VolunTEAMing!

The programme for this event is supported strongly by the Dorset Volunteer Centre and Sherborne Douzelage. It will provide organisations and individuals with substantial knowledge and techniques to support and strengthen their personal and their volunteering knowledge.

Thursday 3rd May – Digby Hall, Hound Street

3:00pm– FILM ‘Mother of all Pageants’

The original 1905 cine film and the story of how it all happened – by Gerald Pitman

Friday 4th May – Digby Hall, Hound Street

10 – 1:30pm– Conference (Free Lunch provided)

Presentations by: Oliver Letwin MP, Alan Power NT & Simon Cripps DWT, Beth Fox CAB

1:30 – 4:30pm – Funding workshop

How to access UK & EU funds

Christine Stone of WDDC & Mark Causon from Malta

Saturday 5th May – Big School Room, Sherborne School

10 -12:30pm – Volunteer Fair – (Drop in anytime)

Meet your local voluntary organisations, see what they do

Circus Skills Workshop and Free refreshments

1:30 – 4:30pm – Making it Happen workshop

On Saturday 5th the Volunteer Fair will act as a drop in centre for people to see what the many local voluntary groups do, the opportunities they provide and let people know what is happening in the area. There will also be displays from European Partner Towns to compare their approach to voluntary activities. There are still a couple of stalls available, so if you want your organisation to have one then please contact Kevin or Mary.

The afternoon session will be a facilitated session for people to discuss what help they want and how to provide additional support for them in their volunteer activities. This includes what support might be required from local government as well as how organisations can help each other.

There will be international participation in all events with representatives of Voluntary Groups plus Mayors and Town Councillors from Chojna, Poland; Holstebro, Denmark; Köszeg, Hungary; Marsaskala, Malta; Prienai, Lithuania; Siret, Romania and Tryavna, Bulgaria all taking part. This provides an excellent opportunity for participants to share their experiences and learn from the differences of people from across Europe, as well as the exchanges with many local voluntary groups from across Dorset and Somerset.

As an outcome from the events it is hoped to create a Memorandum of Understanding that will be signed by representatives of the town councils from all 8 European countries, to demonstrate how they can and will support their voluntary sectors. Through this and related activities it is hoped to help to raise the profile of volunteering and create a better climate for voluntary work.

This programme will provide a wonderful sharing of experiences of volunteering in our area and in different countries and learning from our best practices. On Sunday 6th May the international delegates will visit Minterne House and Gardens, the Volunteer Centre in Dorchester and the Olympic Sailing Centre.

All voluntary organisations and interested individuals are urged to take part in this project and to do so they should fill in the form below or phone Mary Clothier on 01963 251255 to reserve their places.

Sign Up Here:

Please phone 01963 251255 to reserve places or fill out this form to sign up by email:

Your details will be sent by secure email and will not appear on this website. You will receive an acknowledgement via email.

We look forward to meeting you!