VOXinc.

BASIC INFORMATION

Case study date: September 2006

Local authority in which project based: Oxfordshire

Type of organisation: voluntary

Brief description:

VOXinc. is an inclusive project operating as part of the Millennium Volunteers (MV) programme. It supports young people aged 16-24 with learning disabilities, mental health difficulties, those not in education, employment or training to volunteer. Support is also provided to other young volunteers to support people with a learning disability. The VOXinc. mission is to bring together young volunteers and others in a way that enables people with a learning disability to become involved in their local community.

Collaboration:

VOXinc. is managed by Oxfordshire Council for Voluntary Youth Services (OCVYS) and works with a number of partners to develop placement opportunities and offer training and recognition. Its partners include Oxfordshire Learning Disability NHS Trust, Connexions, MENCAP, Age Concern, Hospital Radio Cherwell, Oxford Film and Video Makers, LAP (Leisure Activity Project), LISTEN (youth club for those with learning disabilities), Guidepost (befriending scheme) KEEN (sports for those with special needs), Kings Wood Trust (working with people with autism) and The Parasol Project (working with and for disabled, disadvantaged young people).

Funding:

Core funding for the MV scheme is provided by the Department for Education and Skills on an annual basis (£66,000 in 2005/06)

Staffing:

VOXinc staffing operates on the equivalent of two posts: part-time manager (1 day a week), part-time senior support worker (4 days a week) and a full-time project worker.

NATURE OF PROVISION

Which groups of young people does the project work with?

VOXinc. works with a diverse range of young people aged 16-24 in Oxfordshire including those with learning disabilities, mental health difficulties (e.g. autism) and cerebral palsy and those not in education, employment or training. Volunteers come from a variety of social backgrounds, reflecting the local demographics.

The project is currently supporting approximately 70 Millennium Volunteers (MVs), most of whom are female and aged 20 to 24 years age category. A small number of MVs are from minority backgrounds and over 10% are described as disabled.

How was the need for the project identified?

People with learning disabilities attended a community membership conference held in Witney, West Oxfordshire, in 1998. They said that they wanted to be play more of a part in their local communities, and that the support of volunteers would enable them to do so.

In April 2000 Oxfordshire Learning and Disability NHS Trust (OLDT) successfully received MV funding to set up a volunteering project for young people. It aimed to include those with learning disabilities as a way of empowering them to gain independence in their lives.

How do young people become involved? What, if any, commitment do you ask for?

Young people become involved on a voluntary basis and are recruited from a variety of places including local schools and FE colleges, Oxford Brookes University, word of mouth and referrals. The project holds recruitment days and has produced a DVD by and about VOXinc. volunteers which has been distributed to local schools.

MVs are required to commit to up to 200 hours of voluntary work, over a period of six months to a year depending on levels of ability.

What are the main approaches used and volunteering opportunities offered?

VOXinc. MV scheme is based on nine key principles: personal commitment; community benefit; voluntary; inclusiveness; ownership by young people; variety; partnership; and quality.

Induction procedures are supported by newly created Volunteer Youth Leaders who take up the role once they have completed their 200 hours on MV. They act as mentors and are available to discuss commitment and their previous volunteering experiences.

VOXinc. specialises in supporting those who wish to volunteer with people with learning disabilities and the majority of placements take place in related settings. It aims to be as flexible as possible and will match volunteers and placements to meet the aspirations of MVs and partner organisations. The project works with volunteers to identify their short and long term goals and offers person-centred support to help them achieve these.

Opportunities include one to one mentoring and support and helping out at residential summer schemes for adults and children with learning disabilities. Other individual placements take place in settings such as charity shops, animal welfare and day centres. 'Tasters' are available to those wishing to undertake short term volunteering opportunities or explore other areas. Volunteers are offered regular training opportunities to support them in their placements.

Youth led projects such as 'Respect Us' campaign offer MVs the opportunity to work in groups and develop specific skills in areas such as planning and leadership. Links with other projects such as 'Looking at Us' (2005/2006) provide opportunities to influence local services.

How are young people involved in shaping the project/programme?

VOXinc. encourages ownership of the project by young people and offers accessible meetings and information to empower them to have a voice. The youth committee FHYV (Fit Handsome Young Volunteers, all of whom have a learning disability) is central to this, developing ideas on how MVs can become involved in community activities and how VOXinc should be run. Volunteer Youth Leaders are elected through FHYV.

MVs are involved in publicity and promotion of the project through contributing to VOXinc newsletter and assisting in recruitment days or promotional events such as Volunteers Week.

Continuous feedback and feedback from leavers gives the project a mechanism for collecting volunteers' views and enabling them to influence the development of the project.

How does the project respond to the specific needs of disabled young people?

The project offers one to one support, regular supervision, assistance with CVs and support with training. Contacts with other organisations such as 'Right Employment' provide additional support for those with learning disabilities to find work.

The project offers flexibility to those whose disability may affect personal commitment, such as periods in hospital, and recognises that some young people may need to take longer to reach their targets. It may offer volunteering opportunities within the home or allow breaks with the option of returning in order to meet individual needs and circumstances.

FHYV helps facilitate discussion on issues affecting disabled young people such as accessing the community. The group has also influenced the project's approach to developing volunteering opportunities, such as making information more accessible through use of pictionary and audio or visual (BSL) presentation of minutes.

When planning volunteer celebration events, the project communicates (through speech or signing) with volunteers about their ideas and ensures that events take account of particular needs, e.g. access requirements or no flashing lights should people have epilepsy.

OUTCOMES OF WORK

How do young people benefit from their involvement in the project?

MVs have opportunities to improve existing skills and gain recognition for their achievements while volunteering in an area of interest, leading to employment or progression into further education in some cases. Training allows them to develop skills in areas such as video production, hygiene, health and safety, and MAKATON. The social aspect allows them to increase their circle of friends and have fun.

For disabled young people, volunteering often leads to improved confidence and self-esteem. Some have reported feeling healthier and 'less stressed' as a result of their volunteering experience.

How does your organisation benefit from involving/supporting young disabled people as volunteers?

VOXinc has been able to develop a benchmark model in working with young people with learning disabilities and make other organisations aware of their practice.

How do other young people, organisations or the wider community benefit from the project?

The project provide organisations working with disabled people valuable support through placing volunteers with a particular interest in working in this area.

Two-way communication with community groups helps the project respond to local needs; community projects such as 'Task Force' tasters resulted in completion of a garden and picnic area for a local community youth centre. The project also helps to increase awareness of issues affecting the disabled community and the creative possibilities open to them through involvement in projects such as Flash Forward Film Festival (Oxfordshire's first film festival for those with learning disabilities) or projects such as 'Looking at Us' where people with learning disabilities assess services provided for them.

How are young people's progress and achievements celebrated, measured and recorded?

Volunteers are encouraged to provide constant feedback, through supervisions, meetings, newsletters and learning logs. Communication also takes place with the placement provider and family or carers in order to monitor progress. Visual records provide volunteers with photographic and video evidence of their achievements.

VOXinc. celebrates achievements on an individual basis as well as events, in recognition that some volunteers, particularly those with autism, are less comfortable with big celebrations.

In addition to national recognition awarded through MV, the project issues certificates to individuals for 50 hours or less for those unable to meet the higher milestones.

Opportunities to gain qualifications/recognition outside of MV are available through Oxford Film and Video Makers (OCN in Video Production, level 2) and nominations at OSKA Bright Film Festival.

MEASURING EFFECTIVENESS

How is the project evaluated?

Evaluation is ongoing at different levels. Feedback is provided through self assessment, leavers and placement providers, OCVYS monitoring and project steering group. The task force project had an independent observer who fed back. Quarterly reports are provided to Connexions, MV and OCVYS.

What are the findings of any evaluations to date?

Throughout the current contract year the project has responded well to new developments within youth volunteering, particularly the Russell Commission, assisted by attendance at consultation events and conferences. It is now well positioned to apply for project development funding.

What changes/developments have occurred - or are planned - as a result of evaluation?

The project's monitoring and evaluation has been reviewed and new systems implemented including quality assessment, leaver information and feedback.

Development and planning has taken place into setting up more part-time and taster volunteering opportunities.

PARTNERSHIP/MULTI-DISCIPLINARY WORKING

When working in partnership, what is the distinctive contribution of your organisation/project?

Placing volunteers and assisting organisations on how to support a volunteer with a learning disability.

Has this partnership resulted in greater collaboration or increased understanding between partners?

Partnership working allows the project to exchange skills by collaborating on projects such as Flash Forward Film Festival and offer increased opportunities for recognition and training. Recognition and presentation events are often run jointly with partners.

STRATEGIC IMPACT

Do you consider this project to be innovative?

Yes - research conducted in 2004 showed that VOXinc. was the only project at that time to support people with a learning disability to volunteer in the South East.

How do you disseminate the learning from the project?

Showcasing the work through case studies, VOX newsletter (distributed nationally), articles, interviews with local radio and TV, and contacting MPs.

What plans do you have to sustain/develop this work?

Developing the role of volunteer youth leaders.
Work towards being more inclusive of people from different ethnic backgrounds.
Develop a more creative system for collecting feedback on the impact of community projects.

CONTACT

Sharon Woodward, VOX inc., Saxon Centre, Saxon Way, Oxford OX3 9DD. Tel: 01865 762171. E-mail: sharonwoodward@voxinc.free-online.co.uk