We aim to provide support and inspiration for volunteers, organisations and groups to develop volunteering in the community. As a nationally accredited Volunteer Centre, we are the local volunteering infrastructure organisation for Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde.
I have been involved in the Volunteer Centre and the Volunteer Academy for a few years now. Bizarrely it is a job I originally did 20 years ago as the Blackpool Volunteer Bureau Organiser. It was my first ever job in the voluntary sector after previously working with animals so to find myself back here as Volunteer Academy Manager has been wonderful and at times emotional.
I have worked at the Volunteer Centre for almost four years. Before I started work here, I had been a stay at home mum to four girls who are now all teenagers. One of our daughters has complex additional needs, this caused me to sometimes feels isolated and overwhelmed whilst at home.
Having qualified as an NNEB Nursery Nurse many moon’s ago, I have predominantly worked in childcare diversifying along the way from nursery nurse to nursery manager, NVQ childcare assessor, internal verifier, family support worker to the role I now have and have held for just over a year with the Volunteer Centre.
I love volunteering. I love giving people confidence and courage to do things. I am applying for jobs at the moment but if I could be a volunteer forever, I would.
At the beginning, I was shy and reserved – after attending some training, I steadily built myself up.
My confidence has grown massively – I don’t shut up now!
I started an Early Years Nursery Practitioner course in September 2019, and though I found it challenging; with hard work and support, I successfully completed the course in January 2020.
Now I am in the process of looking for a job as a Nursery Practitioner while still volunteering at the Children’s Centre. To help me get a job, I also received help on making a CV.
My life has changed so much for the better over the past few years. If anyone is thinking of volunteering, I’d say: “Just do it! Go for it! Get on it!”
I needed to get out of the house and meet other people. I’d only been involved with Military life previously and that was all I knew, I moved to Blackpool and have had to start my life again – this has meant making new links in education, volunteering etc. It’s really been worth it.
It’s built my confidence and got me doing more things. I’ve met loads of new people who are like me and in a similar situation to myself.
I volunteer more for myself and to gain experience of being involved in my community. Before I started volunteering, I had nothing, I had just been on the dole since I left school.
Volunteering has helped me to meet new people and help other people effectively. It has helped me to learn new skills. It’s helped me in my business, and I feel really confident in my delivery now.
Volunteering has had a massive impact – before I volunteered, I didn’t know anyone, not a single person.
I had just come out of bad relationship and was totally alienated with no friends, no family and absolutely no confidence.
I wouldn’t go anywhere I didn’t know, and I didn’t know how to talk to people. Then I met another volunteer with the VA, if she hadn’t taken me to Grange Children’s Centre, I wouldn’t have met the Community Connector, and I wouldn’t have met the VA team, I would have been completely stuck.
At the time I was so unsure, and I wasn’t sure I even wanted to volunteer. I wouldn’t have done it without that volunteer, she’s my best friend now, and through her, my life has changed for the positive forever. She comes round to my house 2/3 nights a week, our kids are the best of friends, we all have tea together, play games and we support each other – we are more like family than friends, and I’ve got volunteering to thank for that.
In 2011, the Chair of Volunteer Centre Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde, David Blower MBE, outlined his concept of a Volunteer Academy, a one-stop shop for volunteers and volunteer involving organisations, organised and run by Volunteer Centre Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde.
In 2012, the Volunteer Centre’s Volunteer Academy, was part of a delivery partnership for Blackpool’s Transforming Local Infrastructure project (later to become incorporated as One Blackpool) funded by the Cabinet Office through the Big Lottery Fund.
Between April 2013 and March 2014, the Volunteer Centre Volunteer Academy was a One Blackpool delivery partner for the Third Sector Strategic Partnership commissioned by Blackpool Council.
The Volunteer Centre Blackpool, Wyre & Fylde is a registered charity. No: 1125184 and a company limited by guarantee.
Registered in England & Wales. No: 5756723
The Volunteer Centre
95 Abingdon Street
Blackpool
FY1 1PP
