what is 'v'?

‘V’ is a new foundation whose mission is to inspire a new generation of 16 – 25 year olds to get involved in volunteering and community action across the country.

Stoke CAB has always been committed to supporting local people’s involvement in the CAB service through volunteering, and funding from the ‘V’ Foundation, as part of a national CAB pilot project, has helped us extend that to young people.

“We have always recruited some younger volunteers,” commented ‘V’ project Co-ordinator Tina Mendolia, “but this funding has meant we have had dedicated resources to recruit and support many more young people than we normally can.”

Over the 18 months of the project Stoke CAB expects to recruit 24 full time and 36 part time volunteers. They are trained either to be a CAB adviser or to take part in campaigning and promotional work.

The project not only benefits the local community but also enables young volunteers to gain skills and confidence and help them to find employment.

Shaun Fragola started volunteering in the bureau in December 2006. Unemployed, when he joined the project, he was still unable to find work at the end of a New Deal placement.

As part of the 'V' project he trained to be a CAB adviser and was doing so well that he fast tracked through the training and started to give advice in March 2007.

Shaun says, “Being part of the 'V' Project at the bureau increased my confidence and it enabled me to go for job interviews”. Since then he has used this experience to find a job at BT and will be going to catering college in September.

Young volunteers have also promoted the CAB advice and campaigns and have trained to be CAB Ambassadors. They have given a presentation to the Sixth Form College, attended a volunteer fair at Keele University, held stalls in the Potteries Shopping Centre and have recently started work on a video aimed at promoting the CAB service to young people.

Volunteers from the project have attended the Citizens Advice AGM in York and attended Citizens Advice Youth Forum Meetings in London and Birmingham.

The project has also encouraged young people to volunteer as advisers who never thought about training as advisers.

Daniella Sinaguglia, who recently joined the project says: