Badger Badger Badger Badger

Last week I was lucky enough to get a place on the Vinspired ‘Big Societys Big Mouth – Social Action Training day. The training day was aimed at young people in Knowsley aged 16-25 who want to make a difference in their local community.

The aim of the training was to teach us;

• Project management skills
• Creative thinking and problem solving
• Volunteer recruitment
• Managing and delivering our own projects

I went along with Cousi, the other volunteer in Halewood Arts Association and it was such a good day. There was only 4 of us there, along with the two Vinspired representatives and also two young volunteers from Knowsley who where helping to deliver the training.

 

I learnt so much! They basically taught us step by step how to plan, organise and then partake in our own event / community project. Working within Halewood Arts Association, a volunteer led organisation, it was great to get some formal training in how to apply for funding, how to get other volunteers on board and how to deal with any problems along the way. Carole at Halewood Arts has already taught me so much, but any extra training is always a bonus.

 

I was on team ‘Badger’ as our scenario to work through was the tidy up of an adventure park, that also had an endangered badger settlement within it. The word badger was thrown about far too much and now whenever I hear the word badger, me and Cousi can’t help but giggle.



Team Badgers wonderful 'Volunteer Recruitment' Poster, my best peice of work to date.

It was also great to meet some other local volunteers within Knowsley who we could swap details with and potentially work with in the future! It definitely inspired me to carry on with all my volunteering work. (Although if you are reading this and would like to offer me a full time / any job, feel free!)

 

I am about to start the event managing of a ‘book launch / celebration’ evening with Carole at Halewood Arts and I will definitely be using all the information and training I was given when planning this project. I will blog more about this when I know more details, as we are in the very early stages of planning at the moment.

 

The next couple of months I have a few exciting projects / opportunities coming up and although I was shouted at yesterday for looking ahead too much I can’t wait to get stuck into them all.

Knowsley Vinvolved Awards 2011

Last week, Me, Cousi, Carole and Anna were invited to attend the Knowlsey Vinvolved Awards 2011. There was a superhero theme on the night and we where invited to attend in fancy dress or formal wear. I went for formal wear. Although some volunteers did attend in fancy dress, there was even a giant kangaroo (i think) and scooby doo. I had been told in advance by Carole who I volunteer with that I had won an award, she very kindly nominated me, but I was unsure as to how I would recieve it and what it would be. Anna, Cousi and Me were also going to recieve a certificate to recognise the hours we have given whilst volunteering.

Cousi and Me being escorted down the red carpet on arrival by a Superhero!

The night was presented by a group of young volunteers, in fancy dress of course and they did a wonderful job. It was really nice to know even the running of the event had volunteers involved. As an active volunteer within Knowlsey and Liverpool it was great to get to meet other young volunteers and here about all the other projects going on.

Since June 2010, I have been volunteering within Halewood Arts Association and National Museums Liverpool. I think I am on 400+ hours at the moment. Volunteering is something I love doing and I especially like giving something back to the community I have grew up in and to gain recognition for the work I have done at Halewood Arts Association was lovely.

Anna, Cousi and Me recieving our certificates from Jackie Davies, Chief Executive of Knowsley CVS

Awards were presented by Colin McKeown, TV/Film Maker and Producer of Independent Production Company LA Production and Jackie Davies (pictured above). The award ceremony was decorated very nicely, with each table themed under a different superhero. We were on 'The Incredibles' table and as an 'Event Designer' I spent a lot of my time looking at the table decorations and event styling. Which I really liked, huge cocktail glasses filled with different coloured lighting where on each table and there where cute bat decorations around. 

There was a caricaturist at the night too, giving free portraits to all attending and we were entertained by the brilliant Kirkby based dance group Performance Studios, local band Major Major and singer Jay Norton (who was really good!)

Carole, Project Manager of Halewood Arts getting a free Caricature 

The night was brilliant and it was lovely to receive an award. I was not expecting to get a real award at all and I also got £30 worth of vouchers which was lovely. Overall there was 9 of us who won Youth Volunteer of the Year and after hearing why we all received an award, every one was really deserved.

Cousi, Carole, Me. Halewood Arts Association.

7 of the 9 Youth Volunteers of the Year 2011

My lovely award

I am very grateful for my award and would like to thank Carole a lot for not only nominating me, but also giving me the opportunity to volunteer within Halewood Arts Association. I have learnt so much there and recieving some recognition for the work I have done there has been wonderful.

If this is the first time you have read my blog, feel free to browse my portfolio on my website.

Thank you to KCVS  for the photographs. You can read the official press release from KCVS for the awards here.