Volunteer Centre set for challenges

10:11am Saturday 25th June 2005

ARMED with a new name and national logo, The Volunteer Centre (Waltham Forest) is ready to take on new challenges.

One of the first centres in the UK to achieve a national status and title accredited by Volunteering England, the group is ahead of its time.

It has claimed the new national brand and common national name, the Volunteer Centre (Waltham Forest), to show it meets the standards as a dynamic, locally focused volunteer centre.

Volunteering England is working with the Waltham Forest centre to help local organisations achieve the UK standard of quality for Investment in Volunteers status.

The standard looks at best practice and developing opportunities, looking at volunteer management including recruitment, keeping and valuing volunteers, risk management and developing the prospects for organisations.

The Big Lottery Fund will aid the centre's new project with £170,000 which will be distributed over the next three years.

Trevor Moss, director of the centre, commended the Waltham Forest volunteers at the group's third annual meeting and celebrations of all the changes and challenges of the new year and recalled their "real success story".

He started at the Volunteer Centre in 2001 when the organisation was running out of funding, and with a small team he set the stage for success, attaining charity status, securing funding and expanding the group.

Mr Moss said: "This is an achievement by volunteers for volunteering and volunteers in our borough. 2005 sees us with a new brand, new opportunites and huge challenges ahead."

Investing in Volunteers manager Jane Curbishley said: "We can hold Waltham Forest up as a shining example of what is possible.

"Gaining funding to support local organisations in achieving the award to bring these benefits to organisations is one scheme we hope to be replicated across the country."

Council leader Clyde Loakes joined in the celebrations at Vestry House Museum.

He said: "Thank you all for the work you do to make Waltham Forest a better place to work, live and play.

"I hope we continue to have a great partnership and friendship and build on that taking it a step further year on year."

The three MPs in Waltham Forest continue their patronage of the centre now they have been re-instated in Parliament.