New CVS training programme

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Details of our 2019-20 training programme have just been published. Courses include:

  • What’s your digital plan?
  • Step up into volunteering
  • Your group, your neighbourhood (ABCD)
  • Recruiting and retaining volunteers
  • Introduction to volunteering
  • RSPH Level 2 Understanding health improvement (Health Champion training)

Full details can be found here.

In addition to the above courses, we can also offer training on request to groups on:

  • Accurate Record Keeping
  • Health champion ‘bite-size’ tasters
  • Introduction to Fundraising
  • Safeguarding Children

We can also supply information on availability of  Emergency First Aid at Work and Food Hygiene courses.

For information on any CVS training opportunities, please contact Helen Jones on 0165-733737 or email helenj@wlcvs.org

CVS presented with LGBT Quality Mark

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CVS Annual General Meeting

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You are warmly invited to the West Lancs CVS’ AGM to be held on Wednesday 3 April 2019 at Evermoor Community Hub, Skelmersdale from 10am (9.30am registration) until 11.30am. 

To book your place, please complete the booking form and return to Vicky Attwood.

CVS Annual Volunteer Awards Evening 2018

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To celebrate Volunteers Week 2018, West Lancs CVS held its annual Volunteer Awards Evening on 31st May.

A selection of volunteers from across the Borough were awarded 100 hour certificates, 200 hour certificates, and Outstanding Contribution to Volunteering Awards.

The evening was hosted by the Mayor of West Lancashire, Councillor Noel Delaney. The presentations were held in the Mayor’s Chamber, with refreshments served in the Mayor’s Parlour afterwards.

The awards were then followed up by representatives from each organisation saying a few words about the powerful impact of volunteers on the Voluntary Community and Faith Sector. It is true to say that a number of organisations just would not be able to run without the dedication and hard-work of their volunteers.

Greg Mitten, Chief Officer of West Lancs CVS along with Janice Howard from West Lancs CVS Volunteer Centre would like to say a big thank you to West Lancs Borough Council for hosting the ceremony and providing the delicious food, thank you to the Mayor of West Lancs Borough Council Noel Delaney and his Mayoress Mrs Ann Stubbert for presenting the awards to the volunteers and making the evening really special.

Thank you to the organisations who attended the evening, along with their volunteers and for saying wonderful things about the impact of volunteering in our Borough:

Thank you to Cath Thompson from the West Lancs Clinical Commissioning Group for attending on the night.

Last but not least, thank you to all of the Volunteers, not only the volunteers who attended on the night, but all of the volunteers across West Lancashire, who work tirelessly, giving up their free time to try and change the lives of others. Well done to all of you and a huge well done to the volunteers who were presented with awards.

26 volunteers were presented with awards!

To find out more about how to join the West Lancashire Volunteer Centre Certificate Scheme, please contact us on 01695 733737 or email vc@wlcvs.org

CVS AGM and funding information event

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Well done to all those who braved February’s snow and made it to the CVS AGM and funding information event!

The presentations can now be found on our Funding Advice page – and they include:

  • The Eric Wright Trust – launching its Small Grants Pot on April 1st
  • The Halsall Foundation – new Lancashire funder

GDPR training and resources

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General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will start to be enforced from May 25th 2018 and this has a number of implications for voluntary sector groups.

A number of you have asked whether we can provide training on GDPR so we have arranged a training course for Wednesday 28th March 2018 (venue to be confirmed). There may be a small charge for this but we will confirm this when we know how many are attending. Limited numbers are available so please book quickly to avoid disappointment. To book a place please email Jill Bradley or call 01695 733737.

For more information and resources about GDPR, please see our new information page.

Lancs LGBT Quality Mark awarded to CVS

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We are pleased to report that West Lancs CVS has achieved the Lancashire LGBT Quality Mark. The Quality Mark is designed to help measure how well an organisation is meeting the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans service users, volunteers and staff.

For more information, including its benefits and the cost, see http://lancslgbt.org.uk/quality-mark/

Find out the latest on the Tawd Valley Masterplan

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Residents can find out the latest on plans to make Tawd Valley Park an even better place for people to enjoy.  Members of the public with an interest in the Tawd Valley and how it might be developed are invited to attend. The event will be held on Thursday 18 January at West Lancashire College Skelmersdale, starting at 7pm and refreshments will be available from 6.30pm onwards.

The working group set up by West Lancashire Borough Council to deliver an exciting scheme for the Tawd Valley will outline progress being made.  Other presentations will include feedback on the detailed consultation held by Groundwork and West Lancs CVS over summer 2017 and the resultant Masterplan for the Tawd Valley prepared by Groundwork, complete with proposed costings and works.

Council staff will then outline plans for the funding and phasing of the work required which is anticipated to start in April 2018.

The Council is working with a number of partners on the scheme: Groundwork, the Environment Agency, the River Douglas Catchment Partnership, SHARES and West Lancs CVS.

The ambitious masterplan includes:

• New cycle paths
• New wetland habitat areas
• Improvements to the amphitheatre to create an informal event space
• Creation of a heritage trail
• New picnic spaces close to the town centre
• Access and improvement work to footpaths and landscapes

There is also potential for a new visitor centre, new play area and a BMX track as well as a fishing lake.

The Council is eager to work closely with the community on this ambitious project and is looking for a Friends of the Tawd Valley to be set up. This group would act independently of the Council, and provide input into the project at all levels – from the initial planning to the final delivery phases.

For details on the draft proposals contained in the Masterplan please visit www.westlancs.gov.uk/tvpp, where people can also give their views on the Masterplan and how the Tawd Valley can be developed. Comments must be received by the Council by midday on Monday 15 January.

To sign up to join the Friends group, please visit: www.wlcvs.org/tawd/