The lead volunteering infrastructure in the North West
NWVC Impact 2023/2024 REPORT FROM 1ST APRIL 2023 - 31ST MARCH 2024
22 Bishop Street Derry/Londonderry BT48 6PP & 42 Barrack Street Strabane BT82 8HD
Promoting Volunteering Across Derry City & Strabane District Council Area
V O L U N T E E R I N G A C C E S S N I T R A I N I N G
WWW.NWVC.CO.UK
Volunteering Projects & Activities
VISP - Volunteer Infrastructure Support Programme in Derry City and Strabane District Council Area 654 new volunteers registered Promoting good practice in volunteering across the district
25 New organisations registered 397 volunteer involving organisations registered on NWVC database 6 turn up take part volunteering events
Derry City & Strabane District Council Strategic Growth Plan
"To Increase & Sustain current levels of volunteers within the Derry City & Strabane District Council Area"
"Expand on opportunities to recognise volunteers' contributions to society”
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A A total of 538 people have received an EPIC Volunteer Award 210 people received their 50 hour award 194 received their 100 hour award 134 received their 200 hour award
56,700 volunteer hours
Volunteers' Week 2023
During 2023 Our volunteers week campaign provided the platform for volunteers to receive the appreciation and recognition.
Lunch on us: A number of volunteer involving organsations received lunch platters and thank you certificates
Downloadable ‘Thank you’ certificates were made available from our website
Support provided to a number of volunteer recognition events attended by staff across the DCSDC area Foyle Search & Rescue Heart of Foyle First Responders Fountain Street Community Development Assoc Strabane Health Improvement Project Me4Mental
ForSight charity shop St.Columbs Park House Victoria Bridge Community Association Springhil Park Resident & Youth Association Enagh Seniors
Summer programme 2023
The centre provided administrative support to the 2023 summer programme working with Ardnashee school & College and Foyle Parents & Friends Association
132 children & young people with disabilities participated on the summer programme. On average 44 participants per day
Supporting 130 families in partnership with Foyle Parents & Friends Association & Ardnashee College
2640 hours of respite for parents & carers over the summer period
100% of parents felt that the summer scheme met the needs of their child
64% of parents strongly agreed that building and maintaining friendships has increased for their child
61% of parents strongly agreed that listening and cooperation with others has improved for their child .
21 volunteers were recruited, trained and gained valuable experience working with children and young people with a range of disabilities and challenging behaviour
My child has loved every minute of the summer scheme, she is happy and content and sleeping through the night which she hasn’t been doing since school broke up. The scheme is brilliant and has allowed me to catch up on housework schedule dental and doctors checkups for myself. It has been great respite all the staff and volunteers have been brilliant - Many thanks (Parent )
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North West Volunteer Centre Training
Promotion, delivery & evaluation of 48 training courses.
| Introduction to Emergency First Aid Level 3 Emergency First Aid at Work (RQF) |
9 11 |
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|---|---|---|
| Level 2 Safeguarding & Protecting Children & Young people |
3 | |
| Awareness in safeguarding children & young people | 10 | |
| Integrated children & adults Safeguarding Courses | 8 | |
| Awareness in safeguarding Adults courses | 1 | |
| Level 2 Food Safety in Catering Course | 4 | |
| Basic life support & AED courses | 1 | |
| Level 1 Health & Safety at Work (RQF) | 1 | |
| Total of 48 courses delivered & 518 participants |
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Access NI service 23/24
902 access ni applications completed
122 organisations supported
902 people supported through the access ni process
ACCESS NI Certificate of compliance awarded for basic standard & enhanced Applications ACCESS NI Support materials updated and circulated to organisations
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The Clear Project
In September 2023 the centre secured funding from Developing Healthy Communities under Clear Project funding to deliver “Volunteer Connect Empower” project
| Objectives | Targeting year 12 and 13 year groups in post primary schools across the Derry City and Strabane District council Area - Promote volunteering as a healthy lifestyle choice for young people. 1. Inform about the health and wellbeing benefits of volunteering using the 5-steps to wellbeing. 2. Highlight the skills development and benefits of volunteering so that our young people are better able to realise their potential. 3. Promote the EPIC (empowering people in communities) Volunteering Awards to young people. 4. |
Targeting year 12 and 13 year groups in post primary schools across the Derry City and Strabane District council Area - Promote volunteering as a healthy lifestyle choice for young people. 1. Inform about the health and wellbeing benefits of volunteering using the 5-steps to wellbeing. 2. Highlight the skills development and benefits of volunteering so that our young people are better able to realise their potential. 3. Promote the EPIC (empowering people in communities) Volunteering Awards to young people. 4. |
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| Action 1: Volunteer Connect Empower - Information sessions |
Deliver 8 Volunteer Connect Empower Information sessions Participating schools include: St. Brigids College – Year 12 & Year 13, St. Mary’s College Year 12 & Year 13, Lisneal College year 12 & Year 13, Foyle College Year 13, Lumen Christi College year 13. |
Total number of participants 760 |
| Action 2: Volunteer Recruitment & Engagement Event |
Facilitate a volunteer recruitment and engagement event with 10-15 community partners who will showcase opportunities to volunteer. Community organisations will bring along people who are already volunteering to share their experiences with prospective volunteers. |
total number of participants 38 |
| Through the Volunteer Connect Empower information sessions 92% of participants are more informed about how to get involved in volunteering locally. 92% of participants are more aware of the health and wellbeing benefits from volunteering. 100% are more informed about how to get involved in volunteering locally. 78% of participants stated that they were likely to volunteer in the future. |
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Celebrating 40 years On October 26, 2023, the Churches Voluntary Work Bureau marked its 40th anniversary with a special showcase event at the Bishop Gate Hotel. The event welcomed 70 guests who came together to celebrate the centre's achievements over the past four decades.
Churches Voluntary Work Bureau North West Volunteer Celebrating 40 years Centre YEARS Churches Voluntary Work Bureau celebrating 40 years FROM 1983 the centre's mission: -Promote and provide volunteerin8 opportunities and activities in the North Wesl of Ireland for the benefit of individuals and communities" ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE 4 Trustees 12 Voluntary Board Members 4 Staff l Admin volunteer REACH The centre provides services for the Derry City & Strabane District Council Area TIME: 40YEARS= 480 Monthg 2.080 w••ki 14.610 d•y$ 349.440 hour• 21,024,000 MIn•S 1,261.440.000 seconds YEARLY We Register over 600 volunteers Deliver 50 training courses Registers 25 new organisations Support over 300 organisations Complete 1000 access ni application North West Volunteer Centre
Churches Voluntary Work Bureau North West Volunteer Celebrating 40 years Centre YEARS 1983- 2023 Celebrating 40 years in the community hmhhh Registering 24,000 volunteer £2 million pounds of small grants fundin for volunteerin Supporting over 300 volunteer involving organisations 20,000 volunteer opportunities Delivery of 500 training courses 500 EPIC Volunteer Awards Connecting local people to local organisations across the Derry City & Strabane District Council Area
Website &
Social Media impact
10126 total visitors 4402 visitors from Google searches 220 from social networks
44,793 page views in total across all users 5832 for homepage 4158 for Opportunities 1181 Expressions of interest
Opportunities Viewed 908 views for Children and Young People 703 views for Admin and Office Work 661 views for Animals Befriending / Mentoring - 648 721 views for Shops/Retail 571 Shops & retail 548 views Arts, Drama, Music and Crafts Altnagelvin hospital 529
2300 followers on Facebook & 1900 likes
684 followers on Twitter/X
641 followers on Instagram
1007 views for content on youtube
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Thank you to our funders
Department for Communities - VISP Project Inner City Trust Derry City & Strabane District Council The Honourable Irish Society