I was very pleased on Tuesday to finally meet Richard Hill OBE, the volunteering champion who has been working with our Civil Service Local team in the south west of England and in Wales. Richard is very enthusiastic about volunteering both as a means of increasing community engagement and for providing learning & development opportunties for civil servants. He tells me there are now over 300 civil servant volunteers looking to help the project in that area.
Southampton with HMCTS
We were meeting with Mike Barbier and two of his colleagues from HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS), together with Andrew Simpson, Area Director for the YMCA, in Southampton. We are looking at developing a project to help previously homeless people on the road towards employment. Principally this is through giving interview practice and feedback sessions although Richard has also developed short teaching sessions for those who are not yet confident or ready to undertake mock intereviews.
Initially the small team of Managers in HMCTS will be working with the YMCA to start with and there wil be opportunities for this to grow in the near future - please let me know if you are interested.
Urgent request for Monday 30 March in London
At the other end of the railway line (or the M3 if that's how you travel) in London I am talking to Crisis about a similar programme here. Crisis already run events twice a year, one of which is happening very soon and they are urgently looking for volunteers to conduct mock 'speed' interviews and to help delegates prepare a statement of 250 words to pitch themselves. You also get to give feedback to another delegate making their pitch.
If you can help out on Monday 30 March - either all day or just morning / afternoon please let me know as soon as possible.
If you are interested but can't make this date then please email me and I will add you to the list to be given details of opportunities as they arise.
The links below will help you see some of the advanatges to yourself, your team and to the community through civil servants volunteering.
It's great fun, and a great way to practice new skills or existing skills in a new environment. I look forward to hearing from you.
Read more blog stories and the opportunities available to volunteer with Civil Service Local or use the links below.