The 12 weeks are over and the participants meet for the last time...or do they?

This week the participants came together for the final time as the 12 week Volunteering into Pathways project came to an end.

The group has done extremely well to see the project through and we're all very proud of them for being so reliable, hard working and committed. As a result they have gained so much from the programme, new skills, work experience, new friends and bags of confidence..... 

'This project has built my confidence, I've made new friends and everyone has said they will keep in touch. I have really enjoyed the whole project, it has given me the push I needed. I feel I have definitely achieved something. Before I used to get up in the morning and just mooch around, this was no good. I am really glad I came into the Volunteer Centre.' Trevor, Volunteer at Springhead.

Some of the participants will continue their volunteer role with the organisation they started the programme with. Others have already started new roles or are in the process of finding something else. There was never a guarantee of a job at the end of this programme but the group are certainly more prepared for the labour market and if they continue to volunteer and keep their skills and experience up to date, they will have more chance of finding the right job.

Here they all are, with their portfolios...

We have now started the second cohort of the Volunteering into Pathways programme. 17 brand new participants attended the first pre-volunteer course on Tuesday and they will begin volunteering next week.

Watch this space to see how they get on.... 

It's week 9 for the Springhead volunteers and the end is in sight!

It is week 9 for the volunteers at Springhead Community Centre, they still have a couple of weeks left but they are now starting to complete the final touches to the hut.

Bob Hoath, Community Leader at Springhead is 'delighted to be involved in the Volunteering into Pathways programme. Springhead Community Centre has been operating by a volunteer association since 2007 and refurbishment has been a long hard path. The team of volunteers from Volunteer Centre Oldham are making a valuable contribution to our refurbishment programme. They are committed and hard working and are a credit to themselves and Volunteer Centre Oldham in general’.

Damian below is painting the door frame.

Trevor and Tizita are giving the walls a second coat and finishing the skirting boards and window frames

 Danny is sectioning off an area at the side of the hut where they are going to create a patio area

Volunteers complete their employability techniques training

Over the past 3 weeks, Highways to Opportunities have delivered a series of training sessions around employability techniques. They spent time with the volunteers, looking at how to write a CV, what to include and also what not to include. They also looked at how best to present yourself in an interview, what to wear and how to sell your skills, knowledge and experiences. In the final session, they looked at how to apply for jobs and they spent time looking at the next step scheme https://nextstep.direct.gov.uk/Pages/Home.aspx

Here are some of them with their certificates:

The volunteers are all meeting again at the final session of the Volunteering into Pathways on Thursday 28th April. In the mean time, they are all continuing with their volunteer roles.