Community Involvement Opportunities
A list by category of over 75 ways you can take part in your community, compiled by the Exeter CVS 'Take Part Exeter' project. The list includes direct links to opportunities to consult with local authorities, take on community leadership roles, or organise your own community campaign or initiative.
Categories:
What Do They Know
'What Do They Know' is a website dedicated to getting information that you wish to know from your local authority. The information is then posted on the website for the public to view. You can use the site to view responces to past requests too e.g. Exeter City Council
Groups Near You
'Groups Near You' is a website that lets you find community groups in your local area, allowing you to get involved with your local community and meet people in your area.
Stoke Hill Junior School PTA
Stoke Hill Junior School Parent and Teacher Association organise events and run regular meetings. Money from the events is used to buy books, PE storage equipment and any other equipment that is required to help maintain a high level of education for its' pupils.
Friends of Stoke Canon School
The Friends of Stoke Canon School play an important role within the community. It provides a vital link between parents and teachers, raises funds for equipment and allows people to have fun an socialise.
Montgomery Primary Friends of the School
Montgomery Primary friends of the School gives practical help and raises funds for the school which can then be used to buy equipment.
Whipton Barton First School 'Celebration Assembly'
The Whipton Barton First School holds 'Celebration Assembly' events every Friday at 2:30pm.
West Exe Technology College Parent Partnership Association
The West Exe Technology College Parent Partnership Association provides the opportunity for parents to get more information on the developments of the school, for parents to give feedback on issues, for parents to talk to other parents, etc.
Friends of Topsham School
Friends of Topsham School is a group of people who are dedicated to raising funds for the Topsham School with the aim of providing the best education for their students.
St Thomas Primary School PTA
St Thomas Primary School PTA (Parent Teacher Association) works throughout the year to raise funds for the school.
Friends of St Sidwell's School
Friends of St Sidwell's School (FOSSS) is a group of active parents, grandparents, carers and teachers who support the school by organising fundraising events. The aims of the group is to raise funds for the school, organise events for the interaction of parents, organise events for children and increase communication between teachers and parents.
St Luke's School Parents' Council
St Luke's Parents' Council gives parents the chance to air their views on a number of topics and meet other parents. Meetings are held every couple of months. Find out more information and when the next meeting is being held on the St Luke's website.
http://www.st-lukes.devon.sch.uk/parents.php?section=council
St David's PTFA
The St David's PTFA (Parents, Teachers and Friends Association) brings parents and teachers together socially and in support of the school. The PTFA run fundraising activities and events in the aid of St David's School. The money raised is then spent on equipment and resources to help maintain a high level of education for the students of the school.
Kenn C of E Primary School: PTFA
The Kenn C of E Primary School's 'Parent, Teacher and Friends Association' raises money to spend on equipment at the school and allows parents to voice any of their concerns about the school at the Annual General Meeting.
Clyst Honiton Primary School: PTFA
The Parents, Teachers and Friends Association aims to meet every half term to discuss different issues affecting the school.
Exeter Free School Petition
The Government has set up an initiative to create schools that have been funded directly by the Government in the hopes to drive up educational standards. You can help by signing the petition to help gauge interest in a local free school.
UK Youth Parliament: Political Education For All
The 'Political Education for All' campaign, ran by the UK Youth Parliament, aims to make political education compulsory
in primary and secondary schools, in the hopes that their will be an increase in voter turnout. One of the ways they want
people to get involved is by creating their own focus groups or writing to their MP to get them to visit local schools.
UK Youth Parliament: 'Scrap University Tuition Fees'
The UK Youth Parliament is campaigning to scrap university tuition fees. One of the ways they are doing this is byhaving people hold free-for-alls to help promote the idea of scrapping university fees.
http://www.ukyouthparliament.org.uk/
uni_fees2/pages/Free%20For%20All%20Day.html
'Democratic Life'
'Democratic Life' promotes democratic education for all types of young people. They call on politicians to support citizenship education and keep it in the national curriculum. Sign the petition, be an ambassador and inform your politicians of your views to help support the campaign.
Alzheimer's Society
The Alzheimer's Society campaigns to improve the lives of those who suffer from dementia. Joining the 'Alzheimer's Society Campaign Network' gives access to e-bulletins and allows the joining of local groups to campaign for change in the local area.
Becoming a School Governor: Direct.Gov
The official Government website contains detailed information on what becoming a school governor is about. Information such as who can be a governor, what they do and how to apply to become a school governor can all be found on the website.
School Governors' One-stop Shop
A school governor is a member of a group of people who make decisions on how a school is run in the best interest of it's pupils. The School Governors' One-stop Shop is an independent charity dedicated to recruiting volunteers to serve on school governing bodies across England.
RoadPeace: Join a local group
RoadPeace help victims of road accidents by providing advice, emotional and practical support; and advocacy. You can get involved by joining or running your own campaign for your local area in the aim of helping RoadPeace continue to deliver it's services.
Addaction: Organise a fundraising event
Addaction run a range of services to help people with the consequences of drug and alcohol misuse. They provide services such as family support, residential rehabilitation, aftercare, help getting back into work and information on drugs and alcohol. You can help support the charity by running your own fundraising event.
http://www.addaction.org.uk/page.asp?section=163§ionTitle=
Organise+your+own+event
Fundraise for Headway Devon
Headway Devon provide essential services to people in Devon who have brain injuries. Headway Devon run rehabilitation centres, provides support for carers, gives information and advice and campaign to raise awareness. You can help by fundraising and helping spread the awareness of the charity.
The Stroke Association: Protect the Mobility Component of the DLA
The Stroke Association supports those that have suffered from a stroke by researching stroke prevention, better methods of rehabilitation and helping families and sufferers through daily life. The 'Protect the mobility Component of the DLA' campaign aims to protect those who are in residential care from the government cuts. You can help by e-mailing Marissa Miller, the minister for disabled people and letting her know you care about this subject.
Improve Health and wellbeing in Exeter
Devon County Council and Devon Primary Care Trust have worked together to produce a review of what people need from their health services. You can view the review and give feedback on it and on what the priorities for the next five years are.
Give Blood
96% of people rely on the 4% of the population that give blood. Blood only keeps for 35 days so having regular donations is very important. Find out more on the Blood Donor website.
https://donor.blood.co.uk/
BloodDonorOnline/Signin/Signin.aspx
South Western Ambulance Service feedback
Give feedback on any experiences that involve the Great Western Ambulance Service to help them maintain a high standard of patient care and improve on services.
http://www.swast.nhs.uk/ppi/index.html
Create a School Nutritional Action Group
The idea of a School Nutritional Action Group (SNAG) is to promote the consumption of healthy food in schools. In setting up a SNAG, the lives of your local school pupils will be changed for the better. Information about setting up a SNAG group can be found on the Kent County Council Website.
The Resistance Campaign: contact your MP
The resistance campaign hopes to protect disabled or terminally ill people against the threat of legalised assisted suicide and euthanasia. Use the Search to find if your MP has signed the petition and get the contact details so you can write to them and persuade them to sign the charter.
'The Resistance Campaign' petition
The Resistance Campaign hopes to protect disabled or terminally ill people from the threat of legalised assisted suicide and euthanasia. You can help by signing the petition.
Campaign for 'Sense for Deafblind People'
Sense is an organisation that aims to provide specialist services to deafblind people, their families, carers and professionals that work with them. By contacting your local councillor you can help to ensure that social care services are not reduced in the future.
'Abolish Unfair Prescription Charges' petition
People with long term conditions often find it hard to pay prescription charges and sometimes even have to choose between getting their medication or paying the bills. That is why 24 charities have come together to call on the government to make prescriptions fair for all. You can help the cause by signing the petition.
St John Ambulance: fundraising
St John Ambulance aims to save the lives of people who are in a medical emergency by teaching as many people as possible the basic first aid skills required to save a life. By organising a fundraising event for St. Johns Ambulance, you can help the organisation to continue its provision of first aid lessons.
http://www.sja.org.uk/sja/support-us/organise-your-own-fundraiser/organise-your-own-event.aspx
MNDA campaigning
The 'Motor Neurone Disease Association' funds and promotes research to help bring an end to motor neurone disease and help those suffering from the disease to receive the best care and have the best quality of life available. You can campaign to help raise the awareness of your local MNDA branch which, in turn, will increase the awareness of the disease.
http://www.mndassociation.org/get_involved/
Action for Blind People: Service User Participation Groups
Action for Blind People is a charity that gives help and advice to blind or partially sighted people with the aim of improving their service users lives. If you have used an Action for Blind People service then you are a service user which allows you to take part in the service user participation groups, giving you a chance to express your views about the services provided with the aim of improving services.
LIFE
LIFE is a charity that aims to save and transform the lives of some of the most disavantaged children in the UK by supporting vulnerable pregnant mothers and young families through difficult times.
LIFE tries to provide residential centres and supported accommodation, give supported care to those who are going through a crisis pregnancy or are suffering the loss of a baby.
LINk Devon
LINk Devon makes sure that health and social care services are planned and delivered to meet the needs of the people in Devon that use them. They take views and experiences of health and social care services in Devon.
Sharing information that your group has collected, joining a task group about a particular issue that interests or has affected you and becoming an ambassador of LINk Devon are ways you can get involved.
Mencap
Mencap works with people who have learning disabilities and aims to change laws and services, challenge prejudice and directly support thousands of people to live their lives as they choose.
Senior Council for Devon
The Senior Council for Devon gives older people a voice, provides a way of engaging with them, listens to their views and aspirations, and works in partnership to develop practical ideas and actions to address their concerns.
County Carers forum
The aim of this Group is to support the carers' role within Devon by identifying needs and issues that they face. Meetings are to be held every four months.
Devon Partnership Trust
The 'Devon Partnership Trust' work in partnership with other health and social care providers across Devon to deliver high quality services to support the recovery of people with mental health needs. By becoming a member you will be able to have a greater influence in how the trust develops and will receive more information and feedback
http://www.devonpartnership.nhs.uk/Getting-Involved.232.0.html
Be Involved Devon
BID supports people who want to get involved, and organisations who want to involve people, in having their say on Mental Health and well being services in Devon.
http://www.beinvolveddevon.org.uk/index.php?option=com_rsform&Itemid=9
Exeter Vision Forums
Exeter Vision Forums are meetings involving the City Council, Primary Care Trust, Voluntary and Community Sectors and the public. Subjects discussed are environment, stronger communities, improving health and housing in the city, etc.
Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue survey
The Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service want your opinion on 8 key proposals in the draft corporate plan for 2011/13. You can help by taking a survey of the draft plan.
Key Proposals: http://www.dsfire.gov.uk/AboutUs/
WhatWeDo/documents/HavingYourSayLeaflet.pdf
Report Graffiti
Graffiti can deface public property and can be very difficult to remove. If you have seen public property you can report it to the council so that it gets removed and the property is restored to its rightful condition.
Exeter Fairtrade City campaign
The Fairtrade concept gives Fairtrade producers a fair price for their produce. The Exeter City Council Fairtrade city campaign aims to be recognised by its residents, business community, its suppliers and employees; as a council that actively supports and promotes the concept of Fairtrade.
http://www.exeter.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=2706&listid=591
Devon County Council: Consultations
The Devon County Council consults its' citizens to help improve their local services. They cover a large number of subjects including arts and culture, school organisation, traffic, tourism, the environment, etc. Details of all the meetings they hold can be found on the website stated below.
Devon & Cornwall Police: Community Messaging
The Devon & Cornwall Police have a community messaging service that allows subscribers to receive information on when the latest PACT meeting is, and receive messages that will help prevent or solve a crime in your local area. Information from the public is one of the best weapons the Police have to fight crime, so getting involved will be a considerable help.
http://www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/GetInvolved/
CommunityMessaging/Pages/default.aspx
GateMate campaign petition
The GateMate Campaign provides positive role models, ideally with similar life experiences, to support young adults who are leaving prison get through the gate and back into the community. Sign the petition to support the campaign.
Offender Management Teams
The 'Offender Management Team' work with offenders to make sure that their return to society is well planned and supported. Activities include doing a range of assessments for prisons, preparing offenders for release and supervising offenders released on licence.
Individual Member of the Police Misconduct Panel
Independant members of the Misconduct Panel assist misconduct hearings that are a circumstance of complaints and determine using evidence-based judgment about a police officers judgment and agree an appropriate sanction.
http://www.apa.police.uk/your-police-authority/get-involved/police-misconduct-panels
Horsewatch
Horsewatch is a group of people from the local rural community that have an interest in reducing theft of horses, ponies and equipment.
http://www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/GetInvolved/
WatchSchemes/Pages/Horsewatch.aspx
Independent Monitoring Board
The 'Independent Monitoring Board' monitors the day-to-day life of the local prison or removal centre. Members of the Independent Monitoring Board also, on occasions, listen to complaints that prisoners may have. A Member of the board may also be called in to oversee a more serious situation, like a riot breaking out or a death in custody, and to make sure the situation is handled appropriately.
Youth Offending Team: 'Appropriate Adult'
Young offenders (aged 17 or less) or adults who are mentally vulnerable are legally required to have an 'appropriate adult' sit with them whilst they are being interviewed by the Police. The 'appropriate adult' advises the offender and aids with communication between the offender and the police. For more information on becoming an appropriate adult visit the link below.
Independant member of the Police Authority
The Police Authority is responsible for the "maintenance of an efficient and effective police service". The Police Authority sets the budget for the police force, appoints the chief constable, consults with local people for their views on the police service and handles complaints from the general public.
Independant Custody Visitor
Independent Custody Visitors are members of the public who make unannounced visits to police stations to check on the well-being of detainees and make sure their rights are being upheld. Independent Custody Visitors also check the conditions in which detainees are being held.
Youth Offender Panel
The Youth Offending Panel provides a way for young offenders to make themselves heard. Young people are referred to the YOP by the courts. The panel meet with the young person and their parents/guardians to talk about their reasons for offending and agree a tailor made contract to help them put things right such as writing a letter of apology, removing graffiti etc. The contract also aims to help prevent them from offending again by helping the young person with staying in school, helping with drug or alcohol abuse, etc.
http://www.yjb.gov.uk/en-gb/yjs/GetInvolved/
Volunteering/YouthOffenderPanels/
Become a Special Constable
Special constables are volunteers who recive the same training and have similar powers to regular officers.
Exeter City Council: Scrutiny Committee
Exeter City Council holds meetings that are open to the public. Members of the public are not allowed to take part in the discussion but can put questions forward to the scrutiny committee who will answer questions on their behalf.
Become A Magistrate: Direct Gov
Magistrates are volunteers who deal with criminal cases (roughly 95% of cases in England and Wales). Becoming a magistrate is a great way of building confidence, gaining a working knowledge of the law and improving leadership skills. The Direct.gov site provides information on what magistrates do and how to become one.
Neighbourhood Watch and Countryside Watch
Neighbourhood and Countryside watch are groups that aim to reduce crime and help make their local community safer by improving security, increasing vigilance, assisting the police in detecting crime and improving communication between the police and the community.
Devon and Cornwall Police: Neighbourhood Policing
The aim of neighbourhood policing is to provide reassurance and availability through a constant presence in local areas of 'neighbourhoods'. The Devon & Cornwall Police work with the community and partner agencies to address long term issues that effect people's quality of life.
http://neighbourhoodpolicing.devon-cornwall.police.uk/BCU-1663/Sector-1720/Pages/default.aspx
British Youth Council: Online Action Network
The British Youth Council aim to empower young people and get them involved in the democratic process by running training sessions, creating volunteering opportunities and build campaigns to help younger people get involved. You can get involved by joining the online action network.
HearFromYourMP
Hear from your MP is a way of getting your MP to talk to you. You sign up and when 25constituents have signed up your MP will receive an e-mail stating that they have constituents waiting to hear from them. When the MP replies, you will be sent an e-mail containing a link to the responce on it.
Tough Choices
Tough Choices is an initiative set up by Devon County Council which invites everyone to get their views about about the budget for 2011/2012 heard.
Spread the word about elections
Voting is one of the most important ways in which people can be an active citizen. By spreading the word using posters, fliers, information leaflets, etc; you can help increase the voter turnout for local and national government elections and help get the government that most reflects views locally and nationally.
http://www.dopolitics.org.uk/audiance
/general-population?queries_audiance_query=General_population
Become a Member of the UK Youth Parliament
The UK Youth Parliament allows younger people to use their enthusiasm and their energy to help change the world for the better. You can get involved by becoming a member of the the UK Youth Parliament which will allow you to meet with MPs and local councillors, organise events, run campaigns, make speeches, hold debates and ensure the views of young people are listened to by decision makers.
UK Youth Parliament: Campaign to 'Protect Buses'
The UK Youth Parliament's 'Get on Board' campaign aims to make bus travel for younger people fairer and cheaper. One of the ways they are doing this is by asking people to lobby their local bus company and persuade them to lower their prices, in the hope of increasing bus usage and reducing car dependency.http://www.ukyouthparliament.org.uk/
get_on_board/pages/bus_company.html
Contact your MP: 'Write To Them'
'Write To Them' is a website that makes contacting your local MP extremely easy. Type in your post code, pick your representative and type your message.
Vote in the UK Youth Parliment elections
Vote in the UK Youth Parliament elections. Members of Youth Parliament are elected to represent all young people living in the area.
http://geturvoiceheard.co.uk/ukyp2011/get-involved/i-want-to-be-able-to-vote/
Exeter City Council: Focus groups
Exeter City Council focus groups are meetings of 8 - 12 people which last about one and a half to two hours. People's views on a topic are recorded and this is used to help improve the service or policy.
Vote in your local elections
One of the easiest ways of becoming an active citizen is to vote in local elections; choosing the candidate that best suits your personal views. The Exeter City Council's site provides all the information you need to know about voting.
Get Parliamentary training
It's important to know what parliament does and how it works. Parliament provides free training on subjects such as contacting MPs and Lords, how bills progress through parliament, an introduction to Parliament and more besides.
http://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/outreach-and-training/training/
Contact your local Councillor
Your local councillors can influence the decisions that affect Exeter at council assembly meetings. You can take part in this decision-making process by asking your councillors to represent your views.
Become a City Councillor
City Councillors represent the views of constituents, deal with community enquiries (equally and without prejudice), actively encourage community involvement with the council and liaise with other organisations and services to develop the quality of life and community well being within the city.
http://www.exeter.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=760&listid=9275
Westcountry Housing: Have your say
West Country Housing is a housing association based in the south west. They provide ways of allowing residents to have their say and get their views across through the use of a survey.
http://www.westcountryha.org.uk/Wha/
ResidentInvolvement/Get+Involved/
Have+Your+Say/Have+Your+Say.htm
Sovereign Group estate walkabouts
The Sovereign Group aim to make sure that their homes and property improve the quality of life for their residents. Each estate is visited regularly and residents are encouraged to take part in walkabouts so that they can say what they want changed and so that recognised problems can be fixed.
Stop Housing Benefit Cuts
'Shelter' is an organisation that helps people with housing difficulties by giving helpful information and fighting for change. By writing to your MP you can help reduce cuts to housing benefits.
The Guinness Partnership: customer strategy group
The Guinness Partnership 'customer strategy group' provides a chance for residents to influence the way in which the group acts and allows the residence to put their views and questions across to the partnership.
Guinness South Partnership Walkabouts
Cornerstone Tenants Association
The 'Cornerstone Tenants Association' allows you to have your views heard by Cornerstone Housing which will help to improve services for local residents.
Tenant & Leaseholder Committee
The Tenant & Leaseholder Committee aims to improve the Exeter City Council housing services and service delivery. The group looks at council strategy, resource allocation, policies and procedures.
http://www.exetertenants.org.uk/
_tenant_leaseholder_consultation.php
DCHA Tenant Investigation Group
The Devon & Cornwall Housing Association's 'Tenant Investigation Group' are a group of volunteer residents who are working in partnership with us to improve housing services. They do this by mystery shopping DCHA and other housing association services so they can compare them, through reading reports and looking at facts and figures about service areas, talking with staff and consulting with residents.
DCHA service improvement panel
The Devon & Cornwall Housing Association Service Improvments Panels are places where residents can share their views with the DCHA to help improve building services.
Devon & Cornwall Housing Association: Neighbourhood Walkabouts
Neighbourhood walkabouts provide residents with the chance to point out scheme issues and meet new residents from the local community in the aim to improve services.
Devon & Cornwall Housing Association
Devon & Cornwall Housing Association hold neighbourhood walk abouts, service improvement panels and tennant investigation groups.
Starting a tenants or residents association
Start your own tenants or residents association in your local area which will allow a connection between local residents and Exeter City Council. The Tenants Association will help plan area-based local events, discuss services that could be improved or point out if there is a lack of facilities in the area.
http://www.exeter.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=554&listid=9610
Exeter City Council: Influence building plans
Exeter City Council decide whether to give planning permission to anyone wanting to build or re-develop a building in the city. Your opinion about a plan could affect the council's decision, if you have a legitimate objection to a building plan that can have an affect on traffic, the area's appearance; or a neighbours privacy or light then contact the local planning office.
New training and volunteering opportunities available to help Exeter's unemployed move closer to work.
Exeter CVS has been selected by Job Centre Plus as a partner in its Flexible Fund to help people who are unemployed and face additional barriers to working to move closer to the job market in the city. The pilot project is funded until March next year, and will link closely with another project at Exeter CVS funded through the BIG Lottery Fund that promotes volunteering as a means of returning to the workplace.
Devon Prevention Strategy – 'Promoting Independence and Well-being'
Devon County Council and NHS Devon have published the Devon Prevention Strategy. There are a number of key stages where the strategy suggests that intervention might take place and which are relevant to services provided by the Voluntary and Community Sector.
Community First Panel
Do you live in the Trees area or Rifford Road area of Wonford? Would you like to help make a difference to your area? Join the Community First Panel.Communities Living Sustainably Initiative
Up to £1 million could be available to Exeter for a 5-year project to help local communities protect themselves against the effects of climate change.
FixMyStreet
If your street has potholes, a street lamp is faulty, there is graffiti on buildings, broken paving slabs, fly tipping etc. then you can your FixMyStreet to quickly report the problem to your local council.
Be a good neighbour
One way of being an active citizen is by being a good neighbour. Some suggestions would be: Look after your neighbour's pet, water your neighbours plants when their on holiday, do the shopping for someone on the street who are unable to get out, help a neigbour who struggles with reading and writing by helping fill out forms; or help neighbour to get the right information to get the most out a public service.
Start A Youth Group
Youth groups support young people by getting them off the streets and doing fun, constructive activities.Youth clubs also help to build a stronger sense of community. Find out more about starting a youth campaign.
http://www.youthgroupgames.co.uk/how-set-up-youth-group.html
Report fly-tipping
Fly-tipping is the dumping of waste materials on land that is not licensed to do so. Fly-tipping does not only damage the environment but is against the law. You can help your community keep the area clean by reporting any occurrences of fly-tipping. For more information on fly-tipping visit the Exeter City Council's website.
http://www.exeter.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=9541
Low Carbon Exeter Transport Group
The Low Carbon Exeter Transport Group aims to reduce the amount of carbon in Exeter by pursuing a transition to sustainable forms of transport. You can help the cause by taking part in one of their campaigns and helping spread the message. Meetings are held monthly and everyone is welcome.
Run a Citizen's Day
By running a Citizen's Day you can help local people get more involved in society by providing a way for residents to talk about and give feedback on important issues such as crime, the environment and transport. Citizen's Day also provides an opportunity for people to see how they can get involved with their community and help to become more active citizens. The citizenship foundation has provided a leaflet that contains lots of useful information on running Citizens' Days.
http://www.citizenshipfoundation.org.uk/
main/resource.php?s367
Create a Youth Council
Youth Councils allow young people to voice their concerns, participate in local government and be empowered to take action in the local community. For more information on setting up a local Council, take a look at the national association of local councils website.
Create a Local Council
Local councils are the first tier of local government and include parish, town community, village and neighbourhood councils. They ensure that the community has a stronger voice in the local area. Find out more about local councils.
TravelWatch SW
'TravelWatch South West' aims to help improve travel services. Meetings are held twice a year in which delegates are able to enter into the discussion and provide their views to assist in making travel services the best they can be.
St Sidwell's Centre: community committee
St Sidwell's Centre aims to promote health and well-being, improve access to information and communication technology, promote environmental sustainability and more besides. By becoming a committee member you will have a say in the developments of the centre.
Shared Streets: Write to your MP
Shared streets are areas where the traditional pavement has been removed in the hope to reduce traffic and making a much more 'social' area. Unfortunately, without pavements it is very hard for blind or partially sited people to know where the road begins and the path ends because the traditional path is used as a navigational cue. You can help by contacting you local MP and expressing your views on the issue.
Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme: Become a 'Volunteer Orginser'
The Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme encourages people from local communities who are aged 50+ to volunteer. Volunteer organisers support and encourage people to volunteer in their local area and also attract new volunteers through the use of local papers, newspapers, etc.
http://www.volunteeratrsvpdevon.org/become-a-volunteer-organiser.php
Exwick Community Association
Exwick Community Association provides a community centre in Exwick. The community centre is used by the community for all manner of events that bring the community together. The Association is run by a group of trustees but are looking to create a Building sub-group and an Events sub-group.
Newtown Community Association
The 'Newtown Community Association' aims to bring people in the local community together and provide a place for activities and events. Meetings are run every 6 weeks.
St David's Neighbourhood Partnership
The 'St David's Neighbourhood Partnership' is a group of people who try to tackle problems in the local area, such as crime, environmental problems and community safety.
Scouts
The scouts are ran groups that help children develop team building and leadership skills. Parents of members can get involved by helping with meetings and joining the "leadership team".
http://www.exeterscouts.co.uk/about/parental-involvement.php
Exeter Community Agriculture
The 'Exeter Community Agriculture' is a group of people who have rented 4 acres of land and who aim to make a difference to how local food is produced. They are keen to reconnect local people with the land.
Become a Parish Councillor
Parish councils have a number of formal powers. Many provide and maintain allotments, community transport, playing fields, car parks, village greens, litter bins, etc. You can become a member of the parish council to influence your local community.
http://www.nalc.gov.uk/Toolkits/
Become_a_councillor
/Become_a_councillor.aspx
The Freedom of Your City campaign
The Freedom of Your City campaign (from Cycle Exeter) aims to double the number of cycle journeys in Exeter by 2011.
Friends of the Earth Exeter
Friends of the Earth campaigns on local and nation environmental issues. They run monthly action meetings.
Exeter City Council: petitions
Exeter City Council provides a petition scheme, giving information on how to set up a petition.
Become a Charity Trustee
Trustees are volunteers from the community who are legally responsible for the overall decision making and the running of a charity or voluntary organisation. Using the Do-it website you can search for Trustee opportunities.
http://www.do-it.org.uk/wanttovolunteer/aboutvolunteering/
_trustees
You can also visit the celebrating trustees (Become a Trustee) page of this site for information and case studies.
Multiple Sclerosis Society: Campaign Network
The multiple sclerosis Society funds research, runs respite care centres and provides grants to improve the lives of those who suffer from Multiple Scerosis. You can join the campaign and help raise funds for the society.
http://www.mssociety.org.uk/get_involved
/policy_campaigns/campaigns_network/
take_action/index.html
British Lung Foundation: Be a campaigner
The British Lung Foundation work to support people who have been affected by lung disease and other lung related problems such as mild asthma and lung cancer. You can support the foundation by signing up to the campaign list and getting involved in local fundraising and campaigning events.
http://www.lunguk.org/getinvolved/
campaigner_signup
Cancer Reasearch: Radiotherapy Petition
Cancer research save lives by discovering ways to prevent, treat and research cancer. Radiotherapy should be used in half of all patients cases as part of their treatment but lack of staff and equipment mean that some patients are missing out. You can get involved by signing the radiotherapy petition to urge the government to make an action plan for radiotherapy.
http://www.cancercampaigns.org.uk/
ourcampaigns/Voice-for-Radiotherapy/
British Heart Foundation: Run a Campaign
The Bristish Heart foundation provides a toolkit to help you set up your own local campaign and help spread the word about the work the British Heart Foundation does.
http://www.bhf.org.uk/publications/view-publication.aspx?ps=1001143
British Heart foundation: Be a campaigner
The British Heart Foundation supports those that have suffered heart problems and researches how they can be treated and prevented. Get involved by becoming a campaigner and sign-up to the campaign eNewsletter to find out where your local fundraising and campaigning events are being held and discover new ways of getting involved.
http://campaigning.bhf.org.uk/ea-campaign/clientcampaign.do?ea.client.id=57&ea.campaign.id=478
Friends of Balloons
Balloons is a charity dedicated to providing community based support for children, young people and families who have suffered a death or are expecting death. Get involved by joining the 'friends of balloons' group which involves supporting fundraising events, dances and balls and smaller regular events, mail-outs to businesses looking for sponsorship.
http://www.balloons-devon.org.uk/GetInvolved.aspx
Petition: Save the ADVA
The ADVA (Against Domestic Violence and Abuse) bring together the statutory and voluntary agencies within the county to tackle the problem of domestic violence. They help thousands of women and children every year escape violent and life-threatening situations. The Devon County Council have announced plans to drop the ADVA (Against Domestic Violence and Abuse) in April 2011 due to budget cuts. You can support the campaign and reject the budget proposals by signing a petition.
http://www.gopetition.com/petition/42189.html
Become a Facebook Activist
Facebook is a social media site that has more than 500 million active users. It can be very useful for getting your cause recognised and spread. Digiactive.org have produced a guide to using Facebook for creating a campaign and covers subjects such as the pros & cons of Facebook activism, steps to organising a campaign and has case studies of successful facebook campaigns.
http://www.digiactive.org/2008/06/28/guide-a-digiactive-introduction-to-facebook-activism/
'Community Day' Campaign
The 'Community Day' campaign wants to create a new bank holiday that is dedicated to communities and volunteering. The Community day would fall during the Autumn half term break in October, breaking the long run of 16 weeks without a holiday between August and Christmas. The aim would be to celebrate the work that voluntary community activity does. Help by signing up to the campaign.
Youth Act: Learn To Create a Campaign
'Youth Act' provide free training for young people who want to gain the skills necessary to create their own campaign. Skills such as problem solving, team building and co-operation, influencing decision makers, communication, fundraising and campaigning will all be looked at to empower younger people.
http://www.citizenshipfoundation.org.uk/
main/page.php?198
Cancer Research: Tobacco 'Out of sight out of mind' campaign
Cancer Research UK is a charity dedicated to beating cancer by researching all aspects of the disease and providing information for cancer patients and their families. You can aid in the reduction of cancer by writing to your MP and asking them to put forward a case for putting tobacco out of sight in shops and removing tobacco vending machines to help reduce the number of younger people taking up smoking.
Action for Blind People: fundraising event
'Action for Blind People' make sure that partially sighted people receive help in areas such as finding a job, applying for benefits, housing issues, holiday breaks etc. You can help by organising your own fundraising events and help keep the charity going and growing.
http://www.actionforblindpeople.org.uk/support-us/get-involved/organise-your-own-event,95,SA.html
Save the Children: 'Fairer Education For All' Petition
'Save The Children' aims to improve the lives of children around the world by campaigning for basic education for those that don't have it, protecting orphans and children at risk and trying to lower the death rate. You can help by signing a petition to call on Ministers for Education around the UK to commit to a fairer education for all.
Shared Streets: Campaign in a Box
Shared Streets are areas where the traditional pavement has been removed with the hope of reducing traffic and making a much more 'social' area. Unfortunately, without pavements it is very hard for blind or partially sited people to know where the road begins and the path ends because the traditional path is used as a navigational cue. You can start your own local campaign to help raise awareness of this problem.
Rethink Activist
'Rethink' work to support everyone affected by severe mental illness to recover and gain a better quality of life. Become a 'Rethink' activist and help make a difference by and helping out with campaigns, fundraising, media work, etc.
Organise a campaign
Have your say on local issues that you are passionate about by creating an advertising campaign to draw in the attention of other like-minded people. Find out how to formulate, monitor and organise a campaign.
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