About Volunteer Centre Lowestoft
Whether you want to become a volunteer or you represent an organisation seeking to recruit volunteers, we can help you find the information you need to get started.
Our Aims
- Promoting opportunities for voluntary work.
- Recruitment of volunteers through publicising voluntary work generally.
- Interviewing volunteers and referring them to the appropriate organisations.
- Liaising with voluntary and statutory organisations and providing an information service.
- Developing new projects to fulfil needs identified and not already covered by existing organisations.
Our Objectives
Volunteer Centre Lowestoft was established to undertake voluntary work and other charitable activities in the community, as stated below:
- To advise and guide persons willing to undertake voluntary service;
- To provide a centre;
- To advise and guide organisations using volunteers, particularly those who have registered with the centre;
- To commission research for general publication;
- To hold and conduct conferences, seminars and other training activities;
- To act as a central recruiting agency for voluntary and statutory organisations;
- To be a focal point for organisations using volunteers, encouraging the exchange of ideas and promoting specific projects when needed;
- To provide an information service for prospective volunteers, giving them advice and guidance, and referring them to the most appropriate agency;
- To provide a central information service for organisations to discuss the role of volunteers and their training, and undertake with other organisations the running of necessary courses;
To find out more contact us to speak to an advisor.
Our History
The initial idea for a volunteer bureau came from Sue Mobbs, Community Development Officer for Suffolk County Council, following enquiries from people looking for voluntary work. Sue called a meeting of the local voluntary organisations who agreed that an agency which could help them to recruit volunteers would be an excellent idea. A public meeting was organised and a steering group was appointed to investigate the possibility of setting up a volunteer bureau.
Following two years researching the need, obtaining premises (88 Alexandra Road) and securing a small amount of funding, a co-ordinator (Linda Mason) was appointed and business began on 3 April 1989. By June of that year the Bureau became a registered charity (Charity Number 801557).
After a few years the Bureau moved to a multi-agency building at 36 Gordon Road followed by relocation in October 2001 to its current address (15 Milton Road East) where the Centre has a suite of three offices and an interview room.
Having achieved accreditation from Volunteering England, the Bureau took on the name of Volunteer Centre, Lowestoft, conforming to the national standard for Volunteer Development Agencies.
