Voluntary Action Coventry
Accelerate participant Linda Castling and Mary Ann Evans Hospice
The Accelerate programme came to a close in March 2023. Voluntary Action Coventry is now offering 'Improving Lives' a 6 week volunteering course. However here is a photo of participant Linda Castling:
“My journey has not been an easy road. I don’t know where I would be without the help and support from my Journey Guide and the Team at VAC” Linda Castling, Accelerate participant.
Linda Castling accessed support from Accelerate with Voluntary Action Coventry between November 2021 and August 2022. After losing her partner to cancer and being made redundant from her previous job, she needed support with her anxieties. Linda stated:
“My partner’s death had a devastating effect on my mental health and I struggled with the grieving process…"
Linda firstly wanted to return to her normal self by re-gaining her confidence through volunteering. She began engaging in VAC’s Improving Lives volunteering course where she learnt about the different volunteering opportunities and the benefits of volunteering.
As a result of the support given by Accelerate and Voluntary Action Coventry, Linda’s confidence improved and she was proactively looking for things to do in her spare time
“Tia, my Journey guide introduced me to courses which were online this has helped me regain my confidence.”
Linda needed signposting to different internal and external partners for support to help with her future. Linda attended some employability and confidence workshops from Accelerate partners Optima training and Orbit training that helped her to identify and overcome some confidence barriers. She then did a cooking activity and Level 1 and 2 food hygiene with Volunteer Friends (a charity encouraging friendships, combating isolation and celebrating independent living) which helped to improve her cooking skills: something her partner had always taken a lead on.
During the Accelerate project Linda decided to approach some charity shops for volunteering experience. Linda has been volunteering at Mary Ann Evan's Hospice charity shop in Coventry City Centre for a few hours per week since February 2022 and also became a volunteer for Compassion Communities in August 2022 supporting bereaved participants.
Accelerate supported unemployed people from across Coventry and Warwickshire accessing volunteering opportunities, building confidence, increasing motivation and developing skills. This project finished at Voluntary Action Coventry in March 2023 and is no longer open to participants. Accelerate was a Building Better Opportunities Project, funded by the European Social Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund. It was managed by Coventry and Warwickshire CDA in partnership with a range of local organisations.
Accelerate participant Linda Castling and Mary Ann Evans Hospice
The Accelerate programme came to a close in March 2023. Voluntary Action Coventry is now offering 'Improving Lives' a 6 week volunteering course. However here is a photo of participant Linda Castling:
“My journey has not been an easy road. I don’t know where I would be without the help and support from my Journey Guide and the Team at VAC” Linda Castling, Accelerate participant.
Linda Castling accessed support from Accelerate with Voluntary Action Coventry between November 2021 and August 2022. After losing her partner to cancer and being made redundant from her previous job, she needed support with her anxieties. Linda stated:
“My partner’s death had a devastating effect on my mental health and I struggled with the grieving process…"
Linda firstly wanted to return to her normal self by re-gaining her confidence through volunteering. She began engaging in VAC’s Improving Lives volunteering course where she learnt about the different volunteering opportunities and the benefits of volunteering.
As a result of the support given by Accelerate and Voluntary Action Coventry, Linda’s confidence improved and she was proactively looking for things to do in her spare time
“Tia, my Journey guide introduced me to courses which were online this has helped me regain my confidence.”
Linda needed signposting to different internal and external partners for support to help with her future. Linda attended some employability and confidence workshops from Accelerate partners Optima training and Orbit training that helped her to identify and overcome some confidence barriers. She then did a cooking activity and Level 1 and 2 food hygiene with Volunteer Friends (a charity encouraging friendships, combating isolation and celebrating independent living) which helped to improve her cooking skills: something her partner had always taken a lead on.
During the Accelerate project Linda decided to approach some charity shops for volunteering experience. Linda has been volunteering at Mary Ann Evan's Hospice charity shop in Coventry City Centre for a few hours per week since February 2022 and also became a volunteer for Compassion Communities in August 2022 supporting bereaved participants.
Accelerate supported unemployed people from across Coventry and Warwickshire accessing volunteering opportunities, building confidence, increasing motivation and developing skills. This project finished at Voluntary Action Coventry in March 2023 and is no longer open to participants. Accelerate was a Building Better Opportunities Project, funded by the European Social Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund. It was managed by Coventry and Warwickshire CDA in partnership with a range of local organisations.