The Value of Volunteering
Community Action: MK’s flagship community mobiliser service was recently reviewed by an external SROI expert who concluded that for every pound of investment from MK Council, our service delivered £8.15 of benefits.
Our community mobilisers are often the key first point of contact for people to connect with volunteering as a way of helping to shape their community, develop new skills, address social isolation and make a positive contribution. This is just one of the ways we support volunteering to happen in the city – helping to support and inspire new volunteers and people who might face barriers and challenges in stepping up to volunteer. Alongside our brokerage service which helps over 1500 people a year volunteer for over 350 charities and community groups, we’re proud to have such a comprehensive support system for volunteering to flourish.
Sadly, the Community Mobiliser service as we know it, will be ending soon. Read more about why that is and why we are working hard to find ways to continue to do this vital work.
Student Volunteering
The Community Action: MK Volunteering team will be attending freshers fairs at MK College this September, helping students find to volunteering opportunities. If your group would like to find out more about how to involve young people in volunteering and develop opportunities that appeal to people looking to improve employability and skills, please talk to us. We can advise on everything from policies and procedures to copywriting skills.
Email debbie@communityactionmk.org or call 01908 661623.
Employee Volunteering
Volunteering and making a difference isn’t always about a big team making a big statement – just ask Abbegail Sawney and her team of 2 from Home Retail Group! Originally the team were about 8 – 10 people in size but due to sickness and other commitments on the day the team shrunk. However, the group of 3 from HRG made a big impact on one of the gardens owned by the charity St Mungo’s.
St Mungo’s support young people and provide a safe place to live for a period of time. They support people who are at risk and vulnerable and include isolated people with mental health or drug problems, current and ex offenders, former rough sleepers now in their own homes and people who are begging or street drinking. This is a vital service across the country and here in Milton Keynes. St Mungo’s have various locations across MK and the small team from HRG dedicated their volunteering day at one location tidying up their garden and planting flowers.
Community Action: MK run a brokerage service between charities and community groups and local businesses who are looking for volunteering days across the city. Does your charity or community group need a hand with anything? Talk to us about how we can help. Contact ev@communityactionmk.org or call 01908 661623.
344 Volunteering Opportunities in MK!
Five brand new local organisations registered their volunteering opportunities with us during July. Check out all the opportunities we list on the Do-it website.
Re-thinking Parks & Volunteering
Burnley Borough Council has been awarded £98,615 from NESTA to develop and test the cost saving potential of a coordinated set of different techniques for park management that include woodchipping, starflower oil production and engaging volunteers to develop specialist skills. They will be testing out ‘self service volunteer management software’ to help volunteers engage with the programme. Definitely one to watch!
The Volunteering Round Up will be having a little break for the holidays but will be back on 21st August with the next update.