Welcome to Voluntary Action Barnsley

VAB services

Connexions

  • VAB are a Development Agency for Connexions in Barnsley. This is an impartial information, advice and guidance service for young people aged 13-19 years. We have two main functions:
    • We represent and support Host Organisations (local Community Groups) to become more involved with the Strategic Changes for young people in Barnsley
    • We deliver a full Information, Advice and Guidance service to young people in four geographical locations across Barnsley (Working in partnership with the staff of the Host Organisations and other service providers)

VAB now hold the full Voluntary Sector Contract. This means that the 2 PAs Jane Wildsmith and Louise Hawkins are now VAB staff members. Some of the things that we intend to concentrate on this year are:

  1. Support the development of the Locality Guidance Teams with the other Connexions Contracted Partners (Ensure that each locality is supporting and developing robust Information Advice & Guidance practices and procedures for young people). For our part we will be working directly with the identified Host Agents in the areas where we work and they are: Priory Campus (Lundwood & Monk Bretton) Athersley Cares: (Athersley & New Lodge area) Wombwell Community Partnership and The Young Volunteers Agency: (Borough Wide but with a particular focus on supporting young people into volunteering).
  2. Work on particular projects that support young people to make appropriate choices and support to develop self-esteem for example we deliver the Forward Thinking Project and IDme Project
  3. Facilitate a small grant pot called ‘Fund-4-U’ helping a targeted group of young people to access some funds that will help them move into Employment, Education or Training.
  4. Work with community groups in localities to inform them of how to access the Connexions Service across the Borough.
  5. Work with the V project
  6. Continue to keep the sector informed about strategic developments that we are involved with.

Our main focus will continue to be working with the most at risk young people to help them move forward. If anyone would like any information about the Connexions Service please contact Doreen Gwilliam on 01226 320100.

We also offer a range of relevant written documents in our document library

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