Connected Voice Magazine Summer 2021

Highlights:

At the time of publishing it’s Volunteers’ Week and following an unprecedented year for volunteering, and incredible response from voluntary and community organisations to support individuals and communities through the pandemic, we’ve decided to focus on Community Action.

We hear from Volunteer Centre Newcastle about their plans for a new ‘Volunteer Passport’ aimed at making it easier for people to help out in their community, and from Blue Stone Collaborative about how they partner with organisations to improve health and wellbeing in disadvantaged communities through the arts.

Our own Advocacy project turns 25 this year and we learn from Jane Kingston about how advocacy’s roots are in volunteering. We also hear from Mark Shilcock about future plans for OurGateshead.org in helping to promote volunteering in a digital age, and Vicki Harris explains how Haref’s newest research project is led by people with lived experience.

You can also read highlights from our recent research piece, Voices of the Pandemic, and feedback from organisations that received vital funding through the VCSE Resilience Fund.

Lastly, Jack Summerside and Nicola Dale share useful advice about how choosing the right legal structure can help lead to funding success