Forest Voluntary Action Forum - FVAF

Forest Voluntary Action Forum - FVAF Supporting volunteering and the voluntary and community sector in the Forest of Dean

As the Volunteer Centre for the Forest of Dean we support volunteering that involves individuals, voluntary and community groups and organisations, public sector bodies and private companies. The services we provide include:

- Advertising voluntary opportunities
- Recruiting volunteers
- Providing training
- Equipment hire
- Office services such as printing and photocopying
- Development advice
- Delivering community projects
- Providing information and networking opportunities

🏆Forest Volunteer Awards 2026 🏆VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR - PEOPLE'S CHAMPION The BIG ONE! This is YOUR chance to celebrate a...
08/06/2026

🏆Forest Volunteer Awards 2026 🏆
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR - PEOPLE'S CHAMPION
The BIG ONE! This is YOUR chance to celebrate an unsung hero in the Forest of Dean! ✨
We're looking for that special someone who:
⭐ Goes above and beyond, every single time
⭐ Makes a real difference to people's lives
⭐ Shows incredible dedication and heart
⭐ Might have overcome their own challenges while helping others
⭐ Is the person others can always count on

Could be the volunteer who keeps the lunch club running, the mentor who changes young lives, the neighbour who checks on everyone, or the fundraiser who never gives up!

✨ SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: This is the ONLY award decided by public vote! Once we announce the finalists, the whole community gets to choose the winner!

Know someone amazing? Tell us why they deserve this title! 👇

👉 Nominate now: https://www.fvaf.org.uk/volunteer-awards

CLOSING DATE: MIDNIGHT SUNDAY 19 JULY 2026

🏆 NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN! 🏆The Forest Volunteer Awards 2026 are here! ✨It's time to celebrate the incredible people, group...
07/06/2026

🏆 NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN! 🏆
The Forest Volunteer Awards 2026 are here! ✨
It's time to celebrate the incredible people, groups, and organisations who go the extra mile to make the Forest of Dean a better place. Quiet heroes, bold changemakers, passionate volunteers — we want to hear THEIR stories!

🌟 7 Categories to Nominate In:
🏆 Volunteer of the Year – People's Champion (PUBLIC VOTE!)
🌱 Young Volunteer of the Year (21 & under)
🤝 Grassroots Group of the Year
🏢 Community Organisation Award
💚 Business in the Community Award
🏳️‍🌈Diversity & Inclusion Award (sponsored by FoD Dementia Action Alliance)
🌍 Community Climate Action Award (sponsored by Forest of Dean Climate Action Partnership)

Know someone who deserves recognition? A group making a mighty impact on a shoestring? A business that truly gives back to our community?

👉 NOMINATE NOW! https://www.fvaf.org.uk/volunteer-awards

⏰ CLOSING DATE: MIDNIGHT SUNDAY 19 JULY 2026

Let's shine a light on our local heroes — who will YOU nominate?

07/06/2026

🟢VOLUNTEERS WANTED – CAN YOU HELP DRYBROOK RFC?🐿️

Our club relies on more than just players and coaches – it relies on the incredible support of volunteers who help keep everything running behind the scenes.

We’re looking for members, parents, supporters, and friends of the club to join our Works Party Team and help us keep Drybrook RFC strong, safe, and ready for the seasons ahead.

Whether you can spare a couple of hours occasionally or get involved more regularly, every bit of help makes a real difference.

🔨 Ways you can help:
✅ General maintenance tasks
✅ Repairs and improvements around the club
✅ Grounds and facility upkeep
✅ Projects to improve our environment and clubhouse
✅ Helping keep our facilities in top condition

No specialist skills are required – just a willingness to lend a hand and be part of a great team.

💚 Join a fantastic group of volunteers, support your club, and help create the best possible environment for our players, members, and community.

📲 Scan the QR code on the poster to join the WhatsApp group and stay informed about upcoming projects and work parties.

📞 For more information, contact Lucie Smith on 07833 678401.

Together, we can keep Drybrook RFC thriving. Every bit of help makes a big impact!

💚🏉💛

💻 Get Digital Confidence! 💻Visit our community hub for help navigating the digital world. On Monday (8 June) we are in ...
06/06/2026

💻 Get Digital Confidence! 💻
Visit our community hub for help navigating the digital world. On Monday (8 June) we are in Cinderford at Ow Bist -Forest Community Space.
Whether you need help setting up your devices or mastering online tools, our dedicated team is here to provide the support you need.
🌟 No appointment necessary! Just drop in anytime from 10am-1pm

📆DATE: 10am-1pm | Monday 8 June 2026
📍LOCATION: Ow Bist – Forest Community Space, Dockham Road, Cinderford GL14 2AN

For more info on the dates and locations contact [email protected] or 01594 822073

FODCAP is hosting a screening of the People's Emergency Briefing film🗓️ Thursday 25th June🕡 6:30pm – 9:00pm📍 The Club, N...
05/06/2026

FODCAP is hosting a screening of the People's Emergency Briefing film
🗓️ Thursday 25th June
🕡 6:30pm – 9:00pm
📍 The Club, Newnham-on-Severn
🎟️ Book your place: trybooking.com/uk/events/landing/114158

Also happening that day — a smaller preview screening is being organised independently:
🕚 11:00am – 1:00pm | The George, Newnham-on-Severn

The film brings together leading UK experts in climate science, food security, health, economics, national security and nature — drawing on footage from last November's National Emergency Briefing. It offers a calm, evidence-based look at how the climate and nature crisis is affecting everyday life here in Britain, and what the science says about the risks ahead.

The initiative is non-partisan and backed by organisations including the Church of England, National Trust, WWF and the Royal Meteorological Society.

After the film, FODCAP (Forest Of Dean Climate Action Partnership) will host a structured discussion on what this means locally.

🎨 WHAT A WAY TO END THE WEEK! 🎉Yesterday's final Roadshow stop in Cinderford was absolutely brilliant — and the perfect ...
05/06/2026

🎨 WHAT A WAY TO END THE WEEK! 🎉
Yesterday's final Roadshow stop in Cinderford was absolutely brilliant — and the perfect finale to a fantastic Volunteers Week 2026!

Ow Bist – Forest Community Space was packed with wonderful people, incredible energy, and so much community pride as we celebrated our amazing volunteers and officially unveiled the Ow Bist Community Mural! 🎉

The highlight was undoubtedly the fabulous George from The Sharing Kitchen Newent — who proudly features on the mural — doing the honours and cutting the red ribbon to officially unveil it. 🎀 What a moment!

Seeing so many of the groups and individuals who feature on the mural come together in person for the big reveal was magical — a real testament to just how much heart and history is captured in every inch of Tom Cousins' stunning artwork.

From Coleford to Newent, Lydney to Cinderford — this week has been a joy from start to finish. Thank you to every single volunteer across the Forest of Dean who makes this community the extraordinary place it is. You are all stars. 🌟

👏Extra thank you to the wonderful community groups and organisations who joined us on the roadshow👇

The Sharing Kitchen Newent , Gloucestershire Gateway Trust, YMCA Cheltenham Dean Heritage Centre, Ruardean Community Orchard, Together We Can Inclusive Activity Club, Blakeney Youth Club, Asthma + Lung UK, Cinderford Churches, Artspace Cinderford, The Forest Foodbank, Forest of Dean District Council, Lydney Town Council , Forest Read Easy Deal, Read With Me, Brody's Trust, Wyldwood Arts, CANDI Unlimited, Forest of Dean Dementia Action Alliance, Forest of Dean Scouts, Forest of Dean Morris Ruardean Youth Club , The Forest of Dean Wellbeing Choir, FODCAP - Forest of Dean Climate Area Partnership.


🌟 VOLUNTEER WEEK ROADSHOW 2026 - LYDNEY STOP! 🌟What a fantastic stop on our Volunteer Roadshow yesterday— Lydney, you we...
05/06/2026

🌟 VOLUNTEER WEEK ROADSHOW 2026 - LYDNEY STOP! 🌟

What a fantastic stop on our Volunteer Roadshow yesterday— Lydney, you were brilliant! 💚

A huge, heartfelt THANK YOU to the wonderful team at The River Children and Families Centre (run by Gloucester and Forest of Dean Children and Family Centres) for hosting us so warmly. What an incredible space and community hub — we loved every minute!

We were also joined by some truly amazing local organisations, all doing vital work across the Forest of Dean:

Gloucestershire Gateway Trust
STREET Team from Victim Support Gloucestershire
Forest of Dean Scouts
Gloucestershire Nightstop
Read With Me
Forest Read Easy Deal
Forest of Dean Dementia Action Alliance

If you didn't get a chance to catch up with any of these groups today, do look them up — there are some brilliant volunteering opportunities across all of them!

Thank you to every volunteer who popped in to say hello — you are the heart of this community and days like today remind us exactly why we do what we do. 💛

🚐 WE'RE HERE, CINDERFORD — COME AND FIND US! 🎉We're all set up at Ow Bist – Forest Community Space for the final stop of...
04/06/2026

🚐 WE'RE HERE, CINDERFORD — COME AND FIND US! 🎉

We're all set up at Ow Bist – Forest Community Space for the final stop of our Volunteer Roadshow and we'd love to see you this afternoon!

Come along and:
✨ Chat to us and local community groups about volunteering
🎂 Enjoy some delicious homemade cakes
🎁 Grab your free volunteer thank you gift
🎨 Stay for the official unveiling of the Ow Bist Community Mural later this afternoon!

📍 Ow Bist – Forest Community Space, Dockham Rd, Cinderford
🕞 3:30pm – 6pm

Don't miss it — this one's going to be special! See you there 💚

🌟 NEWENT ROCKS OUR VOLUNTEERS WEEK 2026 ROADSHOW🌟Our week out and about celebrating the incredible volunteers of the For...
04/06/2026

🌟 NEWENT ROCKS OUR VOLUNTEERS WEEK 2026 ROADSHOW🌟
Our week out and about celebrating the incredible volunteers of the Forest of Dean continues with an event to remember Chillout Newent on Wednesday. 💚
We had fun with exclusive volunteer tattoos and met with a whole host of volunteers from Newent and beyond.
Thank you to everyone who popped in, said hello, and shared a moment with us. You are the heart of the Forest of Dean❤️
Huge thank you to all the amazing community groups and organisations who joined us!
Newent Mend & Repair Patient Participation Group The Sharing Kitchen Newent
Newent Initiative Trust Honour Thy Woman Group Forest of Dean Dementia Action Alliance Forest of Dean Scouts The Peace and Hope Trust - Shop TRAC - Tom Roberts Adventure Centre Forest of Dean Community Walks Girlguiding Gloucestershire Gloucestershire Nightstop

COME ALONG TODAY! From 3:30pm - 6:00pm we will be rounding off the week @ Ow Bist - Forest Community Space in Cinderford along with loads of other local community groups and organisations.
stOfDean

🌟 NEXT STOP — LYDNEY! 🌟Our Volunteer Roadshow is coming to Lydney TODAY and we would love to see you there! 💚If you volu...
04/06/2026

🌟 NEXT STOP — LYDNEY! 🌟

Our Volunteer Roadshow is coming to Lydney TODAY and we would love to see you there! 💚

If you volunteer in and around Lydney — come and join us for a well-deserved celebration!

📍 River Children and Family Centre
📅 Thursday 4th June
🕙 10am – 12pm
🎁 Free thank you gift for every volunteer!

Pop in, say hello, and let us say a massive THANK YOU for everything you do for our community. You deserve it! 🙌

Address

Ow Bist/Forest Community Space, Dockham Road
Cinderford
GL142AN

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+441594822073

Website

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