Society’s most vulnerable citizens must not miss out on the support of volunteers to raise their quality of life and improve their self esteem, leading volunteering charities Volunteering England (VE) and CSV will tell a fringe debate at the National Children and Adult Services Conference 2006 in Brighton on 19 October.

The fringe session, Volunteers – firm foundations in the community – is co-organised by Volunteering England and CSV, and will be chaired by Dr Mike Nussbaum, chair of Volunteering England. 

Speaking at the debate is Francoise Moore, a teacher at George Green’s School in Tower Hamlets, who will demonstrate how CSV Millennium Volunteers support her work in the school and the lifeline it provides for young people who are most at risk of not being in employment, education or training (NEET). 

Other speakers include Jackie Preston, from Volunteer Centre Maidstone, Duncan Tree, National Development Manager at CSV and Sheila Hawkins, Head of Health and Social Care at Volunteering England. Jackie heads up the V team, a project that encourages people with mental ill health gain confidence through volunteering.

Duncan Tree, CSV National Development Manager, says: "We know that people of all ages, from pupils in schools to older people in care can reap tremendous benefits when volunteers work alongside professionals in the public sector. Involving more citizen volunteers in schools, healthcare and social services adds value to these services and improves the experience of the people that these services aim to help.
 
“The latest research from the Older People’s Programme shows that 83% of older people receiving volunteer support report improvements in quality of life. (1) Additionally, our experience is that the tutoring of young children by volunteers can have a positive impact on behaviour and attainment at school in up to 90 per cent of pupils.” (2)

Sheila Hawkins, Head of Health and Social Care at Volunteering England says: “We know from our research and experience that volunteering can contribute to improved mental health and community integration, and our speakers are living proof that it is possible to make a difference through creatively engaging with their communities.3 4

“At a time when volunteering is high on the political agenda, it is essential that people recognise it not only as a route into employment but also a highly effective way to improve physical and mental health.”

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Case study:

Nojrul Tafadar, an 18 year old CSV Millennium Volunteer from the Isle of Dogs, volunteers at George Green’s school and has seen the impact that volunteering has on reducing fights amongst pupils.

“George Green’s School is very important to life in the Isle of Dogs. It is the only secondary school here and the majority of the kids who go to the school live in the area. The school is very much part of the community. If something kicks off at the weekend then it can carry on into school on the Monday morning.

“Volunteers are helping to calm down potentially violent situations by spotting disagreements as they emerge and then helping the school conflict resolution youth worker listen to those involved.

“Often when people fall out they worry about looking like ‘woosies’ and don’t like to back down, especially in public. So they get taken away to talk things through. A lot of the people who volunteer used to get into fights in school but we have learnt that fighting isn’t the answer.”

For more press information on the seminar or to organise an interview with Sheila Hawkins call Paul Donohoe, CSV press office pdonohoe@csv.org.uk on 020 7812 0038 or Cat Dean at the VE press office on 020 7520 8932; email cat.dean@volunteeringengland.org or

Notes for Editors

1. Older People Programme, Making a Difference through Volunteering (2006)

2. CSV Learning Together with SHINE report 2001-2004.
 
3. The Institute for Volunteering,  Mental Health and Volunteering (2003)

4. The V Team in Maidstone, Success and Community Involvement (2004)

5. Volunteering England/ CSV’s fringe session, Volunteers- firm foundations in the community – is being held at 4.15pm on Thursday 19th October at the Brighton Hilton Metropole. For more conference details visit: http://www.adss.org.uk/events/2006/conf06.shtml

6. Volunteering England’s aims are to increase the quality, quantity, contribution and accessibility of volunteering throughout England; secure and support an England-wide network of quality volunteer development agencies, promoting and enabling volunteering and community involvement; undertake research, policy and development activity; and provide grants, support and advice to sustain and develop volunteering. It understands the term volunteering to include formal activity undertaken through public, private and voluntary organisations as well as informal community participation.

7. CSV (Community Service Volunteers) creates opportunities for people to take an active part in the life of their communities through volunteering, training and community action. Each year 195,000 people give 4.9 million hours of their time as volunteers through CSV. www.csv.org.ukCSV (Community Service Volunteers) is the UK's leading volunteering and training charity and creates opportunities for people to take an active part in the life of their community through volunteering, training and community action. Each year 195,000 people give 4.9 million hours of their time as volunteers through CSV. www.csv.org.uk