Updated news from the FVAF office

 

 

• FVAF annual subscription for 2013 remains at £10 for which members can get many benefits such as cheaper photocopying, subsidised training and the equipment hire service

 

• The portable PA system has proved its worth as an excellent system for groups holding both indoor and outdoor meetings and the hearing loop and hearing enhancers are now getting out to more meetings

 

• The Local Action Group is still open to invitations for Expressions of Interest for funding for projects that fully subscribe to the objectives of the local Rural Development Programme – but note this programme is coming to its final period of funding so be quick - contact FVAF for more information

 

• FVAF training continues to be able to offer CIEH Level 2 Food Safety (catering) at the affordable price of £30 per attendee and Emergency First Aid at Work at £35 per attendee. This includes training and assessment and we always use local community venues. Contact  the office for more information

 

• Our social gardening project, now called Strim and Trim, is entering new phases with a second pilot project in Coleford with volunteers with mental health issues and also, just agreed by our trustees, the opportunities for employment and other financially supported activity for our current volunteers. This will all be provided through our team with  Jamie Powell as Support Worker and Rhonda Hall doing the administration

 

• Our county Food training programme, funded by the Performance Reward Grant administered by the Gloucestershire Assembly for the Voluntary and Community Sector, has already delivered courses across Stroud and the Cotswolds District Council areas and has a few courses left to deliver

 

• On a similar theme our Jam Gym project is just coming to the boil and this will be involving numbers of volunteers with learning disability making jams, preserves, chutneys and cordials over the summer period

 

• Our Forest Care Matters project, looking at ways groups in the Forest of Dean may benefit from the personal care budget agenda, is now properly underway with the project officer, Fiona Woodroffe, starting work in mid-June. This is an exciting piece of work that we hope will bring greater sustainability to many groups