Fitzroy Learning Network Annual Report 2015 | Page 13

VOLUNTEER AND MENTOR PROGRAM REPORT Volunteers and mentors continue to play a vital role in supporting the delivery of our services. Since our program review was finalised at the end of 2014, the program has enjoyed steady growth thanks to the commitment, generosity and support of our local community, which has resulted in 100 expressions of interest and the recruitment of 52 volunteers and mentors. Our volunteers come from a diverse range of backgrounds; among them are teachers, solicitors, artists and historians, collectively they speak over 18 languages. In May, 33 of our volunteers were formally acknowledged for their outstanding contribution to FLN’s work at the Yarra City Volunteer Week Awards. Clubhouse graduate and mentor Ror Akot was one of the recipients and also performed as part of the celebrations. The NAB Volunteer Program continues to form an essential part of our day to day service delivery. This year alone, 315 NAB personnel have swapped a day at the office to work alongside teachers and community volunteers to provide invaluable assistance to our students, many of whom have volunteered with us multiple times in recent years. FLN acknowledges the importance of this enduring and significant corporate partnership. Our volunteers teach, assist teachers in classrooms, develop teaching resources, provide individual and small group tutoring, mentor young people in the clubhouse, coordinate our Food Bank program, assist in sewing and enterprise classes and support our cleaning, administration and maintenance programs. We also have a number of volunteers who are full time employees in the paid workforce and also provide important off site support such as coordinating the publication of our biquarterly newsletter and assisting with fundraising. We have also utilised online corporate volunteering to engage the support of CGU Insurance and Melaleuca Wellness in quarterly working bees which provide important garden maintenance and cleaning services while the students are on break and assist us to prepare the Network for the term ahead. We look forward to expanding and strengthening these links into next year. Quarterly team meetings have been introduced to provide community volunteers with an opportunity to meet as a group, share expertise and focus on professional development needs. Further to these opportunities, volunteers have also attended workshops conducted by Foundation House and completed the five week AMES tutor training course. Investing in and supporting the professionalism of volunteers, is an important part of our Volunteer and Mentor Program. As you can see, our volunteers and mentors are absolutely integral to our work. They make a rich and important contribution. They further embed and uphold a long tradition we have with our community from which we draw our strength. Thank you. Gayle Carr Volunteer and Mentor Coordinator ‘Our volunteers come from a diverse range of backgrounds...’ 11