The Week That Was

Well, what a week it has been! It began with our participation in the V20 and attending a Big Society Network event at Somerset House, where Prime Minister David Cameron presented a strong defense of his Big Society initiative. This was followed by a visit to Age UK to discuss potential collaborations to achieve their goals through youth social action. We also met with the Rank Foundation to explore a new program for young volunteers and had our regular discussions with Volunteering England to share insights.

I had an engaging discussion with the Special Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT) about extending volunteering and social action within schools. We’re considering enhancing the Vinspired awards online for accessibility and exploring accreditation possibilities. On a lighter note, I took my Director of Programmes for a farewell drink as she transitions to her new role as Chief Executive of Safer London, acknowledging her excellent contributions to Vinspired.

On Wednesday, we hosted a roundtable on employee volunteering with major companies like Sky and Enterprise sharing their experiences. Journalist Peter Crush of HR Magazine chaired the session, offering valuable insights. It was a reminder of how journalists can selectively portray contributions.

Thursday saw me at the Peabody London Wellbeing Conference, sharing a platform with notable figures like Lord Wei and Geoff Mulgan from the Young Foundation. Social housing presents an intriguing context for volunteer engagement. I also met Baroness Newlove, and I look forward to continuing our discussion. That evening, I attended the Co-operative’s launch of their new CSR program, which includes a focus on ‘Inspiring Young People’. Speakers like Jonathon Porritt and Harriet Lamb contributed to a compelling evening, showcasing a big business taking CSR seriously.

Amidst all this, our reorganization continues to reduce costs, conclude current funded programs, and drive investment in youth volunteering. It wouldn’t be possible without our dedicated team.

Friday was exhilarating. A meeting with our Chairman led to a big idea to support young people during this challenging period of high unemployment. I’m committed to making it happen as Vinspired advances towards V2.0. Later, I joined Kevin Spacey and a young volunteer at 10 Downing Street to receive a Big Society Award for the Old Vic Tunnels’ youth volunteering program, the third Vinspired-supported project to receive such recognition. It was a memorable visit, and seeing the Prime Minister’s new cat tasked with catching the famous mouse was a delightful touch. Congratulations to the Old Vic Tunnels on this well-deserved honor.

For more updates, check our recent posts such as The week that was and Sharing volunteering success.