If you are a member of the Volunteer Development Agency and would like to add your news and information to this page email maria@volunteering-ni.org

For more information on becoming a member click here.

Vibrant Voices at Belfast City Hall

Cruse Bereavement Care is holding a musical event, Vibrant Voices at the newly refurbished Belfast City Hall on Friday 23 April 2010, beginning at 7pm with a Drinks Reception.  It will be an evening of varied musical entertainment in celebration and support of the contribution of Cruse to support bereaved children and adults.

Artists include Leading Ladies, Capella Caeciliana, St Patrick's School Steel Band Armagh, Flautist Richard Douglas and Harpists Cherith Boyle & Sharon Carroll. Tickets £30 per person, available from Cruse Regional Office Email: northern.ireland@cruse.org Tel: 028 9079 2419

* Be a Saint - Volunteer!.
VSB, in partnership with Business in the Community, is organising a day of voluntary action on Friday 19 March. Be a Saint – Volunteer! will encourage employers to release their employees (in teams) to undertake volunteering projects in the community. Many local charities have already received valuable help with a range of practical work which otherwise may have cost them money.  Private and public sector organisations are now realising that team volunteering brings the opportunity for their employees to get together away from the usual work environment and use their skills and experience to help others.  Projects must be time limited to one day, be realistic in the nature of the work and offer a positive experience of volunteering. Past Projects have included conservation/gardening work, decorating, mural painting and DIY.

If your organisation has a challenge which could be promoted as part of this day or if you would like advice on how to benefit from Employee Supported Volunteering contact Julie Cusick on 028 9020 0850 or email Julie@vsb.org.uk 

* Community Transport Association NI - New Rural Community Transport Services Available from 1 December
Ministers announce introduction of new transport scheme for rural dwellers.
The new Dial-a-Lift services will be available to members of Rural Community Transport Partnerships. These services are similar to the Door-to-Door services that are available in urban areas and are designed to allow individuals who have limited access to transport to get to local services and facilities.

To contact your local Rural Community Transport please call/typetalk (from a landline) 0845 650 1190 visit www.communitytransport-ni.com/operations or email gerard@ctauk.org

The second scheme announced is the Assisted Rural Transport Scheme (ARTS). This scheme is being supported by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and will allow eligible members of Rural Community Transport Partnerships to obtain concessionary travel when using community transport. This initiative which is being launched as a pilot will help ease the financial burden on rural dwellers. Holders of Smart Passes will be able to access free or half fare concessions for Dial-a-Lift services.

For further information click here.

*ENCOURAGE - A social inclusion project for the over 50s 

As part of its 3rd Age programme Newry & Mourne Volunteer Centre has a number of events planned for the next few months.  All you need to be part of the ENCOURAGE programme is to be over 50 and doing some voluntary work.  The programme is sponsored by Awards for All and provides volunteers with the opportunity to be part of a social network.  The Centre has already hosted an intergenerational away day at Tolleymore and a challenge day at Todd's Leap.  Volunteers had a fantastic time doing off road driving and quad driving, culminating with a rally drive around the course.  This happened during Age Awareness Week and certainly challenged the perception of ageing!

For those who would like something a bit less extreme there will be a Christmas outing to Belfast for a stroll round the Continental Market and a visit to the newly refurbished City Hall.  There is no cost involved and you just need to be over 50 and a volunteer to attend.

For more information contact Colette at Newry & Mourne Volunteer Centre on 028 3026 2037 or email cruddy@ccgnewrycommunity.org