Volunteer Information

VOLUNTEER INFORMATION POINTS - NEW FOR 2008!

Funding ● Training ● Publicity ● Budgeting ● Legal Issues ● Volunteering

…information made local to you!

The Information Points project aims to provide you with local access to useful information on sources of funding, working with volunteers, legal requirements, approaches to setting up a community group, and other issues of interest to voluntary and community groups. The project has been developed by the Oxfordshire Voluntary Sector Development Partnership, of which ORCC is a member, and is managed on behalf of OVSDP by Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action (OCVA).

Each Information Point will provide access to:

www.oxnet.org.uk - your online community packed with news and resources! Search for volunteering opportunities, access a directory of 1,000 local voluntary and community groups, find information on training courses, promote events and download useful documents.

FunderFinder - a searchable database of over 4,000 grant making trusts.

Publications - browse through a wide range of publications and factsheets such as ‘Writing a Better Fundraising Application’ and ‘The Voluntary Sector Legal Handbook’.

Information Point venues & opening hours

(Visit www.oxnet.org.uk for more details)

Are you involved in running or setting up a voluntary or community group? Are you looking for help with funding, finding volunteers or identifying the right policies and procedures? If so, visit your nearest Information Point to find support and guidance!

Cherwell

WRVS, Cornhill Centre

Castle St, Banbury OX16 5NT

Open: Fridays, 10am-2pm (by appointment)

The Causeway Centre, Oxfordshire Mind

25 The Causeway, Bicester OX26 6AN

Open: Mon & Wed 10.00-3.00, Fri 2.30-6.30 (drop-in)

West

ACE Children’s Centre

Burford Road, Chipping Norton OX7 5DZ

Open: 1st Friday of every month, 10am-1pm (by appointment)

West Oxfordshire CAB

The Old Print House, Marlborough Lane, Witney OX28 6DY

Open: First Tuesday of every month, 1.30-4.30pm (by appointment)

Vale

Abingdon Library

The Charter, Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX14 3LY

Open during normal library hours (drop-in)

Faringdon Area Project

c/o Brunel House, Volunteer Way, Faringdon SN7 7YR

Open Monday to Friday (by appointment)

Wantage Independent Advice Centre

16 Market Place, Wantage OX12 8AE

Open: Mondays 09.30-4.00 (by appointment)

South

South Didcot Children’s Centre

2 Hillary Drive, Didcot OX11 8PS (opposite The Didcot Wave Leisure Pool)

Open: 1st Thursday of every month, 10am-1pm (by appointment)

To make an appointment at any Information Point email funding@ocva.org.uk or call OCVA on 01865 251946 and ask to speak to the Development Team.

*OCVA holds monthly funding surgeries at the Vale and South venues. Email funding@ocva.org.uk or call 01865 251946 for more details.

Visit your nearest Information Point for:

Funding Information

· funding directories (eg Grant-making trusts in the south of England)

· access to computer-based FunderFinder package

· handbooks on fundraising (eg Writing Better Fundraising Applications, Essential Volunteer Management)

· application forms and information about local funding (Guide to Funding Opportunities in Oxfordshire)

Managing Volunteers

· factsheets on recruiting and managing volunteers

· forms to register a voluntary opportunity

Legal Issues

· range of Charity Commission booklets

· Voluntary Sector Legal Handbook

· Employment Law/HR handbook

Organisational Management

· handbooks and guides for trustees

· budgeting and finance handbooks

· ‘Budget yourself’ computer package available

· project management books and toolkits

Setting up a new project

· model constitutions and other model documents

Publicising a voluntary group

· books and guides

· sample press release

· contact sheet for local media

Training information

· directories of training related to voluntary and community activity

If you need a guide to the resources available then a member of staff at the host venue or a volunteer assistant will be on hand to help you find the information you need.

Please contact Chris Deeney at OCVA if you would like more details on the Information Points project (01865 251946, info@ocva.org.uk).

The Information Points project is funded by contributions from Capacity Builders under the ChangeUp programme, by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and the European Community West Oxfordshire Network Leader+ Programme.

Local access to information resources that support voluntary and community groups in rural Oxfordshire.

The Oxfordshire Voluntary Sector Development Partnership (OVSDP), of which ORCC is a member, has developed its Information Points project, which will make it easier for people involved in running or setting up voluntary and community groups in rural communities to access key information including: funding, managing volunteers, legal issues, organisation development, publicity and training.

There are now local Information Points in Wantage, Abingdon, Faringdon, Didcot, Chipping Norton, Witney, Banbury and Bicester. They are open for set times each week; some operate on a “drop in” basis, while others can be accessed by appointment. Further information, venues and contact details are available on oxnet, the web portal for Oxfordshire’s voluntary sector: www.oxnet.org.uk.

In order to provide a guide to using the resources available, there will be someone at each Point to introduce the computer software and signpost visitors to other sources of information.

Information was provided by Oxfordshire Association of Local Councils. Old Marston Parish Council is not responsible for the content of other websites.