VOLUNTEERING has taken on a new strength in Okehampton with support from the Okehampton and District Council for Voluntary Service.
Over the past year the branch has referred 80 people from the town and surrounding area to local voluntary organisations and over 100 groups have received help and advice.
During 'Volunteers Week' from June 1-7, all these people will be recognised for their services to the community during a special reception in the Town Hall.
Thanks to a number of new initiatives the Okehampton and District CVS is opening up the opportunities for voluntary groups and community organisations but according to branch manager Carmel Fanconi it has not scratched the surface yet.
'There are heaps of people out there in the voluntary sector who can benefit from our help,' said Carmel.
'Either they do not know we are here or think we are some stuffy old fashioned organisation which we are not. We are a lively bunch ready and willing to help at any time.'
It is down to the good work that had been achieved and funding from Europe and the Community Council of Devon that the CVS in Okehampton now has a development officer and a funding advisor and the staff level has grown to five.
A number of training courses have been held in such things as health and safety, presentation skills and recruiting and managing volunteers and many more are planned.
Carmel said there was an awful lot of funding out there and CVS could point people in the right direction and help them with funding applications.
'We do not access enough European funding — the local authorities, universities and colleges get nearly all of it,' she said.
'I would say to people that if they have any project, no matter how small, bring it in and we will do our best — they must not give up on us.'
She said the CVS was an access point for help and support across West Devon and people would be sent on to other agencies such as the borough council and the community council of Devon if it was more appropriate.
'Sometimes people associated the voluntary sector with being amateur but the CVS was trying to dispel that image,' she said.
'This is why we do the training and there are so many people with skills who can bring huge benefits to community and voluntary groups.
'To maintain a vibrant and caring community you need volunteers or it becomes insular and materialistic.
'We could not afford the taxes we would have to pay if all the statutory agencies were to provide all we actually need.'
The voluntary and community sector in Devon and Cornwall employs as many as 38,000 people, has 115,000 regular volunteers and accounts for up to 4.7 per cent Gross Domestic Product.
Volunteers are on the increase in Okehampton but more are always needed. The CVS has recently introduced volunteering to Year 11 pupils of Okehampton Community College who are awarded a certificate on completion of their community work be it with Age Concern, helping at the local primary school or acting as press officer for the CVS.
Buggy drivers, conservation leaders, animal carers and cyber cafe volunteers are just some of the opportunities presently available.
Carmel said volunteering was a great way to help your community, meet new people and increase your job prospects. In the case of young people it gave them something to talk about at university or job interviews.
'Many people have a lack of confidence in their own skills and volunteering allows them to practice their skills or learn new ones in a non threatening environment,' she said.
Both Carmel Fanconi and funding advisor Dave Goodwin were volunteers before they were employed by the voluntary sector.
Dave, who gave up a uninspiring labouring job last year and started helping with the Sticklepath Fireshow and the Open Door Family Centre, said: 'You cannot knock the feeling of doing a day's work — it maybe for no money — but to see the happy faces of those kids at the end of the day is something you cannot top.'
Anyone wanting to know more about the Okehampton and District CVS should contact 01837 55047.