A brilliant first V50 volunteer training event

Genesis is one of the most diverse housing associations in the UK, building better futures for our residents and putting them at the heart of what we do. One of our core commitments at Genesis is the wellbeing of our residents.

The Give More Get More/V50 programme is allowing us to improve the health and wellbeing of our residents through the mobilisation of our 50+ intensive volunteer befriending mentors.

Last week we reached a landmark for the V50 programme. After weeks of holding community events, registering volunteers and putting systems in place, it was time for the first volunteer training event. 

I waited for our V50 volunteers to turn up. At all new events involving volunteers, I usually pace around nervously, hoping that everyone arrives safely. Having made sure in advance that everything was ready for the V50 volunteers, as the clock ticked closer to ten o’clock I continued to walk around expectantly. Then the magic started to happen. The training room bell started to ring and immediately my anxiety slipped away as one-by-one the volunteers arrived. Frankly, without volunteers V50 doesn't happen!

Once the volunteers had settled in, updated everyone about their travel tales, dried off from the torrential rain and had a hot drink, something significant happened. The volunteers got into a group and started chatting and asking each other questions.

Some of the volunteers may have met previously as they had all attended the excellent Mind Mental Health Awareness training and some would also have been paired up with and met a Genesis staff mentor, a role we created as part of the V50 programme to help support our volunteers.

My six hours spent with the volunteers last week was a privilege as the insight they shared was remarkable and I thought I would share some of the comments from the group:

"I'm really glad to be involved in the V50 volunteer programme as it has given my life much more structure than previously."

"The V50 programme is great as we are a similar age [50+] to the residents we will be helping so can understand some of the issues they face."

"We can help residents get better access to the outside world and help them improve their wellbeing".

"I'm excited by the V50 training and I'm glad I have it in my life".

I left the training on cloud nine as the energy and experience of the volunteers was incredible. The training day helped me to redesign parts of the ongoing training in collaboration with the volunteers as they were able to openly share which parts of the training worked well and which aspects felt at times overwhelming.

The next steps for V50 will involve volunteers continuing to meet for a further eight weeks as part of a structured V50 training programme.

For those with a clear DBS check, they will start to be matched with a Genesis resident requiring befriending support. My recent visits to three residents who are waiting for befriending support was incredible in terms of providing lots of insight around how the intensive volunteers will be able to help our residents including providing help with getting online and accessing local services such as walking groups.

Genesis staff mentors will be matched with volunteers and the intensive volunteers will start supporting their co-residents, two to three days a week for four months.

This is phase one of the V50 programme and we will be continuously reviewing what’s working and adapting the model where needed to ensure this programme achieves the best possible outcomes for our volunteers and residents.

It’s going to be a very busy summer but I am relishing the challenge of seeing the original idea of V50 taken off paper and put into practice. It's an amazing experience bringing everyone together. I'll sign off now by quoting one of the volunteers who perfectly summed up what V50 meant to him.

"We want to help other people and we want to help ourselves at the same time. We don't want to see our neighbours living alone and unhappy and we can do something about this for the better. The V50 programme helps make this happen."

Find out more about V50.

Photo Credit: Pixaby