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

Volunteer Heroes Crowned! The community turned out in force on Wednesday 7 September to see local volunteers crowned at a glittering awards celebration evening we held at the AccXel Training Centre in Cinderford. We created the Forest Volunteer Awards to recognise and celebrate the amazing efforts of local volunteers in the Forest of Dean. Earlier this Summer, we asked local people to nominate those volunteer heroes who have demonstrated exceptional and outstanding support to the local community over the past 12 months. The response was amazing and we received hundreds of nominations. An expert 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 with almost 900 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. Volunteer of the Year went to Les Cockle, volunteer fundraiser at Great Oaks Hospice whilst Forest of Dean Host Ukrainians and Ukraine Community Hub jointly picked up the Community Voluntary Group of the Year. Young volunteers were celebrated with Keira Stone, volunteer at disability group, Together We Can crowed under 16 years old Young Volunteer of the Year, whilst in the 17 – 25 years old category, Chloe Whatley and Jordan Terrel were rewarded for their tireless hard work volunteering at the Sea Cadets in Lydney. Lisa Tootell was crowned Outstanding New Volunteer of the Year for her amazing impact for the Girl Guides in the Forest of Dean and Hips Social were recognised for supporting the local community and investing in improving the local area. The winners were presented with an award, a framed certificate and £100 Amazon voucher, kindly provided by sponsors the KW Bell Group. Deb Cook, Volunteering Manager at FVAF 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 Kate Clark, BBC Radio Gloucestershire presenter who kept the guests entertained with her expert hosting skills. Award winners were announced by guest presenter; Roger Deeks (FVAF Trustee), Nicola Bird and Yvonne Bell (KW Bell and main sponsor), Sue Middleton (Verderer of the Forest of Dean), Andy Lewis MBE (PT2 Para triathlete), Neill Ricketts (Founder of Versarien and chair the Forest of Dean Economic Partnership). The celebration evening was made possible thanks to generous sponsorship for the following local organisations: KW Bell Group and AccXel Training Centre – main sponsors Hot Tubs Rock Versarien The Midcounties Co- Operative FOREST VOLUNTEER AWARD WINNERS: Volunteer of the Year – Peoples’ Champion WINNER: Les Cockle – Great Oaks Hospice Highly Commended: Hannah McGowan (FOD Hosts of Ukrainians Support Group), Martin Elsmore (The Golden Triangle Club), Steve Gregory (FVAF / Walking with Wheels) and Mark Jones (Community First Responder SWASFT) Community Voluntary Group of the Year WINNER: FOD Hosts of Ukrainians Support Group and Ukraine Community Hub Highly Commended: Together We Can, Newnham Archery Club, Dean Radio, The Friends of Longhope Church and The Rewild Project Outstanding New Volunteer WINNER: Lisa Tootell – Girlguiding FOD South Division Highly Commended: Sarah Maxfield – Berry Hill Memorial Institute Young Volunteer of the Year 16yrs & under WINNER: Keira Stone – Together We Can Highly Commended: Toby Niblett – Lydney Youth Hub Young Volunteer of the Year 17 – 25yrs JOINT WINNERS: Jordan Terrell and Chloe Whatley – FOD Sea Cadets Community Impact Award WINNER: HIPs Social Highly Commended: Recycle Shop CIC Newent and Wilde Earth Journeys

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

સમુદાય કનેક્ટર્સ ફોરમ - તમારા પેચ નેટવર્કને જાણો Supporting Strong and Thriving Communities with Know Your Patch તમારા પેચને જાણો સાથે મજબૂત અને સમૃદ્ધ સમુદાયોને સમર્થન આપવું કોમ્યુનિટી કનેક્ટર્સ ફોરમ (CCF) નો તમારો પેચ ભાગ જાણો સ્વૈચ્છિક અને સામુદાયિક ક્ષેત્ર, વૈધાનિક સેવાઓ અને સ્થાનિક રહેવાસીઓને એવી રીતે જોડે છે જે કામ કરવાની વધુ સારી રીતો બનાવે છે. ફોરેસ્ટ ઓફ ડીન નો યોર પેચ નેટવર્ક સ્વૈચ્છિક અને સામુદાયિક ક્ષેત્ર, વૈધાનિક સેવાઓ અને સ્થાનિક રહેવાસીઓને એવી રીતે જોડવા માટે રચાયેલ છે જે કામ કરવાની વધુ સારી રીતો બનાવે છે જે આખરે આપણા સમુદાયોને મજબૂત બનાવે છે. આ 'સમુદાય ઓફર' ખાસ કરીને આરોગ્યની જરૂરિયાતોના વધારાને રોકવા અથવા વિલંબિત કરવા માટે મહત્વપૂર્ણ છે. અમે સમગ્ર ફોરેસ્ટ ઓફ ડીનમાં ત્રિમાસિક ઇવેન્ટ્સનું આયોજન કરીએ છીએ જ્યાં અમે હિસ્સેદારોને તેમના સમુદાયમાં શું બાબતો છે અને સેવાઓ અને સ્વૈચ્છિક ક્ષેત્રના જૂથો આને કેવી રીતે મદદ કરી શકે છે તેની ચર્ચામાં જોડાવા માટે આમંત્રિત કરીએ છીએ. દરેક નો યોર પેચ ઇવેન્ટ મફત છે અને વાતચીતનો ભાગ બનવા માંગતા કોઈપણ માટે ખુલ્લી છે. જો તમે હાજરી આપવા માંગતા હો, તો કૃપા કરીને 01594 822073 પર કૉલ કરો અથવા help4groups@fvaf.org.uk પર ઇમેઇલ કરો. ફોરેસ્ટ ઓફ ડીનમાં શું ચાલી રહ્યું છે તેના સંબંધમાં અમે અમારા નો યોર પેચ નેટવર્કને નિયમિત ઈ-મેઈલ અને અપડેટ્સ પણ મોકલીએ છીએ. જો તમે આ નેટવર્કમાં જોડાવા માંગતા હો, તો કૃપા કરીને સબ્સ્ક્રાઇબ કરો અહીં તરફથી ભંડોળ માટે આભાર Gloucestershire County Council , Know Your Patch Gloucestershire માં દરેક અન્ય જિલ્લામાં પણ ઉપલબ્ધ છે. જો તમે આ વિશે વધુ જાણવા માંગતા હો, તો કૃપા કરીને મુલાકાત લો અહીં અહીં કેટલાક સંશોધનો છે જે આપણા વિચારને રેખાંકિત કરે છે: "વ્યક્તિઓ અને સમુદાયોને સામાજિક મૂડી વિકસાવવા માટે મદદ કરવા માટે આપણે બધાની ભૂમિકા છે. વંચિત સામાજિક જૂથો અને સમુદાયો પાસે જટિલ અને આંતર-સંબંધિત જરૂરિયાતોની શ્રેણી હોવા છતાં, તેમની પાસે સામાજિક અને સામુદાયિક સ્તરે અસ્કયામતો પણ છે, એવી માન્યતા વધી રહી છે. જે સ્વાસ્થ્યને સુધારવામાં મદદ કરી શકે છે અને સ્વાસ્થ્ય સમસ્યાઓ માટે સ્થિતિસ્થાપકતાને મજબૂત કરી શકે છે" (ધ કિંગ્સ ફંડ, 2018) "નબળા સામાજિક સંબંધો ધરાવતી વ્યક્તિઓની સરખામણીમાં પર્યાપ્ત સામાજિક સંબંધો ધરાવતા લોકોમાં જીવન ટકાવી રાખવાનો દર 50 ટકા વધુ હતો" (હોલ્ટ-લનસ્ટેડ એટ અલ 2010) "સામાજિક નેટવર્ક્સ સામાન્ય જીવનશૈલી અને ક્લિનિકલ જોખમો જેવા કે મધ્યમ ધૂમ્રપાન, અતિશય આલ્કોહોલનું સેવન, સ્થૂળતા અને ઉચ્ચ કોલેસ્ટ્રોલ અને બ્લડ પ્રેશર જેવા મૃત્યુદરના શક્તિશાળી અનુમાનો તરીકે દર્શાવવામાં આવ્યા છે" (પેન્ટેલ એટ અલ 2013; હોલ્ટ-લનસ્ટેડ એટ અલ, 2010) . "સામાજિક સમર્થન ખાસ કરીને સ્થિતિસ્થાપકતા વધારવા અને માંદગીમાંથી પુનઃપ્રાપ્તિને પ્રોત્સાહન આપવા માટે મહત્વપૂર્ણ છે" (પેવલિન અને રોઝ, 2003) "સામાજિક નેટવર્ક્સ અને સમર્થનનો અભાવ વર્તણૂકને સ્વ-નિયમન કરવું અને સમય જતાં ઇચ્છાશક્તિ અને સ્થિતિસ્થાપકતાનું નિર્માણ કરવાનું મુશ્કેલ બનાવે છે, જે બિનઆરોગ્યપ્રદ વર્તણૂકોમાં વ્યસ્તતા તરફ દોરી જાય છે" (Cacioppo and Patrick 2009). "સમુદાયની ભાગીદારી અલગતા, બાકાત અને એકલતા ઘટાડે છે" (ફેરેલ અને બ્રાયન્ટ 2009; સેવિગ્ની એટ અલ 2010; રેયાન-કોલિન્સ એટ અલ 2008) "મજબૂત સામાજિક મૂડી ધૂમ્રપાન જેવા જીવનશૈલીના જોખમોને ટાળવાની તકો સુધારે છે" (ફોલેન્ડ 2008; બ્રાઉન એટ અલ, 2006) Spring/Summer Programme 2025 Welcome back to the Spring/Summer 2025 sessions in the Forest Know Your Patch network. We continue with the mixture of shorter sessions (from 10-11am) and longer sessions (from 10am until noon) - providing the opportunity for a more in-depth look at topics. The latter also provide a platform for attendees to share information about their work and current developments and partnerships. We have included a live event in Cinderford, in the heart of the Forest, at the end of May, and look forward to meeting as many of you as possible at that networking event. If you would like to deliver a presentation at a forthcoming meeting or there is a topic that you would like to be addressed, please contact Teresa Rose, FKYP Facilitator at fodkyp@fvaf.org.uk to discuss this further. We look forward to seeing you in the forthcoming weeks. PROGRAMME 2025 Late Spring/Early Summer April 29th – 10-11am: Health in the Forest - Rethink/Great Oaks Hospice May 13th – 10-11am: Forest Food Network May 27th (tbc) IN-PERSON: Forest Digital Forest Showcase with Alex Digby June 10th – 10-11am Partnership Development - Integrated Care Board - Community Catalysts & Physical Health Self-Management June 24th – 10 - 11am: Join us for a “Virtual Cuppa” – And Help to Shape Know Your Patch in the Future July 8th – 10am - 12noon: Family Hubs in the Forest July 22nd – 10 - 11am : Holiday Provision for Children & Families All meetings are online via MS TEAMS except 27th May - further details about this event will be sent in due course.

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.

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.

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.

સમાચાર અને ઘટનાઓ 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

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

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.

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

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