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.

Tell us what training would help your organisation We're exploring how best to support the training needs of voluntary and community groups across the Forest of Dean. This might include hosting training ourselves, bringing in external trainers, or connecting you with existing resources and courses. Please complete this brief survey to let us know what would be most valuable for you. Your feedback will shape the support we're able to offer. Organisation Name: Your Role: Email Training Topics Which of the following topics would be most valuable for your organisation? (Please tick all that apply and add any others) Funding & Fundraising Marketing & PR Digital Skills/Using Technology Financial Procedures & Management Governance & Trustees Finding & Recruiting Volunteers Volunteer Management & Retention Embedding Climate Action Neurodiversity, Mental Health & Inclusion Safeguarding First Aid Health & Safety Food Hygiene Other Let us know your TOP 3 training needs: When Which days work best for you? (Tick all that apply) Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Preferred times: (Tick all that apply) Morning (9am-12pm) Afternoon (1pm-5pm) Evening (6pm-8pm) Where How would you prefer to attend training? (Tick all that apply) In-person only Online only Hybrid (option to attend either way) No preference If in-person: Forest of Dean only Willing to travel How Which learning formats work best for you? (Tick all that apply) Workshops (group sessions) Online webinars/courses One-to-one support/mentoring Drop-in sessions Self-paced resources Peer learning/networking groups 5. Additional Information Are there any barriers that prevent you from accessing training? (e.g., cost, time, childcare, accessibility needs) Any other comments or suggestions? Submit

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

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

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

YOUTH CLUBS & ACTIVITIES TUESDAY Blakeney Youth Club | 6pm-8pm Cinderford Rd, Blakeney GL15 4AE Open Access youth group for local young people ORGANISATION: Blakeney YC and FVAF Forest Youth Project | 4:30pm-8pm (alternate Tuesdays) The Main Place, Old Station Way, Coleford GL16 8RH LGBTQ+ young people 10-16yrs ORGANISATION: Wye River Festival and FVAF THURSDAY Forest Young Mums | 10am-12pm Hilltop Children & Family Centre, Latimer Road, Cinderford GL14 2QA Targeted support for young mums under 21 ORGANISATION: FVAF in partnership with NHS Coleford Youth Hub (Juniors) | 4pm-6pm The Main Place, Old Station Way, Coleford GL16 8RH Open Access youth group for Years 5 & 6 (Every Thursday) ORGANISATION: FVAF in partnership with Coleford Town Council Coleford Youth Hub (Seniors) | 6:30pm-8:30pm The Main Place, Old Station Way, Coleford GL16 8RH Open Access youth group for Years 7 & 8 (Last Thursday of month) ORGANISATION: FVAF in partnership with Coleford Town Council FRIDAY Mitcheldean Youth Hub | 4pm-8pm The Playing Fields, Mitcheldean GL17 0BQ Open Access Year 7+ ORGANISATION: FVAF in partnership Mitcheldean Parish Council OTHER ACTIVITIES Beezee Families| 4pm-6:30pm The Main Place, Old Station Way, Coleford GL16 8RH Healthy families 8 week programme (by referral; please contact FVAF for rolling start dates) ORGANISATION: BeeZee Maximus and FVAF Work It Out | TBC The Main Place, Old Station Way, Coleford GL16 8RH Targeted support for young people not in education, training and employment ORGANISATION: FVAF Youth Support Team ASTON | 6pm-8pm The Main Place, Old Station Way, Coleford GL16 8RH Targeted ASB and crime prevention (by referral; please contact FVAF for dates) ORGANISATION: PCSO’s and FVAF To find out more contact hi.ya@fvaf.org.uk or 01594 822073

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

Maging miyembro ng FVAF Sa pagiging miyembro ng FVAF tinutulungan mo kaming magpatuloy sa pagbibigay ng mahalagang serbisyo sa suporta sa boluntaryo at sektor ng komunidad sa Kagubatan ng Dean . Ang FVAF ay kumikilos bilang isang tagapagtaguyod para sa boluntaryo at aksyong pangkomunidad kung saan naaangkop sa antas ng distrito, county at pambansang, at kapag mas maraming miyembro ang kinakatawan natin, mas malakas ang ating boses. Samakatuwid, ang mga miyembro ay kinokonsulta sa mga bagay na nakakaapekto sa boluntaryo at sektor ng komunidad sa Forest of Dean at kung ano ang layunin nating makamit bilang isang organisasyon. Bilang isang miyembro, masisiyahan ka sa pag-access sa aming mga serbisyo sa opisina, pinababang mga rate ng pag-imprenta at pagkopya, pagsulong ng mga boluntaryong bakante para sa iyong grupo, at libreng pagrenta ng isang hanay ng mga kagamitan sa opisina. Kabilang dito ang: Mga Display Board Hearing Loop Digital Projector at screen PA System Mga Flip Chart Mahabang folding table Hot water catering urn Gazebo (kinakailangan ng £5 na donasyon) Kung gusto mong maging miyembro ng FVAF mangyaring mag-click sa button na Sumali sa FVAF sa kanan at kumpletuhin ang form. Para sa karagdagang detalye tumawag sa 01594 822073 LIBRE ang maging miyembro ng FVAF para ma-access ang lahat ng aming serbisyo sa suporta Sumali sa FVAF

Walking with Wheels: Mga Madalas Itanong Ano ang isang 'Tramper'? Ang Tramper ay isang all-terrain electric powered mobility vehicle. Ito ay may restricted speed na hanggang 4mph na mainam para sa mga kasamang naglalakad o maliliit na bata sa mga bisikleta. Ang buong detalye ng Trampers ay maaaring matatagpuan dito . Sino ang maaaring gumamit ng serbisyong ito? Ang Walking with Wheels ay bukas sa sinumang higit sa 14 taong gulang at tumitimbang ng wala pang 25 na bato na nahihirapang maglakad dahil sa pansamantala o permanenteng kahirapan sa paggalaw. Sa anong mga ruta ko ito magagamit? Kasama sa mga available na ruta ang Symond's Yat Rock at pababa sa ilog Wye sa Symond's Yat mula sa Forest Holidays at Cyril Hart Arboretum, Mallards Pike at mga bahagi ng Family Cycle Trail mula sa The Speech House. Ang mga mapa ng mga ruta ay ibibigay kapag nag-hire. Kailan ito magagamit para sa pag-upa? Ang Tramper ay available na umarkila 9:00 - 5:00 7 araw sa isang linggo (maaaring mas maikli ang mga oras sa Taglamig upang matiyak na bumalik bago ang takipsilim). Paano ako makakapag-book ng isa? Mangyaring i-pre-book ang iyong Tramper bago ang araw, upang maiwasan ang pagkabigo. Mangyaring makipag-ugnayan nang direkta sa mga tramper site upang mag-book. Para sa Forest Holidays tumawag sa 01594 837165 Para sa The Speech House tumawag sa 01594 822607 Magkano ang gastos sa pag-upa ng Tramper? Ang Tramper ay nagkakahalaga lamang ng £2.50 bawat oras. Para sa mga unang beses na user, mayroon ding taunang bayad sa membership na £10 sa Countryside Mobility o £2.50 para sa isang dalawang linggong sesyon ng pagtikim. Paano kung hindi ko pa nagamit ang isa sa mga ito dati? Huwag mag-alala! Ang mga ito ay napaka-simple at ligtas na patakbuhin at ang bawat user ay bibigyan ng buong induction upang matiyak na ligtas at komportable silang harapin ang aming mga kamangha-manghang landas. Paano kung kailangan ko ng karagdagang tulong? Hinihiling namin na ang lahat ay samahan sa mga landas para lagi kang may kasama. Kung gusto mong subukan ang isang Tramper, bago kumuha ng isa, mangyaring tumawag sa isa sa aming mga sentro upang ayusin. Bakit kailangan kong maging miyembro ng Countryside Mobility? Ang Countryside Mobility ay may pananagutan sa pagbibigay ng mga Tramper at ito ang dahilan kung bakit sila ay inaalok sa abot-kayang halaga. Nagsusumikap din sila upang matiyak na ginagawa ito ng bawat site na nagho-host ng Tramper sa isang ligtas at madaling ma-access na paraan. Ang membership na ito ay magbibigay-daan din sa iyo na gamitin ang alinman sa mga Tramper sa maraming mga site ng Countryside Mobility sa buong South West. Mangyaring bisitahin ang website ng Countryside Mobility para sa karagdagang impormasyon. Maaari mong kumpletuhin ang mga form ng membership sa center bago mag-hire. Maaari ba akong tumulong sa proyektong ito? Ang Walking with Wheels ay umaasa sa mga boluntaryo upang i-promote ang aming serbisyo. Kung interesado kang tumulong sa pagpapalaganap ng balita tungkol sa aming serbisyo, o gusto mong tumulong sa ibang paraan, mangyaring tumawag sa 01594 822073 o e-mail sa walkingwithwheels@fvaf.org.uk . Buong pagsasanay at suporta ay ibibigay. Paano kung kailangan kong magkansela ng booking? Hinihiling namin na magbigay ka ng hindi bababa sa 24 na oras na abiso ng pagkansela upang ma-hire namin ang Tramper sa ibang user. Upang kanselahin, mangyaring makipag-ugnayan sa site kung saan ka nag-book What is a Tramper Who can use this service What routes can I use it on When is it available to hire How can I book one How much does it cost What if I've never used one of these before What if I need additional help Why do I have to become a member of CM Can I help wit this project What if I need to cancel a booking

Forest Compass Ang Forest Compass ay isang pisikal at online na direktoryo na naglilista ng marami sa mga regular na aktibidad, support group at club na available sa buong Forest of Dean. Ang Forest ay tahanan ng daan-daang pangkat ng panlipunan at aktibidad ng lahat ng uri mula sa mga grupo ng sanggol, hanggang sa mga lunch club, panlalaking shed hanggang sa mga memory cafe. Marami ang libre o napakababang halaga para dumalo at patakbuhin ng mga boluntaryo o hindi para sa mga grupo ng kita. Nakalulungkot na maraming mga tao na maaaring makinabang mula sa gayong mga grupo ay hindi alam ang mga kamangha-manghang pagkakataon sa kanilang pintuan. Kung nagpapatakbo ka ng isang volunteer lead activity, club o support group sa Forest of Dean mag-advertise sa parehong pisikal na direktoryo ng Forest Compass at sa online na direktoryo dito, nang LIBRE sa pamamagitan ng pagkumpleto sa form sa ibaba. 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

Pagboluntaryo Bilang Volunteer center para sa Forest of Dean narito kami para tulungan kang mag-recruit at mamahala ng mga boluntaryo Ang aming bagong Volunteering booklet na puno ng mga detalye ng lokal na pagboboluntaryo ang mga pagkakataon ay lumabas ngayon CLICK TO DOWNLOAD Bilang Volunteer Center para sa Kagubatan ng Dean madalas kami ang unang punto ng pakikipag-ugnayan para sa sinumang interesadong magboluntaryo. Noong nakaraang taon, ipinagmamalaki naming suportahan ang mahigit 100,000 oras na halaga ng pagboboluntaryo sa lugar! Ang FVAF ay nagpo-promote at nag-a-advertise ng malawak na hanay ng mga pagkakataon sa pagboboluntaryo mula sa mga organisasyon na kapareho ng aming etos sa pagsuporta sa mga boluntaryo at pagkilala sa malawak na hanay ng mga dahilan kung bakit pinipili ng mga tao na magboluntaryo. Bakit Volunteer? Ang pagboluntaryo ay may maraming malalaking benepisyo, hindi lamang para sa iyo nang indibidwal, ngunit para sa iyong komunidad at sa mundong ating ginagalawan. Kung nais mong pagandahin ang iyong CV, makakilala ng mga bagong tao, gamitin ang iyong mga kasanayan sa mabuting paraan, matuto ng bago, ituloy ang isang interes, mag-alok ng karanasan o simpleng gumawa ng pagbabago, garantisadong magkakaroon kami ng pagkakataon para sa iyo! Maaari mong malaman ang tungkol sa mga pagkakataong ito sa mga sumusunod na paraan: Maghanap ng mga pagkakataon sa Do-it.org Tawagan kami sa 01594 822073 Makipag-ugnayan sa pamamagitan ng email Bisitahin kami sa FVAF Mon - Biy 9:00 - 1:00 ( Direksyon ) Kung naghahanap ka na magboluntaryo bilang bahagi ng isang malaking grupo, halimbawa bilang bahagi ng corporate volunteering, kung gayon mayroon din kaming malawak na hanay ng mga pagkakataong mapagpipilian. 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: Bilang isang one-stop-shop para sa lahat ng bagay na pagboboluntaryo, gumagamit kami ng isang multi-faceted na pamamaraan upang mabigyan ka ng pinakamahusay na posibleng pagkakataon na mag-recruit at mapanatili ang mahahalagang boluntaryo. Kabilang dito ang mga sumusunod: Pag-advertise ng iyong mga pagkakataon sa Do-it.org Pag-promote ng iyong mga pagkakataon sa mga miyembro ng publiko na tinukoy sa amin o sa pamamagitan ng aming drop-in function. Pag-advertise ng iyong mga pagkakataon sa aming mga pahina sa Facebook at Twitter Pag-promote ng iyong mga pagkakataon sa mga lokal na serbisyo na sumusuporta sa pagboboluntaryo hal. Job Center, LearnDirect at 2GetherTrust Pag-advertise ng iyong mga pagkakataon sa mahigit 30 kaganapan bawat taon Pagpapadala ng iyong mga pagkakataon sa mga lokal na negosyo na nag-aalok ng pagboboluntaryong suportado ng employer Pagsusulong ng mga kaugnay na pagkakataon sa Mga Paaralan, Kolehiyo at Unibersidad Pamamahagi ng iyong mga pagkakataon sa aming boluntaryong database ng higit sa 1,000 katao Pagpo-promote ng iyong mga pagkakataon sa iba't ibang network, kabilang ang Know Your Patch 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)