Celebrating Inclusive Volunteering!
VAST were absolutely thrilled to host an incredibly special day to celebrate Inclusive volunteers…
Using six weeks’ worth of ‘Know Your Neighbourhood’ funding VAST carried out consultation and engagement work to further identify barriers to volunteering for people in Stoke-on-Trent. This helped us to further develop our future work around supported volunteering opportunities for the city and to find out what is needed to support people who are experiencing a number of barriers to volunteering.
What is Inclusive Volunteering?
“We can define inclusive volunteering as volunteering opportunities that are available to all people regardless of age, culture, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, social status or disability.”
Individuals, all of whom had some form of barrier, attended the Inclusive Volunteering Celebration Event.
The aim of the day was to celebrate each and every person’s volunteer journey and hard work, whilst increasing social skills, making friends, trying an activity they would not normally have chance to take part in, and of course most importantly have fun!
We wanted the celebration day to be interactive, and for the volunteers to have a reminder just how special they are, and how much each organisation appreciates the support they provide.
Everyone got together at Port Vale Football Club, being on a main bus route made it the most accessible venue for volunteers to get to.
Alice Thatcher, a local ceramicist, bought a variety of tools, letter stamps, and coloured slips so that each person could make a unique creation from clay. Alice asked everyone to consider their favourite thing about volunteering and have a go at illustrating or representing that in some way in their design.
Alice then took the creations away to fire them and add gold ribbon, so that the volunteers could use them however they wished, a key ring, a badge or something to hang in their home to remind them of their huge contribution, hard work, and commitment.
A buffet lunch was then served by Port Vale Football Club’s catering team which gave everyone the chance to mix and mingle, make friends, and increase their social skills in a safe environment.
The finale to the day was a wonderful and relaxing mindfulness session to increase a sense of wellbeing. Rebecca from Environmental Essentials very kindly donated her time to support the event.
During the session, individuals had the chance to make ‘worry stones,’ a remarkably simple and effective tool for reducing anxiety and promoting relaxation. By combining the physical sensation of rubbing the stone you can focus your mind and calm your nerves.
Rebecca also gave an example of ‘hand breathing.’ which is used to control your breathing when experiencing feelings of anxiety. To finish Rebecca supported the group with a relaxing meditation session.
Goody bags were provided to each person which included a volunteering journal to record their thoughts and feelings, a water bottle, and some stationery.
A lovely day to celebrate Inclusive volunteering at its best…
Feedback on the event included:
“I just wanted to reach out to say how much I really enjoyed the event at the Port Vale Football Club on Wednesday this week.
Firstly, how much I appreciated the invite to attend from yourself. But then the actual event itself. It was lovely to see you there in person and how well and put together the whole event was organised. How we as Volunteer’s got to mix and mingle with other Volunteer’s from other areas of volunteering.”
“The wellbeing session and the clay making. And the buffet was by far one of the best buffets I’ve had in a long long time. I’ve so far and sure hope to continue to enjoy the volunteering I am doing and meeting some of the loveliest and kindest and genuine people though the volunteering including yourself. So again, just a massive massive thank you for allowing me and including me in the event on Wednesday.”
“Thank you so much for yesterday.
It was so kind of you all to organise a lovely few hours at a venue only few get to experience. Lovely to share it with you folks and volunteers…your all kind lovely people. The food was so good. I forgot to be greedy and take some home. So, thank you for everything.”
