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

Youth Support in the Forest of Dean FVAF Youth Team Here to offer help and support to young people and youth clubs, groups or organisations. Discover more Local Youth Clubs Check out the timetable of regular youth clubs and events What's on offer NEW! Universal Youth Services We’ve joined forces Gloucestershire Gateway Trust and The Venture Community Hub, to make a real difference in the lives of young people Discover more

READ MORE NOMINATE NOW! Frequently visited pages: COMMUNITY HUBS VOLUNTEER ADVICE YOUTH SUPPORT Ce este FVAF? FVAF înseamnă Forest Voluntary Action Forum. Oferim sprijin cetățenilor locali, grupurilor comunitare și activități pentru a face lucrurile care contează cel mai mult pentru ei. Aceasta include următoarele: asistență și consiliere pentru dezvoltare Instruire informație întâlniri de networking facilitarea reprezentării recrutarea voluntarilor plasarea și sprijinul voluntarilor De asemenea, derulăm multe proiecte cu și pentru comunitatea locală, cum ar fi Asociația de Tineret Pădurea Decanului, Campanii de activități de vacanță, Rețeaua de muzică pentru tineret din pădure, Proiectul GEM, Directorul Busola Pădurii, Plimbare cu roți și multe altele. Consultați pagina noastră de proiecte pentru detalii complete. „Construirea unor comunități mai puternice în Pădurea Deanului" Află mai multe JOIN OUR MAILING LIST Get the latest community news and check out exciting volunteering opportunity in or around the Forest of Dean... Accesați Facebook Useful publications: FREE directory of the many volunteering opportunities available locally... DOWNLOAD Partenerii noștri 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

Busolă de pădure Forest Compass este un director fizic și online care listează multe dintre activitățile obișnuite, grupurile de sprijin și cluburile disponibile în Pădurea Decanului. Pădurea găzduiește sute de grupuri sociale și de activități de tot felul, de la grupuri de bebeluși, la cluburi de prânz, șoprone pentru bărbați până la cafenele de memorie. Multe sunt gratuite sau cu costuri foarte mici pentru a participa și sunt conduse de voluntari sau nu pentru grupuri de profit. Din păcate, mulți oameni care ar putea beneficia de astfel de grupuri nu sunt conștienți de oportunitățile uimitoare de la ușa lor. Dacă desfășurați o activitate de conducere de voluntari, un club sau un grup de sprijin în Pădurea Decanului faceți publicitate atât în directorul fizic Forest Compass, cât și în directorul online de aici, GRATUIT completând formularul de mai jos. 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

Lydney Link up soundbite Lydney Link Up 00:00 / 04:01 Lydney Link Up Julie at the Lydney Habour 00:00 / 01:17 Conversation with Vilnis Lydney Link Up 00:00 / 02:17 Lydney Link Up Mia's experience 00:00 / 01:49

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.

Mersul cu roți Utilizați unul dintre scutere de mobilitate pentru toate terenurile pentru a accesa frumoasele trasee din pădure împreună cu familia și prietenii, indiferent de capacitatea de mers pe jos. The Pădurea Deanului este un centru recunoscut pentru mers pe jos și ciclism și este bine deservit de trasee și alte acces la suprafață. Pentru persoanele cu dizabilități fizice, sănătate precară, deficiențe senzoriale sau alte afecțiuni inhibitoare, poate fi totuși nevoie de asistență puternică, interpretare specializată sau alte medii adecvate pentru a le permite să se bucure de beneficiile pe care alții le consideră de la sine înțelese. Acest Pădurea pădurarilor Proiect finanțat de loteria patrimoniului, lucrând împreună cu Mobilitate rurală oferă oportunități pentru mai mulți oameni de a accesa Pădurea Deanului. Walking with Wheels oferă scutere de mobilitate pentru toate terenurile (numite Trampers) pentru închiriere de la Forest Holidays din Christchurch și de la Hotelul Speech House. Trampers sunt disponibile pentru traseele pre-cartate care oferă priveliști spre Symonds Yat, Biblins, Cyril Hart Arboretum și Mallards Pike Lake, pentru a numi doar câteva. Dacă doriți să aflați mai multe despre Mersul cu roți, sunați la 01594 822073 sau contactați-ne prin e-mail . întrebări frecvente Ce este un „Tramper”? Cine poate folosi acest serviciu? Pe ce rute îl pot folosi? Când este disponibil pentru angajare? Cum pot rezerva unul? Cât costă să închiriezi un Tramper? Ce se întâmplă dacă nu am folosit niciodată una dintre acestea până acum? Ce se întâmplă dacă am nevoie de ajutor suplimentar? De ce trebuie să devin membru al Countryside Mobility? Pot ajuta cu acest proiect? Ce se întâmplă dacă trebuie să anulez o rezervare? Frequently Asked Questions

Voluntariat În calitate de centru de voluntariat pentru Pădurea Decanului, suntem aici pentru a vă ajuta să recrutați și să gestionați voluntari Noul nostru Voluntariat broșură plină cu detalii a voluntariatului local oportunitățile sunt acum disponibile CLICK PENTRU A DESCARCARE Sau ridicați o copie de la biblioteca locală sau de la Community Hub În calitate de Centru de voluntariat pentru Pădurea Deanului suntem adesea primul punct de contact pentru oricine este interesat de voluntariat. Anul trecut am fost mândri să sprijinim peste 100.000 de ore de voluntariat în zonă! FVAF promovează și promovează o gamă largă de oportunități de voluntariat din partea organizațiilor care împărtășesc etosul nostru în sprijinirea voluntarilor și recunoașterea gamei largi de motive pentru care oamenii aleg să facă voluntariat. De ce să fii voluntar? Voluntariatul are o serie de beneficii uriașe, nu numai pentru tine individual, ci și pentru comunitatea ta și lumea în care trăim. Dacă doriți să vă îmbunătățiți CV-ul, să cunoașteți oameni noi, să vă folosiți abilitățile, să învățați ceva nou, să urmăriți un interes, să oferiți experiență sau pur și simplu să faceți o diferență, suntem garantați că avem o oportunitate pentru dvs.! Puteți afla despre aceste oportunități în următoarele moduri: Căutați oportunități la Do-it.org Sună-ne la 01594 822073 Luați legătura prin e-mail Vino să ne vizitezi la FVAF Luni - Vineri 9:00 - 1:00 ( Direcții ) Dacă doriți să faceți voluntariat ca parte a unui grup mare, de exemplu ca parte a voluntariatului corporativ, atunci avem și o gamă largă de oportunități din care să alegeți. 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 În calitate de ghișeu unic pentru toate aspectele legate de voluntariat, folosim o metodologie cu mai multe fațete pentru a vă oferi cea mai bună șansă posibilă de a recruta și reține voluntari valoroși. Aceasta include următoarele: Faceți publicitate oportunităților dvs. pe Do-it.org Promovarea oportunităților dumneavoastră către membrii publicului referit la noi sau prin intermediul funcției noastre drop-in. Faceți publicitate oportunităților dvs. pe paginile noastre de Facebook și Twitter Promovarea oportunităților dumneavoastră către serviciile locale care sprijină voluntariatul, de ex. Centrul de locuri de muncă, LearnDirect și 2GetherTrust Reclamă-ți oportunitățile la peste 30 de evenimente pe an Trimiterea oportunităților dvs. către întreprinderile locale care oferă voluntariat susținut de angajator Promovarea oportunităților relevante pentru școli, colegii și universități Distribuirea oportunităților dumneavoastră în baza noastră de date cu peste 1.000 de persoane de voluntari Promovarea oportunităților dvs. într-o varietate de rețele, inclusiv 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)

Summer Holiday Activities & Food We’ve teamed up with Gloucestershire Cou nty Counci l and arranged a packed timetable of FREE fun! The HAF programme is open to all school aged children, who live in the Forest of Dean, and who qualify for free school meals. If funding allows, s ometimes activities are extended and offered to all children and young people across Gloucestershire through the Holiday Activities Programme (HAP). There's something for eve ryone - we've got sports clubs, cooking, crafts, play sessions an d so much more... You need to be registered to book | All sessions mus t be pre bo oke d REGISTER HERE For information or support with the HAF Spring programme contact: HAFParentEnquiries@gloucestershire.gov.uk or ring the HAF helpline on 01452 427960. BOOKING NOW OPEN! CHECK OUT THE TIMETABLE **PLEASE NOTE: You can only book 4 activities at a time - please wait 24 hours before you book again** For more information visit the Gloucestershire County Council website here

Mycelium My Networks Mental Health Project Mycelium - Forest Mental Health Project Structure The Forest Community of Practice Forest of Dean Mental Health Locality Partnership Recovery and Wellbeing Café The Resources Hub & Library The Forest Community of Practice Monthly face-to-face learning collaborative, reflective practice & peer supervision. 2nd Tuesday each month. The Forest Community of Practice is for individuals working and volunteering with members of our community where support for mental health is a significant part of their role. This has been set up in response to the My Networks Scoping Project. Many local social care practitioners stated that they wished to receive ongoing support to develop reflective practice, link with others and build skills that would help them to become more confident responding to mental distress, particularly with the increasing complexities that they were coming across in their roles. The C of P will be supported by clinicians, professionals and lived experience practitioners from the VCS & NHS who have been involved in the Community Mental Health Transformation programme. It will provide an opportunity for collaborative learning, peer supervision and professional development. We hope a community of Forest mental health practitioners will emerge from these sessions. If you, or a mental health champion from your team, are interested and able to join us, please get in touch. Please get in touch if you have any questions or want the most current information about scheduling details - simon@fvaf.org.uk or text 07394 945046 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. 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. Recovery & Wellbeing Café - Current Programme The Resource Hub, Research Room & Lived Experience 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

Volunteer of the Year 2023 T he People's Champion VOTING OPEN! Time to choose your champion... We recently asked you to nominate a local volunteer who has gone above and beyond for their community over the past 12 months, and/or has an inspiring story. We had some cracking nominations, and it was an extremely hard task to narrow it down BUT after much deliberation, our panel of community experts have shortlisted 7 community heroes. Vote for your favourite by selecting ONE of the following volunteers: Chris Brain Melanie Getgood Jando Greco Edna Husbands Barbara Jenkins Albert Weager Dave Young VOTING CLOSES: 10PM SUNDAY, 17 SEPTEMBER VOTE Thanks for voting! Check out the profiles of the shortlisted nominees below: Chris Brain Chairman & Coach of Broadwell Youth Football Club For the past 15 years Chris has dedicated a huge amount of his time, energy and passion into grassroots sports. A constant supporter and instrumental in the ongoing success of Broadwell Football Club, Chris has served as the Chairman of the club and more recently 2 and half years as the First Team Manager. The pinnacle of his successful coaching term came last year when Chris led his side to Les James Cup victory. Going out on a high, Chris has just retired and deserves recognition for his dedication and commitment which has provided the opportunity for 100’s of children to play football and helped to create the thriving community football club Broadwell FC has become. Melanie Getgood Chairperson at Friends of Worcester Walk Melanie has been the inspirational driving force of Friends of Worcester Walk (FoWW). Her steadfast commitment to Worcester Walk has seen it develop into a unique richly diverse habitat in the Forest of Dean. Melainie goes the extra mile to share the experience of being in nature, through events with school groups, volunteers, and local people. With her generous inclusive way, she has built a solid and diverse group of volunteers for FoWW and ensures that everyone is welcome, and their work appreciated. Melanie’s community work doesn’t end there! She is also a co-opted member of the Environmental Committee of Coleford Town Council, helps run a local Morris Dancing group, has organised clean ups in the Coleford Cemetery, King George Playing Field and Bells Field. Melanie works tirelessly for community but is always friendly, approachable, kind and generous with her time and with everyone she meets. Jando Greco Volunteer helper at St Stephen's Church Cinderford Jando is a fantastic example of the impact volunteering can have for the community, and in growing as a person. For the past twelve years, Jando has supported St Stephen’s Church through his involvement with many projects, services, events and prayer groups. Jando is often found setting up and tidying after events or keeping the church tidy midweek between services. He helps with the Fairtrade Stall and Fairtrade Friday coffee afternoons, and is a leader at Messy Church. Usually the first to put his hand up to help, like many volunteers, much of what Jando does is 'behind the scenes' and unseen. But that doesn't bother him at all, he just loves volunteering his time, feeling part of a community and growing his skills as well as sharing his talents with others. His nominator said that: “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 and would love for him to be recognised for his service!” Edna Husbands Lydcare Community Transport Co-ordinator at Lydcare An essential member of the team, Edna is responsible for organising Lydcare Community Transport Service. A complex and demanding role, on average Edna deals with over 120 calls from people who request transport and with drivers to arrange journeys. Edna's role requires a massive commitment both in time and energy and requires a high degree of patience and diplomacy dealing with last minute medical appointments, cancellations and reschedules. Thanks to her tireless work over 4,000 journeys are completed every year, helping over 2,700 people get to hospital, medical appointments and social events which due the lack of public transport would be impossible. Lydcare was the only community transport service running through the pandemic and this was down to Edna's determination and commitment to ensure patients, particularly those who usually received home visits, were able to get to important medical appointments. Edna also works as a voluntary driver and is an outstanding volunteer working for the benefit of those in need within the community. Barbara Jenkins Organiser of the ‘Over Sixties Group’ Berryhill Memorial Institute AKA ‘The Hut’ It would be hard to find a volunteer in the Forest with a longer commitment to volunteering in the community than Barbara! For over 50 years, Barbara has been the lead organiser of the ‘Over Sixties Group’ at the ‘The Hut’ Berryhill Memorial Institute. This popular group has been providing social activities to help combat isolation for the older community for decades. Collecting community memories for a recent memory capsule, created as part of The Hut’s centenary celebrations, revealed that Barbara had been quietly managing this group since 1971. But Barbara’s involvement with The Hut goes even further back to her childhood when her father was resident caretaker, and her mother was involved in organising activities. A wonderful and unique example of generations getting involved with the community to make it a better place, Barbara is an inspiration to us all and shows no sign of slowing down. Albert Weager Community representative & advocate for better healthcare in FoD A more committed and dedicated community representative than Albert would be hard to find! For over a decade Albert has tirelessly advocated for better health provision in the Forest of Dean. With an incredibly long service on the FoD Health Forum, in 2014 he was appointed chair and has been instrumental in ensuring that everyone is listened to and given the opportunity to ask questions. At a county level, Albert chairs the People and Communities Reference Group for Urgent and Emergency Care and is the community representative on the Urgent and Emergency Care, Patient Flow Clinical Programme Group. Not stopping there, Albert is also represents local people on the Ageing Well Care Programme Board and has been the patient representative on the Blood Transfusion Committee for over ten years. Everything Albert does is as a volunteer and we must congratulate him on his drive and passion. Dave Young Volunteer driver, cook, outreach at Forest Sensory Services & Samaritans Over the past 2 years Dave has dedicated more and more of his time volunteering and going above and beyond to support other people. Starting as a volunteer driver for Forest Sensory Services (FFS), Dave now volunteers with FSS 3 times a week and even dons his chef hat and cooks up a delicious feast, twice a month, for the service’s clients. A fantastic supporter of all the work that FSS does, Dave plays an active role in outreach sessions to make visually impaired people aware of the support services offered and he also helps with fundraising. Along with his face-to-face volunteering, Dave volunteers with the Samaritans answering the phone a couple of times a week offering emotional support . Plus promoting Samaritans with outreach in the community. His nominator said: “Dave is an inspiring person and an amazing volunteer who does so much for other people.” Find our more about the Forest Volunteers Awards here: