Volunteers needed at Brockeridge Youth Club

Are you thinking of working with young people? Or do you have interests or skills to share, such as sports, craft or gardening? If so, Brockeridge Youth Club would like to hear from you.

The club is looking for people willing to help for a couple of hours on some Tuesday or Thursday evenings. It's a thriving group offering fun activities but unfortunately the youth leader has to turn young people away because of the lack of adults. Free training and references given, the hours are 6.30-8.30pm on Tuesdays and 7-9pm on Thursdays.

To find out more email volunteering@southernbrooks.org.uk or phone Catherine on 01454 868 570.

Time to nominate community heroes

Nominations are now open for The Chair’s Community Awards 2018. If you know a volunteer or group who has gone the extra mile to help your community, please nominate them using the forms available on this page by 5th January.

Suggested areas of contribution include community development, promoting equality, arts, sports, play, environment, working with older or young people, advice and advocacy and being a good neighbour. The chosen nominees will be notified in February and invited to a prestigious awards evening on 7 March to receive their awards. The Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire, Dame Janet Trotter, attends the awards ceremony and selects an individual from the winners to receive a special Lord Lieutenant’s Award.

Could YOU become a Health Champion?

Southern Brooks Community Partnership are currently recruiting community volunteers who live and/or work in Yate to learn: more about health and wellbeing; where to gain support to improve health; and hold the skills to have a 'health chat' with friends, relatives and neighbours as well as other residents of Yate to make steps to health improvement. It's a great opportunity to gain knowledge and take action without a regular commitment. The role comes with a free level 2 qualification in health.

 There will be information sessions in September:

• Monday 4th 3-7 pm, Cadbury Heath Library 
• Monday 18th 12-1 pm, Yate - Ridgewood Cafe, Ridgwood Buildings, 244 Station Rd, Yate BS37 4AF 
• Thursday 21st 10-11 am, Patchway - Southern Brooks Training Room, 2nd Floor, Coniston Community Centre, Patchway BS34 5LP 
• Friday 22nd 1-2 pm, Kingswood - Park Centre, High Street, Kingswood BS15 4AR 
• Monday 25th 6-7 pm, Patchway - Southern Brooks Training Room, 2nd Floor, Coniston Community Centre, Patchway BS34 5LP 

For more information please contact the Contact Health Champion Co-ordinator on 01454 868570 or email healthchampions@southernbrooks.org.uk. Please contact them to confirm your place at one of the sessions.

Still time to nominate for Chair's Community Awards

There's still time to nominate a "local hero" for a Chair's Community Award. Do you know an unsung hero who is contributing in areas such as community development, promoting equality, arts, sports, play, environment, working with older or young people, advice and advocacy and being a good neighbour? Or a group doing the same? For the first time in 2017, the council is taking group nominations as well as individual ones.

You can find out more and download an application form on the South Glos website. The deadline is 16th January 2017.

Nominate a voluntary group for an award

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to volunteer groups across the UK and it is now open for nominations.

Any group of 2 or more people, where the majority are volunteers, can be nominated for the award. The work they do should provide a service and meet a need for people living in the local community. It should be supported, recognised and respected by the local community and the people who benefit from it and it should be run locally. The group must have been running for 3 or more years.

You have until midnight on 16 September 2016 to nominate a group for the 2017 awards. More information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/queens-award-for-voluntary-service

Could you help run the Manor Hall?

The charity that runs the Manor Hall in Coalpit Heath are looking to recruit new Trustees. If you think you might have skills you can use to help this charity, you can find out more here. The deadline for applications is 15th July 2016.

Ram Hill Colliery events

The next Ram Hill Colliery Open Day will be held on Monday 30th May 2016 10am – 4.30pm. Volunteers will be giving detailed tours of the site and serving refreshments.

The Friends of Ram Hill Colliery would welcome new volunteers to help them with their work conserving the site. You can contact David or Marian Godden on 01179 322602. Their A.G.M. will be held on Thursday 23rd June 2016 7.30pm at The Miners Institute in Coalpit Heath.

Help people save energy and money

Would you like to help people save energy and money? The Centre for Sustainable Energy is looking for people to become local energy advice volunteers.

The Centre for Sustainable Energy is a charity working across the former Avon area, Somerset and Wiltshire to support people living in cold homes or having difficulty managing their energy costs. They are looking for people who can spare some time to help provide home energy advice to people in their local area.

No experience is necessary as you will be given basic training in energy efficiency and giving advice and will receive lots of "on the job" training as you are out and about with their advisors. All out-of-pocket expenses will be reimbursed. For more information, email volunteers@cse.org.uk

And don't forget if you're in fuel poverty, you may be eligible for a grant towards installing central heating - more information here. The scheme has now been extended to cover oil where gas is not available but if you think you are eligible, apply quickly as funds are limited.

Friends of Ram Hill Colliery looking for volunteers

The Friends of Ram Hill Colliery are looking for volunteers to help them protect this important piece of local heritage.

They urgently need a web master. This post does not involve any work at the site, it can all be done in your own home. If you are interested please email David Godden or phone him on  0117 9322602 for further details.

They are also looking for more committee members, again please contact David or Marian Godden using the above details. The committee meets every two months at the Miners Institute for about one hour. On Work Days you can be on site any time between 10.00am and 4.30pm.

Local volunteers win awards

Last night Claire spent an inspiring evening with volunteers from across South Gloucestershire who were being presented with Chair's Community Awards.
Local winners included:

• Celia Morrish, who volunteers for Great Western Ambulance Charity
• Jason Bidwell, who started Frampton Cotterell Harriers
• Paul Hulbert, who among other things is involved with Wapley Woods and the orchard for the future
• Eileen Holcombe and Shirley Owen, who provide hot lunches at Paul's Place and help the charity in other ways
• Mary Head, who is active in a long list of voluntary groups and activities inside and outside of South Gloucestershire, including many involving St Saviour's Church
• Trevor Thompson, who as well as volunteering at St Saviour's has spent a lot of time sharing his great knowledge of local history

Well done and thank you to you all.

Nominate a community hero

South Glos Council would like you to nominate your local ‘community heroes’ – people who have made a difference to their community. Suggested areas of contribution include community development, promoting equality, arts, sports, play, environment, working with older or young people, advice and advocacy and being a good neighbour.

Complete and return the Community Awards nomination form by 31 January 2016. The chosen nominees will notified un the week ending 19th February and will be invited to a prestigious awards ceremony on 17th March to receive their awards.

You can read more on the council's website.

Friends of Ram Hill Colliery look for new treasurer

The Friends of Ram Hill Colliery are looking for a new Treasurer. They say there are not many entries and the committee meets every two months. They can be contacted via their website - www.ramhillcolliery.org.uk

If you would like to find out more about this historic site, their next Open Day is to be held on Sunday 13th September 2015. 10am – 4.30pm.

Could you help cut the grass at St Saviour's?

We've received the following plea from St Saviour's Church:

Trevor has been cutting the grass at St Saviour’s Church (Coalpit Heath) for the last 23 years as a volunteer. This is a big job, taking about 7 hours a week in the summer. He has to carefully strim round all the graves, but it is job that Trevor has taken great pride in doing for the benefit of the whole community. In February he was advised by his doctor that sadly it was time to give it up. The church has been looking for a volunteer since then, but so far no-one has come forward. The grass is currently being cut by a paid gardener.

Trevor has done a fantastic job; it is well known that St Saviour’s Churchyard always looks fantastic and to have kept up such a good job for so long is brilliant. Thanks Trevor.

If you can volunteer to help with some of the cutting or would like to help towards the cost of maintaining the churchyard, then please contact Andy on 01454 882867.

The police are after you! (To help them)

The Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner would like to appoint three local, independent people to contribute to the work of the Independent Residents' Volunteer Panel. Members of the Panel are an important means of enhancing public trust and confidence in the handling of complaints against Avon & Somerset Police and supports the governance role of the Police and Crime Commissioner.

You can find out more on the PCC website. The closing date for applications is 16th January.

Drop-in session for the retired

"Now I'm retiring" is a drop-in marketplace of clubs, volunteering opportunities and hobbies to inspire people who have retired or are about to do so. It's being held on Saturday 18 October between 11am and 2pm at Yate Library. For more information please email cchengagement@southglos.gov.uk or call 01454 862356.

Volunteer for the Summer Reading Challenge

Are you, or do you know, a young person who would like to help children to enjoy reading?

Every summer, South Glos libraries run a Summer Reading Challenge to encourage children to keep reading during the holidays. Over 7000 took part last year. South Glos is currently looking for volunteers to get involved in a variety of activities from talking to children about the books they are reading and helping them to choose what to read next, to helping with the summer activities and creating displays in the library. The closing date for applications is Monday 16 June. Volunteers must be aged 14 or over.

As well as being a great way to help others, being a Summer Reading Challenge volunteer is also an opportunity for young people to get new skills and experience for their CVs. This year’s Summer Reading Challenge runs from 12 July to 13 September, and the theme is Mythical Maze. Once again children are challenged to read six books to collect their very own medal and certificate.

For more information on how to get involved ask a member of staff at any South Gloucestershire library, phone 01454 868451 or email emma.fisher@southglos.gov.uk

Nominate your community heroes

Nominations are now open for the Chair's Community Awards 2014.

The annual Chair’s Community Awards recognise and celebrate the valuable contribution local unpaid volunteers make to life in South Gloucestershire. This year’s celebration of community work and volunteering takes place in May and you have until Friday 21 March to nominate your local 'community heroes'.

You can nominate your community hero online at www.southglos.gov.uk/communityawards

Alternatively, call 01454 863019 or email communityawards@southglos.gov.uk

Deadline for nominations is Friday 21 March and the winners will be invited to a ceremony at the South Gloucestershire & Stroud College WISE campus in Filton on Sunday 18 May.

Retiring soon or already retired?

If you are retiring soon or already retired, why not drop in on the Now I’m Retiring Information Fair on Saturday 15 June 2013, at Yate Library, between 11am and 2pm. Described as "A marketplace of clubs, volunteering opportunities and hobbies to inspire you", you can find out more by emailing cchengagement@southglos.gov.uk or calling 01454 862356.