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CSV Virtual Volunteering Project and NewNet
The Virtual Volunteering Project and Newnet have been working in partnership
to help voluntary organisations in the North East develop a web presence.
Together we are able to provide voluntary organisations with help to
design and/or develop their websites and to provide a free hosting service.
We have recently teamed up to increase the volunteer opportunities available
to those wishing to develop and utilise their IT skills.
What
is Virtual Volunteering?
Virtual Volunteering is an exciting new approach to involving people
in volunteer activity. It seeks to utilise the recent developments in
information communications technology (in particular, the widespread
use of the Internet and e-mail) to develop new volunteer relationships.
Virtual Volunteering differs from traditional volunteering in two important
respects:
1. The volunteer tasks are undertaken, by and large, using the Internet
and computers
2. The volunteers undertaking the tasks, for the most part, work 'off-site'
Any time, any place, anyone…
Virtual volunteering enables the participation of people who, due to
mobility issues, home responsibilities or work commitments, are often
excluded from volunteering because they are unable to work on-site during
office hours.
One of the advantages of virtual volunteering is that volunteers are
able to arrange to complete the tasks at a time and place that suits
them best.
What types of things can Virtual Volunteers do?
Virtual volunteering can be a great way of gaining and developing skills
and gives you the chance to get experience of tackling real life problems,
communicating with other people, problem-solving and team building.
Virtual volunteering can cover a wide range of tasks and activities.
Thus far we have attracted a variety of voluntary organisations offering
a range of different tasks (see opposite), including:
Website Design, Databases, Newsletters, Fundraising, Research and Mentoring.
Get in Touch
If you are interested in virtual volunteering contact:
Paul Whitlock
Virtual Volunteer Development Worker
CSV Newcastle
MEA House
Ellison Place
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 8XS
Tel +44(0)191 232 6616
pwhitlock@csv.org.uk
Virtual
Volunteer Activities and Organisations we have worked with
The Virtual Volunteer Project has attracted a lot of interest from other
organisations wishing to provide tasks and projects for the volunteers.
Below is a list of the organisations the virtual volunteers have provided
assistance to and an outline of the projects they have been engaged
on.
ASCA
Adult Survivors of Childhood Abuse provides counselling and support
to people who have experienced abuse during their childhood.
VV Task: Website
The VV Project is in the process of helping the organisation re-design
and update their existing website.
An evaluation has been undertaken of their current website and proposals
made as to how the site could be developed. In addition a feedback form
has been distributed to solicit the views of staff, volunteers and service
users.
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Top
Better Days
Better Days (based at Skills for People in Jesmond) is a project which
works with people with learning difficulties.
VV Task: Website
The VV Project has been involved in helping the project develop their
website. We have worked closely with the service users in developing
the design to meet their needs. In design terms the project has produced
a number of unique challenges as many of the techniques and devices
one would normally employ (with regard to typography, layout, use of
graphics, navigation, etc.) are not applicable. Research has also been
conducted into how the site could be accessed by blind people.
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City Farm Byker
In addition, to being a working farm and visitor attraction the City
Farm also aims to tackle social exclusion by providing training and
volunteering opportunities for the unemployed.
The VV Project has been working with the staff, volunteers and management
committee of the farm on a number of projects.
VV Task: IT Support
One of the Virtual Volunteers has provided much needed IT support to
the farm, this has included setting up a network of computers in the
farm's training suite, troubleshooting various hardware and software
problems and advising on the purchase of computer equipment.
VV Task: Newsletter
The farm is undergo major remedial work in the near future. The VV Project
is currently producing a full colour A2 brochure, which will be distributed
to 15,000 homes in the area, informing people of the changes which are
due to take place and future developments. VV Task: Website
Once the newsletter has been completed the plan is to produce an online
version.
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Mill House Foundation
The Mill House Foundation is a local trust that provides grants to local
charities and voluntary organisations in the region.
VV Task: Website
The VV Project has been involved in updating the information on the
Foundation's website.
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National
Trust - Inner City Project
The ICP is a National Trust community development project that aims
to provide access to the countryside for disadvantaged people living
in the inner city.
VV Task: Website
The VV Project has been working closely with staff to develop a website
which will promote the project and to encourage more people to become
involved in the activities they offer. Part of the brief has been to
develop an identity for the project that retains elements of the National
Trust's established house style but, at the same time, would appeal
to people not normally attracted to the National Trust.
VV Task: Desktop Archaeology
This involves researching historical events, incidents, documents and
people connected with National Trust properties in the North East.
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NIWE
The Northern Initiative on Women and Eating provides support and advice
to women with eating problems.
VV Task: Website
The VV Project has undertaken a major overhaul of the project's previous
website, this has involved re-designing the site and updating the content.
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NORDAF
Northern Disability Arts Forum produce a website and quarterly newsletter
promoting cultural events and artists of particular interest to people
with disabilities.
VV Task: Newsletter
One of the Virtual Volunteers, who himself suffers from a visual impairment,
is currently engaged on re-designing the newsletter.
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North East Action on Transport
North East Action on Transport is an pressure group which campaigns
for more environmentally friendly transport policies.
VV Task: Website
The brief was to convert a 50 page illustrated report (the Bus and Coach
Watchdog Report on Engine Idling within the Go North East Bus Company)
into a HTML document, which would then be published on group's website
(www.goneat.org.uk)
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Sunshine Fund (Evening Chronicle)
The Sunshine Fund helps raise money for disabled and disadvantaged children
in the North East. The fund relies on donations, sponsorships and donations
in kind from companies in the region. As part of their fundraising and
promotional activities the project links up with various events, such
as pro-celebrity golf tournaments, music festivals and concerts, angling
competitions, fairs, etc.
VV Task: Research & Database
A virtual volunteer has helped the Sunshine Fund to update their database
of contacts and researched potential new contacts and events.
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Shelter North East Housing Aid Centre
One of Shelter's national network of housing advice centres the North
East office provides advice and practical support to people with housing
problems.
VV Task: Database
Virtual volunteers have been engaged in helping Shelter develop their
databases of accommodation resources for the North East of England.
One volunteer has helped Shelter to design a database for recording
usage of the accommodation lists they produce, whilst another has been
engaged on helping them develop a relational database of the all the
Housing Association accommodation in the north east.
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Teenhelp
Teenhelp is an online peer mentoring service (www.teenhelp.org). It
consists of a global network of peer mentors (mostly teenagers) who
provide advice and support to their fellow teens on a wide range of
issues and problems.
VV Task: Mentoring
Virtual volunteers were engaged on general answering of help requests
from the mentors bulletin board. Mentors are required to do at least
5 per day and some of the answers can be quite in-depth. Help given
ranged from general advice on aspects of life, referrals to more relevant
and specific support groups, persons or contact numbers and/or information
on where to look for advice on the internet, to involved breakdown of
issues affecting someone to give them a better understanding of the
"big picture". Support for suicidal teens and those with family,
bullying or drugs problems.
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UK Charity Auction
Recently launched online auction site (www.ukcharityauction.org) aimed
at raising money for charities.
VV Task: Website Promotion
The organisation is looking to raise the profile of the website with
charities and donors.
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