Volunteer Co-ordinator

12 Nov, 2019

 

A VOLUNTARY ROLE AS VOLUNTEER CO-ORDINATOR

Imagine the Barlow is a living ecosystem.  It has various different volunteer groups that run various different functions, everything from marketing to maintenance, and the key to a successful volunteer experience is to truly understand how all those functions fit together and work together for the benefit of the whole.

As our Volunteer Coordinator, you understand that knowing why we do something helps us to understand what is important and fosters an empathy and mutual respect for one another, which forms the bedrock of the Barlow community.

You are able to structure that empathy into a proactive and supportive scheme for our seventy plus volunteers.  They may arrive unsure and uncertain, but you know how to build their confidence and find training for them that they can use both in the organisation but also in the wider world such as computer skills or first aid.

You’re the person everyone is happy to sit and have a brew with and you get a great deal of satisfaction from spending time with good friends.  But you’re also good at making new ones and finding new volunteers, thinking about volunteering in a way that is more contemporary and fits modern day busy lives.

This role is a true blank canvas and we look forward to finding out how applicants would relish the challenge.

Key attributes of the role:

 Never mind the building or the history or the estate – you cultivate our most important asset, our people. You are a people person.

  • A key requirement of the role will be to recruit, train and retain volunteers
  • You are interested in ALL areas of the Barlow and you keep your finger on the pulse. This makes you an asset to every volunteer team and a great guide for existing and new volunteers alike.
  • A voracious opportunist – can you find new and exciting ways to upskill our volunteers or raise their confidence?
  • You are forward thinking and have ideas about how volunteering may evolve over the next five years and you are able to apply those ideas to find our next generation of contributors.
  • You are friendly and everyone wants to sit and have a chat with you. You are a mediator and problem solver.
  • You have a structured plan with clear objectives for the benefit of the volunteer community at the Barlow.

To apply:  Please let us know why you think this role is perfect for you and register your interest.  Send an email to nigel@thebarlow.co.uk or drop off a letter in the office addressed to Nigel Truswell.

Applications will close on 26th November 2019

 

 

FRIENDS OF THE BARLOW

Blackburn with Darwen Council handed over the running and upkeep of The Barlow to the community in 2013. Since then The Barlow Charity has relied upon the generosity of benefactors and income from users of the facilities, plus the efforts of volunteers to sustain this much valued community facility. Significant improvements have been carried out to help ensure a long-term future, including a new roof, replacement windows, new hygienic worktops in the coffee shop kitchen and a new hot water & heating system. Most recently (summer 2022) the renovation of the outdoor veranda has been completed and a new adjacent decking area has been installed. In addition the snooker room has been restored to its former splendour by a small group of volunteers.

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An important source of funding that has contributed to the above mentioned improvements is The Friends of the Barlow scheme.  By becoming a Friend you can contribute to a fund that is used for repairs and renovations to the structural fabric of the building and pathways etc, and to upgrade, refresh and improve facilities e.g. now that the building is once again weathertight there are plans being drawn up for the main hall can be deep-cleaned, re-decorated and refurbished and other water-damaged areas such as the main stairway & its beautiful large, stained glass window to also be restored to their former glory.

As a Friend of The Barlow, your regular donations provide a much appreciated, steady income stream that to date (summer 2022) has raised in the region of over £40,000, which has been mostly used contributing towards paying for the roof, windows and heating system.
We intend to soon publish the overall list of improvements/tasks and from that you will see that there is a significant amount of expenditure still needed to achieve all of the identified tasks and improvements. We would welcome donations/sponsorship for specific items that may be of particular interest to individuals or families or groups, but the regular donations by Friends of The Barlow are also crucial. Therefore, we welcome any and all new donors and are grateful for whatever amount you choose to donate.

We are of course also very grateful to all of our existing Friends of The Barlow and if you are able to increase your monthly donation by any amount, that would be hugely appreciated – you can either make the increase to your standing order directly with your bank or you can complete a new form and send it to your bank or give it to us to process.

Please also consider increasing the value of your donation at no extra cost to you by using Gift Aid – as an example, an £8 donation from you becomes £10 with the Gift Aid add-on!

If you wish to donate please click on the link below, complete the form and either send it to your bank with an email copy to our email address fotb@thebarlow.co.uk  or return the completed form to the Barlow’s office in a sealed envelope addressed to Friends of The Barlow.  Paper copies of the form are available from The Barlow.

For any further information please email fotb@thebarlow.co.uk or contact the office via info@thebarlow.co.uk or 01204 852216.

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