New West Sussex volunteer website launched

WEST Sussex County Council and the West Sussex Council for Voluntary Service Network (CVS) have launched a website supporting volunteering in the county.

Skillshare West Sussex promotes volunteering opportunities of between one day and two weeks duration. Social enterprises, voluntary organisations and community groups can use the website www.skillshare-westsussex.org.uk to advertise their volunteering opportunities and these can be matched against the skills and availability of registered organisations and individuals.

Deputy leader Lionel Barnard, who has responsibility for enterprise, said: “The county council recognises the value of promoting volunteering and of supporting both host organisations and volunteers to find opportunities suitable for them.

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“The new website will complement many initiatives run by businesses, including the council’s own Employee Volunteering Scheme, which aims to encourage and support staff to take part in volunteering schemes that contribute towards active and independent communities.”

Kate Scales, chief executive of Voluntary and Community Action, which manages the website, said: “Voluntary and community groups across West Sussex rely on the support of volunteers, but we appreciate not everyone has the time to commit to long term volunteering placements.

“This scheme aims to attract a new audience to volunteering and to support local communities with employee volunteering schemes to find placements for their staff. And as the slogan says, giving a little means a lot.”

The scheme has been designed to run alongside the service provided by the volunteer centres. The website will focus on short term opportunities. The site also enables organisations to showcase their volunteering achievements.