Get top tips to ‘Live for Less’ at community drop-in event! 2pm - 5pm Wednesday 22 March| Lydney Town Hall GL15 5DY Come along to our FREE drop-in event for top tips and advice to help you with the rising cost of living. ​ From 2pm to 5pm you will get the chance to visit over 25 information stalls and speak face-to-face with experts who can offer help with food support, reducing bills, energy saving, searching for a job and benefits and money advice. PLUS we’ve got some fantastic interactive demos featuring cooking with Dean Forest Kitchen, grow your own tips from Adult Education Gloucestershire and upcycling skills with Newent Upcycling. In addition, AEG will also be giving a taste of the other sessions that they offer . Chris Brown, our CEO at said “With the cost of living constantly on the rise we are seeing first-hand the strain and impact this is having on the day-to-day lives of local people. This drop-in event will offer tips and advice and help everyone discover sustainable ways to cut their bills and save money.” ‘Living for Less’ is a free community drop-in event with a wide range of organisations signed up to attend including Forest of Dean District Council, Citizens Advice Bureau, Severn Wye Energy Agency, DWP, Homestart, Wlydwood, Two Rivers Housing and many other local community and support groups. Full list of organisations attending: Forest of Dean District Council - community, health, benefits and housing teams SevernWye Energy Agency Citizens Advice Bureau Department For Work and Pensions – Benefits and employment team Newent Upcycling Dean Forest Kitchen Friends of Forest Waterways Christians Against Poverty Wyldwood Crossroads Care Gloucestershire Carers Healthwatch Gloucestershire Adult Education Gloucestershire FRED – Forest Read Easy Deal Charlie's in the Forest Lydney Hub Gloucestershire Community Rail Two Rivers Housing Gloucestershire Fire & Rescue Mothers in Mind/Homestart Lydney Exchange Gloucestershire Nightstop Great Oaks Hospice Managing Memory GOPA - Gloucestershire Older Persons' Association Dementia Action Alliance - DDA CCP – Caring for Communities and People For more information contact contact@fvaf.org.uk or 01594 822073.

The Digital Hubs Project Tackling digital exclusion across Gloucestershire The Digital Hubs Project is a new innovative approach, developed by Forest Voluntary Action Forum and GCC Adult Transformation Team, to tackle digital exclusion across Gloucestershire by offering free, accessible, tailored support to individuals. Starting out in October 2021, we have played the as role as county wid e facilitator of the project in partnership with GCC’s Adult Transformation Team. Whilst being facilitator’s, we act as the Forest of Dean lead district provider, offering FREE 1:1 digital support across our 6 safe and trusted Community Drop-in Hubs. Coleford – Sixteen Community Cafe Lydney – Taurus Crafts Sedbury – Sedbury Space Mitcheldean – Mitcheldean Community Library Staunton – The Swan Community Hub Newent – The Chill Out Zone What does Digital Hubs aim to address? Motivation Not everyone sees why using the internet could be relevant and helpful A Digital Hub can demonstrate the huge benefits Skills Not everyone has the ability to use the internet and online services A digital Hub can provide 1:1 training Confidence Some people fear online crime, lack trust or don’t know where to start online A Digital Hub can increase confidence via trusted relationships Access Not everyone has the ability to connect to the internet and go online A Digital Hub can provide access to free equipment and internet Since starting the journey of Gloucestershire Digital Hubs Project, awareness and recognition of the project has grown and is now recognised as essential community-based approach to tackling digital exclusion across Gloucestershire. Notability, the project was highlighted in the Report of the Director of Public health 2022/23 - No Person is an island: Social connections in Gloucestershire, which also included video cased study of the project. You can also download the PDF version (PDF, 5.2 MB) of Director of Public health 2022/23 For more information about the project visit the Digital Hub website HERE To find out more, dates, times and locations for upcoming FVAF Community Digital Drop-in Hubs, contact Alex on community@fvaf.org.uk or 01594 822073.

Employment Skills Support Ready to take your next steps towards further education, volunteering or work? Go along to your nearest Community Hub for 121 conversations with our friendly Community Builders. They can help: Explore what matters to you Develop your CV Signposting to education, training and employment Consider volunteering opportunities Increase your confidence for online searches, applications, interviews Take up opportunities to get involved in your local community For more information please contact: community@fvaf.org.uk or 01594 822073

KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE Young people who are moving towards adulthood have the right to make informed choices about how they connect to their local community. This can involve risk, for guidance read: Building Connections: One minute guide to Risk Assessment

"بناء مجتمعات أقوى في غابة العميد " ما هو FVAF؟ FVAF لتقف على منتدى العمل التطوعي للغابات. نحن نقدم الدعم للمواطنين المحليين ومجموعات المجتمع والأنشطة للقيام بالأشياء التي تهمهم أكثر. وهذا يشمل ما يلي: ​ مشورة الدعم والتطوير تمرين معلومة اجتماعات التواصل تسهيل التمثيل تجنيد المتطوعين تنسيب المتطوعين ودعمهم ​ ندير أيضًا العديد من المشاريع مع المجتمع المحلي ومن أجله ، مثل جمعية فورست أوف دين للشباب ، وحملات أنشطة العطلات ، وشبكة موسيقى شباب الغابة ، ومشروع GEM ، ودليل فورست كومباس ، والمشي بعجلات وغيرها الكثير. تحقق من صفحة مشاريعنا للحصول على التفاصيل الكاملة. ​ اكتشف المزيد Hop onboard the DigiBus! FREE 1-2-1 training ​ Coming to a town near you…the DigiBus will be stopping at locations across the Forest during June and July with trainers on hand to help you improve your digital skills. FIND OUT MORE دليل التطوع الجديد من الأسهل التطوع في غابة العميد؟ في FVAF ، أنتجنا كتيبًا جديدًا يسمى التطوع في غابة العميد. هذا دليل مجاني لبعض فرص التطوع العديدة المتاحة محليًا. سيتم إصدار النسخ المطبوعة قريبًا المحلية الخاصة بك مكتبة أو مركز المجتمع أو انقر أدناه لتنزيل ملف نسخة رقمية. تنزيل كتيب التطوع ابحث عن أقرب مركز توصيل إليك مفتوح الان بناء المجتمع Drop -in Hubs انبثق وتحدث وجهًا لوجه مع منشئ مجتمع. يقدم كل مركز استقبال مجموعة متنوعة من الدعم والمشورة والتوجيه للسكان المحليين. علي سبيل المثال؛ دعم الخدمات المحلية ووضع علامات عليها ، وربط وإنشاء مجموعات مجتمعية جديدة ، ودعم الناس للاقتراب أكثر من العمل أو التعليم الإضافي ، والمساعدة في الوصول إلى العالم الرقمي ودعم إحياء أفكارك للمجتمع. غابة العميد جمعية الشباب تدعم جمعية فورست أوف دين للشباب الشباب الذين تقل أعمارهم عن 25 عامًا ليصبحوا مواطنين فاعلين وقادة في حياتهم. نحن ندعم أيضًا المجموعات والمنظمات المجتمعية عبر Forest of Dean لتعزيز العمل الرائع الذي يقومون به بالفعل من خلال إطلاق العنان للمهارات والأصول المحلية ، سواء كانت أفرادًا أو أماكن أو تمويلاً. يتمتع الفريق بمجموعة متنوعة من المهارات والخبرات في العمل مع الشباب ومجتمعات الغابات لدينا ، حتى نتمكن من التكيف والتفاعل مع معظم المشاريع أو الاستفسارات المتعلقة بالشباب. نتيجة لذلك ، تشارك جمعية الشباب في مجموعة متنوعة من المشاريع بالإضافة إلى تقديم إشارات للدعم والخدمات. اكتشف المزيد دعم المتطوعين إذا كنت ترغب في التطوع في Forest of Dean ، فلدينا مجموعة مختارة من الفرص الحالية لك. ​ إذا كنت مجموعة مجتمعية ترغب في الحصول على بعض الدعم التطوعي ، فيمكننا الترويج لوظيفتك التطوعية الشاغرة. إذا كنت بحاجة إلى المساعدة والمشورة بشأن العمل مع المتطوعين ، فيرجى الاتصال بنا Search Volunteer Opportunites تابعنا على الفيسبوك ننشر آخر أخبارنا وأحداثنا بانتظام على Facebook. للحصول على أحدث المعلومات ، يرجى متابعة صفحتنا على Facebook اذهب الى الفيس بوك شركاؤنا

We crown our community heroes! The community turned out in force on Tuesday 3 October to see local volunteers crowned at our glittering Forest Volunteers Awards 2023 celebration at the AccXel Training Centre in Cinderford. READ THE NOMINEE PROFILES IN THE AWARDS PROGRAMME We created the Forest Volunteer Awards to recognise and celebrate the amazing efforts of local volunteers in the Forest of Dean and earlier this Summer, we asked you to nominate those volunteer heroes who have demonstrated exceptional and outstanding support to the local community over the past 12 months. We had an amazing response and received hundreds of nominations. Our expert community panel had the tough task of shortlisting the nominations and picking the winners. However,one category - Volunteer of the Year – Peoples’ Champion – was decided by a public vote withalmost 1,400 votes cast. The winners were crowned at a special evening, held at the stunning conference space at the impressive AccXel Training Centre, which was provided for free to FVAF by local construction company the KW Bell Group, who were the main sponsors of the event. Jando Greco, volunteer at St Stephens Church in Cinderford was crowned Volunteer of the Year – the People’s Champion following a public vote. A volunteer of over 12 years his nominator said: “We so appreciate him, he is such a thoughtful, caring person and will do anything for anyone – Jando is so worthy of receiving this award.” Young volunteers were celebrated with Ebony Powell, volunteer and fundraiser at Forest of Dean Dog Rescue crowned under 16 years old Young Volunteer of the Year for her caring and dedicated commitment caring for the rescue dogs, whilst in the 17 – 25 years old category, Daisy Hoole rewarded for her tireless hard work volunteering at C.A.N.D.I Youth Space. In the groups section, The George in Newnham was recognised as the New Voluntary Group of the Year for reopening the former café as a vibrant community space. Next up, was Sedbury Space who picked up the Grassroots Voluntary Group award in recognition of the fantastic efforts of the community to create a thriving, inclusive, welcoming hub. Fire safety education organisation SkillZONE was awarded the Community Organisation award for their responsive work with young people in the Forest, and a team of volunteers from EDF Energy picked up the Business in the Community Award for helping out at Camphill Village Trust in Lydney. Forest of Dean Dementia Action Alliance (FDDAA) sponsored the launch of a new Inclusion Award, with Cinderford Bowls Club scooping the top spot for making changes to the game and their grounds to make bowls accessible for everyone to enjoy. Our Volunteering Manager Deb Cook said “So much of what happens within our community is because of people who give their time and energy for free. We think that recognising the amazing efforts of volunteers and organisations is incredibly important which is why we have been so pleased by the reaction of the local people who have supported these awards by nominating and voting.” Deb added, “It has been an incredible evening and we are so lucky and proud of the strength of the amazing voluntary sector we have in the Forest.” Master of Ceremony for the Forest Volunteer Awards was Steve Knibbs, BBC Points West reporter who kept the guests entertained with his expert hosting skills. Award winners were announced by guest presenters; Mark Topping( Leader of Forest of Dean District Council), Emma Snell (Go Volunteer Glos), Penny Hulbert (FVAF Chair of Trustees), Jonathan Lane (Cabinet Member for Economy at FODDC), Kirsty Downie (John Lewis Partnership & Waitrose - Monmouth), and Andrea Harman (Ecophon). The celebration evening was made possible thanks to generous sponsorship for the following local organisations: KW Bell Group and AccXel Training Centre – main sponsors Ecophon Simplicity in Business Steve Gooch Estate Agents Waitrose & Partners (Monmouth Store) FOREST VOLUNTEER AWARD WINNERS 2023: ​ Volunteer of the Year – Peoples’ Champion WINNER: Jando Greco – St Stephens Church, Cinderford Highly Commended: Chris Brain (Broadwell Football Club), Melanie Getgood (Friends of Worcester Walk), Edna Husbands (Lydcare Community Transport), Barbara Jenkins (Over 60’s Group at Berryhill Memorial Hut), Albert Weager (community representative & advocate for better healthcare) and Dave Young (Forest Sensory Services and Samaritans). New Voluntary Group of the Year WINNER: The George, Newnham Highly Commended: Lydney Army Cadets Young Volunteer of the Year 16yrs & under WINNER: Ebony Powell – Forest of Dean Dog Rescue Highly Commended: Evie Harris - community volunteer and Teens in Crisis fundraiser Young Volunteer of the Year 17 – 25yrs WINNER: Daisy Hoole – C.A.N.D.I Youth Space Highly Commended: Leanne Hendrix – Coleford Youth Club Grassroots Voluntary Group of the Year WINNER: Sedbury Space Highly Commended: Forest Community Shed Community Organisation of the Year WINNER: SkillZone Highly Commended: Forest of Dean District Scouts Business in the Community Award WINNER: EDF Energy Highly Commended: The Rising Sun Community Pub FoD Dementia Action Alliance Inclusion Award WINNER: Cinderford Bowls Club Highly Commended: Artspace Cinderford ​ ​ END For media enquires contact communications@fvaf.org.uk or 01594 822073.

OUR FOREST EVENTS Community ideas wanted for ‘Our Forest’ £3m lottery bid An opportunity for people and community organisations to discuss project ideas for Our Forest's planned National Lottery Heritage Fund Bid. BOOK TICKETS: Saturday 13th April, Lydney Town Hall - 1pm - 4pm BOOK TICKET: Sunday 14th April, Mitcheldean Community Centre - 1pm - 4pm We’re excited to announce that we are leading on preparing a new £3million bid to the National Heritage Lottery Fund (NLHF). ​ Called ‘Our Forest’ this new community-driven project will focus on the heritage of the Forest of Dean To prepare for this bid, we are asking local people, community groups and organisations to have their say at two community events we are hosting this weekend. ​ Taking place at 1pm-4:30pm on Saturday (13 April) at Lydney Town Hall and 1pm-4:30pm on Sunday (14 April) at Mitcheldean Community Centre , these events are open for anyone to attend, to share and discuss ideas for potential heritage projects, partnerships and collaborations that could be included in the bid for funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF). ​ Deb Cook, our Volunteering Manager at FVAF said “Heritage is what you think is important and should be preserved. It could be about improving access to landscapes, historical sites, or collections; cultural activity or traditions; stories and celebrations as well as more traditional ideas of heritage. It can be anything from the past or even present that you value and want to pass on to future generations. ​ She added: “We’re asking the community to come along to one of these events to be part of the conversation and tell us what they think is important to include in the ‘Our Forest’ project.” ​ Building upon the legacy of the Foresters' Forest Landscape Partnership programme, ‘Our Forest’ will focus on involving diverse people, grass-roots organisations, and the voluntary community sector, with projects that involve young people, older people, hardly reached groups, as well as focusing on mental health and wellbeing.

Meet the FVAF team Our head office is based in Cinderford but everyday you will meet members of the FVAF team out and about supporting the community and building strong partnerships with other local organisations and groups... Chris Brown Chief Executive Officer Cathy Griffiths Development Manager Facilities Manager Connor Grimshaw Nick Penny Programme Manager Catherine Best Communications & Fundraising Manager Coming soon! VACANT Youth Association Manager Teresa Allewell Finance & Operations Manager Deb Cook Volunteering Manager Courtney Middleton Project Coordinator Lisa Robertson Youth Development Officer Katy Virgo Youth Development Officer Fliss Simister ​ Children, Young People & Families Development Officer Alex Digby Digital & Community Hubs Facilitator Melanie Benn Community Builder Teresa Rose Community Connectors' Facilitator Sedbury Space Centre Manager Karen Chadwick Simon Price MY Network Project Manager Emily Timmins Parish Youth Worker MEET THE FVAF TRUSTEES We have a highly skilled board of trustees who meet regularly to monitor, challenge and guide what FVAF does now, and in the future. Penny Hulbert Chair of Trustees Simon Murray Trustee Bob Rhodes Trustee Louise Penny Trustee Sid Phelps Vice Chair of Trustees Diana Martin Trustee Sue Pritchard Trustee Vicky Head Trustee Jonathan Gault Trustee - Treasurer Roger Deeks Trustee Christopher Walker Trustee Interested in becoming a FVAF Trustee? To find out more contact 01594 822 073 or contact@fvaf.org.uk

FVAF TRAINING SURVEY We are reviewing how our exciting new community space - Ow Bist - is used and as part of this, we’re thinking about the training and hosting offer to the Voluntary and Community Sector and local community groups. We are keen to make our hosting of training, workshops and community conversations as relevant as possible to benefit local communities. Please tell us your thoughts about a) training needs expressed by people in the community you are in touch with b) training needs of people who work in the VCS c) training you would like to put on in partnership with FVAF. The survey closes 29th February 2024. ​ If you would prefer to complete a paper copy of the survey, please contact Cathy Griffiths on cathy @fvaf.org.uk or call 01594 822073 ​ START THE SURVEY BELOW: First name Last name Email Your Organisation (if applicable) Continue

الابتكار الرقمي من المعترف به على نطاق واسع أن الأشخاص عبر غابة دين يشعرون بأنهم مستبعدون رقميًا. تعمل FVAF بالشراكة مع مجلس مقاطعة جلوسيسترشاير و Digital Unite و IT Schools Africa جاهدة لكسر هذه الحواجز. ​ من خلال تدريب مجموعة من الأبطال الرقميين وتشغيل عدد من الجلسات الرقمية "المنبثقة" في جلسات حول Forest of Dean ، نأمل أن تكون قادرًا على دعم أولئك الذين يرغبون في تعزيز مهاراتهم الرقمية ، سواء كان ذلك يتعلم كيفية صنع مكالمات الفيديو لأحبائك ، ودفع الفواتير عبر الإنترنت ، وإرسال رسائل البريد الإلكتروني أو حضور دروس افتراضية. إلى جانب مراكز التدريب "المنبثقة" ، سنقوم قريبًا بتثبيت مجموعة تدريب رقمية في مبنى مجتمعنا في Cinderford. ​ سنعمل أيضًا مع GRCC وقاعات القرى المحلية لتحسين البنية التحتية الرقمية لتوفير اتصال أفضل في المجتمعات الريفية. ​ إذا كنت مهتمًا بأن تصبح بطلًا رقميًا وأن تدعم الآخرين ، فيرجى الاتصال بـ Nick Penny عبر البريد الإلكتروني على Projects@fvaf.org.uk مدارس تكنولوجيا المعلومات افريقيا الأبطال الرقميين GRCC