East Riding Voluntary Action Services

Three new drop-in sessions have been introduced in the areas of Bridlington, Withernsea and Goole.  These sessions are to help members of the public and organisations to access ERVAS' services in their own local area. 

The Volunteering Service can be accessed in:

Bridlington each Tuesday between 1.00pm and 3.00pm at:

Bridlington Resource Centre,

4-6 Victoria Road,

Bridlington,

East Yorkshire.

YO15 2BW. 

Withernsea each Monday between 10.00am and 12.00 noon at:

Shores,

29 - 31 Seaside Road,

Withernsea,

East Yorkshire.

HU19 2DL.

Goole each Wednesday morning between 10.00am and 12 noon at:

The Courtyard,

Boothferry Road (opposite Morrison's supermarket)

Goole,

East Yorkshire.

DN14 6AE.

If you're interested in volunteering, come along and find out how you can get involved. To book an appointment, please ring 01482 871077, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  or pop into the venue.

If you're an organisation and would like some help / advice with volunteer recruitment or management we'd be happy to help.  To book an appointment, please ring 01482 871077, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or pop into the venue.

Volunteer Centre East Riding

The Volunteer Centre provides information, advice and support to both volunteers and volunteer-involving organisations.  We are based within ERVAS at Morley's House, Morley's Yard, Walkergate, Beverley. HU17 9BY.  Tel: 01482 871077.  Fax: 01482 887574. Website: www.ervas.org.uk

Data Protection

Those of you who attended the training will remember we briefly looked at Data Protection, lest anyone think that data protection is unimportant or does not apply to voluntary organisations: a national charity was in February 2010 found by the Information Commissioner to be in breach of the Data Protection Act, after several laptops were stolen during a burglary. The laptops were not locked away, and one contained unencrypted details of 1000 staff, including addresses and national insurance numbers.

The Society had to give an undertaking that "portable and mobile devices including laptops and other portable media used to store and transmit personal data, the loss of which could cause damage or distress to individuals, are encrypted, physical security measures are adequate to prevent unauthorised access to personal data; staff are aware of the data controller’s policy for the storage and use of personal data and are appropriately trained how to follow that policy; and the data controller shall implement such other security measures as it deems appropriate to ensure that personal data is protected”. Further data protection breaches could lead to criminal prosecution.

Clearly ICT security is essential — not just in relation to data protection, but to protect all of your organisation's information. The 34-page Computanews guide to ICT security, published in October 2009, is essential reading for all organisations. Download from tinyurl.com/ykxxlm3.

On 11th February 2011 the Coalition Government published the findings of its Review into the Vetting and Barring Scheme. You can read the report at:

www.homeoffice.gov.uk/crime/vetting-barring-scheme/