A Listening Ear celebrates Volunteers Week 2023

A Listening Ear celebrated Volunteers Week 2023 at an event in Stranraer Library where the Deputy Lord Lieutenant Mr Alex Haswell presented certificates of appreciation to our volunteers as well as those from Fed Up Cafe, Reuse Shop and Versus Arthritis.  This event was to thank our volunteers for their time and hard work in making a real difference to our community.

Although many of our volunteers couldn't be there in person, it didn't stop us thinking of each of them and thanking them from afar.

Our thanks go to all who made the event an enjoyable one: the participating charities, Mr Alex Haswell, Stranraer Library and the Fed Up Cafe for providing a delicious buffet lunch.

A Listening Ear holds Dumfries awareness event

December 2nd, 2022: A community awareness event was held in Dumfries on Friday, December 2nd, 2022 to introduce A Listening Ear to key stakeholders in the east of the region. The event was held at the modern and spacious premises of Dumfries Baptist Church in Georgetown and included representatives from NHS Scotland and Third Sector Dumfries & Galloway.

Donna Adams-Allen, A Listening Ear's Volunteer Co-ordinator, spoke about the beginings of the project two years ago and the rapid progress made towards gaining charity status which is expected to be confirmed later this month.

There is a huge need for the services provided by A Listening Ear and the object of the Dumfries event was to consolidate the project's presence across the east of the region and raise awareness of it's services among potential users and referrers as well as bringing on board additional volunteer befrienders.

As well as the website launch, materials have been produced to allow other organisations to refer potential service users to A Listening Ear. Donna also spoke of the project's delight at having been awarded the Volunteer Friendly Award from Volunteer Scotland, a recognition of the way in which volunteers are and have been supported within the Listening Ear project since its inception in 2020.

This is just one of the number of such events being held across Dumfries and Galloway. The first was in Stranraer and the next will be in Dalbeattie on December 19th, 2020.

The project's branding which included a new logo and colour scheme together with the website was the work of Dalbeattie-based Great-Value-Websites.Com. Peter Jeal of Great Value Websites was also present to officially launch the website to those attending the Dumfries awareness event.

A Listening Ear wins Volunteer Friendly Award

November 27th, 2022: Dumfries & Galloway befriending project, A Listening Ear, has received a Volunteer Friendly Award from Volunteer Scotland. The award recognises a user-friendly quality standard to support, recognise and reward groups that are good at involving their volunteers. The Volunteer Friendly Award submission from A Listening Ear highlights vital work and volunteering.

"The impact that A Listening Ear has/continues to make and how it successfully involves and supports volunteers is particularly impressive given that A Listening Ear was only established in April 2020 as part of the tremendous community and volunteering response to the COVID-19 pandemic," said a Volunteer Scotland spokesperson.

"The work and volunteering at A Listening Ear in addressing loneliness, isolation and supporting people is more important than ever. A Listening Ear has provided a range of relevant and excellent information which evidences well how A Listening Ear meets the strands and practices necessary for achieving the Volunteer Friendly Award.

"This is a great achievement for us as a fledgling organisation and only possible through the amazing contribution and dedication of you all. "

The Volunteer Friendly Award was redeveloped in 2021 by Volunteer Scotland and the TSI Scotland Network. The standard, process and offer have been refreshed and achievable requirements set for each level of your volunteer programme. The new process allows more groups to engage with the Volunteer Friendly Award and be recognised for the work they do.

Volunteer Scotland added: "It is also positive that A Listening Ear has (and continue) to take forward further work and developments highlighted as part of the Volunteer Friendly Award quality assurance to enhance, recognise and improve volunteers experience and involvement even further. This shows commitment to volunteers and further developing/sustaining best practice. The great support from Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway with this adds to the quality of the submission and bodes very well for the future of volunteering at A Listening Ear.

"Many essential services in Scotland’s communities are enhanced by volunteers. The Scottish Government recognises that volunteering matters and it’s all about new experiences, feeling good and making a difference. It’s never been more important for groups to be able to show how good they are at involving and managing their volunteers. We believe regardless of your group or organisation size or set up you should be rewarded and recognised for the difference your volunteer programme makes."

"The Volunteer Friendly Award submission from A Listening Ear highlights vital work and volunteering.

"The impact that A Listening Ear has/continues to make and how it successfully involves and supports volunteers is particularly impressive given that A Listening Ear was only established in April 2020 as part of the tremendous community and volunteering response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The work and volunteering at A Listening Ear in addressing loneliness, isolation and supporting people is more important than ever.

"A Listening Ear has provided a range of relevant and excellent information which evidences well how A Listening Ear meets the strands and practices necessary for achieving the Volunteer Friendly Award. It is also positive that A Listening Ear has (and continue) to take forward further work and developments highlighted as part of the Volunteer Friendly Award quality assurance to enhance, recognise and improve volunteers experience and involvement even further. This shows commitment to volunteers and further developing/sustaining best practice.

"The great support from Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway with this adds to the quality of the submission and bodes very well for the future of volunteering at A Listening Ear. The Volunteer Case Study supplied/impact ‘Volunteer A’ has made is marvellous, inspiring and shows the real difference the volunteers at A Listening Ear are making. Similarly, volunteers feedback in the Volunteer's Voice Survey was extremely helpful and contains great and useful information for the Volunteer Friendly Award and for wider volunteering developments at A Listening Ear. A fantastic submission for the Volunteer Friendly Award.

"I agree with the assessment and recommendation from Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway that A Listening Ear be awarded the Volunteer Friendly Award. I commend the outstanding volunteering at A Listening Ear and the dedication of volunteers. I wish A Listening Ear continued best wishes in the work and volunteering that they do and congratulate everyone at A Listening Ear on the magnificent achievement of the Volunteer Friendly Award."