Shepway Volunteer Centre has been running since 1976, is a registered charity, unconnected to any statutory body, and is governed by a Constitution.
The primary task of the Volunteer Centre is to pair volunteers with a charity which will best use their skills and provide an opportunity which interests them. Becoming a volunteer is not just about giving - most volunteers find that they get alot more out of it than they were expecting. We also run a Befriending Scheme, a Community Transport Scheme, a Gardening Scheme a Memory cafe and a Social club.
Based in Folkestone, at Radnor Park Community Centre, URC, Castle Hill Avenue, Folkestone, Kent, CT20 2QL we also have an Outreach service in the rural parts of the District. The office is open between 10.00 and 3.00 Monday to Friday. At other times you can leave a message on 01303 259007 or email [email protected]
Voluntary Organisations Involved In Community Engagement
Since November 2013 the Volunteer Centres in Ashford, Shepway, Dover District and Thanet have come together in partnership with CASE Kent to form VOICE – Voluntary Organisations Involved in Community Engagement. By working together VOICE aims to build social capital, engage better with hard to reach individuals/groups, and strengthen the voice and activity of voluntary organisations throughout the community. By being more strategically involved in joint delivery and targeting support to groups and individuals to meet specific needs, VOICE has the potential to further improve outcomes for local communities and significantly influence the ability of the voluntary sector to grow, develop and do what it does best.
Volunteer Centre Office
Funding for the Volunteer Centre comes from a variety of sources including KCC Adult Services, Eastern and Coastal Kent Primary Care Trust, various grant giving bodies and charitable trusts (including the Big Lottery), individual private donations and through our own wide-ranging efforts.
The role of the Volunteer Centre is to undertake the functions of a volunteer development agency
as described by Volunteering England. These are:
- Volunteer recruitment and placement
- Marketing volunteering opportunities
- Good Practice development
- Developing volunteering opportunities
- Policy response and campaigning
- Strategic development of volunteering
In December 2012 Shepway Volunteer Centre was awarded Volunteering England’s Quality Accreditation as recognition of the professional manner in which this role was carried out
The aim of the Centre is for potential volunteers to see it as the first stop on their search for a placement. We have recorded increasing numbers of volunteers annually. (Last year over 500 volunteers were recruited.) Click here to see the recruitment process.
A major role of the Volunteer Centre is to provide services to elderly and disabled people in Shepway. Details of these can be found by clicking on the links.