May Volunteer Hub Newsletter is here!
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May flew by (did anyone else blink and miss it?) – we hope you managed to enjoy the bank holidays and maybe even caught some sunshine ☀️

Colleagues from across Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale joined us at the CVS Centre for both sessions, delivered by East Lancs Learning. Great discussions, great engagement, and lots of useful learning to take away.
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We’re now working with East Lancs Learning to bring even more training opportunities your way  watch this space.


We also attended a Behaviour Change Workshop in Rossendale, exploring how language can support healthier lifestyle choices. A really insightful session – one we’d definitely recommend for anyone working or volunteering in the community.

More training is on the way, including opportunities around trustee development – we want to hear from YOU about what would be most useful.

Got ideas for future training or support? Get in touch with Rebecca: rebecca.nolan@bprcvs.co.uk

A new vision for volunteering across Lancashire has been launched, bringing together the voices of volunteers, community organisations, residents, and the VCFSE sector to shape the future of volunteering.
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"What Does Good Volunteering Look Like? A Vision for Volunteering in Lancashire in 2026" highlights the incredible impact volunteers have on communities and sets out a shared ambition to make volunteering more accessible, inclusive, supported, and rewarding for everyone.

The report showcases inspiring stories from across Lancashire, including volunteer-to-career pathways, youth action projects, health volunteering, community partnerships, and the vital role played by local volunteer centres and infrastructure organisations.

Key themes include:

• Better promotion of volunteering opportunities
• Accessible training and support
• Flexible and inclusive volunteer roles
• Stronger partnerships across communities and services
• Recognition and celebration of volunteers
• Creating pathways into employment and skills development

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With over 208,000 people volunteering across Lancashire each month, volunteers continue to be at the heart of stronger, healthier, and more connected communities.

Produced with support from the Lancashire 12 Volunteering for Health Place Based Partnership, the Lancashire 12 Volunteer Managers Forum, volunteers, residents, and organisations from across the county.

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Read the report and discover how together we can build a future where everyone has the opportunity to make a difference.

The programme is voluntary and typically lasts between two and eight weeks (with the potential to continue longer in some cases), giving participants the opportunity to improve their employability while supporting local organisations.

For volunteer including groups and organisations, it provides a simple and low risk way to engage with motivated individuals, contribute to the local community, and support workforce development. There is no financial cost to organisations, as participants remain on benefits and DWP can support with travel and related expenses where appropriate.

DWP provides ongoing support throughout the process, including helping organisations register, matching suitable participants, and offering guidance to ensure placements are beneficial for both the individual and the host organisation.

If you are interested we are holding a sign up event at BPRCVS offices on Yorkshire St., Burnley during Volunteers' Week (4/6/26). Please see flyer above for details on how to sign up.

We also have on hand the Volunteer Hub who can help you with how you can develop your volunteer offering. We have put in place a networking area with refreshments. Book into a slot to sign up then sit and relax for half an hour and talk to us about how we can support you to thrive.

It’s been a fantastic start for the Helping Hands Lottery since launching with the first draw on 6th December 2025! Thank you to everyone who has signed up, played, and supported local good causes across Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale.

Impact so far:

• £13,135.20 on track to be raised annually (based on current ticket sales)
• £3,102.60 already paid out to local good causes
• £125.00 paid out in cash prizes to players

Current snapshot:

• 421 active weekly tickets
• 150 active players
• 34 groups registered as good causes
• 5,171 total tickets sold
• 189 total historic players

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We’re just getting started! We’re always looking for more local groups and organisations to join as good causes it’s completely free to register and you can start raising funds in just a few days.

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Help us spread the word and grow the impact:
www.helpinghandslottery.co.uk
Together, we’re offering a helping hand to local communities

BPRCVS is currently recruiting new Funding Panel Members to help support the decision-making process for local small grant programmes across Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale.
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On behalf of our funders, BPRCVS administers a range of funding opportunities for community groups. Following a successful recruitment of panel members last year, we are now looking to expand our pool of volunteers to ensure a diverse and representative group supports future funding decisions.

What’s involved?
Panel members will:

• Be representatives of BPRCVS member groups
• Be actively involved in local community activity
• Have an interest in community funding and project development
• Develop an understanding of grant criteria and conditions
• Attend an initial information and induction session on available grants
• Participate in panel meetings (a mix of online and in-person sessions)
• Read and review funding applications in advance of meetings
• Contribute to fair and informed funding decisions

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Time commitment
We recognise that time is valuable. On average, panel members should expect:

• Approximately 2 hours per month for panel meetings
• Additional reading time in advance of meetings (this may vary depending on the number of applications received, particularly when funding rounds first open)

Being a panel member does not affect eligibility to apply for funding, nor does it provide any advantage in application outcomes.

Key Dates (First Round)

• Expressions of Interest deadline: Friday 29 May 2026
• Online panel briefing: Wednesday 10 June 2026 (9:30–11:30am)
• Application review period: From 15 June 2026
• In-person panel meeting: Thursday 2 July 2026

Please note: availability for 10 June and 2 July is required for the first round. Further opportunities to join will be available throughout the year as additional funding rounds take place.

LACVS Volunteering for Health project are producing a Vision for Volunteering and we are now consulting on the insights we have gathered in during 2025/6. We are asking the VCFSE sector and beyond for their feedback on the infographics, answering the following 3 questions during April and May:

1. What impact do you feel the 6 short term action points being implemented over the next 18 months will have on you/ your organisation?
2. Do you feel there are any gaps in the strategy?
3. Is this a conversation you can be part of and support?

This is your opportunity to have your say in a document which we hope will help us strengthen the VCFSE sector and our communities moving forwards.

If you would like to have a face to face or TEAMS meeting to discuss this further we would be delighted to hear form you, or we would be just as delighted for a few sentences of feedback (even if it is just, its great as it is). 

We will be launching the Vision during Volunteers Week, look out for more information on this during May.

BPRCVS and Rossendale Borough Council have had a beneficial partnership over many years. Although the partnership has not had a Service Level Agreement in place for a number of years, CVS continues to deliver vital services in the Rossendale community.

The work CVS does enables more funding to be brought into Rossendale. This enhances not only the voluntary, community and faith sector landscape but also the economic landscape of Rossendale. 
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Infrastructure support within the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector is essential for fostering resilience, sustainability, and growth. At CVS, our infrastructure principles ensure that organisations and community groups receive the guidance, resources, and advocacy they need to thrive. 

Check out the summary below (click to enlarge) and download a copy of the full report to find out more by clicking the button below.

BPRCVS and Burnley Borough Council have had a beneficial, strong and fruitful partnership over many years. The Service Level Agreements that have been in place have dictated the work CVS delivers in Burnley. 

CVS projects, connections and partnerships enable us to bring huge added value to enhance the funding from Burnley Borough Council and exceed expected delivery. 

The work CVS does outside of the Service Level Agreement enables more funding to be brought into Burnley. This enhances not only the voluntary, community and faith sector landscape but also the economic landscape of Burnley. 
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Infrastructure support within the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector is essential for fostering resilience, sustainability, and growth. At CVS, our infrastructure principles ensure that organisations and community groups receive the guidance, resources, and advocacy they need to thrive. 

Check out the summary below (click to enlarge), and download a copy of the full report by clicking the button below.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) 2025–2026 was launched by the UK Government. Burnley Borough Council in partnership with Lancashire Combined County Authority launched the Burnley Community Grant Scheme for a fourth year. The investment priority was ‘Communities and Place’ focusing on healthy, safe and inclusive communities. The sub themes were: healthy - improve health and wellbeing; safe - reduce crime and the fear of crime; inclusive - bringing communities together, and tackling homelessness; and development of the visitor economy.

Where did March go?! It’s been a busy one for our Volunteer Hub team here at BPRCVS – with lots of great work happening across Burnley, Pendle & Rossendale 💛

This month at a glance:

• 37 people supported to start their volunteering journey
• 20 referrals made to local opportunities via Get Volunteering
• Visits to Pendleside Hospice & Footy Zone to support volunteer development
• Drop-in session at Rawtenstall Job Centre helping people explore volunteering
• Attended a listening event at Gannow Community Centre with Inclusive North

Upcoming Training Opportunity
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Join our Behaviour Change Workshop with Andrew Levy (Edge Hill University):
📍 Nelson – 5 May
📍 Haslingden – 14 May
🕙 10am–12pm
Perfect for anyone supporting communities and looking to build skills in encouraging positive lifestyle change.
👉 To book: thehub@bprcvs.co.uk
Thanks to everyone we’ve worked with this month – and here’s to a brighter, busier spring ahead! 🌷

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us at our first official Coffee, Cake & Collaboration event at Whitewell Bottom Community Centre! ☕🍰
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Despite the unpredictable weather, it was fantastic to see so many passionate organisations come together to connect, share ideas, and support one another across Burnley, Pendle & Rossendale.

💬 Highlights from the day:

• Celebrating the incredible impact of local organisations and the difference you make in our communities
• Inspiring updates from groups including Community Roots, The White Horse Project, Homewise, and more
• Meaningful discussions around volunteer management, sharing real-life challenges and practical solutions
• Building new connections and exploring future partnerships

💡 From supporting volunteer confidence to tackling challenges like communication, boundaries, and teamwork — the conversations were honest, insightful, and incredibly valuable.
📣 What’s next?
Our next Coffee, Cake & Collaboration event will be heading to Pendle — venue to be confirmed!
👉 We’d love your input on future topics too:

• Funding applications
• Volunteer retention
• Work/life balance
• Preventing burnout

Have ideas? Let us know here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/pHx98heYwx
💻 Don’t forget to sign up to our volunteering platform:
bprcvs.getvolunteering.co.uk
Thanks again for being part of such a positive and collaborative session — we can’t wait to see you at the next one (and for more cake, of course! 😄)

Our commitment and dedication to volunteering in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale has once again been proven with this latest award of the VCQA from NAVCA.

We're very happy to have been informed that we have once again been awarded the Volunteer Centre Quality Accreditation!

We're very proud of this accreditation, and it shows our dedication and commitment to volunteering across our localities.

BPRCVS is the only Volunteer Centre across the whole of #Lancashire with the VCQA.

Maddy Desforges, CEO of #NAVCA (awarding body) said, "Following the independent assessment of your submission for quality accreditation and NAVCA’s final review of the assessor’s recommendation, I am very pleased to confirm Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale CVS has been awarded the Volunteer Centre Quality Accreditation (VCQA). I attach the final assessment report for your information." - see image below.

"Congratulations - we know how much work has gone into this and hope you and your team will feel, rightly, proud of this achievement. The accreditation is valid for three years."

​​If you want to more about volunteering and get involved in supporting your community, check out our volunteering page here.

If you're a VCFSE group in Burnley, Pendle or Rossendale, or if you're based outside of these localities, but offer volunteering opportunities in our region and are interested in accessing our volunteer brokerage service to support your volunteering needs, check out our volunteering page here.

Click 'read more' to access the latest report from the Lancashire & South Cumbria Integrated Care Board's Small Groups Grants Programme which is administered on their behalf by BPRCVS.

Check out what impact the grants programme has had on the communities of Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale. The report totals the latest outcomes reported by VCFSE groups in receipt of project grants. We also include a project brief, how much was awarded, and a case study for each project receiving grants from this programme.

The report is available in both video and PDF format.

We’d love for you to come along on Thursday 26th March and be part of the celebration 💚

Park Social
Time: 10am – 12pm
Event: Thompson Park Pavilion
 What’s on?

• Arts & crafts
• Games
• Cycling
• Refreshments
• Plus, find out how Social Prescribing can connect you to local groups, services & activities.

💚 Wellbeing is about more than medicine
It’s about connection, purpose, and support. Whether you need help with:

• Social inclusion
• Housing
• Finances
• Employment & education

…we’re here for you.
Come down, get involved, and say hello — we can’t wait to see you there!

Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Council for Voluntary Service (BPRCVS) is proud to launch a brand-new, dedicated volunteering website which makes it easier to promote and access volunteer opportunities.
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Get Volunteering puts volunteering in our local communities at your fingertips. It is a brand-new website that provides benefits for both local groups and organisations looking to recruit volunteers, and for local people who are interested in giving something back to their community and getting started on their volunteering journey.

​Carol Port, BPRCVS Volunteer Manager, said, “We’re excited to launch Get Volunteering. It’s a fabulous platform which will make volunteer recruitment easier for groups and organisations, and make searching and applying for volunteer roles much easier for local people.”

Simply visit https://bprcvs.getvolunteering.co.uk/ and in a few moments you’ll be well on your way to beginning your volunteer journey. Search for opportunities nearby by using your postcode or input specific keywords to find what you’re looking for. Get Volunteering also lets you search for opportunities based directly on your interests and the type of activities you’re looking to do, so you don’t have to spend a long time to find the most suitable roles.

Each opportunity has a role description, but also provides additional details such as the hours and days a group or organisation is looking for volunteers to help them, the policies and procedures in place to keep you safe, whether a DBS check is required, if training is provided, and so much more. You can also see what the application process is like, so you’re fully informed on what to expect.

When you find something of interest, it only takes a few moments to create an account, and you can directly enquire for opportunities online. BPRCVS handles your enquiry and liaises between yourself and the group or organisation to get you underway on your volunteering journey.

Groups and organisations are encouraged to register with the Get Volunteering website too using the link above. There are many benefits to using the Get Volunteering platform for your volunteer recruitment. Create an account and begin publishing volunteer opportunities right away.

One of the advantages of Get Volunteering is that it is far more efficient, so opportunities are available for volunteers to see much sooner, but you’re also in control as you can make amendments, renew or close an opportunity as soon as needed. It’s not just a basic role description that’s visible on the website - it allows you to publish several key details which can be of significance to volunteers looking to give their time. The more information provided, the more informed the volunteer is in their decision making which results in many more suitable volunteers applying for the roles.

By providing a few key details about your group or organisation and the role, you’ll make your opportunities more visible to relevant potential volunteers as these are the filters that will be used to search for opportunities.

Get Volunteering delivers automated system emails to keep you informed along the way and BPRCVS receives live notifications of new enquiries which enables us to let you know about any volunteers interested in your opportunities in double quick time.

BPRCVS’ volunteering team reviews all enquiries before passing them onto groups and organisations, so you’re guaranteed to only receive volunteers who are best suited to the role. Get Volunteering makes the process much easier and smoother, saving you time to get on with the wonderful work you do in the community.
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The BPRCVS Volunteer Team, collectively said, “Get Volunteering will make volunteering much more efficient as almost everything can be done online, but we remain available to provide any advice and support needed by groups and organisations as well as local people looking to volunteer, simply email the team at thehub@bprcvs.co.uk or call on 01282 433740.”