The team at Spalding’s Lincolnshire Community and Voluntary Service offers far more than volunteering opportunities.
Health trainers Chloe Stevenson and Theresa Lewis support people in making small lifestyle changes, such as healthy eating, becoming more active, controlling smoking and alcohol. They also help people’s mental and physical wellbeing by supporting them in getting out and about more and being aware of the support groups that already exist and helping them to set up new ones.
The centre carries out training, both accredited and non-accredited, for volunteers and for organisations, and can conduct DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service, which replaced CRB) checks.
The centre plays a role in community development, supporting and advising groups so that they can deliver what they do effectively, and offering a “back office” service to organisations.
Groups come to them for assistance with engaging with other organisations and for advice on funding – for instance, Gill was able to help secure funding for a carers’ support group in Holbeach.
Gill says: “Over 80 per cent of the funding applications we support are successful, which is a much better rate than the national average. We work very closely with the funders and they will notice if there’s been an under-spend and will come to us to help identify projects.
“We have supported Chain Bridge Forge in Spalding with funding and volunteers.”
• Gill says the team is always happy to give organisations a general talk about the services they provide or to take a stand at exhibitions. Phone 01775 768833.