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Meet the Virtual School Project Workers
Welcome to Tim Lightfoot, Francesca Volpato and Pete Lowe, members of the latest Project Team at Duke Street. Working part time, they are half way through a five month project funded by Cheshire East Council's Virtual School which supports the education of children in the care of the local authority.
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Team members Tim Lightfoot, Francesca Volpato and Pete Lowe.
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The project workers - all of whom were already volunteering with Just Drop-in - focus on engaging young people in care, encouraging and supporting them to improve their education and prospects. They bring an infectious ‘can do’ attitude and will stick with young people even in the face of adversity. There's also practical support such as getting to interviews, form filling and applying for jobs - and with small case loads, each worker can give intensive support.
There has already been notable progress since they started work in March. One young woman who hadn't been in training or employment for six months has gained a training placement, applied for part time jobs and is learning about being a beautician. We hope to have more successes to report later in the year.
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Investing in Volunteers
Volunteers are the backbone of Just Drop-In and as an organisation we're improving the way we invest in and continually develop the skills of the team. Last year there was a record number of 144 training sessions, described by one volunteer as “a time to explore topics with other volunteers, in a safe, caring and respectful environmentâ€.
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Some of the volunteer team - top row: Jain Dalton, John Brown, William Pilkewicz and Anna Seaton; bottom row: Judith Amey and Anne Fielding.
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We're recently signed up to 'Investors in Volunteers' the voluntary sector gold standard award for managing volunteers. As part of that review we've extended the range of training on offer. Two Drop-In volunteers have been enrolled on a Counselling Concepts course at Macclesfield College. Judith Amey said “The course has helped me to practise and improve my listening and engagement skills which I think are really important skills for JDI volunteersâ€. Sally Smith added "I've wanted to do this training in counselling for a long time. This feels like a very generous gift to me from JDI. It has opened up new possibilities both at JDI and in my life outside. I'm really looking forward to using these skills".
We're hoping to offer more training in 2015-16 with a target of 160 units across a range of topics. To volunteer or find out more, contact Volunteer Co-ordinator and Projects Officer, Faye Ronan, 01625 665079.
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Happy Financial New Year!
What are staff and volunteers most looking forward to in 2015-16 at Just Drop-In:
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"Helping young people gain more qualifications to increase their confidence and employability"
Ann Wright, Just Drop-In Manager
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"Meeting likeable young people who so bravely and calmly face terrible problems in their lives. It makes me feel ashamed to moan about much lesser problems in my own"
William Pilkiewicz, Drop-In Volunteer
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"More new projects and developments - for instance we've just started a shift for 12-15 year olds every Thursday, 6 - 7.30pm, offering somewhere to go and a chance to meet friends their own age"
Faye Ronan, Volunteer Co-ordinator & Projects Officer
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"Seeing and hopefully helping more young people achieve more of their potential".
John Stevens, Drop-In Volunteer
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​"The great plans for developing our volunteer team, in particular supporting counsellors in developing a creative approach to working with young people"
Lisa Goodchild, Counselling Co-ordinator
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"Completing my NVQ - however this also means leaving Just Drop-in. I am so grateful for everything they have done to get me to where I am now and the experience and confidence to move on".
Megan Hammonds, Business Administration, Modern Apprentice
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"Opening of more doors for recognized education within the Drop-In"
Francesca Volpato, Virtual School Project Worker
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Fundraising Update
Just Drop-In again benefited from its very generous supporters. A book fair at Macclesfield Methodist raised nearly £430 and the church made a further donation of £200. In 2014-15 Just Drop-In was again the Mayor’s charity and events arranged by Cllr Janet Jackson raised £1226. The April bag pack at Sainsbury’s raised more than £900, thanks to all who helped out. We have also received individual donations totalling £3,745. Two teams from Prestbury Methodist Church together raised £175 in the Rotary Club Swimathon by swimming 185 lengths in just 45 minutes! Thanks also to all who support Just Drop-in by giving their time or attending fundraisers.
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