The Gloscars: Gloucestershire VCS Assembly Annual Event and Award Ceremony 2009
View some photos of the Gloscars on the Flickr website
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Nomination categories
- Best governance
- Best partnership/collaboration
- Thanks for representing the voluntary and community sector
- Best at involving diverse communities
- Best at encouraging volunteering
- Most innovative project
- Best community based activity
Best Governance Nominations
- GARAS
- Independence Trust
Winner: Gloucestershire Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (GARAS)
GARAS offers an excellent service to asylum seekers and refugees who are allocated to Gloucester or who come into Gloucester as unaccompanied minors or in need of support. Much of the lead for this best practice comes from the Director of GARAS, Adele Owen, but she is well supported by her Board of Trustees. Between them that Board ensure financial diligence within a tight budget, and have the local, regional and national links needed to bring current best practice to Gloucester.
Best Partnership Collaboration Nominations
- Age Concern Gloucestershire Meal Mates Project
- Forest of Dean Carers Task Group (a sub group of our LSP’s Older Peoples Access to Services Delivery Group)
- GL Communities
- Gloucestershire Community Transport Groups (Dial-a-Ride)
- Independence Trust - Alcohol Treatment Requirement (ATR), Gloucestershire Probation Area
- Ryecroft Community Liaison Group
Winner: GL Communities
A merger of three Charities –Matson, Podsmead and White City has helped to create a strong and vibrant organisation specialising in Neighbourhood Working and community Engagement.
Best at Involving Diverse Communities Nominations
- Gymnation and Friendship Café
- The Meningitis Trust Peer Education Scheme
Winner: The Meningitis Trust
The Meningitis Trust’s Peer Education scheme was launched in Gloucestershire in October 2008. Its key objective is to ensure that communities are aware of the signs and symptoms and the potential impact of the disease.
To achieve this, we recruited voluntary Peer Educators from a variety of nationalities and communities who are able to communicate with their own peer group in their own language. Fourteen languages are spoken in addition to English.
Best at Encouraging Volunteers Nominations
- Age Concern Gloucestershire Volunteering System
- Fairshares Gloucestershire
- Gloucestershire Domestic Violence Support and Advocacy Project
- Gloucestershire Nightstop
- Third Sector Services - County Marketing and Volunteer Development Project
- Third Sector Services
Award Winner: Age Concern
Age Concern Gloucestershire has always valued and relied upon the contribution of volunteers. They recognised that they could improve their practice, however, and developed a volunteering strategy, which they began implementing in April 2008.
Most Innovative Project Nominations
- Castle Gate Family Support Centre
- Cheltenham Volunteer Centre (Snapper photographic project)
- Friendship Café Gloucester2Gaza Crew
- Play Gloucestershire
- The Exchange
- The Meningitis Trust BME Peer Education System
Winner: Cheltenham Volunteer Centre (Snapper photographic project)
Snapper is a not-for-profit photographic agency started by Cheltenham Volunteer Centre, with support from Severn Sound and V. The organisation is providing an invaluable resource by matching voluntary groups and charities that normally cannot afford to pay for a professional photographer, with young volunteer photographers looking for more experience and to expand their portfolio. Snapper “captures the spirit” of what the organisation is doing for press-releases, web and recruiting material, annual reports or to document a special event.
Best Community Based Activity Nominations
- Age Concern Gloucestershire Choirs
- Age Concern Gloucestershire Fit as a Fish Project
- Age Concern Gloucestershire Information Advice and Advocacy Service
- City Centre Community Partnership
- Vision 21 ‘Get up and Grow’ Project, Tewkesbury Section
- Severn Area Rescue Association (SARA)
- The Meningitis Trust BME Peer Education System
Award winner: Vision 21 ‘Get up and Grow’ Project, Tewkesbury Section
Get up and Grow’ project which operates from the rear of The Swan Inn at Coombe Hill for the past three months. The site was kindly donated by the pub landlord.
The project has helped improve the health and welfare of adults and children from Tewkesbury as well as building a sustainable community project. Five local families have been learning to grow their own food with support from Mike Ellard, caretaker at Severn Vale Housing Society, who is the project’s volunteer mentor.
Thanks for representing the voluntary and community sector Nominations
- Judith Hill, Westgate Community Trust for role as rep to the VCS Forum
- Peter Steel for role as VCS Rep on the Glos Safer and Stronger Communities Partnership
Award winner: Peter Steel
