Posts Tagged ‘Volunteers’
BT have just launched MyDonate, a new service which will enable charities to more efficiently collect donations.
Online giving is not new, but the difference is that BT will, at the moment, make no charge for its service, with the giver only paying the card charges for his or her transfer to the charity. (BT says absorbing the cost of the scheme is part of its existing commitment to charitable support).
This new service is designed for registered UK charities and BT has collaborated with major charities in the UK, such as Cancer Research and the NSPCC to develop its offer.
This scheme compares favourably with JustGiving for example. This popular online service for charities charges the charity £15 a month and take 5% of your money in administration charges. The BT scheme means that all your donation goes to the charity.
If your charity has another online service for donations we think this new scheme from BT is worthy of your attention.
If you are a newly registered charity looking to explore the issues of online donations, then check out the MyDonate page from British Telecom.
Is change happening in our sector?
Roger Fowle, our weaving tutor at WinterWillow, has written a short account of his journey in willow.
Describing how he got started, what captured his imagination and those who gave him help along the way.
Roger is working both to support the weaving team at WinterWillow and to help encourage the take-up of weaving skills by the users of our Centre at WinterComfort for the Homeless.
Roger says that ‘…willow weaving is a great way to acquire useful new skills, to get back into work or to create objects which can be sold to support the work of our charity’.
The weaving team at WinterWillow are always happy to show visitors their work and to encourage others to take up the craft.
From small baskets, woven eco-coffins can grow.
In The Guardian today Ian Tucker writes about the collaboration between the Eden Project and Homeless Link that will create the biggest garden ever built at the Chelsea Flower Show.
The garden and its accompanying displays will have been created by the energy and creativity of at least 400 people with experience of homelessness. A 100 people from prisons across the UK will also have added their input to the project.
The garden, Places of Change, is financially supported by the government-funded Homes and Communities Agency, the Department of Communities and Local Government, and the London Employer Accord.
WinterWillow will be displaying a woven willow eco-coffin at the garden, as part of our work for WinterComfort for the Homeless.
Maybe we’ll see you at the Chelsea Flower Show next week?
You can see Ian Tucker’s article here. There is also a video about the creativity and involvement of people in the garden who have experienced homelessness here.
As we talk to our customers about WinterWillow products and services we always stress how different a social enterprise is from a ‘normal’ business. The social outcomes of our energies are paramount.
What we produce for has equal status with what we produce… might be a good mantra for a charity based social business.
Like any charity our volunteers help us provide services and delivery as an organisation. As a mature charity our systems for volunteer support are well established. The WinterWillow team are always happy to convert our customers into volunteers too. Not as painful process as it sounds…just a great way to contribute to the production of woven willow objects for community benefit.
Can you spare some time? A great way to start is to discover the volunteer page on our main charity website.
You can find volunteering information here.
You will find the WinterComfort for the Homeless volunteer application form and the volunteer handbook we have produced. Alternatively you can ring us on 01223 518140 and ask for our Volunteer Co-ordinator.
Could you be a vital volunteer?
