One year gone! WOW - where did that go?
Here is my review of 2013 ...... enjoy x
Till next time
click here
Friday, 17 January 2014
Sunday, 5 May 2013
Not to forget...........
Just a few little more events that have happened..........
Willows Primary School - we've launched a trial group for 6 weeks. Week 3 has happend and we have approx 15-18 children attending weekly. Its very exciting and we have a member of staff whohas volunteered to be leader in charge. - 1st Penkhull (Willows Primary School)
St Johns Centre - starting a permanent group on 3rd June :) - 1st Trent Vale (St Johns)
Taster session to be held on May 13th at Broadway Methodist, Meir
Christ Church Primary School - letters have gone out to parents about the idea of setting up a permanent group
Fegg Hayes Methodist (remember from an earlier blog) - letters have gone out to parents about the idea of setting up a permanent group
Stoke Minster - much nearer to setting up a group - work in progress:)
Been invited to UCB Radio for an interview.
Been invited to BBC Radio Stoke to do a Sunday morning slot about BB in Stoke-on-Trent.
BIG article in the press : http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/Boys-Brigade-shops-recruits/story-18662794-detail/story.html#axzz2SRzO20tG
and another : http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/Volunteers-help-make-difference-children-s-lives/story-18662862-detail/story.html#axzz2SRzO20tG
till next time x
Willows Primary School - we've launched a trial group for 6 weeks. Week 3 has happend and we have approx 15-18 children attending weekly. Its very exciting and we have a member of staff whohas volunteered to be leader in charge. - 1st Penkhull (Willows Primary School)
St Johns Centre - starting a permanent group on 3rd June :) - 1st Trent Vale (St Johns)
Taster session to be held on May 13th at Broadway Methodist, Meir
Christ Church Primary School - letters have gone out to parents about the idea of setting up a permanent group
Fegg Hayes Methodist (remember from an earlier blog) - letters have gone out to parents about the idea of setting up a permanent group
Stoke Minster - much nearer to setting up a group - work in progress:)
Been invited to UCB Radio for an interview.
Been invited to BBC Radio Stoke to do a Sunday morning slot about BB in Stoke-on-Trent.
BIG article in the press : http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/Boys-Brigade-shops-recruits/story-18662794-detail/story.html#axzz2SRzO20tG
and another : http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/Volunteers-help-make-difference-children-s-lives/story-18662862-detail/story.html#axzz2SRzO20tG
till next time x
How many weeks have passed?
Is it REALLY 3 months since my last post? Yikes......time goes so quickly doesn't it? Lots to tell you about, but will have to be in bullet points (sort of) cos otherwise I'll be here for DAYS !!
6th - met Ray at Fegg Hayes Methodist Church - he had responded to the news article in The Sentinel (he phoned monday and I was meeting him by Wednesday!). They REALLY want a group at the church .....very excited by this.
7th Feb : Met a whole load of folks at a BB Stoke leaders meeting. I went along with Eric (my boss) and we both gave presentations. The meeting had been dedicated to us .....so we have time for talking, drinking coffee and meeting loads of people .....all very nice.
The key thing for me was that I met the leaders of all three existing groups that I'd identified in my work in January - and all three are happy to work with me.
Was slightly disappointed that I cannot work with a couple of groups because they are too far from the City - but I guess that was always going to be a problem.
12/13th Feb - staff meeting at Felden- then on to Dartford (getting around a bit!) for the first of our Youth United meetings. Talk is good......................but Stoke-on-Trent is becoming very special and important to me.
19th Feb - meeting with the Local Matters Team at Stoke City Council. Fab meeting and FAB team - they have become a major source of leads within communities of Stoke-on-Trent.
20th Feb - met Glenn at Temple Street Methodist Church. This is one of the churches that I identified as a "target" in my first week in this job. Good meeting .....potential for a group at this church.
22nd Feb- community information morning at Hartshill - met the Rev Sandy Dutton who was very excited about the BB coming to her area. Agreed to meet again.....very soon. Also met Councillor Shaun Pender - very interested in what I am trying to do. Thats two key contacts thanks to the Local Matters team who invited me to this event.......
First attempt at using display panels - quite pleased :
After this, met up with Vic from Longton URC who have offered me an office whenever I need it - very useful.
27th Feb - VERY INTERESTING DAY! Visited the activities centre at WARSLOW in the Peak District owned by the North Staffs (Stoke-on-Trent) Battalion .............WHAT AN AMAZING RESOURCE! Will DEFINITELY BE USING THIS....
Then on to a "School engagement" meeting .....invited (again) by the Local Matters Team. The school is Willows Primary School in Penkhull (part of Rev Sandy Dutton's patch) - having major problems with un-thoughtful parking by parents. As a result, they want to start up a series of after school clubs. Are we intersted?? oh yes! Another exciting opportunity.
28th Feb- meeting with Rev David Lingwood, at Stoke Minster (another venue I'd spotted in my first week). He's got 3 or 4 volunteers looking to start some form of youth work up.....could it be a BB group? Think so! Meeting arranged after Easter.
Met a very inspirational lady who has set up an independant youth club up in a converted house! Is really great - and my thinking is that this could be a free standing BB group concentrating on dofe ..... long way to go on this, but have definitely got this club on my list!
1st March - at Stoke Minster meeting, was also a very nice minister from All Saints, Joiners Square (near Handley). He is very keen to discuss how we can work together. He invited me to a community info afternoon at his church hall (Local Matters team again!). Potential opportunity for starting uo a group here.
5th March - Temple St Methodist Church council - I present about BB and get the green light to pursue setting up a group. Somewhere over the last week or so, I had the idea if setting up a series of taster days for new venues (to show the community and churches what a BB group does) to be run over Easter. Temple St agree to host one of these events.
13th March - Local Matters Team arranged a meeting for Stoke City Councillors from the South of the City to come and see me to hear what I'm doing. 6 came along and were very excited by my plans. One councillor said .."why can't we have a group in EVERY ward"? WOW ....why not?? Another one said - set one up in my area and I'll volunteer to help in it ! A fabulous meeting.
14th March - proper meeting with Rev Sandy Dutton. Great meeting - we going to set a group up in St John's Community Centre (on her patch). A playgroup is being run by two inspirational mums (Emma and Emma) and they want to start up an older group ......BB. Looking very positive.
20th March - Fenton Christian Fellowship - run by a Councillor who is a Christian. Met Dave Wilcox , teacher from a secondary academy .....he's very intersted in setting up a dofe group in his school. Could it be a BB group? "It ticks all my boxes" said Dave.
21st March - UCB (Christian Radio based in Burslem Stoke-on-Trent) Leaders Day. Great time of worship and super contacts made. Preacher from Christian Centre.....Nottingham!
26th/27th March - Felden team meeting. Hemel Hempstead.
These last 3weeks or so have also been spent planning the taster days. 3 days of activity in 6 venues. Team from 39th Nottingham (my group) consisting of 7 young men and 3 older leaders will travel to the 6 venues and show them what BB does - we will run sessions for 5-7 year olds and 8-11 year olds. The young men will run the sessions and I will engage the parents. Posters, leaflets, Banners, communication .....all needs much focus. But did it!
April 8th, 9th & 10th - the taster days LAND :) - we visit Penkhull Village Hall, St Johns Centre, Tunstall Methodist (existing group) , Temple Street Methodist, All Saints Joiners Square and Salem Methodist, Smallthorne (existing group). Sessions go well (in general) = especially Tunstall, St Johns Centre and Salem.
Following week, Tunstall numbers have increased from 8 regular ANchors and Juniors to 25. Salem experience new members weekly. St Johns Centre agree to start up permanent group. :)
6th - met Ray at Fegg Hayes Methodist Church - he had responded to the news article in The Sentinel (he phoned monday and I was meeting him by Wednesday!). They REALLY want a group at the church .....very excited by this.
7th Feb : Met a whole load of folks at a BB Stoke leaders meeting. I went along with Eric (my boss) and we both gave presentations. The meeting had been dedicated to us .....so we have time for talking, drinking coffee and meeting loads of people .....all very nice.
The key thing for me was that I met the leaders of all three existing groups that I'd identified in my work in January - and all three are happy to work with me.
Was slightly disappointed that I cannot work with a couple of groups because they are too far from the City - but I guess that was always going to be a problem.
12/13th Feb - staff meeting at Felden- then on to Dartford (getting around a bit!) for the first of our Youth United meetings. Talk is good......................but Stoke-on-Trent is becoming very special and important to me.
19th Feb - meeting with the Local Matters Team at Stoke City Council. Fab meeting and FAB team - they have become a major source of leads within communities of Stoke-on-Trent.
20th Feb - met Glenn at Temple Street Methodist Church. This is one of the churches that I identified as a "target" in my first week in this job. Good meeting .....potential for a group at this church.
22nd Feb- community information morning at Hartshill - met the Rev Sandy Dutton who was very excited about the BB coming to her area. Agreed to meet again.....very soon. Also met Councillor Shaun Pender - very interested in what I am trying to do. Thats two key contacts thanks to the Local Matters team who invited me to this event.......
First attempt at using display panels - quite pleased :
After this, met up with Vic from Longton URC who have offered me an office whenever I need it - very useful.
27th Feb - VERY INTERESTING DAY! Visited the activities centre at WARSLOW in the Peak District owned by the North Staffs (Stoke-on-Trent) Battalion .............WHAT AN AMAZING RESOURCE! Will DEFINITELY BE USING THIS....
Then on to a "School engagement" meeting .....invited (again) by the Local Matters Team. The school is Willows Primary School in Penkhull (part of Rev Sandy Dutton's patch) - having major problems with un-thoughtful parking by parents. As a result, they want to start up a series of after school clubs. Are we intersted?? oh yes! Another exciting opportunity.
28th Feb- meeting with Rev David Lingwood, at Stoke Minster (another venue I'd spotted in my first week). He's got 3 or 4 volunteers looking to start some form of youth work up.....could it be a BB group? Think so! Meeting arranged after Easter.
Met a very inspirational lady who has set up an independant youth club up in a converted house! Is really great - and my thinking is that this could be a free standing BB group concentrating on dofe ..... long way to go on this, but have definitely got this club on my list!
1st March - at Stoke Minster meeting, was also a very nice minister from All Saints, Joiners Square (near Handley). He is very keen to discuss how we can work together. He invited me to a community info afternoon at his church hall (Local Matters team again!). Potential opportunity for starting uo a group here.
5th March - Temple St Methodist Church council - I present about BB and get the green light to pursue setting up a group. Somewhere over the last week or so, I had the idea if setting up a series of taster days for new venues (to show the community and churches what a BB group does) to be run over Easter. Temple St agree to host one of these events.
13th March - Local Matters Team arranged a meeting for Stoke City Councillors from the South of the City to come and see me to hear what I'm doing. 6 came along and were very excited by my plans. One councillor said .."why can't we have a group in EVERY ward"? WOW ....why not?? Another one said - set one up in my area and I'll volunteer to help in it ! A fabulous meeting.
14th March - proper meeting with Rev Sandy Dutton. Great meeting - we going to set a group up in St John's Community Centre (on her patch). A playgroup is being run by two inspirational mums (Emma and Emma) and they want to start up an older group ......BB. Looking very positive.
20th March - Fenton Christian Fellowship - run by a Councillor who is a Christian. Met Dave Wilcox , teacher from a secondary academy .....he's very intersted in setting up a dofe group in his school. Could it be a BB group? "It ticks all my boxes" said Dave.
21st March - UCB (Christian Radio based in Burslem Stoke-on-Trent) Leaders Day. Great time of worship and super contacts made. Preacher from Christian Centre.....Nottingham!
26th/27th March - Felden team meeting. Hemel Hempstead.
These last 3weeks or so have also been spent planning the taster days. 3 days of activity in 6 venues. Team from 39th Nottingham (my group) consisting of 7 young men and 3 older leaders will travel to the 6 venues and show them what BB does - we will run sessions for 5-7 year olds and 8-11 year olds. The young men will run the sessions and I will engage the parents. Posters, leaflets, Banners, communication .....all needs much focus. But did it!
April 8th, 9th & 10th - the taster days LAND :) - we visit Penkhull Village Hall, St Johns Centre, Tunstall Methodist (existing group) , Temple Street Methodist, All Saints Joiners Square and Salem Methodist, Smallthorne (existing group). Sessions go well (in general) = especially Tunstall, St Johns Centre and Salem.
Following week, Tunstall numbers have increased from 8 regular ANchors and Juniors to 25. Salem experience new members weekly. St Johns Centre agree to start up permanent group. :)
Wednesday, 30 January 2013
Felden again.........
Greetings!
Monday 28th Jan - update meeting with my boss, Eric, and Essie from Youth United at my house. Fab meeting - was able to explain all I'd done over the last 2 weeks - both seemed pleased :)
Tuesday - off to Felden - for the next 3 days. You know, I've been to Felden many times over the years and have a real good idea where it is, although there is a very dodgy road island (plough island is its name.....wish they would plough it!!) just before you get there - its a large island surrounded by several small ones ......the road planner must have been smoking something strange when he planned that one! Anyway, a 10 minute journey lasted 30 - I thought I'd rely on sat nav......BIG MISTAKE! Have you ever seen a sat nav flying through the air????? I have :) Not really. Frustrating though!
Two days now complete and we are all now Brigade Training Officers - so we can train the volunteers that we recruit. Very very pleased about this. :)
Lots of admin related stuff tomorrow and then back home.
Weeks are flying by..........but very very rewarding and really feel ready to make direct contacts with churches.
Till next time............x
Monday 28th Jan - update meeting with my boss, Eric, and Essie from Youth United at my house. Fab meeting - was able to explain all I'd done over the last 2 weeks - both seemed pleased :)
Tuesday - off to Felden - for the next 3 days. You know, I've been to Felden many times over the years and have a real good idea where it is, although there is a very dodgy road island (plough island is its name.....wish they would plough it!!) just before you get there - its a large island surrounded by several small ones ......the road planner must have been smoking something strange when he planned that one! Anyway, a 10 minute journey lasted 30 - I thought I'd rely on sat nav......BIG MISTAKE! Have you ever seen a sat nav flying through the air????? I have :) Not really. Frustrating though!
Two days now complete and we are all now Brigade Training Officers - so we can train the volunteers that we recruit. Very very pleased about this. :)
Lots of admin related stuff tomorrow and then back home.
Weeks are flying by..........but very very rewarding and really feel ready to make direct contacts with churches.
Till next time............x
The only way is down.............
Well, the Snow didn't stop me travelling I'm pleased to say, but I did have a bit of a moment on Tuesday.
Much of Monday was really preparing for my three main meetings of the week - Tuesday I was to be back in Longton meeting the Methodist South Superintendant in the morning and the Local Ecumenical Missions Officer in the afternoon and Wednesday I was to meet Stoke City Coucil to talk about how they operate as a local dofe authority.
Tuesday came and I arrive in Longton with 30 mins to spare, so I popped in to Tescos for a coffee; bought a paper and discover that Prince Charles (major high profile supporter and influence behind Youth United) is in Burslem to see how a local pottery manufacturer that his Trust saved is doing. I make a plan to go and see him.
Meeting at Longton was fab and it was a pleasure to meet the super - loads of contacts.
Popped off to see Prince Charles...... missed him by two hours :( never mind, there will be more opportunities in the future.
http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/Prince-Charles-visits-Middleport-Pottery-s-lot/story-17929035-detail/story.html
Looked round Burslem and found a very interesting Church....walked all the way round it.....fab location for a BB company! Turns out, that its one that I have on my target list from looking at google maps..........too much of a cooincidence, so its much higher on my list now :)
Drove to Hanley and as I was travelling through, saw another church that looked like a target, so stopped and got some details (think this church could also have a BB group.......it's now on my list!!). Got back in the car and moved off (bearing in mind that the road was covered with snow), turned a corner (dead slow).......only to find that a steep slope was ahead .......and immediately started on a slide downwards.......totally out of control......brakes not doing anything, couldn't steer......heading straight for THREE PARKED CARS.
Major problem was that a woman was standing in the road next to the cars and I was heading straight for her.
Luckily, I did the only thing I could do (that worked).....I sounded my horn and kept my hand on it!
Lady dived out of the way and I resigned myself to the fact that I was going to plough in to the parked cars....but at least I wouldn't be killing anyone.
God was working here.......I missed all three cars (there was no way that I was not going to hit them).....and I came to a halt at the bottom of the road with my nose slightly sticking out in to the joining road......again, you tell me why there were no cars travelling that I could have hit side on .....it was a main road after all!
Slight shaken, but not stirred, I continued on my journey after a guy had checked that I was all right and he'd confirmed lady was all right. Don't ever want to be in a situation like that again thank you.
Afternoon meeting - brill. Turns out he was chaplain to three BB companies and his children grew up in the Brigades. Lots more contacts and leads to follow up.
Wednesday - meeting re. dofe. Very exciting.......can't share anything at the mo.......but just be aware that I have plans :)
Thursday and Friday ......beginning to follow up leads and work on my presentations and letters to churches.
End of another fab and very enjoyable week (albeit fraught with a little extreme danger)!
Till next time......... x
Much of Monday was really preparing for my three main meetings of the week - Tuesday I was to be back in Longton meeting the Methodist South Superintendant in the morning and the Local Ecumenical Missions Officer in the afternoon and Wednesday I was to meet Stoke City Coucil to talk about how they operate as a local dofe authority.
Tuesday came and I arrive in Longton with 30 mins to spare, so I popped in to Tescos for a coffee; bought a paper and discover that Prince Charles (major high profile supporter and influence behind Youth United) is in Burslem to see how a local pottery manufacturer that his Trust saved is doing. I make a plan to go and see him.
Meeting at Longton was fab and it was a pleasure to meet the super - loads of contacts.
Popped off to see Prince Charles...... missed him by two hours :( never mind, there will be more opportunities in the future.
http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/Prince-Charles-visits-Middleport-Pottery-s-lot/story-17929035-detail/story.html
Looked round Burslem and found a very interesting Church....walked all the way round it.....fab location for a BB company! Turns out, that its one that I have on my target list from looking at google maps..........too much of a cooincidence, so its much higher on my list now :)
Drove to Hanley and as I was travelling through, saw another church that looked like a target, so stopped and got some details (think this church could also have a BB group.......it's now on my list!!). Got back in the car and moved off (bearing in mind that the road was covered with snow), turned a corner (dead slow).......only to find that a steep slope was ahead .......and immediately started on a slide downwards.......totally out of control......brakes not doing anything, couldn't steer......heading straight for THREE PARKED CARS.
Major problem was that a woman was standing in the road next to the cars and I was heading straight for her.
Luckily, I did the only thing I could do (that worked).....I sounded my horn and kept my hand on it!
Lady dived out of the way and I resigned myself to the fact that I was going to plough in to the parked cars....but at least I wouldn't be killing anyone.
God was working here.......I missed all three cars (there was no way that I was not going to hit them).....and I came to a halt at the bottom of the road with my nose slightly sticking out in to the joining road......again, you tell me why there were no cars travelling that I could have hit side on .....it was a main road after all!
Slight shaken, but not stirred, I continued on my journey after a guy had checked that I was all right and he'd confirmed lady was all right. Don't ever want to be in a situation like that again thank you.
Afternoon meeting - brill. Turns out he was chaplain to three BB companies and his children grew up in the Brigades. Lots more contacts and leads to follow up.
Wednesday - meeting re. dofe. Very exciting.......can't share anything at the mo.......but just be aware that I have plans :)
Thursday and Friday ......beginning to follow up leads and work on my presentations and letters to churches.
End of another fab and very enjoyable week (albeit fraught with a little extreme danger)!
Till next time......... x
A start...........
At least it's a start :)
Till the next time x
Saturday, 19 January 2013
First "proper week" done.......
Well, my time at Felden seems a long time ago now......spent the rest of our time there working on our strategies .....especially what we were going to be doing on Monday morning!
Strange, 32 years of being conditioned to act like a robot (especially the early years) - "start work at this time", "do this piece of work", "do that piece of work" etc - I'm surprised that I didn't freeze on that first Monday, not knowing what to do!
In reality, my first "proper week" has been out of this world :)
It all started with Songs of Praise coming from Stoke.....Longton Central Methodist Hall to be precise. The hall that I had "virtually" stood outside of last week when I'd be looking at Google maps to check out the area. I had "stood" just outside the hall .........not knowing that it would be on tv the following Sunday.
The programe was fab and I got a few contacts and ideas to visit by watching it.
Monday morning ...... straight in to research ......checking that my access to the web pages, Brigade HQ portals and pages worked....they did. The day flew by and by the end of it, I'd got a list of 8 venues (that had none or little youth provision) to make contact with.
Tuesday - in to the portal and start analysing the stats of existing groups - if there are groups without certain sections, I am able to work with these groups and tryto start up their missing sections. By the end of the day, I'd got 4 groups identified that I can work with (definitely in the right postcode areas in which I can work), 4 groups I definitely cannot work with and 1 group that I may work with.
So after 2 days, I have identified 12 main pieces of work.
Wednesday : first "official" trip to Stoke :) Met Kevin - the man "in charge" of the 9 existing groups for a 2 hour meeting ......in Longton Central Methodist Hall (yes, where Songs of Praise came from!!) ......small world, aint it?? Think I'm being directed to Longton! Kevin gave me a great insight in to the local area and some more great leads!
Then quick lunch and off to Hanley for a meeting with the volunteer centre coordinator. Turns out, he's a Christian from a large Baptist Church (700 congregation) - fab meeting with him and I have come away with some fab information and next steps.
Then a quick pop in to the main Potteries Shopping Centre to check out if they allow groups in to recruit volunteers - you know, have a stand, give out leaflets etc. I have no leaflets yet and certainly no stand, but I'm planning ahead! Yes, they do allow people/groups to do this. Came away with an email contact to write to.
Then on to one of my first "target areas" - shall remain unnamed for the moment as it wouldn't be fair to mention it yet on a public site. However, what I can say is that I am REALLY very excited by this venue - maybe because it's my first one.....but it has GREAT potential :)
Then, back home. Busy day but very worthwhile and I am on a high :)
Thursday - strategy day. So I'd been planning what I was going to be doing anyway, but I needed really to get it all down on paper and finalise it. Really pleased I did this today, have tried to paste it here, but no joy.
So just to let you know, these are my first 4 work streams :
anybody THAT interested in the detail behind these headings, please email neil.keighery@boys-brigade.org.uk and I'll send you some bed time reading :)
Friday - started to follow up leads that I've come across this week - set up a meeting with the Methodist superintendant minister of Stoke South, lots of admin (timesheets, expenses, etc), ordered some volunteer recruiting leaflets from HQ and started some work on joining VAST - the council for voluntary services organisation for Stoke.
The week has flown by! Feel I've made a pretty good start and if I'm not careful, I could be working 24/7!
It's become apparent to me this week that I am in a very priviledged position ......serving the Lord in an area that needs Him.....meeting like minded people from all over and talking to them about what I am so passionate about. I am so fortunate and feel very proud to be working in this field of work.
Till next time.......................xx
Strange, 32 years of being conditioned to act like a robot (especially the early years) - "start work at this time", "do this piece of work", "do that piece of work" etc - I'm surprised that I didn't freeze on that first Monday, not knowing what to do!
In reality, my first "proper week" has been out of this world :)
It all started with Songs of Praise coming from Stoke.....Longton Central Methodist Hall to be precise. The hall that I had "virtually" stood outside of last week when I'd be looking at Google maps to check out the area. I had "stood" just outside the hall .........not knowing that it would be on tv the following Sunday.
The programe was fab and I got a few contacts and ideas to visit by watching it.
Monday morning ...... straight in to research ......checking that my access to the web pages, Brigade HQ portals and pages worked....they did. The day flew by and by the end of it, I'd got a list of 8 venues (that had none or little youth provision) to make contact with.
Tuesday - in to the portal and start analysing the stats of existing groups - if there are groups without certain sections, I am able to work with these groups and tryto start up their missing sections. By the end of the day, I'd got 4 groups identified that I can work with (definitely in the right postcode areas in which I can work), 4 groups I definitely cannot work with and 1 group that I may work with.
So after 2 days, I have identified 12 main pieces of work.
Wednesday : first "official" trip to Stoke :) Met Kevin - the man "in charge" of the 9 existing groups for a 2 hour meeting ......in Longton Central Methodist Hall (yes, where Songs of Praise came from!!) ......small world, aint it?? Think I'm being directed to Longton! Kevin gave me a great insight in to the local area and some more great leads!
Then quick lunch and off to Hanley for a meeting with the volunteer centre coordinator. Turns out, he's a Christian from a large Baptist Church (700 congregation) - fab meeting with him and I have come away with some fab information and next steps.
Then a quick pop in to the main Potteries Shopping Centre to check out if they allow groups in to recruit volunteers - you know, have a stand, give out leaflets etc. I have no leaflets yet and certainly no stand, but I'm planning ahead! Yes, they do allow people/groups to do this. Came away with an email contact to write to.
Then on to one of my first "target areas" - shall remain unnamed for the moment as it wouldn't be fair to mention it yet on a public site. However, what I can say is that I am REALLY very excited by this venue - maybe because it's my first one.....but it has GREAT potential :)
Then, back home. Busy day but very worthwhile and I am on a high :)
Thursday - strategy day. So I'd been planning what I was going to be doing anyway, but I needed really to get it all down on paper and finalise it. Really pleased I did this today, have tried to paste it here, but no joy.
So just to let you know, these are my first 4 work streams :
# Existing
Companies
|
anybody THAT interested in the detail behind these headings, please email neil.keighery@boys-brigade.org.uk and I'll send you some bed time reading :)
Friday - started to follow up leads that I've come across this week - set up a meeting with the Methodist superintendant minister of Stoke South, lots of admin (timesheets, expenses, etc), ordered some volunteer recruiting leaflets from HQ and started some work on joining VAST - the council for voluntary services organisation for Stoke.
The week has flown by! Feel I've made a pretty good start and if I'm not careful, I could be working 24/7!
It's become apparent to me this week that I am in a very priviledged position ......serving the Lord in an area that needs Him.....meeting like minded people from all over and talking to them about what I am so passionate about. I am so fortunate and feel very proud to be working in this field of work.
Till next time.......................xx
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