CLC Outreach – September 2023

Our Take part coordinator Tom Wild spent some time on and off site in September at various events promoting the centres services for members, recruiting new volunteers, networking with local and national organisations and raising awareness of Creative Living Centre.

We kicked the month off by attending a job fair at the Bury Millgate job centre, there were many organisations involved and it was a great opportunity to recruit volunteers, give out information about the centre and build potential partnerships.

This was followed by attending a volunteer fair organised by our friends at MACC, it was well attended and it was wonderful to meet some potential volunteers and hear about other organisations volunteer training and work in Manchester.

Part of our regular outreach is to attend monthly volunteer forums hosted by Salford CVS and Bury VCFA, brilliant organisations offering support, training, information and skill sharing to volunteer coordinators across Manchester.

Sunday the 8th October took both Tom and Shelley to the Prestwich Makers Market where we were covered in paint for tile painting. A great day full of creativity and laughs, seeing some regular faces and meeting new people. Talking about all things mental health and wellbeing in addition to some volunteering enquiries.

On Wednesday 20th Tom was able to attend a taster session at RHS Bridgewater with the therapeutic gardener Ozichi Brewster in their wellbeing garden. The event was attended by a variety of professionals including members of staff from colleges, clinical/educational psychologists and other charity organisations. It was a wonderful experience and insight into the wellbeing sessions that are available to organisations and individuals. We foraged fruit, herbs and vegetables, planted some wild strawberries and even did some dancing in the rain! – Massive thanks to both Ozichi and Kerry who organised the day. We are now looking at taking some of our members over to the gardens in the near future.

We ended the month with an open day at the centre for potential volunteers and counselling students looking to undertake a placement with us. The day was well attended and supported by our current wonderful volunteer team. Huge thanks to all those who helped make the day a success, we couldn’t do it without you all! New volunteers will begin training on the 18th October and we look forward to welcoming them all to the team.

Thanks go out to Nas, Julie, Andrew, Rachel and the rest of the team at Bury Millgate job centre, Grace & Claire at Salford CVS, Tony & Neville at Bury VCFA, Barkery at MACC, Ozichi & Kerry at RHS Bridgewater and all our volunteers at the CLC.