to make a difference to their local community, regardless of the challenges they face, their age, ability, gender, sexual orientation, race, faith, or religion. FAQs Who can nominate? Anyone can nominate! Whether you are an individual local resident, part of a community group or from a local government organisation. How can I nominate? It’s easy – just fill in our nomination form here or if you would prefer a paper copy you can request one via communications@fvaf.org.uk or 01594 822073. What information do I need to provide? Please provide plenty of detail about what the nominee has achieved and as much information as possible about them and their unique contribution. If you have any, please provide good quality photographs. Make sure that you have permission from anyone else in the photograph so that we can use it for media and promotional activities unless you tell us not to. Should I tell the person or organisation I am nominating them or keep it a surprise? Ideally it would be good to let them know once you have decided to nominate, just so that they are aware and happy for their story to be shared. We want to celebrate and shout about the wonderful work of volunteers which would include promotion via social media, on our website and to local press. How will it be judged? All nominations will be carefully considered by a panel of judges. This panel will be made up of a mix of unbiased and independent judges including; members of staff from FVAF, a FVAF trustee, and representatives from local councils, businesses and media. For more information or if you have any questions, email communications@fvaf.org.uk or call 01594 822073.

Diventa membro di FVAF Diventando un membro di FVAF ci aiuti a continuare a fornire un servizio di supporto vitale al settore del volontariato e della comunità nel Foresta di Dean . La FVAF agisce come un sostenitore dell'azione volontaria e comunitaria, ove appropriato, a livello distrettuale, provinciale e nazionale, e più membri rappresentiamo, più forte sarà la nostra voce. I membri vengono quindi consultati su questioni che hanno un impatto sul settore del volontariato e della comunità nella Foresta di Dean e su ciò che miriamo a raggiungere come organizzazione. In qualità di membro, godrai dell'accesso ai nostri servizi d'ufficio, alle tariffe ridotte di stampa e copia, alla promozione di offerte di lavoro di volontariato per il tuo gruppo e al noleggio gratuito di una gamma di attrezzature per ufficio. Ciò comprende: Tabelloni Ciclo dell'udito Proiettore digitale e schermo Sistema PA Lavagne a fogli mobili Tavolo pieghevole lungo Urna ristorazione acqua calda Gazebo (è richiesta una donazione di £ 5) Se desideri diventare un membro FVAF, fai clic sul pulsante Unisciti a FVAF sulla destra e completa il modulo. Per maggiori dettagli chiamare lo 01594 822073 Diventare membro di FVAF è GRATUITO per accedere a tutti i nostri servizi di supporto Unisciti a FVAF

Get help with applying for the FODDC Community Grant JOIN OUR ADVICE WORKSHOPS! READ MORE Frequently visited pages: COMMUNITY HUBS VOLUNTEER ADVICE FOREST YOUTH ASSOCIATION Cos'è FVAF? FVAF sta per Forest Voluntary Action Forum. Offriamo supporto ai cittadini locali, ai gruppi della comunità e alle attività per fare le cose che contano di più per loro. Ciò include quanto segue: supporto e consulenza per lo sviluppo formazione informazione incontri di rete facilitare la rappresentazione reclutamento di volontari collocamento e supporto di volontari Gestiamo anche molti progetti con e per la comunità locale, come la Forest of Dean Youth Association, Holiday Activity Campaigns, The Forest Youth Music Network, The GEM Project, The Forest Compass Directory, Walking with Wheels e molti altri. Controlla la nostra pagina Progetti per tutti i dettagli. "Costruire comunità più forti in la Foresta di Dean" Scopri di più JOIN OUR MAILING LIST Get the latest community news and check out exciting volunteering opportunity in or around the Forest of Dean... Vai su Facebook Useful publications: FREE directory of the many volunteering opportunities available locally... DOWNLOAD I nostri partner 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 2AN 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. Forest Voluntary Action Forum proudly receives financial support from the Forest of Dean District Council .

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 Programme Manager Teresa Allewell Finance & Operations Manager Catherine Best Communications & Fundraising Manager Cathy Griffiths Development Manager Deb Cook Volunteering Manager Connor Grimshaw Facilities Manager Cherry Potter-Irwin Finance & Administration Officer Fliss Simister Youth Association Manager Lisa Robertson Youth Development Officer Katy Virgo Youth Development Officer Courtney Middleton Project Coordinator Lauren Greening Youth Development Project Manager Jodie Atkins Youth Support Worker Alex Digby Digital Projects Manager Melanie Benn Community Builder Teresa Rose Community Connectors' Facilitator Natasha Nelson Forest Food Network Coordinator Simon Price MY Networks Project Manager Miranda Thomason Peer Development Facilitator Pete Harper Peer Development Facilitator 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. Penny Hulbert Chair of Trustees Sid Phelps Vice Chair of Trustees Jonathan Gault Trustee - Treasurer Simon Murray Trustee Diana Martin Trustee Roger Deeks Trustee Bob Rhodes Trustee Louise Penny Trustee Interested in becoming a FVAF Trustee? Talk to us! Contact Chris is ceo@fvaf.org.uk 01594 822073

The Digital Hubs Project Tackling digital exclusion across Gloucestershire The Digital Hubs Project is a new innovative approach, developed by Forest Voluntary Action Forum and GCC Adult Transformation Team, to tackle digital exclusion across Gloucestershire by offering free, accessible, tailored support to individuals. Starting out in October 2021, we have played the as role as county wide facilitator of the project in partnership with GCC’s Adult Transformation Team. Whilst being facilitator’s, we act as the Forest of Dean lead district provider, offering FREE 1:1 digital support across safe and trusted Community Drop-in Hubs. Coleford – Sixteen Community Cafe Sedbury – Sedbury Space Cinderford - Ow Bist - Forest Community Space Staunton – The Swan Community Hub Newent – The Chill Out Zone What does Digital Hubs aim to address? Motivation Not everyone sees why using the internet could be relevant and helpful A Digital Hub can demonstrate the huge benefits Confidence Some people fear online crime, lack trust or don’t know where to start online A Digital Hub can increase confidence via trusted relationships  Skills Not everyone has the ability to use the internet and online services A digital Hub can provide 1:1 training Access Not everyone has the ability to connect to the internet and go online A Digital Hub can provide access to free equipment and internet Since starting the journey of Gloucestershire Digital Hubs Project, awareness and recognition of the project has grown and is now recognised as essential community-based approach to tackling digital exclusion across Gloucestershire. Notability, the project was highlighted in the Report of the Director of Public health 2022/23 - No Person is an island: Social connections in Gloucestershire, which also included video cased study of the project. You can also  download the PDF version (PDF, 5.2 MB)  of Director of Public health 2022/23 For more information about the project visit the Digital Hub website HERE To find out more, dates, times and locations for upcoming FVAF Community Digital Drop-in Hubs, contact Alex on community@fvaf.org.uk  or 01594 822073.