How we can help

Who are we?

INVOLVE - Voluntary Action in Mid Devon is made up of Volunteer Centre Tiverton & Cullompton and the Mid Devon Council for Voluntary Services (CVS). We are here to promote, develop and help local not-for-profit and community groups working in Mid Devon.

How can we help you?

We can provide assistance in the following ways:

• promoting volunteering as an enjoyable activity which benefits both the volunteer and the community
• advertising opportunities on behalf of local groups
• actively recruiting people on behalf of local groups by matching people with time to spare and organisations who need help
• helping you to develop good practice in all aspects of working with volunteers
• organising regular Volunteer Co-ordinators' Forum meetings as an opportunity to discuss volunteering issues with staff from other local organisations
• working in partnership with voluntary and statutory agencies
• encouraging local voluntary action
• campaigning for volunteers' rights and providing a voice for volunteer-deploying organisations

How can you use us?

Simply ask! If you would like to register with us, you will be asked to provide basic information about the work your group does and permission for us to hold the information under the Data Protection Act 1998. Once registered, you will need to provide details about the work you need to be done by volunteers. This will include a description of the volunteer's role, any special skills required, the times and place you need them and any other information which will help us to tempt someone to work with you.

What happens next?

We will include your vacancies in our next Opportunity List which is then published regularly in two local papers as well as being advertised in our window in Tiverton and included on the National Volunteering Database website. When an individual approaches the Volunteer Centre about voluntary work we carry out a short, confidential interview to find out about their interests, skills, availability, etc. We then try to match this information with the details of opportunities supplied by groups, to get the 'best fit'. The Volunteer Centre will put them in touch with you by the method we have previously agreed.

It is up to you to assess their suitability for your organisation, take up references and agree a trial period so that you can all be sure that you want to work together. Please remember that we cannot guarantee to fill your vacancies as we have more requests for volunteers each year than we have people offering their time, but we endeavour to help wherever possible.

Also

We can provide advice, guidance and information on all aspects of running a voluntary organisation, including training for staff, volunteers or Committee Members, either as a single agency session or as part of our regular training programme. Assistance with writing policies or good practice issues is also available.