A DROITWICH organisation which trains volunteers so they can make a difference in their communities can get back to carrying out the good work it does after a 12-month gap, thanks to a funding boost.
The Droitwich Spa and Rural Council for Voluntary Service, based at the Old Library Centre, has received £8,960 from the People’s Postcode Lottery, which means it will be able to train more than 170 volunteers.
The previous funding came to an end a year ago, forcing the service to take a break.
Pauline Yardley from Droitwich Spa and Rural Council for Voluntary Service said she was ‘chuffed’ with the funding, adding they were already putting together a training prospectus of the sessions it will be able to offer.
“It is a testament to the town and county that there are so many people out there either volunteering already or wanting to volunteer which means this money can be put to really good use.
“It will help give them the extra training to make them more effective and safer in what they do.
“We have so many requests from community groups, charity organisations and volunteers for courses and will now be able to fulfil the requests”
The organisation trains people in everything from food hygiene and health and safety, to safeguarding and first aid.
Pauline added: “One of the things we plan to do is to train 50 first-aiders which will mean there will be 50 more people out there on the streets of Worcestershire with life-saving skills when they are needed.”
Trainers go out to groups at venues, such as village or community halls, or hold the sessions at the Old Library Centre.
The service has previously offered open sessions at its Droitwich base and is now planning to do again.
Among the local organisations the service has helped have been the Gloverspiece Children’s Farm and Top Barn Farm in Holt Heath.
Sally Prendergast from the Wyre Community Land Trust, one of the organisations that has benefited from the training, said: “For a small social enterprise such as ourselves, having access to free training for our volunteers is critical.
“It’s great that we are able to benefit again via the Postcode Community Trust funding.”
The Postcode Community Trust funds community groups and charitable organisations through a variety of grant giving programmes.
It relies solely on funding from the proceeds of tickets sales from People’s Postcode Lottery.
Call Pauline Yardley on 01905 779115, e-mail her at [email protected] or visit www.droitwichcvs.org.uk form more on the Droitwich Spa and Rural Council for Voluntary Service and the training it offers.
