Report of the U3A Open Meeting Thursday 21 January 2010
Sylvia Henry the chair welcomed several new members to the January meeting at the Parkhouse after which she thanked members who had helped with the organization of the Christmas lunch and contributed to the raffle which realized £117.02p. She thanked also the members who continue to be a great support to her in her job as chairman. Sylvia spoke of the members who are unwell & reported that cards had been sent to assure them we are thinking of them.
Notices given to the floor of events were: Launceston Study Day, the Summer Schools at Chichester and Cirencester and the U3A trip to listen to the Romany Jazz band. More information was available on request. Sylvia announced the U3A had been asked to have a stand at Olympia. Anyone who was studying their family history might be interested in attending. She also announced that the committee had decided to buy a laptop and anyone who would like to find out more about the basic use of computers should speak to her after the meeting. The final date for items to be submitted in the Newsletter is 31 January or soon after.
Sylvia then introduced Christine Pryce, Volunteer Centre Manager for 'Volunteer Cornwall' who gave a power point presentation. Volunteer Cornwall, she said, is unique as it is county wide. It is a charity dedicated to promoting voluntary action throughout the county of Cornwall. Its role is to support charities, Trusts and non profit making organizations & to recruit volunteers to work on projects. The money comes from various sources like the Learning Skills Council, Cornwall Council and other extended services. The main centres in Cornwall are at Bodmin, Liskeard, St. Austell, Truro and Camborne with Outreach centres at Bude, Launceston and Saltash. They work with the Penwith Community Development Trust, Devon & Cornwall Police and the Probation Services.
There are many opportunities for working as a volunteer, through a range of services. Funding for training comes from the 'Convergence' Programme for Cornwall'. Many skills can be learnt during the process of training and working within a project.
Christine gave examples of the sort of thing she is asked to find volunteers for. People may ring up and want to help or even start a charity. Volunteers might be needed in Policies & Procedures, or in the Criminal Records Bureau. Help is needed to eradicate child poverty. Considerable numbers of volunteers often needed there - perhaps to take children strawberry picking or to the pantomime! For young volunteers there are exciting ways, eg. the Rescue Services; helping the RNLI being just one. If one has a language skill there are migrant workers who need help to learn our language. Voluntary work can be done by both young and old and any age in between and the opportunities are endless.
Christine is proud of the fact that the North Cornwall office has 550 volunteers on her data base and last year she recruited 273 new ones - a high number. The people of Cornwall are very willing to become volunteers and help in any way they can.
Anyone who has time on their hands and feels that they would like to give some time to helping others may obtain information from the website http://www.volunteercornwall.org.uk
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