"Pagbuo ng Mas Matibay na Komunidad sa ang kagubatan ng Dean" Ano ang FVAF? Ang FVAF ay kumakatawan sa Forest Voluntary Action Forum. Nag-aalok kami ng suporta sa mga lokal na mamamayan, mga grupo ng komunidad at mga aktibidad upang gawin ang mga bagay na pinakamahalaga sa kanila. Kabilang dito ang mga sumusunod: ​ suporta at payo sa pag-unlad pagsasanay impormasyon mga pagpupulong sa networking nagpapadali sa representasyon boluntaryong pangangalap paglalagay ng boluntaryo at suporta ​ Nagpapatakbo din kami ng maraming proyekto kasama at para sa lokal na komunidad, tulad ng Forest of Dean Youth Association, Holiday Activity Campaigns, The Forest Youth Music Network, The GEM Project, The Forest Compass Directory, Walking with Wheels at marami pa. Tingnan ang aming pahina ng Mga Proyekto para sa buong detalye. ​ Alamin ang higit pa Hop onboard the DigiBus! FREE 1-2-1 training ​ Coming to a town near you…the DigiBus will be stopping at locations across the Forest during June and July with trainers on hand to help you improve your digital skills. FIND OUT MORE BAGONG Direktoryo ng Pagboluntaryo Mas madaling mag-volunteer sa Forest of Dean? Sa FVAF nakagawa kami ng bagong booklet na tinatawag na Volunteering in the Kagubatan ng Dean. Ito ay isang libreng direktoryo ng ilan sa maraming mga pagkakataon sa pagboboluntaryo na magagamit sa lokal. Malapit nang pumasok ang mga hard copy iyong lokal Library o Community Hub o mag-click sa ibaba para mag-download ng a digital na kopya. Pag-download ng Booklet ng Volunteering Hanapin ang iyong pinakamalapit na Drop-in Hub BUKAS NA Mga Drop-in Hub ng Gusali ng Komunidad Mag-pop in at makipag-chat nang harapan sa isang tagabuo ng komunidad. Ang bawat drop-in hub ay nag-aalok ng iba't ibang suporta, payo at gabay para sa mga lokal na residente. Halimbawa; suporta at signposting sa mga lokal na serbisyo, pag-uugnay at pag-set up ng mga bagong grupo ng komunidad, pagsuporta sa mga tao na mas mapalapit sa trabaho o karagdagang edukasyon, tumulong sa pag-access sa digital na mundo at suporta upang maisabuhay ang iyong mga ideya para sa komunidad. Kagubatan ng Dean Samahan ng Kabataan Ang Forest of Dean Youth Association ay sumusuporta sa mga kabataang wala pang 25 taong gulang upang maging pro-aktibong mga mamamayan at mga pinuno ng kanilang sariling buhay. Sinusuportahan din namin ang mga grupo at organisasyon ng komunidad sa buong Forest of Dean upang pahusayin ang mahusay na gawaing ginagawa na nila sa pamamagitan ng pag-unlock sa mga lokal na kasanayan at asset, maging sila ay mga tao, lugar o pagpopondo. Ang koponan ay may malawak na iba't ibang mga kasanayan at karanasan sa pakikipagtulungan sa mga kabataan at sa ating mga komunidad sa Forest, upang maaari tayong umangkop at tumugon sa karamihan ng mga proyekto o katanungan na may kaugnayan sa kabataan. Bilang resulta, ang Youth Association ay nakikilahok sa isang malawak na iba't ibang mga proyekto pati na rin ang pag-aalok ng signposting sa suporta at mga serbisyo. Alamin ang Higit Pa Volunteer Support Kung gusto mong Mag-volunteer sa loob ng Forest of Dean mayroon kaming pagpipilian ng mga kasalukuyang pagkakataon para sa iyo. ​ Kung ikaw ay isang grupo ng komunidad na gusto ng ilang boluntaryong suporta maaari naming isulong ang iyong boluntaryong bakante para sa iyo. Kung kailangan mo ng tulong at payo sa pakikipagtulungan sa Mga Volunteer mangyaring makipag-ugnayan Search Volunteer Opportunites Sundan kami sa Facebook Regular kaming nagpo-post ng aming pinakabagong mga balita at kaganapan sa Facebook. Para sa pinakabagong impormasyon mangyaring sundan ang aming pahina sa Facebook Pumunta sa Facebook Ang aming mga Kasosyo

Pag-aaral ng Kaso: Mary Sullivan Si Mary ay Pangalawang Tagapangulo ng Forest of Dean Local History Society (LHS) at naging bahagi ng paghubog ng Foresters' Forest sa simula pa lamang. Bago pa man magkaroon ng pangalan ang programa, siya at ang LHS ay may layunin na magdala ng lokal na kasaysayan sa mga bata at kabataan sa Kagubatan, at ang hilig na ito ay humubog sa kanyang tungkulin bilang miyembro ng Lupon. Matagal nang may kaugnayan si Mary sa Forest at naging regular na bisita sa loob ng ilang dekada bago siya tuluyang lumipat dito noong 2008 nang siya ay nagretiro. Mabilis siyang naging aktibong miyembro ng LHS. “Bilang isang 'incomer' nadama na mahalaga na makisali sa Forest of Dean ng mga bagay upang makaramdam ng grounded," sabi ni Mary. "Ang pagtulong na hubugin ang programa ng Foresters' Forest ay isang extension nito", paliwanag niya, "ang pag-aambag sa maliit na paraan na ito ay nagbigay sa akin ng higit na pakiramdam ng pag-aari". Marami ang tungkol sa tungkulin ni Mary sa Lupon na nagbigay sa kanya ng pakiramdam ng tagumpay. "Ang pagiging kasangkot sa pagpaplano at pag-iisip sa mas mataas na antas ay naging kasiya-siya sa aking pagreretiro," sabi niya. "Nasiyahan ako sa pakikipagkita at pakikipagtulungan sa mga bagong tao, at makita ang mga ideya na natutupad." Ngayon ay halos kalahati na ng panahon ng pinondohan ng Programa, nakita ni Mary ang mga adhikain ng kanyang sarili at ang LHS na naisasakatuparan sa isang matagumpay na programa sa edukasyon na umaakit sa mga Primary at Secondary School sa lokal na kasaysayan at pamana. "Ang Lydbrook Primary School ay naging isang tunay na 'trail blazer' sa pag-uugnay ng kanilang kurikulum sa binuo, natural at kultural na pamana ng Dean," sabi ni Mary. Ang gawain ng mga paaralan tulad ng Lydbrook ay ikinakalat na ngayon sa ibang mga lokal na paaralan sa pamamagitan ng mga araw ng pagbabahagi ng mga paaralan. "Talagang nakatutuwang makita ang mga guro mula sa iba't ibang lugar na bumibisita sa mga proyekto ng Foresters' Forest sa aming mga mini bus tour, na nakatuklas ng higit pa tungkol sa kung paano nila mabubuo ang mayamang pamana ng lugar sa pagtuturo at pag-aaral," sabi ni Mary. "Natutuwa din ako na napakaraming mga lokal na bata sa paaralan ang nakakuha ng karanasan sa arkeolohiya sa pamamagitan ng pagbisita sa aming mga paghuhukay ng komunidad sa Yorkley, Soudley at Ruardean sa mga nakaraang taon." Pakiramdam ni Mary ay personal siyang nakinabang sa pamamagitan ng kanyang boluntaryong tungkulin. "Marami akong natutunan tungkol sa iba't ibang organisasyong nagtatrabaho sa lokal at sa mahalagang gawaing ginagawa nila", paliwanag niya. Lubhang ipinagmamalaki din ni Mary ang lahat ng nakamit sa ngayon sa pamamagitan ng programa ng Foresters' Forest at umaasa na makita itong mabubuo sa susunod na ilang taon. Magboluntaryo sa Foresters' Forest Bisitahin ang Foresters' Forest Website Mag-sign up para sa newsletter ng Foresters' Forest

Volunteer of the Year 2024 The 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 6 community heroes. Vote for your favourite by selecting ONE of the following volunteers: Liz Bell Pete Harper Elaine Quirk Lisa Robertson Sarah Wootton Emily Worrall VOTING CLOSES: MIDNIGHT MONDAY, 9 SEPTEMBER VOTE Thanks for voting! Check out the profiles of the shortlisted nominees below: Liz Bell Orchard Trust Site volunteer and Trustee Liz Bell has been a cornerstone of the Orchard Trust since she began volunteering at the Stowfield site in 2021. Her dedication and passion quickly became evident, leading her to take on the role of Trustee in 2022. Liz’s contributions extend far beyond her weekly volunteering; she has played a pivotal role in shaping the site and enhancing its value to the community. As a volunteer, Liz has taken charge of maintaining the sensory garden, apple tree circle, and general site upkeep. After spending time immersed in the environment, she began offering innovative ideas to improve it, always with the visitors' experience in mind. One of her most notable achievements was serving as the Volunteer Project Manager for the wildlife area. Liz not only designed and wrote the proposal for this project but also worked closely with the Stowfield site manager to ensure it was delivered on time and within budget—all in her own free time. Liz’s vision and hard work has helped to create a lasting community asset that is accessible and enjoyable for people of all ages, especially those who often face barriers to engaging with nature. Pete Harper Mycelium Mental Health Project Volunteer Pete Harper is the quiet force behind the success of the Mycelium Mental Health Project, a volunteer whose impact is felt far beyond the boundaries of the project itself. Described by his nominator as "one of the most humble and knowledgeable people I have ever met," Pete’s dedication and passion for mutual aid have been instrumental in establishing and nurturing Mycelium. Pete’s extraordinary commitment is matched by his generosity. He has been a steadfast supporter, working tirelessly to ensure the project's success. His influence extends beyond Mycelium, as he has become a vital advocate for our community’s mental health. Pete Harper is not just an extraordinary volunteer; he is a true champion for mental health, whose quiet strength and unwavering commitment continue to uplift and inspire all those around him. His work with Mycelium has created a lasting impact, ensuring that the most vulnerable in our community have a voice and a compassionate ally. Elaine Quirk Volunteer helper for Gloucestershire Carers Hub Elaine Quirk is the heart and soul of the Gloucestershire Carers Hub, where she serves as a Carer Welcomer at Bickys Carer Café in Coleford and Candi in Cinderford. With her gentle and kind demeanour, Elaine ensures that every unpaid carer who walks through the door feels truly welcomed and supported. Elaine has a remarkable ability to make people feel valued. Carers who attend the sessions she hosts often leave with a renewed sense of being heard, respected, and encouraged to share their experiences. Her presence has significantly increased footfall at Bickys during quieter times and helped Candi engage with new clients, extending the reach of the Carers Hub in meaningful ways. Elaine’s work goes beyond welcoming carers—it’s about creating a supportive space where they can find comfort and community. Her dedication to helping others has made a lasting difference in the lives of many, and her warm presence is an essential part of the Carers Hub’s success. Lisa Robertson Ruardean Youth Leader For nearly 20 years, Lisa Robertson has been the heart and soul of Ruardean Youth Club, dedicating countless hours of her free time to creating a safe, fun, and supportive environment for youth people aged 11-18. Under Lisa’s guidance, the Youth Club has become a vital resource for the community, offering a wide range of activities, advice, and information to help teenagers navigate their challenges. Lisa’s impact on the lives of hundreds of children and young people in Ruardean is immeasurable. She is known for her selfless dedication, always going above and beyond to ensure that the Youth Club not only thrives but also continues to meet the evolving needs of the community and every young person who walks through the door. Her contributions extend far beyond the Youth Club. Lisa also played a key role in organising the annual Ruardean Carnival and most recently, Lisa has spearheaded the creation of the Ruardean Community Orchard. Lisa’s tireless efforts and deep commitment to her community make her an extraordinary volunteer and a true inspiration. Her work has left a lasting legacy in Ruardean, enriching the lives of countless young people and helping to build a stronger, more connected community. Sarah Wootton Chair of the Committee - Brockweir Village Shop & Café As the Chair of the Committee for Brockweir Village Shop & Café, Sarah Wootton has been a pillar of strength and leadership for her community. When a devastating fire struck the shop in June 2023, Sarah immediately took charge, and with the help of the amazing committee and employees, Ferne and Kris, coordinated efforts to ensure the swift and successful rebuilding of this vital community hub. Sarah's dedication has been unwavering—she handled complex negotiations with the insurance company and loss adjustor, navigated the flood of daily emails, and provided steadfast support to the shop's staff and volunteers. Her commitment didn’t end with reopening the shop; she has continued to offer guidance and encouragement to everyone involved, helping them navigate the challenges that followed the fire. Sarah's efforts have ensured that even in the face of adversity, the shop, which serves as a cornerstone of the village is not just a place to shop—it’s a lifeline for locals and visitors alike. Emily Worrall Volunteer fundraiser at Great Oaks Hospice Emily Worrall is an invaluable member of the fundraising team at Great Oaks Hospice, bringing energy, enthusiasm, and a contagious positivity to everything she does. With her bright smile and can-do attitude, Emily ensures that the Hospice’s events are well-publicised, tirelessly delivering and posting event posters across all the Forest. Her dedication doesn’t stop there—Emily is always on hand at events, whether it’s setting up, taking down, or even getting the party started with her infectious dance moves at discos. Emily’s journey is truly inspiring. Despite facing learning difficulties, she has worked hard to live independently, and her contributions to the team go far beyond her tasks. Emily is more than just a volunteer; she is a cherished member of the Great Oaks Hospice family. Find our more about the Forest Volunteers Awards here:

KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE Young people who are moving towards adulthood have the right to make informed choices about how they connect to their local community. This can involve risk, for guidance read: Building Connections: One minute guide to Risk Assessment

NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN! CLOSING DATE: MIDNIGHT SUNDAY 14 JULY 2024 Forest Volunteer Awards 2024 Nomination Form FOREST VOLUNTEER AWARDS 2024 Please select in which category you would like to nominate the individual or group. Your Volunteer of the Year Young Volunteer of the Year 16yrs & under Young Volunteer of the Year 17 – 21yrs 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 Nominee details 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) 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 details Your name Your email address Your telephone number ​ Photographs – if you have any photographs please send them to communications@fvaf.org.uk Submit Thank you for taking the time nominate!

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.

Community Engagement - NHS assets and services We are currently carrying out community engagement work in the Forest of Dean seeking information about the use of NHS assets and services. We would very much appreciate it if you could help provide information as part of this exercise. ​ We hope you will be able to provide answers to a few questions in a survey that should only take a few minutes to complete. Community Engagement Survey: Parish Councils First name Last name Email Job title Organisation/Group Continue

OUR FOREST EVENTS Community ideas wanted for ‘Our Forest’ £3m lottery bid An opportunity for people and community organisations to discuss project ideas for Our Forest's planned National Lottery Heritage Fund Bid. BOOK TICKETS: Saturday 13th April, Lydney Town Hall - 1pm - 4pm BOOK TICKET: Sunday 14th April, Mitcheldean Community Centre - 1pm - 4pm We’re excited to announce that we are leading on preparing a new £3million bid to the National Heritage Lottery Fund (NLHF). ​ Called ‘Our Forest’ this new community-driven project will focus on the heritage of the Forest of Dean To prepare for this bid, we are asking local people, community groups and organisations to have their say at two community events we are hosting this weekend. ​ Taking place at 1pm-4:30pm on Saturday (13 April) at Lydney Town Hall and 1pm-4:30pm on Sunday (14 April) at Mitcheldean Community Centre , these events are open for anyone to attend, to share and discuss ideas for potential heritage projects, partnerships and collaborations that could be included in the bid for funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF). ​ Deb Cook, our Volunteering Manager at FVAF said “Heritage is what you think is important and should be preserved. It could be about improving access to landscapes, historical sites, or collections; cultural activity or traditions; stories and celebrations as well as more traditional ideas of heritage. It can be anything from the past or even present that you value and want to pass on to future generations. ​ She added: “We’re asking the community to come along to one of these events to be part of the conversation and tell us what they think is important to include in the ‘Our Forest’ project.” ​ Building upon the legacy of the Foresters' Forest Landscape Partnership programme, ‘Our Forest’ will focus on involving diverse people, grass-roots organisations, and the voluntary community sector, with projects that involve young people, older people, hardly reached groups, as well as focusing on mental health and wellbeing.

Community Engagement - NHS assets and services We are currently carrying out community engagement work in the Forest of Dean seeking information about the use of NHS assets and services. We would very much appreciate it if you could help provide information as part of this exercise. ​ We hope you will be able to provide answers to a few questions in a survey that should only take a few minutes to complete. Community Engagement Survey: Surgery Managers First name Last name Email Job title Organisation/Group Continue

Pag-aaral ng Kaso: Gwynneth Walker Lumipat kami sa Forest ilang taon na ang nakalipas at naging ganap na bago sa lugar na itinakda ko tungkol sa pagsali sa mga club at paglabas at malapit nang makipagkilala sa mga tao. Isang araw sa Book Club ko may narinig akong nagbabanggit ng Foresters' Forest at may Archaeology Project. Naisip ko, "Mukhang kawili-wili, gagawin ko iyan!" Ito ay sa yugto ng pag-unlad ng Foresters' Forest noong 2015 at mula noon ay naging bahagi na ako. Nagkaroon ako ng ilang magagandang karanasan sa pamamagitan ng proyekto. Nagtrabaho ako sa survey ng data ng LIDAR, nakibahagi sa tatlong archaeological na paghuhukay at kamakailan ay nasangkot sa isang proyekto na nagsasaliksik sa Palmers Flat kung saan ako nakatira. Nasisiyahan ako sa pagsasaliksik na ito sa pakikipagtulungan sa isang kaibigan na nakatira sa malapit, at natutuklasan namin ang ilang kamangha-manghang impormasyon tungkol sa aming lokalidad. Nakagamit ako ng maraming iba't ibang pamamaraan tulad ng pagsasaliksik sa computer sa mga ninuno at pagtingin sa mga archive at mapa. Ang ilan sa pananaliksik na ito ay pamilyar na sa akin ngunit ang makita ang lahat ng ito ay magkakasama sa isang larawan ng nakaraan ay kawili-wili. Natagpuan ko ang pag-aaral na gawin ang LIDAR surveying na lubhang kapaki-pakinabang. Ito ay maaaring medyo mahirap, ngunit talagang binabago nito ang paraan ng pagtingin mo sa landscape magpakailanman. Nakikita ko na ngayon ang mga feature sa lahat ng dako na tumutulong sa akin na makilala ang mga maliliit na quarry, minahan at tramway na dating nakatuldok sa lahat ng dako. Ang paghahanap ng charcoal platform sa Birchhill ay kapana-panabik. Talagang napakarami sa kanila sa Kagubatan at nakikita ko ang sarili kong nakikita sila saan man ako magpunta. Ang mga paghuhukay ay napakasayang makibahagi. Ang pakikipagtulungan sa iba pang mga boluntaryo at mga eksperto ay nagturo sa akin nang labis. Napaka-espesyal ng pakiramdam na matuklasan ang mga bagay na matagal nang hindi nakikita ng mga mata ng tao. Ang isa pang boluntaryo at ako ay sapat na mapalad na makahanap ng isang piraso ng medyebal na palayok sa Yorkley Dig. Nakakagigil ang pakiramdam nang may nakita kaming kakaiba sa mundo. Pagkatapos ay nag-iwas at unti-unting isiwalat ang isang piraso ng nakaraan kasama ng mga taong sabik na naghihintay na makita kung ano ang aming nahanap – napakagandang karanasan! Ang pagboluntaryo sa proyekto ay puno ng mga positibo. Nakipagkaibigan ako, tulad ni Cathy na kasama ko sa research project at Elaine at David na kasama ko sa LIDAR project. Napakasarap sa pakiramdam na masangkot sa isang bagay na tungkol sa pangangalaga sa Forest of Dean at pagpapanatiling espesyal para sa mga susunod na henerasyon. Higit sa anupaman, ang pagsali sa isang archaeological dig ay isang bagay na gusto kong gawin mula pa noong mga araw ng aking unibersidad, at sa wakas, sa pamamagitan ng Foresters' Forest, napagtanto ko ang pangarap na iyon. Magboluntaryo sa Foresters' Forest Bisitahin ang Foresters' Forest Website Mag-sign up para sa newsletter ng Foresters' Forest

Tungkol sa FVAF Tungkol sa FVAF Ang aming Kwento Kami ang Voluntary Service Council at Volunteer Center para sa Forest of Dean. Nagbibigay kami ng tulong sa marami sa daan-daang boluntaryo at mga organisasyong pangkomunidad sa Distrito na siya namang mas mahusay na makapaghatid ng kanilang gawain sa at para sa lokal na komunidad. ​ Mula nang nabuo noong 1994, nakabuo kami ng isang reputasyon para sa paghikayat, pagtanggap at pagpapahusay ng pagkilos ng komunidad sa buong Forest of Dean. Naniniwala kami na sa pamamagitan ng mga pamamaraang pinangungunahan ng komunidad ay binibigyang-daan namin ang mga mamamayan na bumuo ng mga kasanayan, katatagan at kapital sa lipunan upang mamuhay nang mas masaya, mas konektadong buhay. Mga Serbisyo sa Opisina Staff at Trustees Mga patakaran Accessibility at Sustainability