What happened in Swansea for Volunteers Week 2006?

You got involved - and we got the message across!

SCVS had quite a few things planned to highlight the week and the contribution that volunteers make to Swansea as a County, but in order for the week to have the greatest impact, we asked volunteer involving organisations to get on board!

During discussions to plan for the week, we talked about ways to show the extent of volunteering in Swansea – to show just how many groups, organisations, activities, etc. rely on volunteers to sustain them.

And we came up with an idea...

Flags – reading 'Be a part of Swansea's Vibrant Voluntary Sector' – 300+ flags!

We asked each volunteer involving organisation to display one of these flags on the front of their building during this years Volunteers Week (1^st – 7^th June).

The idea was to 'expose' the voluntary sector – to show that despite the diversity that exists in our City we are all a part of something much larger.

The flags were 2ft x 4ft, and were available (free of charge) to volunteer involving groups in the County.

Over 190 flags were distributed to a wide variety of groups, resulting in a full page article in the Evening Post. We also highlighted their purpose on Swansea Sound.

Next year we hope to expand on the success of the flags by distributing them to an even wider number of groups, and possibly by producing car stickers as well.

The photos of the flags have been used to create a fabulous graphic which gives a visual representation of the Sector in Swansea - we have transformed this into postcards and also into a free standing banner that we can use to further promote the Sector. The postcard is available in 'Resources' to the right. Roll on Volunteers Week 2007!!

The following activities also took place:

• Find out more at the Volunteer Bureau trailer - Information on volunteering opportunities across Swansea were available from the trailer which was outside Marks and Spencers in Oxford Street (City Centre) on Thurs 1st, Fri 2nd, Mon 5th, Tues, 6th and Weds 7th June. Labour AM Val Lloyd visited the trailer at 10am on Friday 2nd.

• Swansea Sound - David Bater discussing volunteering appeared on the breakfast show each morning of the week.

• Media coverage - Stories relating to volunteering in Swansea appeared in the local press.

• Age Concern Swansea - Age Concern's volunteers visited Cardiff bay on the 6th of June to visit the new Assembly building, tour the Wales Millennium Centre and listen to the First Ministers Question Time.

• BTCV Cymru: Tuesday: Working in partnership with MOre Green Recycling Project, they cleared allotments at Norton and carried out maintenance work. Weds: In partnership with Communities First Pantyffynnon, they performed a back lane clearance and litter pick in the Pantyffynon ward, Ammanford. Thurs: Rosehill Quarry Nature Site - Carried out maintenance on the pond's area, rebuilding steps and pathways and constructed a cockle shell path around the pond, included childrens activities, such as face painting.