Volunteering Liverpool

• Over 1500 people are now registered with Volunteering Liverpool (164% increase in number of volunteers since April 2010)
• The number of volunteering opportunities offered on Volunteering Liverpool has grown to 344  (145% increase since April 2010). 
• 361 Volunteers applied for 754 opportunities on Volunteering Liverpool since Sept 2010  (99 volunteers applying for 211 opportunities in February alone)
• We are currently reviewing the governance structure of Volunteering Liverpool as we recognise that LGoS and the Volunteers Centre are the two leading partners. 
• I attended the Adido conference on 7^th April to discuss new features for Volunteering Liverpool. If we decide to purchase new features, they will be developed for September 2011.

LGoS Projects and Sustainability work

• The Roof Garden, University Children’s Centre, Foodcycle and Leave Liverpool Tidy are all developing well.
• I will soon start recruiting for staff volunteers for the roof garden and children’s centre from LGoS and UoL. We are hoping to develop a partnership with the school of environmental sciences to promote these opportunities to both students and staff through their sustainability advocates group.
• LGoS is working with Gemma Jerome to recruit ‘growing expert’ volunteers for the roof garden from an allotment site in Aintree. They will work to develop the roof garden with the student volunteers.
• The Leave Liverpool Tidy team are currently working on developing a brand for LLT ready for the launch in May. The collections will take place between 2^nd and 4^th June with the free shops happening between 6 and 10^th June.
• The transition steering group is currently reviewing the LGoS and University sustainability projects to assess what resources are needed for these projects to continue and develop. A business plan will then be presented at the Sustainability Advisory Board.

Community Engagement

Community Rep Scheme

• The family fun day on 2^nd April in Faulkner square, which the community reps were involved in planning, was a success. It was well attended and the Georgian Quarter group are looking to plan a similar event in October.
• The Smithdown reps are currently working on a ‘chooseday’ event, where various voluntary organisations, LGoS/LSU activity groups, careers department will showcase their activities to 14-16 year olds at Harthill community centre to encourage them to get more involved in the community and inform them about options available to them after they leave school.
• The community reps have started producing monthly reports, summarising the common issues in each area. These reports will be available to both unions.

Engagement with the Council

• LGoS and LSU met to discuss how we can develop our work with the city council to ensure that we are engaging with them on a strategic level (one of the recommendations made at the community engagement scrutiny panel). It was decided that both unions will be represented at the following meetings:

 Safety Group and Georgian Quarter meetings. Community reps will report on the YCM events in monthly reports which will be available to both unions.   

 Investing in Volunteers Award

• LGoS has now completed the first part of step 3 (development plan). We are now working on the second part of step 3, undertaking actions as per the development plan.