PCDT Latest News

PRESS RELEASE
15th June 2011

VOLUNTEER BUREAU IS CELEBRATING – BUT FOR HOW LONG?

Penwith Volunteer Bureau is this month celebrating 15 years of service to the local community – but it is facing an uncertain future.

PVB began life in the upstairs of a three-bedroom house in Clarence Street, Penzance, in June 1996.  Since then, the organisation has helped more than 5,000 people to find voluntary work.

The demand for the bureau’s service highlighted the need for an organisation to support voluntary sector groups, and in 1999 Penwith Community Development Trust (PCDT) was set up to take on this role.

In 2000, PVB and PCDT moved into the old Cornishman office in Parade Street, where both organisations have continued to flourish.

Penwith Volunteer Bureau’s 15th birthday celebration. Standing, from left: Ian Thompson (trustee), Dilys Down (head of health and wellbeing, Penwith Community Development Trust), Steve Ryman (volunteer befriender), Terry Cook (chair of the trustees), Sue Ryan (volunteer co-ordinator), Maureen Ward (longest-serving volunteer), Derek Mace (trustee) and Clive Harrold (trustee). Seated: Marilyn Tenbeth (volunteer co-ordinator) and Sue Guard (chief executive, Penwith Community Development Trust).

Staff, volunteers and trustees gathered there this week to share a birthday cake full of fresh strawberries and cream, specially baked by local café Archie Browns. 

Sue Guard, PCDT chief executive, and former manager of PVB said:  “The world has changed quite considerably since PVB first opened its doors back in 1996.

“Many of the people who came to see us were retired and looking for something to fill their time, whereas now we have lots of people who recognise that volunteering is a way of helping them to get back into employment.”

Despite its success over the years, PVB is facing difficult times. PVB chair Terry Cook said:  “We are currently having to use our very limited reserves to keep the bureau going and to give us the time to look for other funding.

“Cornwall Council has given more than £200,000 to Volunteer Cornwall – but they have refused to pass any of the funding through to us, stating that they will cover the Penwith area from their Redruth office, and through ‘outreach’ at West Cornwall Hospital and local supermarkets.

“The reason that we have been so successful is that people can come into our office in central Penzance to talk about volunteering, and can also access a whole range of additional services and opportunities, such as employment advice and training, all under one roof – you can’t do that in a supermarket!”

Anyone interested in finding our more about volunteering can contact Marilyn Tenbeth on 01736 334660 or pop into the office in Parade Street, Penzance.

Click here to return to the News page