‘I found doing voluntary work really helpful in building my confidence and being able to talk to people. I don’t think I would have thought about going to Uni if I had not done volunteering first.’
Kevin Boyle (Volunteer)
Darlington Council for Voluntary Service and Volunteer Bureau (CVS & VB) was established in 1966 to promote any charitable purposes for the benefit of the community in the borough of Darlington. The organisation seeks to challenge all forms of oppression and inequality and to give priority to working with people whose full participation in society is limited by economic, political and social disadvantage. In achieving this, Darlington CVS & VB offers help, advice and support to local community groups and voluntary organisations. It also offers administration and support services to not for profit organisations, as well as representing the views of voluntary organisations to the statutory authorities. They work in partnership with other organisations and agencies to develop new initiatives and promote good practice in volunteer management and good governance of organisations.
Staff at the Volunteer Bureau are supported by a team of regular volunteers. One such volunteer, Chris Russell, found volunteering for the Bureau helped her out of a very difficult period of unemployment when she first moved to Darlington:
‘If it hadn’t been for them, I wouldn’t have returned to the working environment so quickly and gained so much additional experience.’
County Durham Foundation has given Darlington
CVS a number of grants over the years including £10 000 to run an innovative
scheme designed to enable vulnerable and disadvantaged people and those who
have been unemployed for more than one year to be better equipped to return
to work. This includes computer, numeracy and literacy training which will
build the capabilities and confidence of people like Chris who are looking
to re-enter the workforce.