This year the Solihull Volunteer Forum is  organising two events to celebrate National Volunteers Week and to give you an opportunity to thank your volunteers for the contribution they make.

Volunteer thank you event

On Wednesday June 6th the Solihull Volunteer Forum  will be hosting a Volunteer Thank You event at the Council House, Solihull. The event which will be held between 7pm and 9pm will include reception drinks with the opportunity to meet other volunteers and share experiences, followed by presentations by the Mayor of Solihull and hopefully the chance to tour the Mayor’s Parlour. Now in its fourth year, our volunteer thank you evenings have proved very popular and booking is essential to avoid disappointment.

Please visit the SVF website and register your volunteers for attendance and presentation of thank you certificates at this event by no later than Wednesday
16^th May 2012 to thank them for their contributions.

Jubilee volunteers’ tea party

In celebration of the Queen’s Jubilee and National Volunteers Week, the Solihull Volunteering Forum will be hosting an informal tea party from 4pm to 6pm on Friday June 8th 2012. The event which will take place at the Loft, Bluebell Centre, Chelmsley Wood is a thank you for people who volunteer in Solihull. Volunteers attending the event will be treated to a traditional British tea party with the opportunity to chat  with other volunteers. The event will also feature  a fashion show hosted by George at Asda and a free raffle with a West Midlands Safari Park Family Ticket as first prize.

If you would like your volunteers to attend this free event,please complete the application form on the SVF website by Wednesday, May 16^th 2012  as registration is essential and places are limited.

The Jubilee Hour campaign is urging people to give 60 minutes of their time in celebration of the Queen’s 60 years of service.

An electronic book will be created where organisations and people will enter their pledges and record through words and pictures what they have done.

The campaign will be officially launched in the first week in May, and the full website will offer ideas for giving time and link to existing sources of information including Your Square Mile.

Volunteers Week is nearly here and provides an opportunity for organisations to celebrate their successes and say a big thank you to all their volunteers who give up their time and share their skills to make a difference in the community.

Are you holding any events during Volunteers Week to celebrate volunteering or raise the profile of your organisation with potential volunteers?
If you are please let us know. We would love to hear about how organisations in Solihull are celebrating volunteering.

Not arranged anything yet?  You still have time to organise something. Visit the Volunteering England website  for ideas and resources to help with planning and holding your event.

Contact Maureen Shepherd, Volunteer Centre Manager on 0121 704 6789 or email maureen.shepherd@wayc2.org to share your events or for more information.

Young Solihull (formerly SCVYS) will be holding its AGM:
On: Friday 18th May 2012 – 7.30pm
At : Council Chamber, Civic Suite, Solihull B91 9QS

The theme for the meeting will be:

The Big Society, Young People and the Voluntary Sector
This will celebrate the contribution of young people and voluntary youth organisations within Solihull and consider The Big Society Initiative and how it will impact on and involve Young People and Youth Services, both Voluntary and Statutory.

Refreshments will be served from 7.00pm

The annual report of the activities and the contributions of Voluntary Youth Groups in Solihull with presentations from some of those groups

Question time on the theme with an eminent and knowledgeable panel consisting of

• Lorely Burt, MP
• Ken Meeson, Leader of Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council
• Susanne Rauprich, Chief Executive of National Council of Voluntary Youth Services (NCVYS)
• Caroline Spelman, MP and Secretary of State for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Plus Networking – an opportunity to meet old and new friends and network

Please book the date now and encourage people to come and take part in this memorable occasion.

All are welcome, all ages, whether involved with young peopleʼs work or not.

Contact Andrew Williams, Chair, via arwilliams@dial.pipex.com for further details

Following the success of the 2010 Event at the Renewal Centre and the Progress May 2011 event, SoLO are delighted to be able to announce that they are working together with Progress to organise a new 2012 event.

The event takes place on Thursday 24th May 2012 at the Motorcycle Museum.

This will be a mix of workshops and speakers, alongside interactive information stalls.

Download the information leaflet here: Transition Event Leaflet

More information on Progress website: http://www.progressmagazine.co.uk/events.html

This year running alongside Race for Life in Solihull will be the Solihull Active Village.

Race for Life is the biggest women only fundraising event in the world. This year’s event aims to attract over 5000 women of all ages along with supporters and members of the public.

Solihull MBC are using this event to encourage more women and girls into sport and physical activity by offering taster sessions provided for by local community sports clubs and organisations that have suitable exit routes within the Borough. These activities will make up the Solihull Active Village.

The event is due to take place on Sunday 1^st July alongside the Olympic torch relay, 8.00am-12.30pm, and will be located in Malvern and Brueton Park.

This conference is designed for politicians, practitioners and other people who care.

Thursday 21st June 2012

9.30am – 4.00pm

The Foundation of Lady Katherine Leveson

The Old Hall, St. Mary’s Church

Speakers include:

• Amanda Waring – Media personality, writer/campaigner for dementia
• Dr. Patrick Brooke – Dementia Expert and Chair of Dementia Group for Birmingham and Solihull
• Robert Sleigh – Cabinet Member for Health and Well-Being
• Nicole Beeching – Accord Housing Association

Workshops include:

• Personalisation and Direct Payments
• The Role of the Social Worker
• Lasting Power of Attorney
• Significant Conversations
• Funding options for care
• Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty and Safeguarding

There will be no charge for this conference as it is to be funded by Solihull Workforce in Care Development Association (SWICDA), Solihull Social Services and Solihull Community Services (Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust)

Telephone 01564 772415 or email mastersoffice@leveson.org.uk to book your place

(NB: A fee of £75 will be charged for non-attendance without 24 hours notice)

Solihull Together, Lady Luck Charity Ball, 13 July 2012

Our business partners, The St John’s Hotel, are once more sponsoring this event, so we have a great opportunity to raise as much cash for our local community as we possibly can.

The Lady Luck theme has been chosen as the date for your diaries is Friday, 13th July 2012.

Find out how to book tickets here

WAYC are running a new project aimed at young people experiencing emotional well being issues. The service is free and starts in January.

For more information contact Melanie Scobie

melanie.scobie@wayc.org.uk

07500 832 306

01926 450 156

Are you a volunteer involving organisation?
Do you support or supervise volunteers?

Yes? Then you are warmly welcome to attend the next Solihull Volunteer Forum  on Tuesday January 24th 2012 from 12.30pm–3pm at the Loft, Bluebell Centre, Chelmsley Wood. Lunch will be provided.

There will be plenty of opportunity to network with other Volunteer Co-ordinators plus  Maureen Shepherd, Manager of the Solihull and Chelmsley Wood  Volunteer Centres will be leading a session on the work of the new centre.. She will be answering all those questions we all want to know, but maybe were hesitant to ask, including:

• What does the Volunteer Centre do?
• How can the Volunteer Centre help you?
• What do you want from the Volunteer Centre?

If you would like to attend  this interesting and important event please complete this form so that we can order enough lunches.

Please RVSP by 13 January 2012.

We look forward to seeing you there!