phil's scvs blog

What's blogging then?

2006-03-07T11:32:00.000Z

I was asked this in the pub last night. my reply? "you'll have to come to the presentation next week to find out won't you."

"I will don't worry" was the other fellas reply.

we've definately sparked some interest with this, hopefully we will have a good turn out after all.

volunteering. then and now

2006-02-16T15:20:00.000Z

on tuesday i compered a karaoke competition in the Penplas Inn just up the road from home.

i've done lots of voluntary work over the years, i still do some but it is mostly directors meetings for Spark Blaenymaes now, so this was a chance to do something different.

the difference however, is now i volunteer and have to remember my professional position. i am no longer some bloke from Blaenymaes who helps out when he can, now, i am an employee of SCVS.

18 months ago i could have turned up done the nights work and gone home with no worries about who i upset or even if i'd upset somebody but now, things are different.

i enjoyed myself but before i started i checked with my local communities first co-ordinator (they organised it) how he wanted me to pitch this. did he want me to focus on C1st and push as much as possible to advertise or was i able to just do my own thing?

"do your own thing" was his reply.

my own thing has changed though.

i tried (only others can judge if i succeeded) to stay professional. i offered lots of encouragement to all who took part, made sure everybody who sang got a rousing reception but bit my tongue on several occasions. i know my sense of humour can be a little difficult for people to understand unless they know me, so standing in front of a pub full of people who don't know me was hardly the time to give them an opportunity to get used to it.

i did promote C1st by telling everybody that they could make a difference to the derelict land (ex Leo's site) outside the pub all they have to do is join in, and by making sure they knew about all the hard work put in by Maggie Comley and the volunteers from the Drop in Centre.

this night has made me some new friends. people who used to just nod (if that) as they walked passed are now shouting out and saying hello to me.

just goes to show volunteering is good for you!

helpful stuff

2006-02-16T10:24:00.000Z

http://www.funderfinder.org.uk/freeware.php

if you go to this link there are two free downloads courtesy of Funder Finder.

one gives advice on filling out funding applications while the other helps to plan a budget.

there is a lot of other information on the Funder Finder site which may be helpful too.

The Presentation

2006-01-17T10:02:00.000Z

just an idea all.

what about using this blog to put the ideas you all have for the presentation on.

Michelle and I are meeting later today to put the introduction together, we will post that as soon as we are both happy with it.

if all of you then post your parts here we will all be able to see how the whole project is coming together, make comments on each others work, and most all, make sure we are not replicating work done by others.

this might link in with John and Julies' piece too. I have a bit of an idea!!

for a community project a blog could be set up specifically for one project, Julies fashion show for example, all involved could post on the blog when they have completed a specific task set for them. everybody else involved now knows where the project is in it's development at any given time. we could end up in a situation where only the first meeting is required, everybody is told the blog address and then uses it to develop the project without actually meeting anyone else again who knows? this would save time, money and resourses.

let me know what you all think.

Two in one day!!!

2006-01-06T14:36:00.000Z

JSG and Gareth will wonder what on earth is going on?

The link below is from the Evening Post web-site and accessed through the community link. Through this page you can create a 10 page web-site for any voluntary or not for profit organisation free of charge.

check it out it's good

http://beehive.thisissouthwales.co.uk/

Bore da

2006-01-06T09:57:00.000Z

blwyddyn newydd dda i pawb.

variety, they say, is the spice of life. these last 12 months have given me more variety in work than i would have thought possible. I walked through the doors of scvs just over 1 year ago now with little understanding of what was expected of me or what i could expect. I will try to summarise for you.

January/February 2005

I spent lots of time saying "hello my name is Phil I have worked as a volunteer....." while introducing myself to the staff at cvs and to the staff at the various projects we visited in Swansea. I remember wanting to volunteer for them all and it was during these early days I learnt the importance of being able to say no. All charitable and voluntary organisations are run by people who are passionate about the cause they work for and it is easy to get caught up in the euphoria they create. Nobody can work for them all unless, of course, your name is Julie Morgan (where does she get all her energy from?)

During this early period Sarah, Amanda, Marilyn and Marsha amongst others, started the daunting task of trying to turn me, a 45 year old community activist, always prepared to speak my mind, extremely enthusiastic, ex miner, taxi driver and call centre agent, into somebody who can work within a community without upsetting everybody during the first week. not easy!!

March/August 2005

My first placement at T.O.P.I.C. House. Wow!! this was a real eye opener. I didn't realise it was possible to be so busy with only one head. Very early on during my placement a local community member came in to the office and said "nobody is interested in a play scheme." Carole Barrett (project manager) asked me if I was interested? of course i was. This was my first experience of watching something grow from an idea to the finished article. I still have a copy of the plan put together for the play scheme and used this to help set up an indoor bowls group in Townhill which now, thanks to Anthony Poole at T.O.P.I.C. is running quite successfully with 12 members playing regularly.

It was the volunteers that most inspired me there though, some of the projects they run are really amazing. Jacks garden, Marions decoupage, the wonderful coffee mornings put on by Rita, Mary and the rest of the team and of course my absolute favourite, friday luncheon club. A three course meal for £2.50? I defy anyone to find me a better value.

September/November 2005

My second placement at Communities First and Healthy Directions in Bonymaen. This is where I learned my most importnat lesson of all. I have gone through my life happily treating everybody the same, as a taxi driver that was easy, as a call centre agent it was easy as a development worker i had to learn that treating everybody the same is not necessarily the same as treating everybody equally. I did some good work on this placement but also made some fundamental mistakes. I have thought long and hard over the last few months about the situations that arose and feel i probably learnt an awful lot about my role as a development worker not just during working hours but also in my personal life. The hat can never really come off, I have to be aware at all times what I say, who I say it to and also how I say it. I have a sense of humour, everybody does, when and where to use that sense of humour must be carefully thought out while working in any Community.

November 2005 - January 2006

Mr X Christmas toy appeal.

I have never seen so many Christmas presents in all my life. We had rooms full of them in Brondeg House which reinstated my faith in human nature. People bought presents for children they will never meet and who will have no knowledge of the person that has bought them the gift. The genorosity of some is overwhelming this includes the numerous volunteers who work on this project as drivers, collecting and delivering presents and as sorters, those who in the end ensure all the children on the lists provided by Social Services recieve some presents on Christmas Day. Hard work but very rewarding.

Menter Iaith.

Hence the greeting Yn Cymraeg. The week before Christmas meant another change for me. I am helping Gethin with a survey around Castle Ward. With the National Eisteddfod coming to Swansea in August we are trying to find out how many of the employees within the ward speak Welsh. This has been really good for me as I am keen to learn more Welsh. To be in an environment where people speak Welsh as a matter of course means my use of the language has to increase. I can honestly say I have learned something new every day and to be in a position where I can practice without fear of embarrassment has been invaluable.

I have also learned that for trouble free shopping in any city in Wales all you have to do is to carry a clip board, people part in front of you like the red sea.

This last year has included many varied and interesting training courses, a play scheme, indoor bowls, development trust meetings, 2 lantern parades, make a difference day, 3 different surveys, blogs, newsletters, a conference in Leeds, presentations, web site design, citizenship days/quizzes/presentations. I have met the Lord Mayor the leader of the council, various councillors, all the Communities First co-ordinators many development workers and even more wonderful people who volunteer.

My contract has now been extended by three months (what a Christmas present that was!!) and I intend to make the most of all the opportunities given to me during this extension. I have just spoken to Sarah who told me that from Monday I will be working with Julia Thomas-Stock on a project in Penlan. Should be fun!!

Cancelled

2005-10-28T12:58:00.000Z

after all the sleepness nights, all the planning, all the panic attacks, the weather has beaten us.

the ground where we are going to be planting is saturated and is going to cut up as soon as people start to walk on it, let alone start digging it up.

frantic phone calls have been made to all concerned which did mean that i got to find out that the volunteers are pleased too. some said they would have come no matter but are pleased it will be moved to another day.

next weekend maybe? but that is bonfire night so we shall see.

Friendships

2005-10-27T10:32:00.000Z

i wonder if the two more recent groups of trainees will become as close as John, Julie and I have.

we seem to have formed strong friendships and confide in each other regularly. Not just work related stuff but personal stuff too.

i find them both a great help and although i get great support from Sarah (mainly) and the rest of the staff at scvs and my placements nothing is quite the same as talking to someone who is in the same boat.

we have all had our doubts about whether we could complete this traineeship and have expressed these doubts to each other. these are the times when we back each other up rebuilding lost confidence and just generally reassuring each other.

maybe one of us could have dropped out without the support we recieved from the other two. i know i would have struggled a lot more without them and hope that the more recent groups manage to bond as well and give each other some much needed moral support.

Community events, the effects

2005-10-26T08:43:00.000Z

on the development worker i mean.

this saturday will be the first time i have organised a community event. when i was given the brief by my community first co-ordinator i thought, easy, it's only bulb planting, how difficult can this be?

in all honesty, it hasn't been particularly difficult to organise, the local population are keen to take part and, with no advertising displayed in the area i have a list of approximately 40 people who want to attend and the equipment required is already here from previous events.

so why am i waking up in the middle of the night worrying about this?

i've covered all the angles, i think. i've recieved plenty of support and advice but still i wake.

it's been going on for the last week or so, i wake up with thoughts about the risk assessment, the bulbs!! will they be there? the people!! will they turn up? the weather!! what are the chances of this saturday being as nice as last saturday? have i phoned so and so? have i left anybody out from the local community who should definately be included? (cardinal sin) what happens if.....?

very early on in my traineeship i attended a seminar at the Dylan Thomas Centre about Social Firms and their pitfalls and benefits. i talked to one of the speakers there and explained i had just started my traineeship, his reply: "don't lose the passion"

i think this may be my problem. i haven't!! i'm beginning to understand that these feeling go with the job. one of my colleagues here in Bonymaen told me that this feeling never goes away.

until the event has taken place and been a success, or otherwise, i don't think i will be able to completely relax or sleep properly. i don't think it's stress, i don't feel stressed i just want this to be a success, not just for the people of Bonymaen but for me too.

keep the passion!!

Help!

2005-10-14T09:34:00.000Z

Can anyone tell me the correct way to request the Lord Mayors attendance at a community event?

Do I have to make the request in writing or can I just phone the Lord Mayors' office and ask?

My First Week

2005-10-13T11:04:00.000Z

Now that Gareth put me straight about where I should post I've copied and pasted this from the SCVS weblog where I originally posted it.

The first week "FRIED MY BRAIN" i honestly thought during that first week (maybe longer) that i would never be able to take in all the information i was recieving.

The sheer size of SCVS as an organisation was a shock in itself. i imagined it was a little place, turns out to be a TARDIS. then being shown the number of courses i would soon be taking, it really is quite daunting.

stick with it Becky and Michelle it will start to make sense soon, and now i realise the importance of the courses you will (and i have) attend(ed)

my number one tip is still "make sure you keep on top of your paper-work", don't let it get on top of you because there is an awful lot coming. be more organised than ever before

i do hope you both get as much out this traineeship as i have, i didn't have a clue when i first arrived but am becoming more and more confident in my ability to do the job daily.

be confident in your ability, you haven't been employed because SCVS don't think you can do the job and don't hesitate to contact me if you have any worries or concerns you feel i may be able to help you with.

good luck to you both!!

Presentation @ scvs 06/10/2005

2005-10-06T23:05:00.000Z

Just completed my presentation on TOPIC House. The only people present were Julie Morgan, Becky Mullins, Michelle Davies (trainees), Sarah Harris, Darren Williams and Gareth Roberts.

Everybody is of the opinion that I find these things easy. Nothing could be further from the truth. Lots of preparation went into this and when I present I am nervous but seem to be able to cover up quite well. I sometimes feel like the proverbial Swan. Everything looks smooth on the surface but underneath there is an awful lot of paddling going on.

Presentation requires preparation so the 6 months I spent on placement at TOPIC is obviously of great benefit. If anybody ever asks you to make a presentation and you don't feel you have the time to prepare properly, if possible,(it's not always) say no.

Gareth finished messing about

2005-10-06T10:05:00.000Z

so now i can post properly.

2005-10-06T09:58:00.000Z

on line at last