New Mills & District
Volunteer Centre
| 33 Union Rd, New Mills, High Peak SK22 3EL | |
| Tel: | 01663 744196 |
| Email: | mail@nmvc.org |
| Web: | nmvc.org |
The Volunteer Centre aims to help people in need in the New Mills area, through the direct actions of local volunteers, by providing support groups, and through information provision.
It seeks to identify gaps in community care that can appropriately be met by volunteer activity.
To fulfil its objectives, the Centre seeks to recruit, support and train volunteers.
Volunteering opportunities are provided for everyone, irrespective of age, disability, race, gender, belief or background. While the primary purpose of recruiting volunteers is to serve the needs of the local community, the benefits for those who volunteer are also recognised and encouraged.
Core Activities
The Centre directly promotes the welfare and community involvement of people who have needs arising from being elderly, disabled, physically or mentally ill, house-bound, isolated, visually or hearing impaired, or from learning difficulties.
This is acheived through the provision of services by local volunteers:
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Transport for people unable to use public services.
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Shopping and pension collection for housebound clients.
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Befriending vulnerable people through regular visits.
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Escorting people individually on outings.
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Gardening and minor DIY jobs.
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Counselling
Volunteers also undertake various internal roles in the running of the Centre:
- Committee work.
- Office and reception duties.
- Fund-raising and arranging social events.
- Publicity
Projects
Several groups run by the Centre cater for the needs of a range of local people:
Sixty-not-Out arranges events, socials, speakers and occasional outings for those over 60.
Art Group led by a paid sessional worker.
Stroke Support Group with social events and outings.
Craft & Social Inclusion Group for people with learning difficulties.
Cookery for clients with learning difficulties.
Tea Dance for those over 50.
Family Tree workshop to research genealogy.
Shoparound accompanied shopping for elderly, isolated and physically disabled people in a hired minibus.
Lip Reading for people with a hearing impairment and those living with them.
VIP for people with sight loss.
Tia Chi gentle exercise for all.
Alzheimers Cafe support for people with this condition and their relatives.
Management, Staff and Funding
The day-to-day running of the Centre is controlled by the Manager, Dorothy Scapens, who is responsible for implementing policies and directives of the Management Committee. The committee consists of members elected by and from volunteers, plus some representatives of interested external organisations. Additional paid staff undertake administration and organisation and promotion of groups.
The running of the Centre is funded by High Peak & Dales PCT, High Peak Borough Council, New Mills Town Council, local organisations and fund-raising.
Premises
The recently refurbished premises have rooms available for hire, including a large meeting room that can be partitioned, a small room suitable for groups of up to 8, and a counselling room for private consultations. All are fully accessible.
