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

Newyddion a Digwyddiadau Strengthening Communities Through Climate Action 9.30am – 12.30pm Wednesday 12th March The Main Place, Coleford, GL16 8RH BOOK HERE Join us for a session focused on how we can improve people’s lives and strengthen communities through action on climate change. The session is run in partnership with Forest of Dean Climate Action Partnership. We will explore how climate change is relevant to the Forest of Dean and what action is already happening in the district to make a difference. We will look at how climate action can support your work on issues like cost of living, warmer homes, tackling pollution, improving health, transport and jobs. You will hear from other organisations in the Forest, who have started developing plans to address their impact on the planet and what they have learnt. Hear how to save money and make homes and workplaces better places to live and work. Find out where to get support and more information. For more information e mail either FoDKYP@fvaf.org.uk or Piers.Cardiff@fdean.gov.uk

Our publications Forest Compass Edition 3 Volunteering in the Forest of Dean FVAF Annual Report 2022/23 FVAF Annual Report 2021/22 Insights into the Experience of commissioning for small VCSE organisations in the Forest of Dean By Chris Brown My Networks publications My Networks Scoping Project Report, Oct 2022 by Simon Price Supporting documents: Mental Health Scoping Project – Survey Results Co-production – How we facilitated My Networks Scoping Report Useful community publications The Digital Divides Report and Recommendations By Digital Divides Steering Group Learnings from the Forest By Forest of Dean Climate Action Partnership (FODCAP), Holding The Space, Thirty Percy, and CCRI.

TRUSTEES' WEEK 2022 - Showcasing & celebrating trustees Next week (7 – 11 November) we will be taking part in a national celebration of charity trustees as part of Trustees’ Week 2022 . Ever wondered what a trustee does? Maybe you’d like to take on a trustee role but don’t know where to start. Across the week we will try and answers your questions by looking at what a trustee is, the benefits of taking on a trustee role and showcasing the fantastic impact it can have to local people and communities. Follow us on Facebook for daily tips and info and check our website for updates and links to useful resources. Are you recruiting trustees? Tell us! If you are an organisation of community group looking for trustees – this is the perfect opportunity to recruit! To advertise your trustee opportunities just send the info to communications@fvaf.org.uk by 5pm Thursday 10 November

COMING SOON! Universal Youth Services We’re thrilled to announce our new partnership to bring Open Access Universal Youth Services to Gloucester and the Forest of Dean! Together with Gloucestershire Gateway Trust and The Venture Community Hub (TVCH), we’ve joined forces to make a real difference in the lives of young people. Guided by GGT, in the Forest of Dean FVAF will be leading on supporting a wide range of services for young people aged 11 to 19 (or up to 25 for those with special educational needs and disabilities). Our youth services will be available to everyone, focusing on the needs of the local community to create a more connected, supported, and engaging youth sector. Stay tuned for more updates and get ready to be part of something amazing! FIND OUT MORE ABOUT... Gloucestershire Gateway Trust The Venture Community Hub

Get Help To Unlock Your Community’s Potential! Forest of Dean District Council has just launched Community Grants 2025 to 2026 . This one-off funding is open to not-for-profit voluntary and community groups in the Forest of Dean to help build stronger, more cohesive communities. To help you fill in the application form we’ve teamed up with Gloucestershire Rural Community Counci l to offer drop-in sessions or bookable slots across the Forest: 18 March 2025 | Sedbury Village Hall & Sedbury Space Drop-in: 10am - 11am Bookable slots: 11am - 12pm 26 March 2025 | FODDC Offices, Coleford Bookable slots: 1pm - 3:30pm 7 April 2025 | Sixteen Community Café, Coleford Drop-in: 11am - 1pm 10 April 2025 | Newent Memorial Hall Bookable slots: 11am - 12pm Drop-in: 12:30pm - 1:30pm 28 April 2025 | The Victoria Centre, Victoria Road, Lydney Bookable slots: 10am - 12:30pm Drop-in: 2pm - 4pm 1 May 2025 | Ow Bist - Forest Community Space, Cinderford Bookable slots: 11am - 12pm Drop-in: 12pm - 1pm Learn more about the FoDDC Community Grants and download the application documents HERE For more information or to book your slot, contact us at volunteer@fvaf.org.uk or 01594 822073.

FVAF Community Celebration & AGM 2023 FRIDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2024 | 11AM - 2PM Ow Bis - Forest Community Space, Dockham Road GL14 2AN We are inviting the whole community to join us in celebrating the work FVAF has done over the last 12 months for, and with communities across the Forest of Dean PLUS it’s our 30th anniversary this year and we’re ready to celebrate! Refreshments and a delicious buffet lunch will be provided. Places are limited - please book your ticket ASAP READ THE AGM NOTICE BELOW: BOOK YOUR TICKET

Forest of Dean Mental Health Locality Partnership The Locality Partnership offers VCS and faith-based organisations the opportunity to meet with other professionals and voluntary groups who are supporting people with their mental health in the Forest of Dean. The Partnership is a collective of social care practitioners who are working towards a community response to the My Networks scoping project findings. By coming together, we hope to keep abreast of developments, begin partnership projects or create collaborative opportunities that can address what is needed for better mental health in the Forest of Dean. We are now an integral part of the wider Forest Know Your Patch network. Regular online meetings as well as live, in-person events are held where topics and projects are discussed and highlighted. As well as this, the FKYP works closely with other statutory organisations offering a platform to disseminate up-to-date information about services available in the community.

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.

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 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.

Ynglŷn â FVAF Ein Stori Ni yw'r Cyngor Gwasanaethau Gwirfoddol a Chanolfan Gwirfoddoli Fforest y Ddena. Rydym yn darparu cymorth i lawer o’r cannoedd o fudiadau gwirfoddol a chymunedol yn yr Ardal sydd yn eu tro yn gallu cyflawni eu gwaith yn well yn y gymuned leol ac ar ei rhan. Ers ffurfio yn 1994 rydym wedi datblygu enw da am annog, cofleidio a gwella gweithredu cymunedol ledled Fforest y Ddena. Credwn, drwy ddulliau a arweinir gan y gymuned, ein bod yn galluogi dinasyddion i ddatblygu’r sgiliau, y gwydnwch a’r cyfalaf cymdeithasol i fyw bywydau hapusach, sydd wedi’u cysylltu’n well. Gwasanaethau Swyddfa Staff ac Ymddiriedolwyr Polisïau Hygyrchedd a Chynaliadwyedd

Gwirfoddoli Fel canolfan Wirfoddoli Fforest y Ddena rydym yma i'ch helpu i recriwtio a rheoli gwirfoddolwyr Ein Gwirfoddoli newydd llyfryn yn llawn o fanylion o wirfoddoli lleol mae cyfleoedd ar gael nawr CLICIWCH I LAWRLWYTHO Neu codwch gopi yn eich llyfrgell leol neu Hyb Cymunedol Fel y Ganolfan Gwirfoddoli ar gyfer y Fforest y Ddena ni yw'r pwynt cyswllt cyntaf yn aml i unrhyw un sydd â diddordeb mewn gwirfoddoli. Y llynedd roeddem yn falch o gefnogi gwerth dros 100,000 o oriau o wirfoddoli yn yr ardal! Mae FVAF yn hyrwyddo ac yn hysbysebu ystod eang o gyfleoedd gwirfoddoli gan sefydliadau sy'n rhannu ein hethos o ran cefnogi gwirfoddolwyr a chydnabod yr amrywiaeth eang o resymau pam mae pobl yn dewis gwirfoddoli. Pam Gwirfoddoli? Mae gan wirfoddoli nifer o fanteision enfawr, nid yn unig i chi yn unigol, ond i'ch cymuned a'r byd yr ydym yn byw ynddo. Os hoffech chi gyfoethogi'ch CV, cyfarfod â phobl newydd, defnyddio'ch sgiliau'n dda, dysgu rhywbeth newydd, dilyn diddordeb, cynnig profiad neu wneud gwahaniaeth, rydyn ni'n sicr o gael cyfle i chi! Gallwch gael gwybodaeth am y cyfleoedd hyn yn y ffyrdd canlynol: Chwiliwch am gyfleoedd yn Do-it.org Ffoniwch ni ar 01594 822073 Cysylltwch drwy ebost Dewch i ymweld â ni yn FVAF Llun - Gwener 9:00 - 1:00 ( Cyfarwyddiadau ) Os ydych yn dymuno gwirfoddoli fel rhan o grŵp mawr, er enghraifft fel rhan o wirfoddoli corfforaethol, yna mae gennym hefyd amrywiaeth eang o gyfleoedd i ddewis ohonynt. 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 Fel siop-un-stop ar gyfer popeth sy'n ymwneud â gwirfoddoli, rydym yn defnyddio methodoleg amlochrog i roi'r cyfle gorau posibl i chi recriwtio a chadw gwirfoddolwyr gwerthfawr. Mae hyn yn cynnwys y canlynol: Hysbysebu eich cyfleoedd ar Do-it.org Hyrwyddo eich cyfleoedd i aelodau o'r cyhoedd a gyfeiriwyd atom neu drwy ein swyddogaeth galw heibio. Hysbysebu eich cyfleoedd ar ein tudalennau Facebook a Twitter Hyrwyddo eich cyfleoedd i wasanaethau lleol sy'n cefnogi gwirfoddoli e.e. Canolfan Gwaith, LearnDirect a 2GetherTrust Hysbysebu eich cyfleoedd mewn dros 30 o ddigwyddiadau'r flwyddyn Anfon eich cyfleoedd i fusnesau lleol sy'n cynnig gwirfoddoli gyda chymorth cyflogwr Hyrwyddo cyfleoedd perthnasol i Ysgolion, Colegau a Phrifysgolion Dosbarthu eich cyfleoedd i'n cronfa ddata gwirfoddolwyr o dros 1,000 o bobl Hyrwyddo eich cyfleoedd i amrywiaeth o rwydweithiau, gan gynnwys Know Your Patch As a one-stop-shop for all things volunteering, we can help you find, and keep, the perfect volunteer: 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)