One Million Dollars for Volunteer Managers!!!!!

Ah yes - but only in the UK!!

Great news for the Volunteer Management Sector in the UK. Thanks to Community Newswire for the story. What will it take for VM to get Government support in Australia??? Its election year people. Time for a Dear Kevin and Dear Tony Letter! I will compose one as an individual! Wont you help? Its Time!

£1M FUNDING FOR VOLUNTEER MANAGERS
By Lorraine Connolly, Community Newswire

VOLUNTEER Bursary, 19 Mar 2010 - 12:12
Volunteer managers across the country can benefit from increased cash to improve their skills from Monday.

Individuals who support, co-ordinate, manage or have strategic responsibility for volunteers will be able to apply for one of 600-800 bursaries, of up to £1,950, to pay for skills development under Capacitybuilders' Volunteer Management Programme.

Each bursary will fully fund an approved skills development package, delivered regionally by experienced, respected training providers and aligned to the national occupational standards in volunteer management.

Training will be available at three levels, tailored to suit individual volunteer managers' experience and role, each with the option of national accreditation and including online and distance learning opportunities.

Two skills development products will be available, one targeted at those with operational responsibilities and another focused on those with a strategic role in volunteer management, including those in leadership positions.

Sean Cobley, chair of the Association of Volunteer Managers (AVM), said: "We are pleased to have been involved in the selection process for skills development providers under Strand C of the volunteer management programme. This was just one way in which we have supported Capacitybuilders in its desire to listen to and involve volunteer managers in developing this final aspect of the programme. Given AVM's leading role in developing our profession, we will be encouraging our members and others to make an early application."

Dave Conroy, national programme manager for Capacitybuilders, said: "These bursaries will support people who manage volunteers in a more intensive way than may often be possible, due to financial and other constraints.

"With all skills development packages aligned to the National Occupational Standard in Volunteer Management we are confident that those participating will benefit considerably at a time when more people are wishing to volunteer."

The Volunteer Management Programme opens for applications on March 22. Go to www.capacitybuilders.org.uk/vmpskills for more information.

Capacitybuilders is a non-departmental public body established in 2006 to lead the Government's investment in third sector support services. Capacitybuilders and its programmes are funded by the Office of the Third Sector. For more information go to www.capacitybuilders.org.uk.