Community and Voluntary Sector Forum (CVSF),Ā Volunteer Centre, Performance Development Service and Skills Exchange are about to merge into one organisation with a new vision and ways of providing support and a voice for community groups and charities in the area.
Since 2010, Lunch Positive has been an active member of the CVSF Smaller Groups Network and the Volunteer Centre Volunteer Co-ordinators Forum.
Being part of the CVSF Smaller Groups Network has been invaluable in the development of Lunch Positive. They have been able to meet with other groups, discuss developments in funding, health & social care, and a whole range of other issues which affect them.
They have found opportunities to work together, developed networks to support one another, and had input into and access to the types of training, support and development which their organisations need.
In 2012, because of their experiences, they and five other groups had the idea of formulating a much needed position statement representing smaller organisations, which kick-started a piece of work which was developed and adopted as CVSF Position Statement on the Value and Needs of Small Community Groups (www.cvsectorforum.org.uk).
Being part of the Volunteer Centre Volunteer Coordinators Forum has been equally valuable in running a volunteer led group. The forum provides the opportunity to discuss developments in volunteering and best practice; and is a great place to meet others involved in managing, coordinating or working with volunteers.
The forum facilitates short workshops, identified by its members, on approaches to involving & supporting volunteers, and also provides access to useful online resources.
In 2011 Lunch Positive co-facilitated a well-attended workshop on Involving Service Users as Volunteers. The benefit of taking part in both of these networks is that they are able to meet others from the voluntary & community sector, share experiences, and together find support, solutions and opportunities to develop their work.
If youāre involved in any way with community work, thereās valuable support out there, and itās important that our LGBT communities are more aware of and part of it.
You can get in touch with CVSF who are leading on the new infrastructure organisation through their website:Ā www.cvsectorforum.org.uk
If any LGBT group would like to hear more about Lunch Positive’s experiences you can get in touch with Lunch Positive at: info@lunchpositive.org
You must be logged in to post a comment.