Celebrating Volunteers Week 2022

Creating a new Directory of Services

We are pleased to announce that the creation of a new voluntary sector Directory of Services is underway.

The new Directory will be available on our website and aims to:

  • showcase the amazing work of the West Lancs voluntary sector
  • help people to search for local services and activities
  • give vital publicity to West Lancs groups and organisations

Over the last 50 years as the key umbrella body for the voluntary sector, West Lancs CVS has provided vital support to help local voluntary and community groups grow and flourish. As part of this, we regularly published a local Directory of Services.  Now after a gap of a few years, we’re delighted to be able to create this new online Directory as a local information hub.

We’re working to make sure the Directory is as comprehensive as possible and fully reflects the fantastic work of the sector in providing key services and activities across the Borough. As part of this we’re updating all the details we currently hold for groups and organisations operating across West Lancs.

Please spread the word in your local area – no matter how big or small the group is, we want to hear from them!

Groups and organisations can use this link to send us their details:
https://forms.office.com/r/i4BFxZmUue

Social Prescribing Day

We’re recruiting!

Thanks, Derar!

Derar, pictured left, with some members of the ESOL group

 

Our ESOL support worker, Derar Mohammed, is leaving CVS to take up a new post at the Ecumenical Centre, after co-ordinating the ESOL project for the last four years.

The English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) project, supported by CVS, came to a close this month after providing nineteen asylum seekers and refugees in West Lancashire with the chance to learn English in a supportive environment.

The course grew out of the work CVS undertook with the original cohort of refugee families – who were placed in Skelmersdale four years ago under a Home Office resettlement programme.

Our support worker Derar Mohammed is a member of one of these families, and has worked tirelessly to help the students remain in the course – often supporting them with difficulties in their own lives which may have deflected them from continuing.  He has gone above and beyond the call of duty on numerous occasions to make sure that participants are supported.

Alongside his support worker role, Derar has also undertaken a Masters degree at the University of Central Lancashire and, after 2 years of part-study, has gained a Distinction in his MA in Interpreting and Translation which he is now putting to good use in his work at the Ecumenical Centre.

Our congratulations go to Derar on this tremendous achievement, and our thanks for all his hard work over the years.

It has been a pleasure a privilege to work with you, Derar, and we wish you all the very best in your future life and work here!

 

Community Champions grants

Shaping Care Together – Have your say

West Lancs CCG needs your views to help inform Shaping Care Together, a new engagement programme run by NHS leaders in Southport, Formby, and West Lancashire, which looks at new ways of working and delivering health and care services in the local area.

Shaping Care Together builds on the national NHS Long Term Plan and wants to help patients get the right care in the right place, at the right time.

Find out more about the programme by visiting www.yoursayshapingcaretogether.co.uk, where the significant challenges facing us in the future are outlined.

The webpage also has a link to the survey, which gives you the opportunity to tell them your thoughts. They would particularly like to hear your thinking on what they could do to improve the care provided to patients in the following key areas:

  • Care for the frail and elderly
  • Care for those who need urgent or emergency treatment
  • Care for children
  • Maternity care for pregnant women and new-born babies
  • Care relating to women’s reproductive and urinary systems (gynaecology)
  • Sexual health care
  • Planned care (for example, outpatient appointments)

Alternatively, you can also get in touch via email, shaping.caretogether@nhs.net.

Volunteers Week – a time to say thanks!