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! CURRENT VACANCIES Role: Neighbourhood Connector Hours: 30 hours per week (minimum 22.5hrs negotiable for the right candidate) Salary: £28,000 (Full Time Equivalent) per annum Contract Term: Permanent Annual Leave: 25 days pro-rata plus public holidays, rising by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30 days pro rata plus public holidays Neighbourhood Connector - Job Description DOWNLOAD - FVAF APPLICATION FORM Trouble downloading the documents? Contact communications@fvaf.org.uk or 01594 822073

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

🌟 Forest Volunteer Awards 2025 – Celebrating Local Heroes 🌟 This year, we’re shining a spotlight on the incredible individuals, groups, and organisations who go the extra mile to make the Forest of Dean a better place. Whether they’re quietly making a difference or leading bold community change, we want to hear their stories. THE CATEGORIES: 🏆 Volunteer of the Year – People's Champion This is your chance to celebrate an unsung hero. Someone who consistently goes above and beyond to support others, uplift their community, or inspire through their own journey. Their dedication may have transformed lives—or even kept vital services running. We're looking for someone who: Shows exceptional dedication and commitment to their volunteer role Has made a significant positive impact on individuals or the wider community Demonstrates reliability, compassion, and selflessness May have overcome personal challenges while helping others Goes above and beyond to support those in need ✨ This is the only award chosen by public vote! Once finalists are announced, the community will decide who takes home the title. 🌱 Young Volunteer of the Year (21 & under) Recognising a young person who's making a big impact. Whether they've overcome personal challenges or shown outstanding commitment to helping others, this award celebrates young volunteers —in schools, clubs, or community projects. We're looking for a young person who: Demonstrates exceptional commitment to volunteering despite their age Serves as a role model and inspiration to other young people Shows maturity, leadership, and dedication beyond their years May have overcome personal obstacles while helping others Actively contributes to making their school, club, or community better Examples might include: peer mentoring, fundraising champions, environmental activists, community event organisers, or young carers who also volunteer. 🤝 Grassroots Group of the Year For small, volunteer-led groups making a big difference. From lunch clubs to sports teams, support circles to hobby groups—if your local group is powered by passion and community spirit, we want to celebrate it. We're looking for groups that: Are entirely or predominantly volunteer-run Demonstrate strong community impact despite limited resources Show innovation, creativity, and resilience in their approach Foster genuine connections and belonging among members Address local needs or bring people together around shared interests Operate with transparency, inclusivity, and community spirit Examples might include: village halls committees, friendship groups, local history societies, craft circles, walking groups, or neighbourhood support networks. 🏢 Community Organisation Award Recognising larger charities, CICs, CIOs, or teams of staff and volunteers making a meaningful impact in the Forest of Dean. We celebrate organisations that: Make a real difference by creating positive, lasting change in the local community Join forces with other local groups and partners to work together effectively Stay open and accountable while encouraging active community participation Keep evolving to meet new challenges and the changing needs of the community Use resources wisely to bring the greatest possible benefits to those who need them Stay true to the mission and focus on what matters most to the Forest of Dean Champion volunteering by effectively recruiting, supporting, and valuing volunteers This award highlights established organisations with formal structures, paid staff, and a commitment to fostering and sustaining volunteer contributions. 🏢💚 Business in the Community Award Celebrating local businesses that give back. Whether through employee volunteering, project sponsorship, or hands-on community support, this award recognises businesses that are making a real social impact. We're looking for businesses that: Go beyond profit to actively contribute to community wellbeing Encourage and support employee volunteering during work time Provide meaningful sponsorship, donations, or in-kind support Partner with local charities and community groups Operate with environmental and social responsibility Demonstrate genuine, long-term commitment to the Forest of Dean Examples might include: businesses offering apprenticeships to local youth, companies supporting community events, employers giving staff volunteer days, or businesses donating skills, space, or resources. ♿ Accessibility & Inclusion Award (sponsored by FoD Dementia Action Alliance) This award celebrates organisations or groups that are actively working to break down barriers and create welcoming, inclusive spaces. It's not about being perfect—it's about showing commitment to accessibility, equity, and belonging for all. We're looking for organisations that: Actively work to remove physical, social, or communication barriers Demonstrate understanding of diverse needs including disability, age, culture, and background Show ongoing commitment to improving accessibility and inclusion Provide training, support, or resources to become more inclusive Create environments where everyone feels valued and able to participate Take practical steps to accommodate different needs and abilities This could include: dementia-inclusive initiatives, wheelchair accessible improvements, sensory-friendly adaptations, multilingual support, or programmes specifically designed to welcome marginalised groups. 🌍 Community Climate Action Award (sponsored by Forest of Dean Climate Action Partnership) F or individuals or VCSE groups leading the way in environmental action. From community gardens and repair cafés to sustainable transport and flood resilience—if you're helping the Forest adapt and thrive in a changing climate, we want to hear from you. We're looking for nominees who: Take practical action to address climate change or environmental challenges Inspire and educate others about sustainable living Develop innovative solutions to local environmental issues Build community resilience to the impact of the changing climate Create lasting positive environmental change in the Forest of Dean Examples might include: renewable energy projects, sustainable food initiatives, active travel promotion, waste reduction campaigns, or climate adaptation projects. NOMINATIONS NOW CLOSED FAQs Who can nominate? Anyone can nominate! Whether you are an individual local resident, part of a community group or from a local government organisation. How can I nominate? It’s easy – just fill in our nomination form here or if you would prefer a paper copy you can request one via communications@fvaf.org.uk or 01594 822073. What information do I need to provide? Please provide plenty of detail about what the nominee has achieved and as much information as possible about them and their unique contribution. If you have any, please provide good quality photographs. Make sure that you have permission from anyone else in the photograph so that we can use it for media and promotional activities unless you tell us not to. Should I tell the person or organisation I am nominating them or keep it a surprise? Ideally it would be good to let them know once you have decided to nominate, just so that they are aware and happy for their story to be shared. We want to celebrate and shout about the wonderful work of volunteers which would include promotion via social media, on our website and to local press. How will it be judged? All nominations will be carefully considered by a panel of judges. This panel will be made up of a mix of unbiased and independent judges including; members of staff from FVAF, a FVAF trustee, and representatives from local councils, businesses and media. For more information or if you have any questions, email communications@fvaf.org.uk or call 01594 822073 .

FOREST VOLUNTEER AWARDS IT'S VOTING TIME! The PUBLIC VOTE is now OPEN for Volunteer of the Year 2025 - The People's Champion! VOTING CLOSES: MIDNIGHT WEDNESDAY 27 AUGUST 2025 We had so many fantastic nominations, with every one a worthy winner BUT after much deliberation our judging panel shortlisted the following local volunteers: VOTE FOR YOUR FAVOURITE Carol Austin – Sedbury Space Laura Dovey – Taurus Crafts Annie George – Forest Exchange Ian Gower – CANDI, Mitcheldean Youth Club, Scarr Bandstand Glynis Halling – The Victoria Centre, Lydney Dial-a-Ride, Dr Charley's Lunch Club Julie Holder – Packed with Love Submit Find out why these amazing volunteers were nominated below: CAROL AUSTIN Sedbury Space Carol leads one of the Forest's busiest community groups at Sedbury Space, welcoming 30+ members weekly with exceptional care and dedication. LAURA DOVEY Taurus Crafts For an incredible twenty years, Laura has been the welcoming face of Taurus Crafts in Lydney, greeting every customer with genuine warmth and enthusiasm ANNIE GEORGE Forest Exchange Annie is the organisational powerhouse behind Forest Exchange (formerly Lydney Exchange), working tirelessly to help as many people as possible through this vital community resource.. Her personal touch makes all the difference – she ensures every member receives a birthday card and personally checks on anyone who's been absent for two weeks. Carol's generous spirit extends beyond her volunteer duties as she steps in to cover extra sessions, ensures no one feels excluded, and has a remarkable gift for helping shy members feel included without them even realising it. Her warm, energetic presence and unwavering commitment to helping others makes her an exceptional volunteer who truly goes above and beyond. Working across both the gift shop and Zero Waste shop, Laura's reliability and attention to detail shine through in everything she does – from pricing and checking invoices to ensuring packing materials are properly recycled. Her outstanding customer service skills and diligent approach make her a joy to work with, while her caring, helpful nature brings smiles to everyone she meets. Laura's two decades of unwavering commitment exemplifies the very best in community volunteering. Her incredible work ethic is evident whether she's moving heavy boxes, washing donated clothes, implementing efficient labelling systems, or lifting spirits with her amazing sense of humour. Over the past two and a half years, Annie has played a crucial role in the Exchange's remarkable growth from strength to strength. Though she's moving away to be closer to family, her unique approach to helping individuals and her invaluable contributions have left a lasting impact on the Forest community. IAN GOWER Mitcheldean Youth Club, CANDI, Scarr Bandstand Ian's volunteer work spans multiple organisations, making him a true Forest community champion through his support at CANDI, Mitcheldean Youth Hub, Scarr Bandstand, and the Forest of Dean History Society. GLYNIS HALLING The Victoria Centre, Lydney Dial-a-Ride, Dr Charley's Lunch Club For over 25 years, Glynis has been the driving force behind vital community services, serving as chief organiser and fundraiser for the Victoria Centre and previously Lydney Dial-a-Ride. JULIE HOLDER Packed with Love Julie is the inspirational driving force behind Packed with Love, a remarkable not-for-profit initiative that packs 180 backpacks for children in emergency care. Drawing on his engineering background with Rolls Royce, Ian creates engaging STEM workshops and provides maths tutoring that makes learning both fun and educational for young people. His understanding, kind, and caring approach toward young people, combined with his wealth of knowledge, makes him an exceptional mentor. Ian's dedication to his community is evident in how nothing is ever too much trouble, and his willingness to go out of his way to support the young people and various groups he serves. Her exceptional admin skills, creative vision, and ongoing dedication have been essential to these organisations' success. Glynis also volunteered for 13 years at Dr Charley's lunch club in Coleford, serving as Treasurer and later taking leadership after founder Dora Matthews passed away. Her commitment to community service has touched countless lives across the Forest, providing the "essential oil for the wheels" of much-valued services that bring people together and support those in need. Her tireless dedication encompasses every aspect of the operation – organising jumble sales and book sales, seeking donations, storing items in her own home, purchasing necessary supplies, coordinating the packing process, and ensuring distribution reaches those who need it most. Julie's work directly impacts vulnerable children during some of their most difficult moments, providing them with essential items and a tangible reminder that their community cares. Her selfless commitment transforms donations into hope for children facing uncertain times.

READ MORE Frequently visited pages: COMMUNITY HUBS VOLUNTEER ADVICE YOUTH SUPPORT FVAF என்றால் என்ன? FVAF என்பது வன தன்னார்வ நடவடிக்கை மன்றத்தைக் குறிக்கிறது. உள்ளூர் குடிமக்கள், சமூகக் குழுக்கள் மற்றும் செயல்பாடுகளுக்கு அவர்களுக்கு மிகவும் முக்கியமான விஷயங்களைச் செய்வதற்கான ஆதரவை நாங்கள் வழங்குகிறோம். இதில் பின்வருவன அடங்கும்: ஆதரவு மற்றும் மேம்பாட்டு ஆலோசனை பயிற்சி தகவல் நெட்வொர்க்கிங் கூட்டங்கள் பிரதிநிதித்துவத்தை எளிதாக்குகிறது தன்னார்வ ஆட்சேர்ப்பு தன்னார்வ வேலை வாய்ப்பு மற்றும் ஆதரவு ஃபாரஸ்ட் ஆஃப் டீன் யூத் அசோசியேஷன், ஹாலிடே ஆக்டிவிட்டி பிரச்சாரங்கள், தி ஃபாரஸ்ட் யூத் மியூசிக் நெட்வொர்க், தி ஜெம் ப்ராஜெக்ட், தி ஃபாரஸ்ட் காம்பஸ் டைரக்டரி, வாக்கிங் வித் வீல்ஸ் மற்றும் பல போன்ற பல திட்டங்களை உள்ளூர் சமூகத்துடன் இணைந்து நடத்துகிறோம். முழு விவரங்களுக்கு எங்கள் திட்டப்பணிகள் பக்கத்தைப் பார்க்கவும். "வலிமையான சமூகங்களை உருவாக்குதல் டீன் காடு" மேலும் அறியவும் JOIN OUR MAILING LIST Get the latest community news and check out exciting volunteering opportunity in or around the Forest of Dean... Facebook க்கு செல்லவும் Useful publications: FREE directory of the many volunteering opportunities available locally... DOWNLOAD எங்கள் கூட்டாளர்கள் 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

NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN! CLOSING DATE: MIDNIGHT SUNDAY 20 JULY 2025 Nomination Form 2025 Please select in which category you would like to nominate the individual or group. Your Volunteer of the Year Young Volunteer of the Year 21yrs & under Community Organisation of the Year Grassroots Award - Voluntary Group of the Year ESV Business in the Community Award FoD Dementia Action Alliance Accessibility & Inclusion Award FoDCAP Community Climate Action Award Name of the volunteer/group being nominated: Name of the organisation or group linked to the nominee (for individual nominees only) Volunteer role or role of group Contact details for nominee (email and telephone) If you are providing personal contact details, do you have permission to share this person's information? If not, no problem—we will use the general contact details of the group or organisation associated with the nominee instead. Yes No Reason for nomination - please provide a brief description which outlines why you think this individual or group stands out. What makes them special and worthy of being celebrated? Your name Your email address Are you happy for us to keep your contact details for the purpose of this nomination only? Yes No Submit

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.

தன்னார்வத் தொண்டு ஃபாரஸ்ட் ஆஃப் டீனுக்கான தன்னார்வ மையமாக, தன்னார்வலர்களைச் சேர்ப்பதற்கும் நிர்வகிப்பதற்கும் உங்களுக்கு உதவ நாங்கள் இங்கு இருக்கிறோம் எங்கள் புதிய தன்னார்வத் தொண்டு விவரங்கள் நிரப்பப்பட்ட சிறு புத்தகம் உள்ளூர் தன்னார்வத் தொண்டு வாய்ப்புகள் இப்போது இல்லை பதிவிறக்கம் செய்ய கிளிக் செய்யவும் தன்னார்வ மையமாக டீன் காடு தன்னார்வத் தொண்டு செய்ய ஆர்வமுள்ள எவருக்கும் நாங்கள் அடிக்கடி தொடர்பு கொள்ள வேண்டிய முதல் புள்ளியாக இருக்கிறோம். கடந்த ஆண்டு, 100,000 மணிநேர மதிப்புள்ள தன்னார்வத் தொண்டுகளுக்கு ஆதரவளிப்பதில் பெருமிதம் கொள்கிறோம்! FVAF ஆனது தன்னார்வத் தொண்டர்களை ஆதரிப்பதில் எங்களின் நெறிமுறைகளைப் பகிர்ந்து கொள்ளும் நிறுவனங்களின் பரந்த அளவிலான தன்னார்வ வாய்ப்புகளை விளம்பரப்படுத்துகிறது மற்றும் விளம்பரப்படுத்துகிறது ஏன் தன்னார்வலர்? தன்னார்வத் தொண்டு உங்களுக்கு தனித்தனியாக மட்டுமல்ல, உங்கள் சமூகத்திற்கும் நாங்கள் வாழும் உலகிற்கும் பல பெரிய நன்மைகளைக் கொண்டுள்ளது. உங்கள் CVயை மேம்படுத்தவும், புதிய நபர்களைச் சந்திக்கவும், உங்கள் திறமைகளை நன்றாகப் பயன்படுத்தவும், புதிதாக ஒன்றைக் கற்றுக்கொள்ளவும், ஆர்வத்தைத் தொடரவும், அனுபவத்தை வழங்கவும் அல்லது மாற்றத்தை ஏற்படுத்தவும் விரும்பினால், உங்களுக்கான வாய்ப்பைப் பெற நாங்கள் உத்தரவாதம் அளிக்கிறோம்! பின்வரும் வழிகளில் இந்த வாய்ப்புகளைப் பற்றி நீங்கள் அறியலாம்: வாய்ப்புகளைத் தேடுங்கள் Do-it.org 01594 822073 என்ற எண்ணில் எங்களை அழைக்கவும் மூலம் தொடர்பு கொள்ளவும் மின்னஞ்சல் FVAF திங்கள் - வெள்ளி 9:00 - 1:00 ( திசைகள் ) இல் எங்களைப் பார்க்க வாருங்கள் நீங்கள் ஒரு பெரிய குழுவின் ஒரு பகுதியாக தன்னார்வத் தொண்டு செய்ய விரும்பினால், உதாரணமாக கார்ப்பரேட் தன்னார்வத் தொண்டுகளின் ஒரு பகுதியாக, தேர்வு செய்வதற்கான பரந்த வாய்ப்புகளும் எங்களிடம் உள்ளன. 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: தன்னார்வத் தொண்டு செய்யும் அனைத்து விஷயங்களுக்கும் ஒரு நிறுத்தக் கடையாக, மதிப்புமிக்க தன்னார்வத் தொண்டர்களை ஆட்சேர்ப்பு செய்வதற்கும் தக்கவைத்துக்கொள்வதற்கும் சிறந்த வாய்ப்பை உங்களுக்கு வழங்க நாங்கள் பலதரப்பட்ட முறையைப் பயன்படுத்துகிறோம். இதில் பின்வருவன அடங்கும்: Do-it.org இல் உங்கள் வாய்ப்புகளை விளம்பரப்படுத்துதல் எங்களிடம் குறிப்பிடப்படும் பொது உறுப்பினர்களுக்கு அல்லது எங்கள் டிராப்-இன் செயல்பாடு மூலம் உங்கள் வாய்ப்புகளை விளம்பரப்படுத்துதல். எங்கள் Facebook மற்றும் Twitter பக்கங்களில் உங்கள் வாய்ப்புகளை விளம்பரப்படுத்துதல் தன்னார்வத்தை ஆதரிக்கும் உள்ளூர் சேவைகளுக்கு உங்கள் வாய்ப்புகளை ஊக்குவித்தல் எ.கா. வேலை மையம், LearnDirect மற்றும் 2GetherTrust வருடத்திற்கு 30 நிகழ்வுகளில் உங்கள் வாய்ப்புகளை விளம்பரப்படுத்துதல் முதலாளி ஆதரவு தன்னார்வத் தொண்டு வழங்கும் உள்ளூர் வணிகங்களுக்கு உங்கள் வாய்ப்புகளை அனுப்புதல் பள்ளிகள், கல்லூரிகள் மற்றும் பல்கலைக்கழகங்களுக்கு பொருத்தமான வாய்ப்புகளை ஊக்குவித்தல் 1,000 பேருக்கு மேல் உள்ள எங்களின் தன்னார்வ தரவுத்தளத்தில் உங்கள் வாய்ப்புகளை விநியோகித்தல் நோ யுவர் பேட்ச் உட்பட பல்வேறு நெட்வொர்க்குகளுக்கு உங்கள் வாய்ப்புகளை விளம்பரப்படுத்துதல் 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)

Peer Development Developing the space between us to enable better Community Health and Wellbeing. Mycelium seeks to promote connectedness between people and encourage collaboration in service development in the Forest of Dean. Mycelium seeks to promote connectedness between people and encourage collaboration in service development in the Forest of Dean. We wish to do so to develop a counternarrative to ‘siloed working’ and the overbearing competitiveness between people, organisations and within emerging systems. We value both lived and professional experience equally and work from a horizontal, narrative informed, peer advocacy model with co-production and action research principles at its core. What do we do? We offer Peer Advocacy, Peer Mentoring & Peer Development for individuals, groups and organisations living or working in the Forest of Dean. For People from our Communities We work with individuals providing 1 to 1 support. Using peer advocacy and peer mentoring principles we can help you to develop a ‘recovery practice’ that enables you to get back up after a crisis, or travel safely through a difficult period in your life. We can help you: to understand and respond to social care needs or a health condition and can help you to cope with a situation that is causing you emotional distress. to find information, to build confidence as you begin to identify, navigate and try out the wellbeing and self-help resources that are available to you in your local community. if issues arise when trying to build yourself up again - we can be there and help you to learn about yourself, your world and your rights. to travel through the complexities of recovery from a health condition, from mental illness, trauma or addiction - to raise your voice about what is important to you as you do so. to access advice from the best expertise available and can then support you to understand, choose between and explore the options opened up for you by that advice. to access community groups and projects and help them in turn to become more confident, compassionate and efficient when supporting individuals experiencing mental health difficulties. Peer advocacy will work on up to three specific community advocacy issues at a time, but the Peer mentoring will be open access, an ‘in the background’ wrap around support that will attempt to respond to your unique circumstances and complex needs whilst still trying to link you in with the best expertise available to you. For Volunteers and Professionals “Project Support” - We work with individuals developing groups and organisations With consultancy, reflective practice and ongoing support we can help lived experience practitioners, peer support workers and staff with lived experience who are working in the VCS and local health and social care settings, to use their experiences of illness or mental distress in a way that is safe, effective and compassionate for both them and the people they are supporting. We can help: you to develop an idea, a workshop, a group or a project that has arisen from your own unique situation, lived experience or from the skills and awareness gained on your recovery journey. provide or link you in with training, information, supervision and a support structure around you to enable you to turn this awareness into a skill that can benefit others in your local community. projects, groups and organisations develop their co-production strategies and be a point of contact with transformed mental health services and the wider supports available. We can enable you to implement these strategies in a non ’tokenistic’ & authentic way. you to stay well and practice self-care whilst working and using your lived experience to help others who are going through health conditions or mental distres s. What does ‘Peer’ mean? “PEER … One that is of equal standing with another” The ‘Peer’ in Peer Advocacy, Peer Mentoring and Peer Development points to shared concerns and experiences. Peer support is when we come together with others who have been through or are recovering from something similar. It is about ‘mutuality’ - helping each other through conversations, activities and spending time together. It can help us not to feel so alone or unusual, to realise that there is a possibility of life beyond and outside of the condition, distress or situation encountered. Peer services connect people and create opportunities for ‘giving back’; they can help us to take notice of the skills and knowledge we have gained on our journeys while also creating opportunities to use these skills to build better services and communities for the future. Who are we? We are all local people with both professional and personal experience of disability, illness, mental distress and/or have been carers for people navigating social and health care systems. We are all individuals who have had extensive experience of managing our own recoveries from illness and mental distress and have learnt much from doing so. We all feel that talking to someone who has ‘been through’ and managed to successfully survive and navigate something similar in the past can be incredibly helpful to those who are feeling isolated with that condition, situation or circumstance in the present. Though we understand the importance of being supported by someone who understands from ‘lived experience’, we also recognise the importance of skill and learning. We know how important ongoing development is to help convert that learning into a constructive, safe and effective practice that enables others. We have all received extensive previous training and are committed to continued professional development alongside the “lived experience” knowledge that we draw upon. We have all benefitted from Peer Advocacy, Peer Support or Peer Mentoring ourselves and are passionate about its enormous benefits for good community mental health and wellbeing. We have all had extensive previous experience of co-production work, collaborative working, community development and promoting diverse voices. What have we done so far? Developing Action Research & our Narrative Model for locality-based peer development Over the past two years Mycelium has been drawing together people with experience, professionals and those passionate about community development, to overcome barriers to discussion and rally around shared concerns or stories. The aim of this has been to increase understanding about mental health illness and, most importantly, move towards improvement of the current situation for individuals, families and the Forest communities. We have developed a Resource Hub, Community-based Recovery Education Sessions and a Community of Practice group for those working with individuals with mental health challenges. We have facilitated extensive community-based action research to ascertain need and identify a network of allies. This has been published alongside papers on co-production and has all been fed into the Community Mental Health Transformation undertaken in Gloucestershire. Who are we for? We have supported the growth of community initiatives that allow everybody’s voices to be heard and we want change to continue to be driven by well-being and mutual aid. We are listening, learning and offering opportunities for all community members within the Forest and invite you to join us on this exciting journey. Anyone 16 + who is living or working in the Forest of Dean. Anyone who feels that they could benefit from support from individuals with experience of managing their own recovery from mental health difficulties, addiction, mental distress or a health condition. Anyone facing challenges in accessing the support that they want and need help to find information, understand their rights, build a support network or develop an advocacy plan of action to raise their voice or complain about the care they have received. Anyone with either diagnosed or undiagnosed conditions and people waiting on waiting lists for assessment. Our aim is to respect all perspectives and encourage action and improvement in the lives of all across our Forest communities. How do I find out more, get involved or access Mycelium support? For more information drop Simon Price (Project Manager and Mental Health Researcher) a message at Simon@fvaf.org.uk or call 07394 945046 to arrange a meet up and find out more about Mycelium Peer Development.

What we do We support many community-led projects shaped with, and for local people: Employment and skills support Holiday Activity and Food Programme Community Builders Forest of Dean Youth Association Walking with Wheels Know Your Patch Forest Compass

Youth Support in the Forest of Dean Forest Youth Association 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

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.