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Community News

Volunteer Centre funding eliminated by Swindon Borough Council

With the use of volunteers as a the draft budget was published help? I worry about the impact on
key element in central and local in November. The cut in funding the expertise available at Volunteer
government’s drive to soften the is a serious blow when utilising Centre Swindon and on all those
impact of austerity policies, a volunteers is seen as so important. who are volunteering already.”
Swindon signposting service linking Our universal service is available A Swindon Council spokesman
people keen to get involved has had to anyone; people looking for said: “The council is committed to
its total annual budget of £35,000 volunteer placements are amazed promoting volunteering as set out
cut by Swindon Council. by the number of organisations in its Priorities and Pledges and
Volunteer Centre Swindon runs we’re in touch with and the range this has not changed, despite the
a monthly column in the Link - of opportunities we can offer. reduction in funding for Voluntary
below - listing a few of the many “We’ve had time to re-focus our Action Swindon (VAS).
requests for help by more than 300 priorities and are seeking alternative “Although the funding
local groups and branches of large sources of funding which we hope Sue Dunmore apportioned to the Volunteer Centre
charities in the town. Each year it will come to fruition by the early has now stopped, the council
has contact with more than 1,500 summer.” time when the council appears has agreed to provide £46,000 in
people interested in giving their The centre which has been an to be putting more and more funding to VAS so it can continue
time to help others. independent charity since 1999 onto volunteers this is surely to offer governance and funding
The council will continue to is based in the same office as wrong? The future of local libraries support to small organisations
support volunteers through its Voluntary Action Swindon which relies on volunteers so we’re told; as well as representing the third
localities team but this will be on a has received a one year contract going ahead with this cutback sector.
small scale to back up council social with a reduced budget to focus is short sighted. “The council will continue to
care responsibilities, like Swindon on support to small organisations, “Where will potential volunteers promote volunteering through its
Circles which supports vulnerable funding and representation. now go to find out opportunities to Localities team.”
older people in their homes. Labour councillor Fay Howard
Volunteer Centre director Sue commented: “I’m hugely concerned Register to train as a youth mentor
Dunmore said: “We have been to hear that the centre’s funding
working with the council since has been completely cut. At a SMASH (Swindon Mentoring and If you could give a young person
Self Help Youth Project) and Memory a couple of hours a week or if
Makers are recruiting volunteer men- you know someone who could,
Making a tors for a course starting in June. mail Rob Chappell: rob.chappell@
If ten candidates come forward
difference and complete the course, all the smashyouthproject.co.uk or call
01793 729748 or 07971 605834.
Volunteers provide vital support to You could be serving customers, young people on the current waiting Or see details and download a
organisations in Swindon and the sorting and pricing stock or helping list will have access to regular volunteer application form from:
people they are working with. behind the scenes. support from an adult. www.smashyouthproject.co.uk
Catering in a railway carriage: Steam Ahead Credit Union, at
Swindon & Cricklade Railway Cavendish Square is looking for Lack of clarity in parishing says
Society is looking for volunteers collection point volunteers who Shaw Residents Association
to help at weekends in their will accept cash for deposits,
Whistlestop Café at Blunsdon withdrawal requests and new Swindon Council’s year long ‘Clearly there is no such thing
station in North Swindon. Catering membership applications. Previous governance review, considering as a free lunch, yet there are no
experience is desirable but not financial experience is desirable, but whether the parts of the town details in the consultation on
essential. not essential. which do not fall within a parish estimated precepts or indeed the
Station help wanted: Swindon & Terrence Higgins Trust (Swindon) council should be parished, has costs associated with the additional
Cricklade Railway Society needs is looking for volunteers to provide reached its half-way point. administration a parish would
station masters and ticket sellers at emotional and social support to After a large number of daytime require.’
Taw Valley Halt railway station in someone to enhance their ability engagement sessions across the The association suggests parishing
Moulden Hill. They’re also looking to manage HIV as a long-term town, citizens were asked to submit is an excuse to create another tax
for help in maintenance and condition and to increase their well viewpoints by 31 March. Council raising body to pay for services
construction of the railway line, and being. officers will report their finding to like grass cutting and litter picking
people to look after the signals. Find out more about these the cabinet in June before a formal which are currently provided by the
Catering in Old Town: MHA Lunch and many other volunteering period of consultation starts. council.
The response by Shaw Residents'
It also wants to know if parishing
Club needs a cook and lunch opportunities by contacting Association (SRA) makes it is part of a bigger picture whereby
assistants to help on Thursdays. The Volunteer Centre Swindon on clear that providing concise and Swindon merges with Wiltshire
club makes a real difference to the 01793 420557 or email: info@ informed comment was difficult Council, a process of change by
lives of 12 members who attend. swindonvolunteers.org.uk as the council ‘consultation’ stealth rather than change by
Visitors are welcome to drop in
Retail offer: Cancer Research UK is at 1 John Street, Swindon from did not have a focussed set of consensus.
looking for additional volunteers for Monday to Friday, 11am to 3pm. questions. It says: ‘Clearly parishes Should Swindon agree to proceed
the afternoon shifts in their shop. could bring both positives and with parishing, the first elections
See more at: www.do-it.org
negatives to communities, but to the new parish councils will take
Sewers and tailors needed since no scope has been provided place in May 2017.
to the consultation, we are not in
However it will fall upon Swindon
Swindon Dressability is now settled into Bradbury House at Westmead a position to make an informed Borough ward councillors to set the
Drive and is calling for people with good sewing skills to join their judgement within our feedback. first parish precept (tax) as part of
Thursday morning group, adapting clothing for people with disabilities. ‘For example, we have not been the budget making cycle which has
Find out more by contacting Sharon Tombs: sharontombs@dressability. provided with a list of services a to be agreed by the end of February
org.uk or 01793 512878 or 07754 105297 parished Shaw ward would own; next year.
www.dressability.org.uk indeed we do not know where the Read SRA submission at:
boundaries would be drawn. www.bit.ly/SRA-parishview
swindonlink.com n May 2016 5