Venus Gives Volunteers The Training They Need

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Venus is delighted to announce the start of their 6-week volunteer training course. Clare, who ran the first week’s training, gave us the low down on what happened on the first week and how you can get involved if you’re interested.

“This week myself and Kati delivered the first session of the Volunteer Training. The training is for those that would like to volunteer at Venus or the Care Leavers Centre. The course involves 6 weeks of training that provides you with the basic skills and knowledge you may need when volunteering at Venus.

It also gives you an insight into the work we do from supporting individuals and families in their homes, attending appointments with clients, to being a listening ear within the drop in sessions.”

Many of the trainee volunteers on the course at the moment have had support from Venus and are looking to give something back.  Tracey said “Venus did so much for me when I was going through a difficult time and now I would like to be able to help someone who maybe in need”.

Some of the opportunities available once participants have completed the 6-week training are listed below:

  • Admin/Reception support – typing up information, copying, faxing, laminating, and answering the phone, etc.
  • Driving – taking clients to appointments, bringing them to the centre, and driving the minibus on days out, etc.
  • Drop in support – making tea and coffee, providing a listening ear, helping people make a phone call, etc.
  • Intensive cleaning support – helping de-clutter, teaching cleaning skills, helping set up routines, etc.
  • Children and Young Persons Groups – helping with activities, being a listening ear, offering advice, etc.
  • Outreach Support – in clients’ homes, attending meetings and appointments, working more intensely.

So, if you would like to give it a try please contact the centre for an application form on 0151 474 4744.

Bosco House AGM told: The Real Work Starts Now!

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The 2015 Annual General Meeting of The Bosco Society was held on Friday the 17th of July in the Futures Suite at Bosco House. Over 30 people attended, including: staff and residents, committee members and representatives from other organisations.

The Chairman, Alan Matthews, opened the meeting by welcoming everyone and introducing Danny and ‘Recovery Inc.’ from Bosco’s music project, who played two songs to rapturous applause.

Bosco House manager, Sheila Howard, gave her report on the last twelve months and highlighted the changes that had taken place. Most importantly, she noted, was the change in funding from Sefton Council.

Sheila said, “As part of a consortium that includes three other housing providers (Venus, Excel and New Start) we were successful in securing funding for the next five years.” This includes doubling capacity by taking over the young persons’ hostel, The Sead Project, and running a sit-up service for rough sleepers at both locations.

Most poignantly, two residents told their stories and highlighted how grateful they were for Bosco’s support. They both noted how things had changed for the better since Bosco had taken over the Sead project; it had only been a few weeks, but everyone could see things changing and there was a lot of optimism for the future.

The real work starts now 

Alan Matthews presented the Trustee’s Report by recalling how he had first visited Bosco House 30 years ago, in 1985, to interview residents as part of an ethnographic study of heroin use. He noted how the House had been transformed under the stewardship of the manager, Sheila Howard. He also described how, as part of the consortium, Bosco had won a 5-year contract to provide supported housing from Sefton Council.

Whilst this was to be welcomed, he cautioned that the real work was about to begin and, under future austerity measures, the job was going to get a lot more difficult. He thanked all the staff and volunteers for their efforts and hard work that makes Bosco such an amazing place.