About Us

Who We Are and What We Do

We are the Volunteer Development Agency serving the Thornbury area. We also have an outreach centre in the Severn Beach Post Office which is open every second Wednesday from 10 am until 12 noon. Our overall aim is to promote, support and help develop volunteering - to encourage and assist people to become involved with local life.

We are the vital link

• We help people find voluntary work appropriate to their interests, skills, experience and availability.
• We help established groups and organisations - and some individuals - find volunteers.
• We are an information centre

Our information service includes:

• Details of local voluntary groups and organisations.
• Information about statutory bodies, eg Social Services, Health Authorities, Local Councils.
• How to get help.
• How to publicise your group and its activities.
• Information about training courses, meetings and conferences relevant to the voluntary sector.
• Contacts in other parts of the UK and addresses of national organisations.

We promote volunteering

• We raise people's awareness of the extent and scope of volunteering and voluntary work in the whole community.
• We publish our own Newsletter twice a year and liaise with the media.
• We organise and participate in events and activities.
• We encourage 'good practice' in volunteering and give advice on the rights and responsibilities of volunteers.
• We are an information centreWe were instrumental in the formation of the Thornbury Access Group in 1994 which campaigns for access to public places for all.
• We helped with the formation of the Thornbury and District Oral History Group which records local social history through the recollections of local people.
• We publish an information pamphlet. Sources of Help for Specific Needs In and Around Thornbury. This gives the names, addresses and telephone numbers of more than 150 groups and organisations.
• We have a comprehensive list of local charities which are in need of funding and details of what it is needed for.
• We assisted in the formation of the Severn Vale Community Network which provides a forum for local groups and organisations, network and share ideas.

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