Community Fire Safety Volunteers wanted

Could you become a Community Fire Safety Volunteer with Avon Fire and Rescue Service and The Care Forum?

Community Fire Safety Volunteers research, contact and visit local social and community groups. They encourage these groups to sign up for Avon Fire and Rescue’s free Home Fire Safety Visits, a free lifesaving service that Firefighters deliver to people in their own homes. This is an important and worthwhile role that helps prevent devastating home fires and, ultimately, helps save lives.

You would be providing a valuable life-saving service in your community, gaining skills and using your experience and free time to help keep local people safer.

If you might be interested, please contact Steffie in Volunteering at The Care Forum, tel. 0117 9589308 or email volunteering@thecareforum.org.uk or check out the Community Fire Safety Volunteer web page

Feel better, keep fit, get involved - but how?

Maybe you're wondering how to fulfill that vague New Year resolution about getting more active? Or you want to find local sources of health information? Or do some volunteering that helps others become more healthy, or cope with their health issues?

There's a very useful new website called Well Aware that lets you search for information, resouces and activities local to you. Please visit the Well Aware website and browse around to find something that suits you.

Voluntary organisation networking events in early July

If you're involved in a voluntary organisation, you could benefit from these FREE local events in early July, organised by CVS South Gloucestershire, Southern Brooks Community Partnership and Community Ignite.

WORKING TOGETHER - three local networking events for organisations, community groups and social enterprises in South Gloucestershire.

Come to your local event in Yate, Kingswood or Severn Vale.

Working Together is designed to:

• focus on fundraising, volunteering and communication
• provide a networking opportunity for people who are leading local organisations
• give information about the help and advice available from CVS South Gloucestershire, Southern Brooks Community Partnerships and Community Ignite (Kingswood)

The event will combine presentations, workshops and group discussions. A light lunch will be provided. Feel free to bring along promotional material for your group to share with others.

Area: Yate locality, South Gloucestershire
Date: Wednesday 1July
Venue: Poole Court, Poole Court Drive, Yate, South Gloucestershire, BS37 5PP
Time: 9.30am - 12.30pm
Booking: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/working-together-yate-locality-one-of-three-local-networking-events-for-organisations-community-tickets-17157524618 
Further details: Jackie Lawton, Jackie.Lawton@cvs-sg.org.uk, 01454 865205

Area: Kingswood locality, South Gloucestershire
Date: Tuesday 7 July
Venue: The Park Centre, High Street, Kingswood, South Gloucestershire, BS15 4AR
Time: 9.30am - 12.30pm

Booking:  http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/working-together-kingswood-locality-one-of-three-local-networking-events-for-organisations-tickets-17154342099
Further details: Alice Payne, alice.payne@communityignite.org.uk, 0117 960 4186

Area: Severn Vale locality, South Gloucestershire
Date: Thursday 9 July
Venue: Bradley Stoke Evangelical Church, Baileys Court Road, Bradley Stoke, Bristol, South Gloucestershire BS32 8BH. (Please note: The postcode will take to The Bailey’s Court Inn. With the pub on your left drive to the next roundabout, go straight ahead and the church is on your right)
Time: 10.00am - 1.00pm
Booking: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/working-together-severn-vale-locality-one-of-three-local-networking-events-for-organisations-tickets-17157093328
Further details: Kate Ross, kateross@southernbrooks.org.uk,  01454 868570

Calling all community heroes

It's time to make your nominations for the Chair's Community Awards 2015.

The annual awards recognise and celebrate the huge contribution local unpaid volunteers make to our communities. The celebration will take place in March and you have until Friday 9th January to nominate your local "community hero". You can do it online at www.southglos.gov.uk/communityawards, call 01454 863019 or email communityawards@southglos.gov.uk

Drop-in session for the retired

"Now I'm retiring" is a drop-in marketplace of clubs, volunteering opportunities and hobbies to inspire people who have retired or are about to do so. It's being held on Saturday 18 October between 11am and 2pm at Yate Library. For more information please email cchengagement@southglos.gov.uk or call 01454 862356.

Small grants - apply now

If you are a local voluntary or community group in need of a small grant, now is the time to get your applications in. You can apply for up to £3,000 from South Glos's Small Revenue Grants - do it now on the council’s website. The closing date is 26 November 2012 and if you need help you can call the Grants Helpline on 01454-865865 for an informal chat. The decision on how much to award each group will be made by local councillors at the spring Frome Vale Area Forum.