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Welcome to our blog! Here you'll find a whole range of stories, ideas and resources all about volunteering.

If you'd like to narrow your search, please use the categories panel on this page, or click on a tag after any blog.

 

Instead of a daytime Volunteer Coordinators' Forum in January, we had a drop in evening social at Shinner and Sudtone followed by the main event of Sutton Soup. It enabled those of you who volunteer around a full time job to join us too.

Held within the beautiful Mallison room at Wallington Library, we learned all about DofE and how organisations can support DofE students with their voluntary section.

Keywords: Organisations

The Sutton Youth Summit, held on Thursday 16th November 2023, was a resounding success, drawing over 80 young people and 20 adults from the community.

Happy Halloween! Our October Volunteer Coordinators' Forum took place on 31st October so an element of seasonal fun was added.

Keywords: Organisations

Our new term of Volunteer Coordinator’s Forums was a great opportunity to welcome back familiar faces and welcome in new faces.

Keywords: Organisations

Calling all organisations, we want to hear your thoughts. We're now three quarters through the year and are starting to plan our free organisational support for 2024 and need your input.

Keywords: Organisations

As they prepare to enter university, we say goodbye and good luck to three of our remarkable Young Commissioners: Sudipta, Ela, and Anusha.

We had planned for nothing formal set up in August, however due to popular demand from our successful July Forum, Volunteer Coordinators’ Forum members asked for a casual meet up, picnic and a chance to play some games - so we made it happen!

The Young Commissioners were delighted to be invited to the Mayor's Parlour for refreshments and cakes.

Community Action Sutton kindly hosted the July Volunteer Coordinators’ Forum at their Hill House and Garden community venue. A friendly space for volunteer coordinators and those who work with volunteers to come together to network, learn and help one another.

Our annual event to celebrate the impact of Volunteer Centre Sutton and celebrate all that has been achieved over the past year took place on the afternoon of Thursday 6th July.

On Thursday 29th June, the Local Safeguarding Children Partnership Board in Sutton invited young people to present their findings.

A round up of the last 6 months of Volunteer Coordinators Forums with Volunteer Centre Sutton. A fun way we support organisations that have volunteers to recruit, reward and retain volunteers is through getting volunteer coordinators together most months to share their top tips and learn from one another.

Keywords: Organisations

On Thursday 15th June, the first Sutton Youth Board meeting took place, bringing together a diverse and representative group of young people from Sutton.

Young people have always been a catalyst for change and progress, and in Sutton, the power of young people is truly making a difference.

Previously owned laptops used by LexisNexis Risk Solutions colleagues are being distributed to disadvantaged families, providing them with access to technology they wouldn't otherwise have.

Keywords: News - Organisations

Dedicated Community Health Navigator volunteers have been trained to help address health inequalities and promote community well-being

Over 150 members of the public came to meet 25+ local volunteering organisations at the Sutton Volunteer Showcase

The Joint Sutton School Councils meeting took place on the 29th March and the theme of the meeting was on personal safety.

The Young Commissioners were delighted to have been invited to attend the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) Meeting on Political Literacy.

Get Involved with The Big Help Out!

The Young Commissioners have created a social media campaign to raise awareness of the issues.

Sutton’s Race Equality Conference took place on Thursday 9th February, hosted by Community Action Sutton. The Young Commissioners were delighted to have been asked to attend to find out more.

Navani, one of the Young Commissioners, will be writing regular blogs on what they get up to in their fornightly meetings

Sutton is one of three finalists for the "Great British Spring Clean Award"

Keywords: News - Organisations

Following November 2022's Sutton Plan Partnership Meeting, our CEO Anita Maullin shares her thoughts and updates

Keywords: News - Organisations

White Ribbon Day was on 25th November this year and marked the beginning of 16 Days of Action against gender-based violence.

Welcome to #JoyfulJanuary! We’re kickstarting 2023 with a whole month of volunteering opportunities to help you feel uplifted, bring joy to others and to your community.

Information about Warm Spaces in the borough of Sutton

Keywords: News - Organisations

Our Community Space Co-ordinator Ben Thomas has been working closely with parks, cafes, libraries and other community settings across the whole of Sutton to install a series of litter picking stations at targeted locations.

Keywords: News - Organisations

In collaboration with Cheam Coterie, Volunteer Centre Sutton hosted a 'Welcome to the UK' course for Hong Kongers who have recently settled in Sutton, as part of our Integrating Sutton project.

Sutton’s Young Commissioners were delighted to welcome over 50 people (of which 35 were young people) to their Youth Voice Summit on Thursday 22nd September at Sutton Library

Volunteer Centre Sutton is one of over 40 national and regional projects being allocated further government funding from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to help British National (Overseas) families settle successfully into life in the UK.

Volunteer Centre Sutton is delighted to announce that the charity has achieved the London Youth UK Youth Bronze Quality Mark Award for 2022 to 2025.

Volunteer Centre Sutton is one of 47 national and regional projects being allocated government funding from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to help British National (Overseas) families settle successfully into life in the UK.

Keywords: News - Organisations

Volunteer Centre Sutton and Sutton Council are joining forces for Sutton Spring Clean 2022 - a huge community effort to get the borough looking its best for summer

Keywords: News - Organisations

We spoke to Neil Davies, who joined Volunteer Centre Sutton's board in 2021, on why he decided to become a Trustee.

Our Volunteering Delivery and Development Manager, Marta Rocco, shares her thoughts on the recent report "The Road Ahead" from the NCVO

Keywords: News - Organisations

This is a live Zoom recording of an event which took place on Wednesday 14th October 2020 at 4pm. This event was joined by staff, volunteers and supporters from voluntary and community organisations across Sutton, to thank all volunteers in Sutton for their amazing and ongoing contribution.

Keywords: Organisations

Sutton's Community Awards 2020 celebrates the people who make Sutton a great place to live, work and bring up a family and who have gone above and beyond in the face of COVID-19.

Volunteers living in Sutton helped deliver more than 5000 food packages to Suttons' vulnerable and severely ill. Marta Rocco, Volunteer Centre Sutton's Volunteer Delivery and Development Manager, explains their role in coordinating volunteers to provide essential support to the shielded community

Keywords: News - Organisations

From managing 150 volunteers to managing 733 volunteers during Covid-19: #SmallCharityBigImpactDay 19th June 2020

Keywords: News - Organisations

Joint Statement from Alison Navarro, CEO Community Action Sutton, Anita Maullin CEO, Volunteer Centre Sutton, and Nicola Upton, CEO Age UK Sutton

Keywords: News - Organisations

Between the 1st and 24th December, we're bringing you a new volunteering opportunity from organisations in Sutton and beyond

Keywords: Organisations

We celebrated the impact of volunteering in Sutton with a public event at the Sutton Central Library

Do you know an individual or group that deserves special recognition? Nominate now for Sutton's Community Awards

Pat Stanley, Volunteering Development Manager, shares the key take-aways from our July Volunteering Forum

Throughout Volunteers' Week we're sharing 'thank you' messages to volunteers from organisations in Sutton. Sutton Carers Centre would like to thank Jean Sharpington.

Throughout Volunteers' Week we're sharing 'thank you' messages to volunteers from organisations in Sutton. The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity would like to thank Valerie Allsopp.

Throughout Volunteers' Week we're sharing 'thank you' messages to volunteers from organisations in Sutton. The Dreaming Tree Project would like to thank Bambina.

Throughout Volunteers' Week we're sharing 'thank you' messages to volunteers from organisations in Sutton. The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity would like to thank Denise Clarke.

Throughout Volunteers' Week we're sharing 'thank you' messages to volunteers from organisations in Sutton. Sutton Community Works would like to thank Vicki.

Throughout Volunteers' Week we're sharing 'thank you' messages to volunteers from organisations in Sutton. Age UK Sutton would like to thank Rob Campion.

Throughout Volunteers' Week we're sharing 'thank you' messages to volunteers from organisations in Sutton. Home-Start Sutton would like to thank Diana Broad.

Throughout Volunteers' Week we're sharing 'thank you' messages to volunteers from organisations in Sutton. Home-Start Sutton would like to thank Sue Elson

Throughout Volunteers' Week we're sharing 'thank you' messages to volunteers from organisations in Sutton and beyond. Jigsaw4u would like to thank Jacqui O'Connor

Throughout Volunteers' Week we're sharing 'thank you' messages to volunteers from organisations in Sutton. Age UK Sutton would like to thank Sue

"I have volunteered forever" read Mary's inspiring story

Throughout Volunteers' Week we're sharing 'thank you' messages to volunteers from organisations in Sutton. St Raphael's Hospice would like to thank Jenny Watkins

Volunteers' Week is a chance to celebrate and say thank you for the fantastic contribution millions of volunteers make across the UK.

Spending time in green space or bringing nature into your everyday life can benefit both your mental and physical wellbeing. And doing these things as a volunteer will benefit you even more!

With this funding, our two organisations will work together to deliver a programme across Sutton's voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise sector. We will build and develop the capacity, skills, knowledge and experience of the sector, helping to transform Sutton's communities.

Keywords: News - Organisations

Between the 1st and 24th December, we're bringing you a new volunteering opportunity from organisations in Sutton and beyond

Your free online volunteer recruitment platform just got better!

Keywords: Organisations - Resources

Guest blogger Sorrel Parsons of Superhighways shares her top 5 free and easy-to-use apps to help small charities better demonstrate their impact. Part of our new Digital resources blog series!

Keywords: Organisations - Resources

Our volunteer management system, Volunteer Connect, has recently had some useful updates - find out how these changes benefit your charity or group!

Keywords: Organisations - Resources

A brief summary of some of the findings from our recent research pilot looking into the effects of volunteering on health and wellbeing

We asked Judith Smith, Pastor of Horizon Church Sutton to write a guest blog about the positive experiences her church has had hosting Employer-Supported Volunteer teams at her church building, from which several community projects are run. She shares about the impact of ESV, some of the challenges and her top tips for any organisation thinking of hosting an ESV team.

Employer Supported Volunteering (ESV) has great potential for growth. Volunteer Centre Sutton hosted its most recent Volunteering Forum around the topic, hearing from the experiences of a charity who has accessed ESV support and a business who has empowered its staff to provide it, and discussing the way forward for ESV in the London Borough of Sutton.

Keywords: Organisations - Resources

VCS's Volunteering Development Manager, Pat Stanley, has 15 years' experience training in the voluntary sector and advising organisations in developing Good Practice in Volunteer Management, Here, she asks some important questions of those managing volunteers.

Keywords: Organisations - Resources