Children, Schools and Families

Volunteering Opportunities

www.cornwall.gov.uk

Volunteers in Children, Schools and Families

•Without the support of volunteers many of Children Schools and Families services would not be able to function as well as they do now

•‘In Cornwall many organisations public, private and voluntary, work together to help children for the best possible experiences and achieve to their full potential.  Volunteers are essential to all of our work and I would like to take this opportunity to express my continuing thanks and admiration for the work that they do.’ •Trevor Doughty, Director

www.cornwall.gov.uk

What is volunteering?

• ‘…an activity that involves spending time, unpaid, doing something that aims to benefit the environment or individuals or groups…’

• The Volunteering Code of Good Practice, 2005

www.cornwall.gov.uk

How does our work benefit from volunteers?• Central to the ethos of our services• Volunteers come with a wide range of skills

and experiences• Add a dimension to our work which isn’t

formalised, bring a ‘freshness’ to the work• Focus on individual clients or subject areas

and thus bring new insights, energy and time to the work

• Communities benefit in that the services they provide help individuals 

www.cornwall.gov.uk

What are the benefits for volunteers in our service?

• A way back to the world of work- gain confidence, raise self esteem

• Learn new skills and add experience- develop and hone career skills

• Core workplace activities- communication, line management, teamwork and using initiative

• Adds a extra dimension to a CV• Gain qualifications• Meet new people, try new things• Have some fun

www.cornwall.gov.uk

Volunteering in Children, Schools and Families

• Large numbers of volunteers are actively involved in children’s centres and youth centres

• Many are actively engaged in commissioned work such as the Family Intervention Project and Homestart

• Key projects have engaged young people in volunteering and community action– V Volunteers, V Talent, apprenticeship schemes

• Many parents and carers volunteer to engage in Parents’ Forums and advisory groups

• 90+ volunteers involved in young people’s mentoring and counselling services

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Life Stories from Children, Schools and Families

• An unemployed man volunteered at a children’s centre in 2009, through Volunteer Cornwall. He gained an L2 qualification in Early Years Care and Education in 2010, now works as a nursery assistant

• All Share IAG Coordinators started work as volunteers, all now paid and qualified to NVQ

• A young person leaving care had a child, they decided to volunteer at a youth centre, they became an apprentice, they have now completed their NVQ3

• A senior member in youth club who was lacking confidence was encouraged to volunteer 3 years ago, they now have an NVQ 3 in Youth Work and are now in their 1st year of study for a BA professional qualification

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How do the people we work with feel?

•‘When I was young, my quality of life was improved immeasurably by youth work volunteers, so I think it's important that these services continue from generation to generation.’

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Cornwall Youth Offending Service (YOS)

• The YOS works with young people aged 10-17 to prevent re-offending and manage the delivery of court orders

• The service also includes prevention work and support for parents and carers

• Three volunteer roles• Between 70-100 volunteers• All volunteers attend general and role specific training,

have one to one support and regular group meetings

www.cornwall.gov.uk

Community Panel members

• Volunteers are statutory part of youth justice system• “Referral Order” is the sentence young people receive

the first time they appear in court (if they plead guilty)• Panel members meet with young person and

parent/carers to agree a contract to help them make amends and prevent re-offending

www.cornwall.gov.uk

Appropriate Adults (AA)

• The YOS have a statutory duty to provide Appropriate Adult (AA) service

• Applies to young people aged 16 and under, where a parent and carer cannot be present

• AA attends custody centre to support young person during interview and ensure their rights are upheld

• Service provided 365 days of the year

www.cornwall.gov.uk

Casework volunteers

• Work one to one with young people to complete reparation as part of their court order

• Provide transport, practical support and other help for the young person as directed by the case manager

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Parent: I feel the attitude of the panel had a big part in the change in my son’s behaviour…

Young person: I feel the panel really listened to me, I was lucky, thanks, they put my life back on trackVolunteer: The young

person just couldn’t believe it when he found out I was a volunteer, it really impressed him that I actually cared enough to give my time for free!

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We depend on the work of our volunteers

•‘The part played by of our volunteers is an enormous asset to the work with children, young people and families. They add an extra dimension to our services and I readily acknowledge the immense value of their services, freely given.’ •Sue Coleman, Head of Service, Supporting Families

www.cornwall.gov.uk

Cornwall CouncilCounty HallTruro TR1 3AY

Tel: 0300 1234 100www.cornwall.gov.uk