Gaining new skills and making use of existing knowledge through volunteering can really improve the chances of employment by building self-confidence, talents and references.

Oxfordshire’s volunteer centres offer a free service to both people who want to volunteer, and to charities and community projects looking for volunteers to help them with the vital services they provide across the county.

Volunteer Centre Oxfordshire, Volunteer Link Up (West Oxfordshire) and Cherwell CVS & Volunteer Bureau have just received joint formal recognition for their work as volunteer centres, with the award of Volunteer Centre Quality Accreditation by national charity Volunteering England.

The externally assessed standard measures a volunteer centre’s ability to deliver its services to a high standard and create an environment within which volunteering can flourish at a local level.

For the first time, volunteer brokerage services in Oxfordshire worked in partnership to produce a joint accreditation. Volunteer Centre Oxfordshire and Volunteer Link Up had previously had separate accreditations, but Oxfordshire’s volunteer centres decided to take a joined-up approach to make it easier and consistent for potential volunteers and voluntary organisations to access the services.

Lindsay Watts, manager of Volunteer Centre Oxfordshire, said: “We are delighted to have achieved Volunteer Centre Quality Accreditation and are proud that Volunteering England believes we are taking quality seriously.

“Working as a partnership with the other volunteer centres in the county has been really useful to share good practice and make sure customers receive a consistent, quality service.

“Now we can build on the good work that we have already started, continuing to help both individuals and volunteer involving organisations in the local community and providing a comprehensive service.”

Last year the three volunteer centres had over 3,000 applications to volunteer across Oxfordshire. Together they are currently delivering in partnership a Support Into Volunteering Project, funded by BIG Lottery, to help unemployed people into volunteering.

Now it’s over to you — if you’re interested in volunteering or are a voluntary group looking to recruit volunteers, contact Lindsay Watts by email Lindsay.Watts@ocva.org.uk or telephone 01865 258913 and she can put them in touch with the right volunteer centre.

Visit ocva.org.uk for more details or go to do-it.org.uk to look at the volunteering opportunities currently available in Oxfordshire.