Volunteers’ Week provided the perfect opportunity for Chat Central to promote volunteering to its participants.  VAC’s  Chat Central project works with people who want to try new things. We engage people in a variety of different activities in the community as a group, with the aim of fostering friendships, helping people to make community connections and ultimately build confidence in one’s own ability to find  new opportunities that fill lives positively. Volunteers’ Week is a national celebration of the contributions that volunteers make to society. Chat Central’s programme of activities shone a spotlight on the varied and amazing work that volunteers do throughout our city, and inspired participants to connect with Coventry VCSEs. 

Celia Monaghan, Chat Central’s Lead Officer, looks back on the week here:

“We started with a visit to St. Francis Employability in Radford to show the many services it provides and were given a tour with their Volunteer Co-Ordinator, Danielle.  Two Chat Central participants were so keen to get involved that their inductions are already in the diary!”

Next Chat Central returned to the community garden at CROW Recycling (pictured bottom left). Exactly a year ago, Chat Central were amongst the groups that helped create the garden. Celia said it that it was wonderful to go back and see how it has grown and developed.  Team Springboard’s horticultural manager Esther Kovacs was a  fount of knowledge for everything to do with plants and encouraged everyone to have a go.  Celia added:

“One participant admitted he wasn’t a keen gardener and had a fear of worms, but by the end of the session he was potting tomatoes and onions and even held a worm in his gloved hand!”

Later in the week, Chat Central held a session with volunteers old and new to talk about the continued opportunities that Chat Central offers. Celia says: 

“We are so lucky to have people who volunteer their time and skill to support Chat Central. We have wonderful volunteers who prepare and serve refreshments, others who use their skills to lead sessions including crafts and song writing and publicity volunteers who deliver flyers around the city. 

We also welcomed new volunteers who are planning to help with social media, marketing and leading craft and well being sessions.  We are so grateful for all the time and energy our volunteers give to Chat Central. We couldn’t do it without you!”  

The week concluded with a trip to the Weaver’s House in Spon End.  This historic gem relies on their volunteer team who do an incredible job of giving tours of the house, maintaining the Tudor garden, giving demonstrations and supplying refreshments.  Whilst there, the group learnt about the building, its past residents and the weaving process.  One participant even got the chance to spin the fleece into thread (pictured below, right).