Lanark RSVP Lanarkshire and the Borders 2007 Overview The volunteers have been very busy in 2007 within Lanarkshire and the Borders. The numbers of volunteers helping children in Primary Schools has increased substantially especially in the Borders, North Lanarkshire and the Northern part of South Lanarkshire . The volunteer organizers – June Harris for Borders, Rosemary Heale for South Lanarkshire and Nora Sweeney for North Lanarkshire have played an important part in helping to take the schools program forward. Also volunteers have been helping youngsters outside school in the field of sport especially rugby, football and martial arts. An example of the tremendous impact that the volunteers are having on the community was the presentation of certificates by volunteer organizer , Vivienne Kent to the children of Milton Primary in Lesmahagow. There the children had under Vivienne’s instruction , knitted blankets for the Cats Protection League . Representatives of that organization were also at the ceremony to express their gratitude to the children. Knitting too has been taught to the children by Val Grant and Betty Gowans. Down in the Borders the volunteers have been helping children with disabilities in Halyrude Primary in Peebles and setting up a garden at Langlee Primary in Galashiels. In North Lanarkshire a number of new volunteers have joined including a new volunteer organizer – Nora Sweeney . Story telling too has been an important activity this year with the Story Tellers visiting a number of local schools. The year 2007 also saw the introduction of a questionnaire both for volunteers and headteachers , some of the volunteers have already answered this questionnaire. This is going to be given out to more volunteers and head teachers this year so that we have a better idea of the fantastic contribution made by the volunteers in the schools. Primary Care / Health matters are of great concern to many volunteers and this year has seen an acknowledgement of the outstanding work being done by those involved with the Macular Degeneration group. The group got a grant of £10,000 from Lottery for equipment such as Readers and Scanners ; these pieces of equipment have already made a big difference to those who have had access to them. The group also had a successful Christmas party which was organized by Greta Steven and included singing and a visit from Santa. Befriending is a major part of the work done by the volunteers and fortunately the Clydesdale Befrienders have been saved by a Lottery Grant. This is important as some volunteers help members of this group , who are very dependent on the support given by the volunteers. Driving people to hospital is important and some of the volunteers help Create in Rutherglen with this very worthwhile service. Environmental Issues are a major concern especially such issues as Rural Transport. Much work has already been done by Hugh McDougall , Volunteer Organizer for this area. A major part too has been played by the Clydesdale Housing Association in taking this project forward. Thanks to South Lanarkshire Rural Transport Group and SPT a great deal of progress has been made in this area .Plans are afoot to launch this in 2008. A new project was undertaken and completed in 2007 funded by the Renewables Trust which involved a survey of archaeological sites north of Lanark. Thirty sites were studied and written up by the participants with a view to excavating one of them. The participants of this project are now going on to study old farms. A new partnership was developed with the Clydesdale Mills Group who have been doing a brilliant job excavating the remains of an old water mill in all weathers. Other volunteers have been hard at work beautifying their locality – Greta and Charlie Clark have been busy planting trees at Leadhills where trees are a fairly rare sight. Community Partnerships have been important in 2007. A major project was organized in partnership with Clyde Valley Housing Association to get their tenants into volunteering in the Hamilton , Larkhall and Rutherglen areas. This was difficult to begin with but eventually volunteers did come forward. Volunteers have also been busy with funding applications and advising on improving the management of CSV/RSVP locally. This year really saw the take off of the Advisory Group who were responsible for the revamping of the Database which will be very useful in helping with the management of over 400 volunteers. It has been an International Year as Development Officer – Ed Archer was invited over by Dietmar Berndt from Hemmingen to talk about volunteering to volunteers from Poland / Germany and France . A number of RSVP volunteers including Diane Morris , Lesley and Malcolm Gair and David Taylor went at their own expense to Hemmingen with the Twinning Association. Lesley Gair will be going in late January to develop further volunteering links at a meeting at Ferrara in Italy . Finally 2007 saw an application for a three year project called Nifty@Fifty to the Lottery. Hopefully this will be as successful as the pilot project which helped a number of local people back to work or into volunteering. Some of the projects running or being developed in this area- Befriending Projects Working with the Social Work department visiting and helping the isolated and housebound throughout the Clydesdale district. Cottage Hospitals throughout Clydesdale have a variety of project ideas from befriending to gardening. Environmental Projects Working with South Lanarkshire Environmental Resource Department on small and medium landscaping and environmental projects in Clydesdale and other areas of rural Lanarkshire. DIY & Decorating Projects Supporting the Shelter Project with redecoration of houses prior to occupation by the homeless. Contact Ed Archer RSVP Development Officer on 01555 666033 e-mail: rsvpscotlanark@csv.org.uk