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Over the past four years Newham Volunteers has registered
more than 3,000 residents to volunteer at high profile events and
play a role in service delivery throughout the council through the
Good Neighbourhood Scheme.
The Good Neighbourhood Scheme encourages council departments to
integrate volunteers into their services with an emphasis on the
volunteer role complimenting the work of paid staff rather than
substituting it.
Good Neighbourhood Scheme roles include:
- Recycling ambassadors
- Learning mentors
- Drivers
- Community gardeners
- Library assistants
- Crime and anti-social behaviour service patrol volunteers
- Disability escorts
- 2012 Games ambassadors
- Warm centre befrienders
- Luncheon club assistants
- Extended school/homework club helpers
Sir Robin Wales said: "Newham Volunteers has gone from strength
to strength. The variety of roles fulfilled by volunteers is
extensive. Volunteering gives residents the opportunity to learn
new skills and make new friends and actually leads to paid
employment opportunities for many.
"Tens of thousands of volunteers will be required for the 2012
Games. The Newham Volunteers is a great chance to get a head of the
crowd and better your opportunity of gaining an Olympic volunteer
place."
The make-up of the volunteers is diverse with women making up a
larger proportion than men. More than a quarter of volunteers have
used the experience to find full-time employment and over a third
go into further training.
All volunteers receive a full induction and if relevant to the
role they also receive criminal record bureau (CRB) testing and
further training which includes diversity awareness, disability
discrimination awareness, basic food hygiene, first aid, basic IT
instruction and wheel chair handling.
Newham Volunteers is one of many volunteering opportunities in
Newham. The volunteer network centre can match volunteers with
third sector opportunities in Newham. The volunteer network centre
can be contacted on 020 8536 1937.
To find out more about the Newham Volunteers call 020
8430 3598.
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