New DBS online home
We have been informed by the Home Office that the website address has changed. It is now gov.uk This means that to access all of the online services and information you will need to visit GOV.UK as the old Home Office website has now closed.
Update on the DBS form
At the same time as DBS launch the Update Service, they will bring in some further changes to enhance the overall Disclosure process. One of these is an extension to section x61 on the application form.
When considering whether to release non-conviction information about an individual, the police will apply the relevancy test to a workforce rather than a single position or role.
To help you tell the DBS which workforce the applicant is working in, they will allow more room in section x61 (position applied for) on the application form. You need to make sure this section is completed correctly otherwise DBS will need to contact us to obtain further information which could result in the recruitment process being delayed.
Please complete the field as follows:
X61 line 1 you must now include the relevant workforce(s). Choose the appropriate:
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Child workforce
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Adult workforce
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Child and adult workforce
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Other workforce (use this when the person is not working with children and adults)
X61 line 2: enter a description of the "position applied for" up to 30 characters.
Introducing the RNIB Group Travel Volunteering Project
On 1 April, an exciting new pilot project began. Jen Morton was transferred from Action for Blind People and joined the Volunteering Team to coordinate the RNIB Group Travel Volunteering Project. Jen coordinated the Travel and Shopping Buddy Project in Birmingham for the last two years and has brought the knowledge, successes and experiences from this project to the new Travel Volunteering Project.
The new Travel Volunteering Project pilot will run for the next 12 months in Birmingham, Cardiff, Liverpool and Loughborough. Blind and partially sighted participants wishing to travel independently can work with a Travel Support Volunteer, for a limited time, to build confidence to enable them to make a journey on their own.
A Travel Support Volunteer can help a blind or partially sighted person to:
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plan, choose and arrange a journey
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gain confidence by accompanying them on a local journey to help familiarise them with a new route
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learn more about local transport options in their area
The aim of the year long pilot will be for the volunteering team to look at the need and feasibility of offering travel confidence building as a national service in the future.
Sainsbury's Charity of the Year application
Every year, Sainsbury's invites nominations from shoppers and staff for a local charity for each store. The chosen charities are then supported by their local store, with a year's worth of fundraising and store events.
This is potentially a fantastic opportunity as on average, the partnership raises £2,000. This could make a real difference to local services in your area, such as helping to provide RNIB's Talking Books service and Technology Support Squad for members of your community, placing Eye Clinic Liaison Officers in more hospitals and clinics or helping your local Actionnaires Club to provide activity days for children with sight loss. But we can't do it without your help!
How to Nominate RNIB and Action for Blind People
A nomination box and forms will be placed at the front of every main and convenience store, as well as in depots and support centres. Or you can download a form from Sainsbury's website, details at: http://tinyurl.com/c89fqst
Fill in the form, drop it in the box and you're done.
Please hurry - nominations close on 14th May!
What Happens Next
After the nominations have closed, Sainsbury's staff will shortlist 3 charities. If we are shortlisted we will then be invited into the store to talk about what we do and how the Sainsbury's team could support us.
Each winning 'Local Charity of the Year' will be announced in June.
Thank you for your support!
A request for volunteer stories
RNIB's Press Office is always looking for stories about volunteers to profile in the media to showcase the charity's work with blind and partially sighted people. They are looking for volunteers who have a really interesting story to share. Maybe that person has gone the extra mile for a person with sight loss or has been a RNIB volunteer for several years.
Alternatively, they may have raised an incredible amount of money to help people with sight loss in their local community. These are just a few examples.
If you know of a volunteer who has made an outstanding contribution and would be willing to talk about why they do it. Or, if you think you might know someone but are unsure, please call Gabriella Brooks on 020 7391 2078 and she would be delighted to discuss it with you.
Volunteers' Week, 1-7 June
Volunteers' Week June 2013 will be soon be here, start planning now to thank your wonderful volunteers, celebrate their fantastic contribution to the lives of Blind and partially sighted people.
We've set up a discussion board on RNIB's intranet (iSite) so that you and staff can post messages of thanks and share your stories or case studies of how volunteers are making a difference to the lives of blind and partially sighted people.
Let us all play our part in raising their profile, let their light shine and be recognised. Shout about your volunteers by posting a message on the Volunteers' Week discussion board on iSite.
The discussion board is now live so you can start posting, but remember we'd really like you to post messages during Volunteers' week so save the date in your diary to post a message.
For Action for Blind People volunteer managers, or staff who do not have access to iSite please email your "thank you" messages and stories to volunteering@rnib.org.uk and we will post these on iSite on your behalf.
We will ensure that the stories and posts are shared across all the RNIB group of charities. Therefore we will pass on all posts from staff across the Group to Action for Blind People, CVV and National Talking Newspapers and Magazines to promote internally.
Celebrate your volunteers
Celebrating your volunteers is easy and would really make them feel appreciated. Need some tips?
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Say "thank you", very simple but sometimes the simplest things are the most appreciated
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Make coffee or lunch, have a picnic, have fun
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Hand made thank you cards (or order some from us!)
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Ice some biscuits with their names
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Ice some cupcakes spelling their name in Braille with silver balls
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Make a banner, hang over the door or other very obvious place
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Make a paper fan and tell them are fantastic
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Make a thank you board, put photos, quotes etc on it
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Posy of spring flowers, pick on your way to work! (but not your neighbour's garden!)
The Volunteering Team also have a limited amount of Thank You cards which include a painting by a pupil at RNIB Sunshine House School and a space for you to write your own message of thanks. If you would like to hand these out to your volunteers please email volunteering@rnib.org.uk with your details and we will send them out in the post to you.
Inspired??? We hope so, tell us what you did, what worked and what you would like to do next year. Happy Volunteers Week!