NRF Hillfields Project Ideas

PROJECT APPROVED

Project Ref: HF/02/13

Theme or project title: Hillfields l2 Volunteer Development Project

Brief description of the project?

A Volunteer Development Officer will be employed and be based at the Tenants Resource Centre, at Paul Stacey House in Hillfields. 

The officer will work closely with the Hillfields 12 Tenants group, a community organisation which is made up of and represents the residents in the tower blocks. 

Unpaid volunteers will be recruited from the local community to help operate the Tenants Resource Centre.  Work-related opportunities will be developed that include:

·        Admin and office skills (through the day to day operation of the Tenants Resource Centre)

·        Advocacy and advice work (benefits advice, energy efficiency advice, health education, financial literacy)

·        Support for vulnerable members of the community and those with special needs including befriending, advice and referral to local services and specialist agencies where appropriate.

This will encompass:

1.      Addressing social and economic issues faced by the tenants, through advice and support work, and the maintenance of the resource centre for tenants to make use of.

2.      Help to consolidate and develop skills held by a number of long-term unemployed residents who, for reasons of job discrimination and a lack of opportunities, finding it difficult to gain employment.

3.      Building a more sustainable and stable environment and community within the locality.

The project will assist volunteers (recruited from amongst the existing and new tenants) to develop skills to assist existing tenants to build confidence and develop skills, that will assist them in making a positive contribution towards their community and environment and will help them in using these skills to gain employment.

WATCH will work closely with the volunteers offering careers advice, job-search and support into work.

The Hillfields Tenants 12 group have developed the following objectives, which would apply to the position in relation to their association:

• Develop voluntary commitment in local residents, thus increasing employability skills
• Motivate and develop the volunteers in the Tenants Association
• Providing training and support to volunteers
• Supporting the Tenants Association to develop advocacy and joint work with their landlord
• Providing access to resources (telephone, computers, equipment, photocopier)
• Information and signposting to support services available locally
• Introducing people to the Tenants Association
• Supporting volunteers to welcome and guide new tenants to settle into and participate in the community.
• Developing more involvement of tenants
• Linking with other groups and support in the area
• Maintaining the Tenants Resource Centre

What other organisations will be involved in the project?

·         Hillfields 12 Tenants Association

·         Whitefriars Homes North

·         Phoenix Area Co-ordination Team (PACT)

·         WATCH Ltd.

Who is leading on developing the project?

PACT

What is the NRF grant requested?                   £52,260

Contact Details

Name Andrew Dolman

Hillfields Co-ordination Centre
31 Primrose Hill Street
Hillfields
Coventry
CV1 5LY

Telephone:  024 7622 5052

E mail address  Andrew.Dolman @ coventry.gov.uk

Amended: 1/3/2002

These details have been supplied freely by project sponsors in order to share information with other partners and the local community. IIf you are interested in supporting, advising or contributing to this project, then contact the project sponsor directly.

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