People Powered

Recruiting and managing volunteers is a crucial part of what the community and voluntary sector does, but its never easy..!!

Latest statistics show that volunteering is down by 15%, so how can that trend be reversed.

Join Hunts Forum at their People Powered conference on Thursday 19 April, between 10am and 2pm at the St Ives Corn Exchange (Market Street St Ives PE27 5AD).

Workshops will cover:

• Recruitment.
• Micro-volunteering.
• Supporting and protecting both volunteers and the organisation.
• Rewarding volunteers and celebrating success.

The event is open to anyone who is involved in working with volunteers (whether you’re a staff member or volunteer yourself). Hunts Forum want to hear about your experiences and have open discussions to find solutions to common challenges. Places are limited so book now.

Please contact Living Sport on 01487 841559 or info@livingsport.co.uk

Guest speakers and workshop leaders include:

Shaun Delaney 
Volunteering Development Manager, NCVO
www.ncvo.org.uk

Shaun oversees strategy for the development of volunteering and volunteer management good practice at the National Council For Voluntary Organisations (NCVO). Previously he spent five years as head of volunteering at Samaritans, leading the involvement of 20,000 volunteers across the UK and Republic of Ireland. Before that he was with Volunteer Centre Greenwich supporting 300+ member organisations to involve volunteers and Olympic/Paralympic-related programmes including Team London Ambassadors. He is currently a trustee and treasurer of Greater London Volunteering.

Lucy Bird
Coordinator, Somersham and Pidley Time Bank
www.timebanking.org

Lucy has been employed by Somersham Parish Council to run the Time Bank since July 2012. With a background in chemistry and a career break to look after her three children, Lucy was on new territory taking on this role in community development. Using local knowledge and creating links with key organisations she has built the Time Bank into a thriving project, with over 130 individuals and 16 organisational members. She now supports the growth of Timebanking across Cambridgeshire and has developed a programme of local activities for older people and those affected by long-term health conditions.

Mark Strivens
Director, Cambridge Street Pastors
www.cambridgestreetpastors.org.uk

Cambridge Street Pastors patrol the streets in the city centre each Friday and Saturday night to help anyone in difficulty without judgement or discrimination. Part of a national organisation, The Ascension Trust, the Street Pastors aim to provide a listening ear, practical help and Christian concern for all people, whether upset or sick or just needing someone to talk to. Mark is the local director working with Trustees and volunteers; he is responsible for day to day operations, recruiting, training and equipping volunteers, overseeing the weekly patrols and working with partner agencies.

Keith Smith
Founder & Director, Ferry Project
www.ferryproject.org.uk

Keith founded Ferry Project in 1999, a social enterprise and registered charity providing support and accommodation to homeless people. In 2010 Keith won Fenland business person of the year, in 2012 was voted Inspirational leader of the year by the Chartered Institute of Housing and in 2014 was the winner of the East of England Impact Awards from Business in the Community. Previously, Keith worked as a science teacher for 16 years in Wisbech, and trained and worked as a counsellor. He has been a board member for Social Enterprise East of England and a Chair of Governors. He is an Elder of the King’s Church in Wisbech.

Susie Willis
Chief Officer, Care Network Cambridgeshire
www.care-network.org.uk

Susie joined Care Network in June 2017. Having been a carer for her grandmother who had Vascular Dementia, there were so many times she felt the system let them down. She saw the Chief Officer role as one way that she could prevent others going through a similar experience.

Previous areas of third sector employment include Head of Operations for Boxing Futures, a charity delivering sport for good, community rehabilitation programmes for young people aged 16-25 years. She helped the charity develop from a concept to becoming operationally live; delivering in London and Peterborough, culminating in winning international funding from the Movember Foundation to deliver a project to reduce male social isolation and the likelihood of suicidal feelings.

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The People Powered conference is co-hosted by Living Sport and Hunts Forum, and funded by Huntingdonshire District Council.