EVENTS CALENDAR Check out the latest hip happenings in the Forest!

Help us create a mural celebrating the Forest of Dean's tradition of community action ! We're creating a mural to celebrate our incredible heritage of community action, mutual support, and resilience! From our mining traditions to welcoming Ukrainian families, from river fishing to friendly societies – we want to hear all the stories that matter. The finished mural will be painted on the side of Ow Bist - Forest Community Space, Dockham Road, Cinderford, creating a lasting tribute to our community's story. We've held two drop-in workshops, led by local artist Tom Cousins, where we invited the community to come along and share their amazing stories and ideas about what makes our area special. Couldn't Make It to the Workshops? We Still Want to Hear From You! We've created the below online survey – so you can still contribute your memories, stories, and ideas for the mural. Whether you've lived here all your life or recently made this place home, your perspective is valuable. What We're Looking For Personal stories that capture the spirit of our community Memories of local traditions, places, or events Examples of how neighbours have supported each other What makes you proud to be part of this community Ideas for images or symbols that represent our shared heritage Share your thoughts and ideas below: Your Forest of Dean Stories Your name (optional) How long have you lived in/been connected to the Forest of Dean area? 1. What does community spirit mean to you in the Forest of Dean? 2. Which of these themes resonate most with your experience of our area? (Tick all that apply) Food & Resources (traditional land use, fishing, growing food, sharing resources) Landscape & Environment (rivers, mining heritage, how place shapes community) Arts & Culture (music, festivals, creative traditions) Community Action (mutual aid, rights movements, defending our heritage) Settlers & Diversity (different communities who've made this area home) 3. What's a story, memory, or tradition from the Forest of Dean that you think should be celebrated in the mural? 4. Are there particular people, groups, or movements (historical or recent) that represent the community spirit of our area to you? 5. What would you like visitors and future generations to understand about the Forest of Dean community? Would you be interested in helping with the mural painting in August? Yes - I'd love to help paint! No, but I support the project Email details (if you'd like updates) Submit

Our Green Impact Our Statement of Intent At a time of ongoing critical assessment as to how the resources of the world are being employed in economic and social activity, it is essential that all involved with Forest Voluntary Action Forum (FVAF) have a clear understanding as to how its work can impact on the environment. We accept responsibility for our actions and commit to working towards reducing any harmful effects it may have on the environment. It is also understood that, as a leader in the Forest of Dean voluntary and community sector, we have a responsibility to manifest best practice. We will use, as its guiding principles - in order of priority – the need to: REPAIR RE-USE REDUCE RECYCLE Our policy describes how FVAF will implement practices that will minimalize the impact of its work on the environment. FVAF ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY Travelling in the Forest of Dean Forest Of Dean Climate Action Partnership has created a handy interactive guide to travelling in the Forest of Dean. DOWNLOAD HERE Gold Award from the GEM NUS-Green Impact challenge GEM NUS Green Imapct Gold Award Certificate NUS Green Imapct Community Award Certificate In our first year taking part in the GEM NUS Green Impact Challenge , we were delighted to achieve a Gold Award. This UN award winning programme is designed to support and challenge organisations to look at the way they work and ensure that the practices they follow are as environmentally and socially sustainable as possible. The challenge was set as part of the *GEM Project’s partnership and our joint commitment to living sustainably and minimising our impact on the environment. Working together as a team, we shared ideas and encouraged lifestyle changes in the following areas: use of water and energy travel – work and personal recycling reducing and dealing with waste upcycling, freecycling unused goods using sustainable products encouraging biodiversity Other creative ideas from the team included making bird feeders from broken tree branches, a homemade recipe for a cleaning product, donations to local charity shops. * The Going the Extra Mile Project (GEM) is an employability and social inclusion project supporting the most disadvantaged communities and individuals furthest from the labour market to find or get closer to employment. It is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund and European Social Fund as part of a national programme Building Better Opportunities.

স্বেচ্ছাসেবক ফরেস্ট অফ ডিনের স্বেচ্ছাসেবক কেন্দ্র হিসাবে আমরা আপনাকে স্বেচ্ছাসেবকদের নিয়োগ এবং পরিচালনা করতে সহায়তা করতে এখানে আছি আমাদের নতুন স্বেচ্ছাসেবক পুস্তিকা বিবরণ দিয়ে ভরা স্থানীয় স্বেচ্ছাসেবক সুযোগ এখন বাইরে ডাউনলোড করতে ক্লিক করুন জন্য স্বেচ্ছাসেবক কেন্দ্র হিসাবে ডিনের বন আমরা প্রায়ই স্বেচ্ছাসেবক আগ্রহী যে কেউ যোগাযোগের প্রথম পয়েন্ট. গত বছর আমরা 100,000 ঘন্টার বেশি মূল্যের স্বেচ্ছাসেবী এলাকায় সমর্থন করতে পেরে গর্বিত! FVAF স্বেচ্ছাসেবকদের সমর্থন করার জন্য এবং লোকেরা কেন স্বেচ্ছাসেবক বেছে নেয় তার বিস্তৃত কারণগুলিকে স্বীকৃতি দেওয়ার ক্ষেত্রে আমাদের নীতিগুলি ভাগ করে এমন সংস্থাগুলি থেকে স্বেচ্ছাসেবী সুযোগের বিস্তৃত পরিসরের প্রচার এবং বিজ্ঞাপন দেয়। কেন স্বেচ্ছাসেবক? স্বেচ্ছাসেবকের অনেকগুলি বিশাল সুবিধা রয়েছে, শুধুমাত্র আপনার জন্যই নয়, আপনার সম্প্রদায় এবং আমরা যে বিশ্বে বাস করি তার জন্য। আপনি যদি আপনার সিভি উন্নত করতে চান, নতুন লোকেদের সাথে দেখা করতে চান, আপনার দক্ষতাগুলোকে ভালোভাবে কাজে লাগাতে চান, নতুন কিছু শিখতে চান, আগ্রহ দেখাতে চান, অভিজ্ঞতা অফার করতে চান বা শুধুমাত্র একটি পার্থক্য আনতে চান, তাহলে আমরা আপনার জন্য একটি সুযোগ নিশ্চিত! আপনি নিম্নলিখিত উপায়ে এই সুযোগগুলি সম্পর্কে জানতে পারেন: এ সুযোগ সন্ধান করুন Do-it.org আমাদের 01594 822073 এ কল করুন মাধ্যমে যোগাযোগ করুন ইমেইল FVAF সোম - শুক্র 9:00 - 1:00 ( নির্দেশ ) এ আমাদের সাথে দেখা করুন আপনি যদি একটি বৃহৎ গোষ্ঠীর অংশ হিসাবে স্বেচ্ছাসেবক হতে চান, উদাহরণস্বরূপ কর্পোরেট স্বেচ্ছাসেবীর অংশ হিসাবে, তাহলে আমাদের কাছে বেছে নেওয়ার বিস্তৃত সুযোগ রয়েছে। Get the latest volunteer opportunities - direct to your mailbox! Sign up to receive our regular email Volunteer Newsletter: SIGN UP HELP FOR GROUPS - recruiting & managing volunteers As a one-stop-shop for all things volunteering, we can help you find, and keep, the perfect volunteer: স্বেচ্ছাসেবী সব কিছুর জন্য একটি ওয়ান-স্টপ-শপ হিসাবে, আমরা আপনাকে মূল্যবান স্বেচ্ছাসেবকদের নিয়োগ এবং ধরে রাখার সর্বোত্তম সম্ভাব্য সুযোগ দিতে বহুমুখী পদ্ধতি ব্যবহার করি। এর মধ্যে নিম্নলিখিতগুলি অন্তর্ভুক্ত রয়েছে: Do-it.org-এ আপনার সুযোগের বিজ্ঞাপন আমাদের উল্লেখ করা জনসাধারণের সদস্যদের কাছে বা আমাদের ড্রপ-ইন ফাংশনের মাধ্যমে আপনার সুযোগগুলি প্রচার করা। আমাদের ফেসবুক এবং টুইটার পেজে আপনার সুযোগের বিজ্ঞাপন দিন স্বেচ্ছাসেবীকে সমর্থন করে এমন স্থানীয় পরিষেবাগুলিতে আপনার সুযোগের প্রচার করা যেমন। জব সেন্টার, LearnDirect এবং 2GetherTrust প্রতি বছর 30 টিরও বেশি ইভেন্টে আপনার সুযোগের বিজ্ঞাপন নিয়োগকর্তা সমর্থিত স্বেচ্ছাসেবী অফার করে এমন স্থানীয় ব্যবসাগুলিতে আপনার সুযোগগুলি প্রেরণ করা স্কুল, কলেজ এবং বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ে প্রাসঙ্গিক সুযোগ প্রচার করা আমাদের 1,000 জনের বেশি লোকের স্বেচ্ছাসেবক ডাটাবেসে আপনার সুযোগগুলি বিতরণ করা আপনার প্যাচ জানুন সহ বিভিন্ন নেটওয়ার্কে আপনার সুযোগের প্রচার করা Get in touch - call us on 01594 822073, via email or visit us at FVAF, Ow Bist - Forest Community Space, Dockham Road, Cinderford GL14 2AN (Mon - Fri 9am - 4pm)

FVAF সম্পর্কে FVAF সম্পর্কে আমাদের গল্প আমরা স্বেচ্ছাসেবী পরিষদ এবং ডিনের বনের জন্য স্বেচ্ছাসেবক কেন্দ্র। আমরা জেলার শত শত স্বেচ্ছাসেবী এবং কমিউনিটি সংস্থার অনেককে সহায়তা প্রদান করি যারা স্থানীয় সম্প্রদায়ের মধ্যে এবং তাদের জন্য তাদের কাজ প্রদান করতে আরও ভালভাবে সক্ষম। 1994 সালে গঠনের পর থেকে আমরা পুরো ফরেস্ট অফ ডিন জুড়ে কমিউনিটি অ্যাকশনকে উত্সাহিত, আলিঙ্গন এবং উন্নত করার জন্য একটি খ্যাতি তৈরি করেছি। আমরা বিশ্বাস করি যে সম্প্রদায়-নেতৃত্বপূর্ণ পদ্ধতির মাধ্যমে আমরা নাগরিকদের দক্ষতা, স্থিতিস্থাপকতা এবং সামাজিক পুঁজি বিকাশ করতে সক্ষম করি যাতে তারা সুখী, আরও ভাল সংযুক্ত জীবনযাপন করতে পারে। অফিস পরিষেবা স্টাফ এবং ট্রাস্টি নীতি অ্যাক্সেসযোগ্যতা এবং স্থায়িত্ব

Our team transforms Local Spaces during Volunteers Week 2025 We rolled up our sleeves this week and got stuck in with some fantastic Employer Supported Volunteering (ESV) as part of Volunteers Week 2025! We got out about in the local community to two fantastic local community groups: Team Paint Squad grabbed their brushes and got stuck in with smiles on their faces (and paint on their clothes!) to transform the Forest Fighting Fit studio with a fresh coat of paint - brightening up their space, recovery room, and bathrooms. Team Green Fingers headed down to Steam Mills to work their magic at the community garden for Cinderford Grows. Armed with gloves, tools, and plenty of enthusiasm, our team tackled overgrown areas, cleared stubborn weeds, and gave the pathway a beautiful fresh layer of wood chippings. Deb Cook, FVAF's Volunteering Manager said: "We all had a blast and were reminded that volunteering can be both rewarding and great fun!" A huge thank you to Forest Fighting Fit and Cinderford Grows for welcoming us with open arms.

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.

Resource Hub/Library Leaflets & literature on wellness, recovery, self-help & coping with mental distress. The group office, based above the Library at The Main Place in Coleford, is available for members to use as a safe and confidential space. We keep material that may be of use to members – and we are happy for people to provide us with leaflets that they would like shared. To read the My Networks Scoping Project Report please visit: www.fvaf.org.uk/publications

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 wide 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 safe and trusted Community Drop-in Hubs. Coleford – Sixteen Community Cafe Sedbury – Sedbury Space Cinderford - Ow Bist - Forest Community Space 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 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  Skills Not everyone has the ability to use the internet and online services A digital Hub can provide 1:1 training 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.

Recovery & Wellbeing Café “A Community Created Curriculum of Curious Conversations” Weekly Face-to-Face Discussions & Recovery Educational Sessions Each Wednesday (Term Time) at Café 16 in Coleford from 6-8pm. “A safe space to create who you are, not be told what to think.” Join conversations with a diverse range of people with professional & lived experience of different subjects, local people who have gained understandings about the impact current concerns have upon mental health, recovery and wellbeing. We are building a supportive space where, as critical friends, we can learn together and support each other with our individual understandings. All curious & compassionate folk welcome.