Helping others is good for you! A round up of VACs activities this week
Did you know that volunteering can help you to maintain wellbeing? With a focus this week on Mental Health (World Mental Health Day is 10 October) we wanted to share ways that Voluntary Action Coventry (VAC) provides opportunity and support into volunteering. Recognised as one of the 5 steps to wellbeing, helping others, as well as benefitting your community, is good for YOU too.
Here at Voluntary Action Coventry we’re here to help you find a volunteering role. There are many ways you can engage (in-person and online) with us, but this week, the team will be at;
The World Mental Health Day Fair, Coventry Transport Museum, 10.30am until 2pm with Coventry & Warwickshire VCSE Mental Health Alliance
With over 30 organisations present including local mental health services, there will be talks and workshops (yoga and mindfulness sessions). Look out for VACs Chat Central stall and chat to our Engagement Officers about the project.
Chat Central will be at the Fair
At Chat Central, we have many participants who struggle with poor mental health, many feel socially isolated and lonely. Chat Central provides a supportive, friendly environment where participants can try a variety of activities, many which help to foster a greater sense of wellbeing through connecting with others and being more active. Over the year, Chat Central has run many sessions, where good mental health practices are at the heart of things: Neil Catley’s Confidence through Photography session; Winter Bushcraft Course saw Chat Central volunteers visiting the MIND allotment for bushcraft skills led by Warwickshire Wildlife Trust plus Wellbeing Walks with EnV Volunteers and Mindfulness Made Easy with Arboreal Seeds. Find out more about the project here, and take a look at the activities planned for October here.
Improving Lives
We are taking enrolments for our next supported volunteering course – Improving Lives is a free six week course which helps participants to increase self-esteem and build confidence and improving skills. Improving Lives is for anyone aged 18 years and over who is unemployed (or NEET) who wants to know more about volunteering opportunities in Coventry.
Pictured here Improving Lives participants were out and about in September, getting involved with Myton Hospice Shop, Creative Kindness and the Enterprise Club For Disabled People.
Our next course is Tuesday 12th November 24 to Thursday 19th December 24.
To find out more about Improving Lives, click here.
Get Involved Coventry
If in-person discussions aren’t available to you, then head over to our new community engagement platform, Get Involved Coventry. For anyone wanting to get involved with volunteering, accessing community organisation support, or finding local third sector events and services in the city. There are so many roles to choose from, working with animals, health, green organisations, working indoors, outside, at home or in an office, one-offs or weekly – your volunteering commitment can be as flexible as you need.
Role of the Week
Every week we post up on social media a Role of the Week – this week we have selected a befriending volunteering opportunity with Hope Coventry. Be a good neighbour and befriend and support older people in Coventry to help them feel less lonely.
You will be carefully matched by your shared hobbies and interests, and logistical factors such as shared language, how close to home or work you’d like to be, and when you’d each like to chat. Befriending an older person in your local area takes just 30-60 minutes, fortnightly or weekly. Support is available at any time, should you need it.
Take a look at the link on Get Involved Coventry here, for more information: Become a befriender | Get Involved Coventry
Share your passion, find your cause.
Volunteering is enormously rewarding. Not only do you feel a huge sense of achievement by helping others but through sharing your skills and passion, you’ll unlock new abilities and get to meet like-minded people, leading to meaningful friendships. Why not take a moment to consider if there’s opportunity for you to get involved with community action in your neighbourhood and connect with Voluntary Action Coventry to support you.
