6 December 2005
DSD OFFERS £3 MILLION VOLUNTEERING INCENTIVE
The Social Development Minister today announced a £3 million investment to encourage more people to get involved in volunteering.
Over the next three years, the Community Volunteering Scheme will target people not in paid work, ethnic minority groups, under 25-year-olds, those aged 50 plus and people with disabilities. It aims to develop a wide range of volunteering opportunities, to encourage the development of good practice and to support projects that benefit deprived communities.
Making the announcement during a visit to Cancer Lifeline in North Belfast, Social Development Minister David Hanson MP said: "Volunteering is an important expression of citizenship, a commitment of time and energy which makes an indispensable contribution to the wellbeing of society. That is why we want more people to get involved.
"Volunteers from different ethnic communities, age groups and other demographic sectors offer considerable talents, experience and expertise. They in turn can benefit from a sense of worthwhile achievement, develop skills, confidence and contacts, sociability, fun and inclusion in the local community.
"DSD is committed to the promotion, development and celebration of volunteering, particularly in this, the Year of the Volunteer. We recognise the value of the work done by volunteers and the need to resource this work."
The Community Volunteering Scheme provides grants to enable organisations to promote volunteering and to create new opportunities for volunteer involvement.
The CVS scheme is administered on behalf of the Department of Social Development by the Volunteer Development Agency, a regional organisation that provides support, training and information on volunteering, volunteer management, child protection and voluntary management committees.
There are two types of grants. Main grants provide project funding for a three year period. Previous schemes supported organisations that encourage volunteering opportunities with young offenders, people with disabilities, victims of domestic violence, parents support and advice services.
In addition, annual small grants for less than £1,000 are delivered through the 15 local volunteer bureau to support volunteer activity at a very local level. The amounts allocated for distribution to each of the Volunteer Bureau are based on population/deprivation weightings. They usually cover costs associated with volunteer expenses, training, materials etc. Details of how to apply for funding is available from the Volunteer Development Agency on Tel: 028 9023 6100 or on line at www.volunteering-ni.org
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. Since 1994 the Community Volunteering Scheme (CVS), which is now worth approximately £1 million per annum, has been delivered on behalf of DSD by the Volunteer Development Agency. Following a recent public tender, VDA has been awarded the contract to deliver the grant programme for the period 2006-2009. Organisations wishing to apply to the Community Volunteering Scheme should contact the Volunteer Development Agency on Tel: 028 9023 6100 or on line at www.volunteering-ni.org
2. In total some 9,132 volunteers were involved in various activities through the CVS scheme between April 2004 and March 2005.
3. The NICVA State of the Sector IV research (Nov 2005) estimates that there are approximately 75,700 volunteers engaged in some form of formal volunteering for voluntary and community organisations and groups in Northern Ireland.
4. Cancer Lifeline is based in Alliance Avenue, an interface area of North Belfast. It was established in 2000 by a group of women in North Belfast to support those living locally who had been diagnosed with cancer. The founding members all had cancer and were in recovery or remission. Since then the group has developed as a small but dynamic organisation which employs two members of staff and provides advice and personal support to those with cancer and to their relatives to help cope with the stress and distress that a cancer diagnosis brings. The centre offers information, access to massage, acupuncture and other complementary therapies and arranges access to professional counselling services. Cancer Lifeline works with hospitals and GPs to raise the level of service provided to cancer patients and their families, through links with the Mater, City and RVH hospitals. Volunteers play a significant role in the work of the organisation.
5. At the centre Minister will meet Bernadette Montgomery, a founder volunteer and chairperson of the Cancer Lifeline organisation, Ms. Liddean McStravog, the project worker, and other members of the volunteer team. A representative from the Volunteer Development Agency, Ruth Walker, will also attend.
6. For further information please contact the Information Office on 028 9082 9078.
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