Severn Trent supporting the voluntary sector in Ashfield

18 March 2024

Ashfield Voluntary Action (AVA) is celebrating after receiving £20,000 from Severn Trent's Community Core Fund to support our work within the District of Ashfield.

Ashfield Voluntary Action is a registered charity, with a long track record of empowering, and strengthening the local community. As an infrastructure organisation, AVA works with community groups throughout Ashfield, helping them to establish, operate effectively and safely, and provide activities and services to benefit local people.

As a funder, Severn Trent is particularly forward-looking in their recognition of the role of infrastructure organisations. AVA significantly benefits geographical and communities of need through a cascade, or trickle-down, effect. This method of delivery enables us to support and benefit the wider community, greater improve sustainability and empower local people. It is also very cost effective in terms of its impact and ability to effect long-term change.

By building the skills and knowledge of the community groups with whom we work, in time they become less reliant on outside support. This enables groups to become community driven. When groups are fully led by local people they are more likely to deliver services and activities reflecting local interest and need. This has a beneficial impact on  local people as their sense of ownership and autonomy increases. 

The much-needed funding from Severn Trent's Community Core Fund will enable us to significantly extend our capacity and provide a better service for local groups. As we work to upskill and support these groups helping them with development, governance, recruitment of volunteers, training and funding they, in turn, are able to work more effectively in their geographical community, or community of need. 

Ashfield Voluntary Action has been supporting the residents of Ashfield since 2009 and is run by 8 staff members, 7 trustees and 30 volunteers. AVA was established through the merger of Ashfield Links Forum and Sutton Volunteer Bureau as an infrastructure support organisation. Ashfield Voluntary Action is open five days a week and delivers a variety of community driven groups and services, provides training opportunities and acts as a broker for volunteering. 

Groups evolve in relation to need and currently comprise:

• A grief and loss group.
• A gardening group.
• Social activities and peer support for women.
• A men's group combatting lonliness and isolation.
• An LGBTQ+ group.
• Social activities, well being and support for older people living on the Leamington Estate.

The new funding from Seven Trent Community Fund: Core funding, which awards grant money to maintain three elements of community wellbeing – people, places and environment – means Ashfield Voluntary Action can provide invaluable support to the community for the next 12 months.

At the same time, through this generous grant from Severn Trent, AVA will continue to support people across Ashfield, enabling individuals to access groups and activities, and voluntary sector groups to start up, link and deliver together.

Ashfield Voluntary Action says “We’re delighted that the Seven Trent Community Fund Core Funding has recognised our work in this way. We’re thankful for the funding so that we’ll be able to provide and develop opportunities available to local people and to support the Ashfield District. This is important because it helps both our organisation and other charity organisations in the Ashfield District who in turn will help the local people of Ashfield."

Eleanor Thomson, a volunteer at Ashfield Voluntary Action, says: “I am very grateful for Ashfield Voluntary Action for giving me the opportunity to volunteer twice a week in their reception. I have been unemployed for several years and recovering from illness, so my confidence was very low when I started with Ashfield Voluntary Action in August 2023. Ashfield Voluntary Action provides a safe and supportive space with much needed connection, contribution, and purpose, to services users, employees, and volunteers. The Ashfield Voluntary Action environment is enabling me to heal and re-energise. As a result, my confidence is returning, and I am now also on my journey back into paid full-time employment with their support.”

To find out more about this work, click HERE or contact Ashfield Voluntary Action. 

Ashfield Voluntary Action CEO: Una Key, Phone:01623 555 551, Email: u.key@ashfieldVoluntaryaction.org.uk

Admin and Marketing: Katherine Houlding, Phone: 01623 555 551, Email: k.houlding@ashfieldvoluntaryaction.org.uk.