Supporting Voluntary and Community Action
It’s been a brilliant start to the summer for many of our members, as they’ve stopped to reflect on their achievements and the hard work of their volunteers. Find out what they’ve been up to, and how you can support them.
Bristol charity Mothers for Mothers has been given the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in recognition of its work tackling maternal mental illness. The charity’s volunteers bring lived experience of maternal mental health issues, such as Post-Natal Depression (PND), to assist others in a similar position. Help is at hand from pregnancy to when a mother’s youngest child starts school.
Support methods include a helpline, talking groups, peer support, wellbeing and nature walks, sessions for dads and partners, home visits, art psychotherapy, and counselling; services were adapted during the pandemic to fit government guidelines.
The award is particularly special as the charity marks its 40th anniversary this year. Maria Viner, Mothers for Mothers CEO, said:
“We are so proud that our wonderful team have been honoured in this way. It’s very emotional to think about all the families that they have supported over 40 years. The women who we walk alongside on their journey to recovery are the inspiration for all that we do; this honours their bravery.”
Reflecting on Voscur’s support for the organisation, she added:
“It’s been invaluable having the friendly team at Voscur available with encouragement, information and support during the development of Mothers for Mothers.”
Volunteers’ Week (1-7 June) was a busy time for voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations in and around Bristol. You may have spotted social media tributes from Brigstowe, George Müller Museum, North Bristol Advice Centre, The Anchor Society, Womankind, and many more.
Bristol City Council created a video celebrating the city’s volunteer efforts during the pandemic, with contributions from Black South West Network, Bristol Black Carers, Humanitarian Bristol, Knowle West Alliance, The Sprint Community Transport, and Voscur.
There were also several Wall of Thanks displays put up in community centres, plus Can Do Bristol’s virtual Wall of Thanks has served as an online space to celebrate individuals and organisations doing their bit during COVID-19. You can still nominate someone throughout June to be added to the virtual display.
Baraka Community Café in Easton is currently being renovated, with a brand new look and a new coffee machine from Bristol’s own Wogan Coffee. It is due to reopen in June, but in the meantime you can still collect family boxes and takeaway frozen meals. We can’t wait to see the new surroundings later this month.
The pan-African catering company Houria CIC, based in East Bristol, is now a member of Social Enterprise UK. You can order a vegan Friday Feast, or arrange vegan catering from Houria for your event. The organisation supports migrant women and female survivors of slavery, hiring them to create and share amazing recipes from across Africa.
Meanwhile, 91 Ways has arranged its first supper club of 2021, with cooks and volunteers due to serve Iranian food on 3 July (click here to book). The venue is the trendy Clifton Downs pop-up Breaking Bread, and the event will be socially distanced.
Do you have a member news story to share for our next update? Tag us in your tweets and Facebook posts, or email polly@voscur.org.