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! Role: Digital & Community Projects Manager Salary: £30,000 – £36,000 (subject to experience) Hours: 30–37.5 hours per week, Monday–Friday APPLY HERE Application deadline: 5pm Wednesday 24th June Role:Youth Projects Manager Salary: £30,000 – £37,000 (subject to experience) Hours: up to 37.5 hours per week, Monday–Friday APPLY HERE Application deadline: midnight Sunday 5th July Trouble downloading the documents? Contact communications@fvaf.org.uk or 01594 822073

Role: Digital & Community Projects Manager Salary: £30,000 – £36,000 (subject to experience) Hours: 30–37.5 hours per week, Monday–Friday (some evenings/weekends may be required) Flexible and part-time/job share arrangements considered Contract: Initial 18-month contract (extension subject to funding and performance) Location: Ow Bist Forest Community Space, Cinderford Do you believe that everyone deserves to be connected? Are you passionate about the power of communities to shape their own futures? FVAF is looking for an enthusiastic and experienced Digital & Community Projects Manager to join our growing team in the heart of the Forest of Dean. This is a genuinely exciting opportunity to lead meaningful, place-based work that makes a real difference — helping people and communities thrive through digital inclusion, local partnerships, and strengths-based engagement. ROLE PROFILE: Digital & Community Projects Manager FVAF JOB APPLICATION FORM HOW TO APPLY Please read the above full job description and download the application form. Please note CVs will not be accepted. Application deadline: 5pm Wednesday 24th June Interview dates: w/c 6th July For an informal discussion about the role, please contact community@fvaf.org.uk Send completed application forms to Alex Digby at community@fvaf.org.uk

Role: Youth Projects Manager Salary: £30,000 – £37,000 (subject to experience) Hours: up to 37.5 hours per week, Monday–Friday (some evenings/weekends may be required) Contract: Permanent Location: Forest of Dean District (Cinderford) Are you passionate about empowering young people and the communities that support them? FVAF are looking for a Youth Projects Manager to lead our group support and capacity building work, strengthening youth and community provision right across the Forest of Dean. JOB DESCRIPTION: Youth Projects Manager FVAF JOB APPLICATION FORM HOW TO APPLY Please read the above full job description and download the application form. Please note CVs will not be accepted. Application deadline: Sunday 5th July, midnight For an informal discussion about the role, please contact fliss@fvaf.org.uk Send completed application forms to Alex Digby at community@fvaf.org.uk

YOUTH CLUBS & ACTIVITIES

Our partners We work with, and are supported by so many fantastic organisations. The projects and services we deliver in partnership with others, and the funding we receive makes it possible for us to support voluntary activity and community action in the Forest of Dean. These are just some of the organisations we currently work closely with:

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.

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

Universal Youth Services Partnership bringing 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 is 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. FIND OUT MORE ABOUT... Gloucestershire Gateway Trust The Venture Community Hub

فارسٹ یوتھ ایسوسی ایشن فارسٹ آف ڈین یوتھ ایسوسی ایشن یہاں نوجوانوں اور یوتھ کلبوں، گروپوں یا تنظیموں کو مدد اور مدد کی پیشکش کرنے کے لیے موجود ہے۔ نئے دوست بناو اپنی کمیونٹی میں شامل ہوں۔ دلچسپی کا پیچھا کریں۔ کچھ نیا کرنے کی کوشش کریں۔ نئی مہارتیں سیکھیں۔ رضاکار ایک بہتر دنیا بنائیں رضاکارانہ نوجوانوں اور بالغوں دونوں کے لیے رضاکارانہ خدمات کے بہت سے مواقع موجود ہیں۔ اگر آپ ایک نوجوان ہیں جو اپنے فارغ وقت میں رضاکارانہ کام کی تلاش میں ہیں، مزید مہارتیں حاصل کرنے کے لیے یا اپنے DofE پروگرام کے حصے کے طور پر، براہ کرم ہمیں کال کریں یا ملاحظہ کریں۔ https://do-it.org/ اسی طرح، اگر آپ ایک بالغ ہیں جن کے پاس مہارت اور علم ہے یا آپ فارسٹ آف ڈین کے اندر کسی نوجوان تنظیم کو سپورٹ کرنا چاہتے ہیں، تو براہ کرم رابطہ کریں کیونکہ بہت سی تنظیمیں ہیں جو آپ کی حمایت کی تعریف کریں گی۔ آپ کے کلب/تنظیم کے لیے وابستہ رکنیت جب آپ فارسٹ آف ڈین یوتھ ایسوسی ایشن سے وابستہ ہوں گے تو آپ ہماری خدمات کی مکمل رینج کے حقدار ہوں گے، جو کہ آپ جیسی تنظیم کو چلانے کے تمام پہلوؤں میں مشورہ اور مدد فراہم کرتی ہے۔ ہم سرگرمیوں کا ایک کیلنڈر بھی چلاتے ہیں جس میں آپ کے رضاکار اور نوجوان معمولی معاوضے پر حصہ لے سکتے ہیں۔ فوائد کی مکمل تفصیلات کے لیے یا اپنے کلب کو رجسٹر کرنے کے لیے درج ذیل لنکس پر کلک کریں۔ کلبوں کے لیے یوتھ ایسوسی ایشن کی رکنیت کے فوائد یوتھ ایسوسی ایشن ممبرشپ فارم برائے کلب مزید معلومات کے لیے تفصیلات سے رابطہ کریں۔ اگر آپ ہمارے کسی پروجیکٹ یا ایونٹ کے بارے میں مزید جاننا چاہتے ہیں یا اس میں شامل ہونے کا طریقہ چاہتے ہیں، تو براہ کرم ہماری یوتھ ایسوسی ایشن ڈویلپمنٹ آفیسر، الیتھیا بمپسٹیڈ سے رابطہ کریں۔ FodYouthAssociation@fvaf.org.uk For More Information If you would like to know about any of our projects or events or how to get involved, please get in touch with us at hi.ya @fvaf.org.uk مالی مدد فارسٹ آف ڈین یوتھ ایسوسی ایشن کو فخر کے ساتھ سنڈر فورڈ اور کولفورڈ ٹاؤن کونسلز سے مالی تعاون حاصل ہے۔ اگر آپ کی پیرش یا ٹاؤن کونسل فارسٹ آف ڈین یوتھ ایسوسی ایشن کے بارے میں مزید جاننا چاہتے ہیں یا آپ ہماری مدد کیسے کر سکتے ہیں، تو براہ کرم ای میل کے ذریعے رابطہ کریں۔ FodYouthAssociation@fvaf.org.uk

FVAF کے بارے میں FVAF کے بارے میں ہماری کہانی ہم رضاکارانہ خدمت کونسل اور ڈین کے جنگل کے لیے رضاکار مرکز ہیں۔ ہم ضلع میں سیکڑوں رضاکار اور کمیونٹی تنظیموں میں سے بہت سے لوگوں کو مدد فراہم کرتے ہیں جو بدلے میں مقامی کمیونٹی میں اور ان کے لیے اپنے کام کو بہتر طریقے سے پہنچانے کے قابل ہیں۔ 1994 میں تشکیل پانے کے بعد سے ہم نے پورے فارسٹ آف ڈین میں کمیونٹی کی کارروائیوں کی حوصلہ افزائی کرنے، اپنانے اور بڑھانے کے لیے ایک ساکھ تیار کی ہے۔ ہم یقین رکھتے ہیں کہ کمیونٹی کی قیادت میں طریقوں کے ذریعے ہم شہریوں کو ہنر، لچک اور سماجی سرمایہ کو فروغ دینے کے قابل بناتے ہیں تاکہ وہ خوش، بہتر منسلک زندگی گزار سکیں۔ دفتری خدمات عملہ اور ٹرسٹیز پالیسیاں رسائی اور پائیداری

Resource Hub/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

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