The Volunteer Centre has been involved in a number of activities during 2011. Here's an insight into what we've been up to over the last 12 months.

Annual Statistics
We're seen an increase in the amount of people contacting us for information about volunteering. In 2010 a total of 2693 compared to 3143 in 2011 (an increase of 450).

Volunteering England Accreditation
We were successful in achieving the Volunteer Centre Quality Accreditation (VCQA)

Outreach
We attended a number of outreach events to actively promote volunteering in the local community including the following:

• JC Plus Employment Events for Lone Parents and 16-25 year olds
• Jobs Fairs at the Transport Museum
• Whitefriars ‘Get More Out of Life' event for Whitefriars' residents
• Touch FM ‘Find a Job Show'
• Presentations/talks at schools, colleges, universities, local employers and organisations

Events
We supported a number of local events by helping recruit volunteers and promote volunteering:

Volunteers' Week - Micro volunteering event 2nd June 2011
We held a micro volunteering event to promote volunteering in Coventry and give members of the public the chance to get involved in a range of activities. We had a gazebo located in Shelton Square in the City Centre .Activities included seed planting, quilt making, recycling plastic bags for cloth bags and card making. 60 adults and their children visited the stand/took part in micro volunteering on the day.

Community Information Fair - 17th June 2011
This is an annual event organised by Voluntary Action Coventry. We included some micro volunteering opportunities. 50 people registered an interest in volunteering. For details on the 2012 Community Information Fair click here

Godiva Festival - 2nd July 2011
We had a stand in the Urban Fun in the Sun tent in the main arena at the Godiva Festival on Saturday 2nd July. 10 volunteers plus VC staff helped man the stand and go out into the crowd giving out promotional freebies including balloons and goody bags and encouraging members of the public to register their interest in volunteering. We encouraged people to do some micro volunteering activities, including ‘planting a seed' and exchanging plastic bags for cloth ones. Approximately 80 people gave their contact details & registered their interest in volunteering.

The Grange Children's Home Allotment Project - 2nd August 2011
Our Youth Action Team, staff from the Volunteer Centre and the integrated Youth Service, worked together on this project to revamp the garden area, creating space for an allotment area and built a BBQ.

Donkey Derby - 6th August 2011
We helped recruit volunteers to run activities and had a stand to promote volunteering.

Coventry Half Marathon - 2nd October 2011
We helped to recruit 180 volunteers to act as Marshals and man the water stations for this event. We also had a stand to promote the VC in Millennium Place.

Make a Difference Day - 29th October 2011
We organised 2 events to celebrate ‘Make a Difference Day':
Coombe Abbey Rhododendron Clearance - 28th October 2011
Volunteers helped to clear the Rhododendron (an invasive, non native species of plant) and burn it on a bonfire. View more photos from this event here.

British Waterways - Canal Clean Up ‘Proud of My City' Event - 29th October 2011
Volunteers helped clear debris and litter from the canal and cut back overgrown vegetation obstructing the towpaths.

For more photos from our events check out the Photo Galery