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.

FVAF વિશે FVAF વિશે આપણી વાર્તા અમે ડીન ફોરેસ્ટ માટે સ્વૈચ્છિક સેવા પરિષદ અને સ્વયંસેવક કેન્દ્ર છીએ. અમે જિલ્લાની સેંકડો સ્વૈચ્છિક અને સામુદાયિક સંસ્થાઓને સહાય પૂરી પાડીએ છીએ જે બદલામાં સ્થાનિક સમુદાયમાં અને તેમના માટે તેમનું કાર્ય પહોંચાડવામાં વધુ સારી રીતે સક્ષમ છે. 1994 માં રચના થઈ ત્યારથી અમે સમગ્ર ડીન ફોરેસ્ટમાં સમુદાયની ક્રિયાઓને પ્રોત્સાહિત કરવા, સ્વીકારવા અને વધારવા માટે પ્રતિષ્ઠા વિકસાવી છે. અમે માનીએ છીએ કે સમુદાયની આગેવાની હેઠળના અભિગમો દ્વારા અમે નાગરિકોને વધુ સુખી, વધુ સારી રીતે જોડાયેલા જીવન જીવવા માટે કૌશલ્ય, સ્થિતિસ્થાપકતા અને સામાજિક મૂડી વિકસાવવા સક્ષમ બનાવીએ છીએ. ઓફિસ સેવાઓ સ્ટાફ અને ટ્રસ્ટીઓ નીતિઓ સુલભતા અને ટકાઉપણું

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.

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

Our publications Forest Compass Edition 3 Volunteering in the Forest of Dean FVAF Annual Report 2024/25 FVAF Annual Accounts 2024/25 FVAF Annual Report 2023/24 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 The Forest of Dean Mycelium Mental Health Project A report from the Undergrowth by Simon Price, Anwen Jenkins, Pete Harper, Miranda Thomason and Teresa Rose 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.

સ્વયંસેવી ફોરેસ્ટ ઓફ ડીન માટે સ્વયંસેવક કેન્દ્ર તરીકે અમે તમને સ્વયંસેવકોની ભરતી અને સંચાલન કરવામાં મદદ કરવા માટે અહીં છીએ અમારી નવી સ્વયંસેવી વિગતોથી ભરેલી પુસ્તિકા સ્થાનિક સ્વયંસેવી તકો હવે બહાર છે ડાઉનલોડ કરવા માટે ક્લિક કરો માટે સ્વયંસેવક કેન્દ્ર તરીકે ડીનનું વન સ્વયંસેવીમાં રસ ધરાવનાર કોઈપણ માટે અમે વારંવાર સંપર્કનો પ્રથમ બિંદુ હોઈએ છીએ. ગયા વર્ષે અમને આ વિસ્તારમાં 100,000 કલાકથી વધુ સ્વૈચ્છિક સેવાને સમર્થન આપવા બદલ ગર્વ હતો! FVAF સ્વયંસેવકોને ટેકો આપવા માટે અને લોકો સ્વયંસેવક બનવાનું પસંદ કરવાનાં કારણોની વિશાળ શ્રેણીને માન્યતા આપતી સંસ્થાઓ તરફથી સ્વયંસેવી તકોની વિશાળ શ્રેણીને પ્રોત્સાહન અને જાહેરાત કરે છે. શા માટે સ્વયંસેવક? સ્વયંસેવીના અસંખ્ય વિશાળ લાભો છે, ફક્ત તમારા માટે જ નહીં, પરંતુ તમારા સમુદાય અને અમે જેમાં રહીએ છીએ તે વિશ્વ માટે. જો તમે તમારા સીવીને વધારવા માંગતા હો, નવા લોકોને મળવા માંગતા હો, તમારી કુશળતાને સારી રીતે ઉપયોગમાં લેવા માંગતા હો, કંઈક નવું શીખવા માંગતા હો, રસ કેળવવા માંગતા હો, અનુભવ ઑફર કરવા અથવા ફક્ત તફાવત લાવવા માંગતા હો, તો અમે તમારા માટે તકની ખાતરી આપીએ છીએ! તમે નીચેની રીતે આ તકો વિશે જાણી શકો છો: પર તકો શોધો કરો.org અમને 01594 822073 પર કૉલ કરો દ્વારા સંપર્ક કરો ઇમેઇલ FVAF સોમ - શુક્ર 9:00 - 1:00 ( દિશાઓ ) પર અમારી મુલાકાત લો જો તમે મોટા જૂથના ભાગ રૂપે સ્વયંસેવક બનવાનું વિચારી રહ્યા છો, ઉદાહરણ તરીકે કોર્પોરેટ સ્વયંસેવીના ભાગ રૂપે, તો અમારી પાસે પસંદગી માટે તકોની વિશાળ શ્રેણી પણ છે. 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: સ્વયંસેવી તમામ બાબતો માટે વન-સ્ટોપ-શોપ તરીકે, અમે તમને મૂલ્યવાન સ્વયંસેવકોની ભરતી અને જાળવી રાખવાની શ્રેષ્ઠ તક આપવા માટે બહુપક્ષીય પદ્ધતિનો ઉપયોગ કરીએ છીએ. આમાં નીચેનાનો સમાવેશ થાય છે: Do-it.org પર તમારી તકોની જાહેરાત કરવી અમને અથવા અમારા ડ્રોપ-ઇન ફંક્શન દ્વારા જાહેર જનતાના સભ્યોને તમારી તકોનો પ્રચાર કરવો. અમારા Facebook અને Twitter પૃષ્ઠો પર તમારી તકોની જાહેરાત કરો સ્વયંસેવીને સમર્થન આપતી સ્થાનિક સેવાઓમાં તમારી તકોનો પ્રચાર કરવો દા.ત. જોબ સેન્ટર, LearnDirect અને 2GetherTrust દર વર્ષે 30 થી વધુ ઇવેન્ટ્સમાં તમારી તકોની જાહેરાત કરવી સ્થાનિક વ્યવસાયોને તમારી તકો મોકલવી જે એમ્પ્લોયર સમર્થિત સ્વયંસેવી ઓફર કરે છે શાળાઓ, કોલેજો અને યુનિવર્સિટીઓમાં સંબંધિત તકોને પ્રોત્સાહન આપવું 1,000 થી વધુ લોકોના અમારા સ્વયંસેવક ડેટાબેઝમાં તમારી તકોનું વિતરણ કરવું તમારા પેચને જાણો સહિત વિવિધ નેટવર્ક્સ પર તમારી તકોનો પ્રચાર કરવો 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)

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

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 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 Teresa Allewell Finance & Operations Manager Catherine Best Communications & Fundraising Manager Deb Cook Volunteering 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 Alex Digby Digital Projects 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 Roger Deeks Trustee Rob Toomer Trustee Diana Martin Trustee Louise Penny Trustee Interested in becoming a FVAF Trustee? Talk to us! Contact Chris is ceo@fvaf.org.uk 01594 822073

Forest of Dean Digital Partnership FUNDED BY THE BARNWOOD TRUST A collaborative community partnership project, led by FVAF. This district-wide partnership, the first of its kind, was created to break down the barriers people face in relation to digital inclusion and unlock the many assets available within our communities and the digital world.   Forest of Dean Digital Partnership - Final Evaluation September 2024 Report - Download Forest of Dean Digital Partnership - Final Evaluation September 2024: APPENDICES APPENDIX 1: Forest of Dean Digital Partnership Application APPENDIX 2: Insight into Set up and Delivery of Local Digital Inclusion Pilot Projects APPENDIX 3: Healthwatch Gloucestershire - Access to digital technologies APPENDIX 4: Partner Claim Form APPENDIX 5: Instructions for filling in Partner’s claim form APPENDIX 6: Promo flier - Invitation to get involved APPENDIX 7: EOI Process Map APPENDIX 8: EOI Document A template APPENDIX 9: EOI Document B template APPENDIX 10: EOI scoring sheet APPENDIX 11:Forest of Dean Community Choir EOI Document 1 APPENDIX 12: Forest of Dean Community Choir EOI Document 2 APPENDIX 13: Virtual Sight Loss EOI Document 1 APPENDIX 14: Virtual Sight Loss EOI Document 2 APPENDIX 15: CVT EOI Document 1 APPENDIX 16: CVT EOI Document 2 APPENDIX 17: Outdoors, Indoors EOI Document 1 APPENDIX 18: Outdoors, Indoors EOI Document 2 APPENDIX 19: Forest Pathways EOI Document 1 APPENDIX 20: Forest Pathways EOI Document 2 APPENDIX 21: Project Engage EOI Document 1 APPENDIX 22: Project Engage EOI Document 2 APPENDIX 23: Forest of Dean Hybrid Choir Final Evaluation APPENDIX 24: CVT - Digital Inclusion Workshop Final Evaluation APPENDIX 25: Outdoors, Indoors Final Evaluation APPENDIX 26: Forest Pathways Final Evaluation APPENDIX 27: Forest Pathways Executive Summary APPENDIX 28: Reflection Session Presentation APPENDIX 29: Journey Reflection OTHER PROJECT PUBLICATIONS: EASY READ BOOKLET - How to use the computer and software EASY READ BOOKLET - Staying Safe Online

READ MORE GET INVOLVED! New Online Ways to Join the Conversation Frequently visited pages: COMMUNITY HUBS VOLUNTEER ADVICE YOUTH SUPPORT FVAF શું છે? FVAF એટલે ફોરેસ્ટ વોલન્ટરી એક્શન ફોરમ. અમે સ્થાનિક નાગરિકો, સામુદાયિક જૂથો અને પ્રવૃત્તિઓને તેમના માટે સૌથી મહત્વની બાબતો કરવા માટે સમર્થન પ્રદાન કરીએ છીએ. આમાં નીચેનાનો સમાવેશ થાય છે: આધાર અને વિકાસ સલાહ તાલીમ માહિતી નેટવર્કિંગ મીટિંગ્સ પ્રતિનિધિત્વની સુવિધા સ્વયંસેવક ભરતી સ્વયંસેવક પ્લેસમેન્ટ અને સપોર્ટ અમે સ્થાનિક સમુદાય સાથે અને તેમના માટે ઘણા પ્રોજેક્ટ્સ પણ ચલાવીએ છીએ, જેમ કે ફોરેસ્ટ ઓફ ડીન યુથ એસોસિયેશન, હોલીડે એક્ટિવિટી કેમ્પેઈન્સ, ધ ફોરેસ્ટ યુથ મ્યુઝિક નેટવર્ક, ધ જીઈએમ પ્રોજેક્ટ, ધ ફોરેસ્ટ કંપાસ ડિરેક્ટરી, વૉકિંગ વિથ વ્હીલ્સ અને ઘણા વધુ. સંપૂર્ણ વિગતો માટે અમારા પ્રોજેક્ટ્સ પૃષ્ઠને તપાસો. "માં મજબૂત સમુદાયોનું નિર્માણ ડીનનું જંગલ" વધારે શોધો JOIN OUR MAILING LIST Get the latest community news and check out exciting volunteering opportunity in or around the Forest of Dean... ફેસબુક પર જાઓ Useful publications: FREE directory of the many volunteering opportunities available locally... DOWNLOAD અમારા ભાગીદારો 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

ફોરેસ્ટ હોકાયંત્ર ફોરેસ્ટ કંપાસ એ એક ભૌતિક અને ઓનલાઈન ડાયરેક્ટરી છે જે સમગ્ર ફોરેસ્ટ ઓફ ડીનમાં ઉપલબ્ધ ઘણી નિયમિત પ્રવૃત્તિઓ, સહાયક જૂથો અને ક્લબોની યાદી આપે છે. ફોરેસ્ટ એ બાળકોના જૂથોથી લઈને લંચ ક્લબ, મેન્સ શેડથી લઈને મેમરી કાફે સુધીના તમામ પ્રકારના સેંકડો સામાજિક અને પ્રવૃત્તિ જૂથોનું ઘર છે. ઘણા સ્વયંસેવકો દ્વારા અથવા નફાકારક જૂથો માટે નહીં હાજરી આપવા માટે મફત અથવા ખૂબ ઓછા ખર્ચે છે. દુર્ભાગ્યે ઘણા લોકો કે જેઓ આવા જૂથોમાંથી લાભ મેળવી શકે છે તેઓ તેમના ઘરના દરવાજા પરની અદ્ભુત તકોથી અજાણ છે. જો તમે ફોરેસ્ટ ઓફ ડીનમાં સ્વયંસેવક લીડ એક્ટિવિટી, ક્લબ અથવા સપોર્ટ ગ્રૂપ ચલાવો છો, તો ફોરેસ્ટ કંપાસ ફિઝિકલ ડાયરેક્ટરી અને અહીંની ઓનલાઈન ડિરેક્ટરી બંનેમાં નીચેનું ફોર્મ ભરીને મફતમાં જાહેરાત કરો. Download OTHER USEFUL DIRECTORIES: YourCircle Check out a local directory to help you find your way around care and support and connect with people, places and activities in Gloucestershire