Voluntary Action North Somerset

Supported Volunteering Project
The aim of this project is to provide extra help to anyone who has identified volunteering as a way of developing increased confidence or new skills, or feels that the time is right to ‘give something back’ to the community.

Many people feel a sense of isolation and lack self esteem due to past or presenting issues in their lives, and very often making that first step towards a more active engagement in their community is a very difficult one.

Annette Stenhouse is our development worker for supported volunteering. Her role is to make this process less daunting by making initial phone calls to the organisations looking for volunteers , accompanying people to interviews, and working beside them for the first sessions of their volunteering experience if this will help them to feel more confident within their role.

As well as working with people on individual placements Annette has set up some group projects which enable those taking part to develop better interpersonal skills and working relationships with others, and who then may be looking to access more mainstream volunteering opportunities in the future.

The projects organised so far have included bracken-pulling at Sladers Leigh for the Mendip Society, and some conservation work in Weston Woods, now scheduled for the Autumn. To get involved, or simply to find out more, please ring Annette on 01934 410193.