The coproduced Vision for Volunteering has been led by Cheshire West Voluntary Action (CWVA), helping create a framework for investing time and resources into volunteering, elevating its importance and extending its reach far and wide.
While the work has been led by CWVA, the Vision for Volunteering is owned by everyone in the community and we want you to help shape the future for volunteering in Cheshire West – volunteers, organisations, policy makers and others.
To create the Vision for Volunteering, there were:
- 20 hours of workshops and focus groups
- two surveys carried out for organisations and the public
- 78 organisations engaged from different sectors
- 331 people engaged
- 156 different ideas fed in
- 107 volunteering stories captured.
The consultation helped created five key themes for the Vision for Volunteering.
- Inclusive – volunteering in Cheshire West is accessible for people of all ages and abilities, whether in larger towns or rural villages, making sure that the benefits are felt by individuals and communities alike. Diversity in volunteer involving organisations is actively championed, helping build both resilience and capacity.
- Empowering – volunteers are recognised as changemakers in their communities. They are supported with stepping forward, making decisions, and pursuing projects that align with their strengths and interests. By learning new skills and developing a sense of belonging, volunteers and communities in Cheshire West are better equipped to chart their own course.
- Collaborative – strong partnerships make it easy for volunteer involving organisations to work together in Cheshire West. Partnerships are encouraged across community, public and private sectors, helping create a vibrant volunteering landscape.
- Experimental – volunteering in Cheshire West is flexible, innovative, and dynamic. Volunteer involving organisations (VIOs) are adaptable to changing circumstances, with opportunities naturally evolving from people’s skills and interests. VIOs are unafraid to try new things and feel confident with designing their own solutions to support volunteers.
- Appreciated – volunteering in Cheshire West is a part of everyday life, and volunteers receive the recognition they deserve. Communities, individuals, and organisations understand the true value of volunteers’ contributions. All efforts are celebrated, and volunteers enjoy a positive experience that is underpinned by dignity and respect.
A Vision for Volunteering document is available, highlighting more about how the vision was coproduced locally.
