SOVA Sheffield Millennium Volunteers Project
Project Development 1999 - 2003:
In 1997, a consortium of local organisations in Sheffield commissioned SOVA to lead a research project into youth volunteering. Specifically the research focussed upon investigating young people’s perceptions of volunteering and identifying barriers that young people faced to successful engagement in voluntary action. The report‘s findings led SOVA to bid to deliver the Millennium Volunteers Scheme in Sheffield.
In November 1999, the SOVA Sheffield Millennium Volunteers Project was set up by two development workers employed by SOVA. The original consortia of organisations involved in the research project were engaged as a project advisory group and a young people’s forum was developed to provide young people participating in the scheme with an avenue through which they input into and influence the development and delivery of the MV Scheme locally.
The project team consisted of 4 staff posts during the period 2000-2003 (namely project manager, support officer, support worker and administrative assistant). Unfortunately the admin post was lost and the support worker post was reduced due to financial cut backs to MV projects in 2003.
Project Development 2003- 2005:
In 2003, the project started developing its information, advice and guidance (IAG) services for young people and also further refining its work engaging marginalized and excluded young people in volunteering. Over the past 3 years, the project has developed ‘tailored’ volunteer placements for young people with additional support needs and good practice around youth volunteering. It has also undertaken a diverse range of development work and information dissemination with other MV providers and external organisations who involve or provide services to young people including Social Services, local Volunteer Centre; Job Net; local community development forums and Connexions personal advisers. In 2005, the project was highly commended for excellence in IAG provision for young people and achieved the Matrix Quality Mark for its services.
Involvement & Recruitment of Young People:
During the initial 3 year contract and the 2 year continuation contract managed by the DFES, the project registered 1232 young people as Millennium Volunteers. In 2004, MV Projects were migrated over to local Connexions Partnership management. During the two follow on continuation contracts and the current contract (which will be completed in March 07), the project has registered a further 377 new young people as MV’s. A grand total of 1,609 young people were engaged in the period Nov 1999 – Dec 2006
Many young people who the project has worked with over the past 7 years remain in contact with project staff; some just to pop in to say hello and catch up, others to bring in their friends and family to register as MV’s and some continue to volunteer as MV Graduates.
The project has been fortunate to work with many exceptional and outstanding young people across Sheffield over the years. Young people from this project have twice won Regional MV of the Year (Yorkshire & Humber), won 4 SOVA Volunteer of the Year Awards, SOVA Regional Volunteer of the Year (overall) and SOVA Best Regional Newcomer & Highly Commended Volunteer Awards. They have also won external awards including NACRO Regional Volunteer of the Year Award, Marks & Spencer’s Plc. Community Involvement Awards and been selected as runners up in the CSV Make A Difference Awards.
Current Activity:
Currently the project operates an information, advice and guidance service for young people interested in volunteering; a volunteer brokerage service; consultancy services, recognition and accreditation routes for young people. The project is a licensed Youth Achievement Awards provider and offers access to National Open College Network and ASDAN accreditation as well as National MV Awards. The project’s varied services are delivered by three staff members, who are all based in the SOVA MV Offices in Sheffield’s city centre.
The project has approx 515 young people currently engaged as MVs. Unfortunately due to limited staffing and resource restrictions, the project has a waiting list of 140 young people interested in joining Millennium Volunteers.
The project is involved a wide variety of local, sub-regional & regional fora and networks including South Yorkshire and Regional MV providers networks, Sheffield’s Looked After Children’s Agency Partnership group, South Yorkshire Network for New Migrants, Local Safeguarding Board Voluntary Sector Reference group and the Playing for Success Strategic group.
MV Transition to V:
The project has been successful in securing transition funding until Sept 2007 and has begun preparations for the move over to v. New premises in the city centre are being sought and a possible co-location with Sheffield Volunteer Centre is being discussed.
The project has been successful in establishing a consortium of 8 youth organisations in Sheffield (of which SOVA is the lead) and bidding to deliverv short term opportunities. These are currently being delivered with opportunities available in youth work, music, conservation & environmental activities, farm work, anti-racist education, sports and supporting disadvantaged children. SOVA as a national organisation has also been successful in bidding to deliverv full time opportunities across 3 regions with disadvantaged young people and young people involved in the criminal justice system. The project is the base for Yorkshire & Humber regional v full time opportunities and is currently involved in recruiting the first wave of disadvantaged young people to take part in this strand of work.
