At present we are particularly keen to hear from people who are interested in fundraising, helping behind the scenes at our Get-Togethers (tea makers, cup washers, invite writing etc), or if you have secretarial skills perhaps you would consider dealing with our correspondence and taking brief notes at our planning meetings.
We would also welcome people who would like to find out more about becoming an Association Visitor. For more information on Volunteering opportunities with the Association, please visit the National Office website at www.mndassociation.org or contact Angela Lea, Volunteer Development Co-ordinator on 01562 852126 or angela.lea@mndassociation.org for an informal chat.
From Small Acorns...
Volunteering sometimes sounds a daunting word, suggesting a large commitment, and often leaves people feeling they can't do anything to help.
Meet Angela, our VDC
Hello everyone, my name is Angela Lea and I am the Volunteering Development Co-ordinator (VDC) for Wales and the West Midlands.
At the Staffordshire Support Group we welcome everyone who wants to help, be it in a large or small way. There are lots of ways to help the MND Association whether you are very young, more senior, have lots of free time or just an hour here and there.
How you can make a difference
As you are probably aware, the Staffordshire Support Group is run entirely by volunteers and we organise events and Get-Togethers at our regular Planning Meetings. We currently meet during the day, but are willing to try different times and venues to help others join us.
We are a small but enthusiastic and hard working group who would love a few extra people to help us - be it regularly or to call upon when something major is planned. As well as events to help at there are also things you can do from home. For example, letter writing to MPs inviting them to Parliamentary groups affecting people living with MND, putting newsletters into envelopes, writing Get-Together invitations and fundraising. Some of the roles needing a larger commitment are also listed on the page opposite.
Want to raise funds?
There are many different ways you can help us raise funds for the Support Group, without organising a large event such as a disco or balloon launch. Without pennies there would be no pounds - and every penny raised helps people affected by MND and the research into a cure.
Here are some tried and tested ideas to get you going:
Coffee mornings - invite your friends over for coffee and cake, asking for a donation (perhaps the same amount as you would pay in your local café).
Have a collecting tin or jar at home or work and use it to collect small change, or use it as a swear box!
Sponsored events - You can get sponsorship for all sorts of things: walking / cycling / swimming a particular distance, how many rows of knitting can be done in an hour, number of skips in 10 minutes, playing snakes and ladders or darts for a few hours, sponsored silence, etc.
Quiz sheets - sell monthly quiz sheets, providing the answers on the back of the next month's sheet! These could be themed anagrams e.g. cakes / garden plants / forms of transport; crossword type clues; logic puzzles or even abbreviation clues e.g. 7WOTW = 7 wonders of the world.
Collections at supermarkets, motorway service stations, on the high street etc. We can supply tins, buckets, stickers, id badges, and advise you on the necessary permits required.
Please let us know of any events you undertake! We have a banner and display board for use at events and we can also help you publicise events in our newsletter, on our website (www.mndstaffs.org.uk) and through press releases to local newspapers and radio stations.
We try to put as many photos as we can into the newsletter and onto our website as a thank you to you for helping us. Call Hannah on 01283 713847 or email staffs@mndassociation.org.
I trained as a registered nurse in learning disability (many years ago) and have spent the last 12 years working in the voluntary sector, as a volunteer and paid worker. I have worked for other national charities, including Mencap and the Parkinson's Disease Society.
As a VDC, my role is to work with volunteers within the Association. This includes helping to recruit, train and support volunteers, developing Branch and Group activities to support people living with MND, their families and carers and sharing ideas and good practice throughout the region. I also work closely with Jackie Dornford-May, Regional Care Advisor, National Office staff and other voluntary organisations in the area.
I am enjoying working with Staffordshire Support Group and would like to take this opportunity to thank them for all their hard work on behalf of the Association.
I will be attending the next Get-Togethers and look forward to meeting some of you there. Please do come along and say hello! In the meantime, if you would like to contact me please ring 01562 852126, or email angela.lea@mndassociation.org
Best wishes,
Angela
