Role: Youth Projects Manager Salary: £30,000 – £37,000 (subject to experience) Hours: up to 37.5 hours per week, Monday–Friday (some evenings/weekends may be required) Contract: Permanent Location: Forest of Dean District (Cinderford) Are you passionate about empowering young people and the communities that support them? FVAF are looking for a Youth Projects Manager to lead our group support and capacity building work, strengthening youth and community provision right across the Forest of Dean. JOB DESCRIPTION: Youth Projects Manager FVAF JOB APPLICATION FORM HOW TO APPLY Please read the above full job description and download the application form. Please note CVs will not be accepted. Application deadline: Sunday 5th July, midnight For an informal discussion about the role, please contact fliss@fvaf.org.uk Send completed application forms to Fliss Simister at fliss@fvaf.org.uk

Role: Digital & Community Projects Manager Salary: £30,000 – £37,000 (subject to experience) Hours: 30–37.5 hours per week, Monday–Friday (some evenings/weekends may be required) Flexible and part-time/job share arrangements considered Contract: Initial 18-month contract (extension subject to funding and performance) Location: Ow Bist Forest Community Space, Cinderford Do you believe that everyone deserves to be connected? Are you passionate about the power of communities to shape their own futures? FVAF is looking for an enthusiastic and experienced Digital & Community Projects Manager to join our growing team in the heart of the Forest of Dean. This is a genuinely exciting opportunity to lead meaningful, place-based work that makes a real difference — helping people and communities thrive through digital inclusion, local partnerships, and strengths-based engagement. JOB DESCRIPTION: Digital & Community Projects Manager FVAF JOB APPLICATION FORM HOW TO APPLY Please read the above full job description and download the application form. Please note CVs will not be accepted. Application deadline: 5pm Wednesday 24th June Interview dates: w/c 6th July For an informal discussion about the role, please contact community@fvaf.org.uk Send completed application forms to Alex Digby at community@fvaf.org.uk

Current job vacancies at FVAF Work for us. We are passionate about nurturing talented, compassionate, community minded team players. Join our friendly and supportive team! Role: Digital & Community Projects Manager Salary: £30,000 – £37,000 (subject to experience) Hours: 30–37.5 hours per week, Monday–Friday APPLY HERE Application deadline: 5pm Wednesday 24th June Role:Youth Projects Manager Salary: £30,000 – £37,000 (subject to experience) Hours: up to 37.5 hours per week, Monday–Friday APPLY HERE Application deadline: midnight Sunday 5th July Trouble downloading the documents? Contact communications@fvaf.org.uk or 01594 822073

YOUTH CLUBS & ACTIVITIES

Our partners We work with, and are supported by so many fantastic organisations. The projects and services we deliver in partnership with others, and the funding we receive makes it possible for us to support voluntary activity and community action in the Forest of Dean. These are just some of the organisations we currently work closely with:

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

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

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.

READ MORE NOMINATE NOW! Frequently visited pages: COMMUNITY HUBS VOLUNTEER ADVICE YOUTH SUPPORT Beth yw FVAF? Ystyr FVAF yw Fforwm Gweithredu Gwirfoddol y Goedwig. Rydym yn cynnig cymorth i ddinasyddion lleol, grwpiau cymunedol a gweithgareddau i wneud y pethau sydd bwysicaf iddynt. Mae hyn yn cynnwys y canlynol: cefnogaeth a chyngor datblygu hyfforddiant gwybodaeth cyfarfodydd rhwydweithio hwyluso cynrychiolaeth recriwtio gwirfoddolwyr lleoliad a chefnogaeth gwirfoddolwyr Rydym hefyd yn cynnal llawer o brosiectau gyda’r gymuned leol ac ar ei chyfer, megis Cymdeithas Ieuenctid Forest of Dean, Ymgyrchoedd Gweithgareddau Gwyliau, Rhwydwaith Cerddoriaeth Ieuenctid y Goedwig, Prosiect GEM, Cyfeiriadur Cwmpawd y Goedwig, Walking with Wheels a llawer mwy. Edrychwch ar ein tudalen Prosiectau am fanylion llawn. “Adeiladu Cymunedau Cryfach i mewn Fforest y Ddena" Darganfod mwy JOIN OUR MAILING LIST Get the latest community news and check out exciting volunteering opportunity in or around the Forest of Dean... Ewch i Facebook Useful publications: FREE directory of the many volunteering opportunities available locally... DOWNLOAD Ein Partneriaid We work with so many amazing and supportive partners. Find out more here... How to contact us Forest Voluntary Action Forum Ow Bist Forest Community Space Dockham Road Cinderford , Glos. GL14 2AN Email us: contact@fvaf.org.uk Tel: 01594 822073 Copyright © 2021 Forest Voluntary Action Forum. All Rights Reserved. Forest Voluntary Action Forum is a charity (1141126) and company limited by guarantee (07557852) registered in England and Wales. The registered address is The Belle Vue Centre, Cinderford, Glos, GL14 2AB. 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

Universal Youth Services Partnership bringing 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 is 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. FIND OUT MORE ABOUT... Gloucestershire Gateway Trust The Venture Community Hub

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.

Our 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 Nick Penny Head of Operations Deb Cook Head of Development Catherine Best Communications & Fundraising Manager Teresa Allewell Finance Manager Cherry Potter-Irwin Finance & Administration Officer Fliss Simister Youth Association Manager Lisa Robertson Youth Development Officer Katy Virgo Youth Development Officer Courtney Middleton Project Coordinator Lauren Greening Youth Development Project Manager Jodie Atkins Youth Support Worker Krissie Carter Neighbourhood Connector Mark Evans Neighbourhood Connector Alex Digby Community Manager Melanie Benn Community Builder Teresa Rose Community Connectors' Facilitator Pete Harper Community Connector Natasha Nelson Working with Forest Food Network Piers Cardiff Forest of Dean Climate Action Partnership Coordinator Becky Moorcroft Forest of Dean Climate Action Partnership Coordinator Meet our 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. Bob Rhodes Chair of Trustees Josh Bond Vice Chair of Trustees Jonathan Gault Trustee - Treasurer Sid Phelps Trustee Diana Martin Trustee Rob Toomer Trustee Roger Deeks Trustee Interested in becoming a FVAF Trustee? Talk to us! Contact Chris is ceo@fvaf.org.uk 01594 822073