Hi VCN Member,
I will be leaving the Volunteer Centre Nottingham to become the manager of the Volunteer Centre South Derbyshire, based at South Derbyshire CVS in Swadlincote.
I have really enjoyed working here in Nottingham and didn’t actually plan to leave, but when this job came up I spotted the opportunity and went for it.
My start date there will be Monday 5th January, and my last day working here in Nottingham will be 19th December.
The VCN meeting on Thursday 11th December will be my last one and I am looking forward to being able to say goodbye to you in person. Please let me know if you can come to the December VCN so that I can order enough mince pies to go round. I am also planning to have a celebration lunch in Nottingham, but this will have to take place after the Christmas rush is over, in the New Year. I will let you know more about this when I have been able to sort out a date.
I first came to NCVS as a student in 1983, so I have completed 25 years here as a student, on a training scheme, as a volunteer, part-time and full-time staff member. I have worked in a number of projects here, including the Radio Team, an ICT training project, managing the NCVS website, coordinating a mentoring project and vey memorably, on secondment to the Asian Womens’ Project for four months.
However, the time I have spent as a Volunteering Development Worker have been among the best of my entire working life. I have enjoyed every minute of working with a fantastic team of Volunteer Coordinators and Managers. I have also enjoyed the partnerships that I have formed with the other Volunteer Centres in the county and beyond. I will also miss the staff team here at the Volunteer Centre Nottingham and NCVS. I know that some VCN members work across the whole of the East Midlands, so I hope that we will continue to be in contact.
Since my new job is a 30 hour post, I will also have time for some freelance training and consultancy. Keep an eye on my own blog, Chuffinghog, for more about this.
I know that the Nottingham VCN is being left in good hands and that our two remaining Volunteering Development Officers, Jenny and Kate, and our new team manager, Jon Stevens, will continue to provide the help and support for your volunteer programme that it has been my privilege to do for the past three years or so. My wife, Sue, will also continue to work in the Volunteer Centre, coordinating the team of volunteer advisers who interview your prospective volunteers.
As part of my handover of responsibility, Jenny will also be taking over responsibility for this blog and it is likely that the blog address may have to change slightly, but before that happens, I’ll be back with at least a couple more of the usual updates and we’ll keep you fully informed about any changes.
Thanks to everyone in the VCN and beyond who has supported and encouraged me, whether that has been over the years or in the last few months.
Many Regards
Dave Thomas
