VOLUNTARY groups will be meeting in Crediton on Wednesday, March 25 to discuss how to encourage more people to become involved in their activities.

The Crediton and District Voluntary Groups' Forum is administered by Involve, which supports voluntary and community groups throughout Mid Devon.

Involve's chief officer, Duncan Wood, explained: "Volunteers are being expected to do more and more with less and less time, and we can't rely on things going on as they were. So it's time for everyone to think outside the box. People are also working longer!"

The meeting will be an opportunity to get advice and support on finding, training and keeping volunteers, and to network with others who also have similar interests and needs.

The keynote speaker will be Sue Snell, who has worked in the voluntary sector for more than 10 years in a range of roles, most recently for Devon In Sight, and previously as Volunteer Co-ordinator for Involve.

Mark Bailey, Convenor of the Forum, said: "The Forum provides a great opportunity for local groups to come together to chat and network – so often we don't know what everyone else is doing and how.

"With a quick chat, suddenly we can improve the services we offer and refer people to all sorts of useful links."

Volunteers make possible a huge range of services and activities in the local area, including the local food bank, the museum, charity shops, and even the local bookshop, as well as working behind the scenes supporting local people in many ways.

An outstanding, recent, example of local volunteering was Sustainable Crediton's High Street Give and Take Shop. Over a fortnight, 26 volunteers took in seven metric tonnes of bric-a-brac kindly donated by local people, only five per cent of which went to landfill after more than 7,000 visitors had taken their pick.

Donations received during the two weeks raised nearly £500 for Sustainable Crediton's funds. 

Esther Mann, who managed the Pop Up Shop for Sustainable Crediton, said: "It was great fun when all that stuff arrived, and so many people came to support us. So it was hugely satisfying.

"We are now looking for ways to do more and we always need more volunteers!"

Involve also supports local voluntary organisations with funding and development advice from Crediton and District worker John Skrine. John said: "I'm in the town, happy to come and meet you, and only a telephone call or email away if you want to discuss any fundraising or development issues."

The free Voluntary Groups Forum event will be held at the Meadow Suite, Lords Meadow Leisure Centre, Crediton and starts with lunch at 1pm, with business opening at 1.45pm until 4pm.  

Anyone who would like to attend should please email: [email protected]">[email protected] or telephone John Skrine on 07814 387 090.