David Shepherdson, Mayor Steve Butler and Mary Hamilton.
Volunteering Ilkley goes live
The latest initiative to improve volunteering in Ilkley and the surrounding area has been launched. The Mayor of Ilkley, in one of his last public roles, joined Mary Hamilton and David Shepherdson at Community Action Ilkley to start the new ball rolling.
Extensive consultations have shown that two things could help to improve volunteering in Ilkley. Make it easier for (1) groups to recruit new volunteers and (2) for volunteers to find jobs which need doing. Community Action Ilkley has come up with a good solution - a new website www.volunteeringilkley.org.uk
Ilkley Town Council has supported this initiative. All the voluntary groups in Ilkley, and the whole LS29 area, are being encouraged to register on the website. This is a very easy, free process and is being monitored by CABAD to make sure it is done right. Over
20 groups have already joined. Once there, groups can promote their vacancies, fund raising, meetings or events. It is then possible for new volunteers to find something interesting to do.
If your group wants volunteers, register on the site now : www.volunteeringilkley.org.uk/index.php/register-your-organisation.
Mary Hamilton, the manager of Community Action Ilkley, praised the new site: "It is very practical and easy to use. Our longtime volunteer David Shepherdson has done all the work on this and we are very grateful to him."
This "matching" facility is new to the area and it will prove to be a very useful tool. For example, Pearl Jolly wanted to do some voluntary work. Community Action Ilkley advertised a vacancy for an office administrator on the new site. Bob’s your uncle - a marriage made in the ether! Pearl is already there in the Ilkley office, 'giving something back', 'helping others', 'being part of the community', 'meeting new friends' and 'having fun'.
Pearl says: "Following early retirement and finding some spare time available, plus a desire to find an active voluntary role, I was delighted to find the new website which enabled me to peruse the volunteer opportunities in my area. The short descriptions
attached were useful, as I could match my skills appropriately. It was very easy to e- mail, and within a few days, I found myself assisting the Community Action Ilkley office. Good and patient support has been available to help me learn the role."
The website will be linked to Ilkley Chat’s regular new "Volunteering Ilkley" Sunday Facebook post about volunteering openings for which CABAD is very grateful. This is one of the initiatives being developed to improve the volunteering arrangements in Ilkley and round about.
On 5th June there will be the Ilkley & District Community Showcase at the Kings Hall where about 50 different voluntary groups will be on display from 1pm to 6.30pm. This is deliberately aimed at ensuring that anyone, employee, student, pupil, teacher, employer, young parents, anyone, will have the opportunity to attend. It is hoped especially that employers will allow their staff to take a short time out of their working day to visit the show.
Also, eventually, if funds can be found, it is hoped to employ a part-time volunteer co- ordinator in the Ilkley office but this is still in the planning stages.
All this work is being supported by Ilkley Town Council, Round Table, Rotary and, of course, Community Action Ilkley. Anybody can give some money to a charity but the really useful gift is your time. Could you give an hour for voluntary power? If you are interested, check out the new website now, www.volunteeringilkley.org.uk.