CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS

The Steering Group has 2 positions that need filling. There is:

• Activities Officer
• Fundraising Officer

All we want to know is your name and why you want the job.

And guess what YOU DON'T NEED EXPERIENCE!!!

If you want to apply please email: vat@bullyfreezone.co.uk

The deadline is THURSDAY 30th APRIL 2009

Hope to hear from you all soon x

Wanna job? Get paid for playwork this summer.

Bolton Council Play Service is part of the Children’s Service within Bolton Council and is committed to working with children and young people throughout the borough to access play and out of school opportunities.

The Play Service is looking to recruit casual playworkers to work on a variety of summer schemes across the borough including childcare and open access projects. Experience of working with children and young people aged between 4 and 13 is essential. Work available includes either playcare work at one of the full day schemes (37 hours) run at various sites including community centres, play centres, and schools or free sessional open-access opportunities in similar venues for local children and young people (up to 30 hours). You will provide a safe child centred environment offering creative play and care opportunities to children and young people aged 4 to 13.

Successful candidates will be required to take part in a full week’s pre-summer training (20th – 24th July) and must be available every day Monday to Friday between 27th July and 4th September 2009.

After summer there will be an opportunity to work additional hours either at one of our after school clubs covering staff sickness or holidays, or during other school holidays ie half terms, Christmas, Easter etc.

All posts are subject to an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau check and you must be aged 18 or over by the 20th July.

Application packs available from the One Stop Shop, Bolton Town Hall or online at http://www.bolton.gov.uk/ from Thursday 5th March with a closing date of Thursday 19th March 2009.

Election Results

Bully Free Zone Volunteer Action Team has held its first election for Steering Group Officers and the results have been counted and verified.

58 young people received ballot papers with a total return of 31%.

Two of the positions were uncontested and so we are delighted to welcome Abdulahi Isalk to the post of Communications Officer and Amino-Sahro Yahye Nur to the position of Fundraising Officer.

In the position of General Secretary for the group we are happy to welcome Fiona Bond and finally the position of Chairperson goes to Alicia White.

We would like to thank all those that took part in the election and wish those elected all the best for the coming electoral term.

The BFZ Gift Shop

Bully Free Zone have today launched its first range of quality, BFZ branded merchandise, for purchase from www.bullyfreezone.spreadshirt.co.uk.

Various items from hoodies and t-shirts to mugs and bags can be bought online and delivered to your door and what's more, you get the lovely feeling of happiness knowing that you are helping raise money for Bully Free Zone as well.



I'll upload a picture of me wearing my Glow-in-the Dark Francis Hoodie later in the week but in the meantime just pop on over to the Gift Shop and have a look at what's on offer. You won't be dissapointed.

Spread a little love our way this February

So the 14th of February is almost upon us and as you all ready up to send Kev thousands of presents and cards stop and think of BFZ.

Whilst Kev is often inundated with cards at this time of year poor Francis and Spud and Bully Free Zone don't get anything. So why not, this year, spread a little love the way of BFZ by printing out our special "spare change" box.

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR FREE BOX

Just follow the link above, print out onto some card then follow the instructions to have your own little collection box. Fill it with spare change then send whatever you collect to us here at BFZ Towers.

Happy Valentines Day

BFZ

xxxxx

Welcome to 2009

Well....obviously its been 2009 for a few weeks now but we have been neglecting the blog due to planning lots of things. But now we are back and so we can formally welcome you to 2009.

We have LOTS planned for the year ahead. Many many exciting projects on the horizon and lots more opportunities for volunteers to get involved so keep coming back here to find out about anything thats going on.

In the meantime take care and always remember to eat your greens.

Seasons Greetings From v!

Ho, Ho, Ho!

v has had a fantastic year in 2008 and it’s largely due to all of the support we have received from you, our supporters and friends. To say thank you, we’ve created the vinspired Christmas ecard with a unique video message from our very own CEO Terry Ryall Open it here and please have some fun with it!

As you know, back in September v launched its Favours campaign, designed to show how simple and enjoyable it can be to make a difference to someone’s life. Through Fashion Favours, volunteers have been creating fabulous new designs from recycled clothing. We were even able to persuade the Prime Minister Gordon Brown and wife, Sarah Brown, to donate items from their own wardrobes for the cause! The response from the public has been overwhelming and the campaign culminates tonight with a fashion show of winning designs, to be hosted by TV’s Miquita Oliver.

Our latest campaign, Festive Favours, which kicks off today, is a new initiative to get people thinking about how they can make the season more meaningful for themselves and others. We’re asking everyone to get involved!

One of the more unusual (and energetic) events is called Pedal Power: It involves the lighting up of giant Christmas trees! The 30ft trees will be placed in Hardman Square, Manchester (9th-14th Dec) and at the Hyde Park Winter Wonderland festival, London (16th-19th Dec), and adorned with 2000 Christmas fairy lights. The lights are connected to 10 exercise bikes placed around the tree – and they’ll only sparkle if at least five bikes are being pedalled at any one time. The more people we have pedalling, the brighter the lights will shine! It is a fun event, all about pulling together and spreading some Christmas cheer, that we hope will underline the spirit of our Favours campaign by demonstrating how easy it is to make a difference to someone’s day without spending any money or taking hours out of your own day.

On December 1st we launched the v virtual advent calendar. Featuring 24 different ‘random acts of kindness’ that we hope will inspire everyone during the lead up to Christmas. It’s a great way to help people realise just how simple doing a favour is are and what a huge difference it can make to others. The calendar is available from http://www.vinspired.com/ home page and can be downloaded as a Facebook widget. It’s important that we get as many people as possible behind this initiative so please do remember to download it for yourself and send on to everyone you know. You’ll be surprised at how many simple ways there are to make the season more special for us all.

We also have a huge hamper giveaway in London on 22nd December, which will be an amazing occasion. Keep an eye on vinspired for details...

Without the fantastic help and support from you, these campaigns would not have been possible, so we would like to take this opportunity to say a wholehearted “thank you” to you all and wish you the very merriest and happiest Christmas.

Don’t forget to check out all of the Festive Favours activity throughout December and for information on how you can get involved simply go to

http://newsletter.vinspired.com/_act/link.php?mId=C8475109047341378235976302821&tId=13450784

Thanks again.

The team at v.