+++Volunteer news (page one of two)


++Vitalise Volunteer Awards 2009

Vitalise will celebrate and reward the outstanding contribution of its volunteers during National Volunteers Week 2009. Award ceremonies will be held across the organisation in the first week in June. These awards are Vitalise’s chance to show its appreciation of the amazing work done by volunteers in its Centres, shops and offices. Vitalise staff will be busy nominating their deserving volunteers for awards in a number of different categories over the next few months. We want to show our volunteers just how much we appreciate them!


++Have an affordable holiday

If you're looking to make your holiday pound stretch that little bit further this year, why not help out as sighted guide on a subsidised Vitalise Holiday? We're taking groups of visually impaired holidaymakers and sighted guides all over the world in 2009. You'll have a great holiday at an affordable price and come home with the satisfaction of having helped a fellow traveller get the most from the wonderful destinations you will visit. Everybody benefits!

For more information about Vitalise Holidays, see page 22


++New checking system planned

The Government is launching a new scheme, the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA), to be phased in later this year. ISA will be managed by and supplement the work of the Criminal Records Bureau and will involve people becoming members of the scheme, which will pull together information previously held by the departments of Health and Education. It is hoped that ISA will make some aspects of Vitalise’s checking procedure more simple. Membership of ISA will be free for volunteers.


++Volunteers needed

We still have a number of weeks where more volunteers are needed, especially during May and June, and we have vacancies for volunteers at all our Centres this autumn. If you’ve volunteered before, just call the volunteering team for details or to make a booking.


++More information

For more information about volunteering for Vitalise, please call 0845 330 0148, email volunteer@vitalise.org.uk or visit www.vitalise.org.uk