Our aims are
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to improve the effectiveness of the voluntary, community and faith sector, serving Reigate & Banstead
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to enable residents and employees to contribute to their community, through volunteering and social action
Supporting the voluntary sector
VARB provides advice and information to voluntary, community and faith organisations in Reigate & Banstead. We also bring organisations together to share experience and build partnerships.
Supporting and Promoting Volunteering
VARB promotes volunteering and helps individuals and teams find the right volunteer activities with local organisations. We also support good practice in volunteer management and are proud to celebrate the contribution made by volunteers,
Connecting people and resources
VARB connects people, organisations and resources to maximise the benefits for everyone. We also shamelessly signpost to the best sources of advice and information that we can find.
VARB Support Officer
New to the charity sector, Lisa brings her expertise in education and
New to the charity world, loving the challenge.
Trustee
After her experience volunteering, Jo joined the board in July 2021, bringing
Trustee
An active environmentalist, on the board of local recycling charity Furnistore and
Chair of Trustees
Stuart is the Chair of Trustees for Voluntary Action Reigate & Banstead.
VARB is part of a national network of Councils for Voluntary Service and we work to guidelines set down by National Association of Voluntary and Community Associations (NAVCA).
VARB is also a registered Volunteer Centre, accredited by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO)
VARB receives funding from Surrey County Council, Reigate & Banstead Borough Council and the Surrey Heartlands Clinical Commissioning Group. This covers around 70% of our costs.
We continually seek additional funding to deliver projects that meet our core aims. In 2022/23 we are delivering the following projects:
- Volunteer Wellbeing Project – to encourage and support people to volunteer to reduce their risk of social isolation. Funded by the Community Foundation for Surrey and Surrey County Council Public Health.
- Banstead Volunteer Drive – to recruit more volunteer befrienders and drivers to support older people in the north of the borough. Funded by the Better Care Fund via Surrey County Council.
- East Surrey Hospital Volunteer Pilot – a development project to identify and test new ways that volunteers can support patients and staff in our local hospital. Funded by Surrey Heartlands Clinical Commissioning Group.
