Cheshire West Voluntary Action

We are proud to have been supporting the local community since 1914. Our vision is 'Championing the community sector – building trust, influencing, inspiring'. We work with community organisations, as well as partners in other sectors, across west Cheshire. Our staff have extensive knowledge and skills to help community sector organisations thrive, supporting with things like governance, good practice, volunteering, funding, training, networking and more.

This introductory training session provides a practical and engaging overview of unconscious bias, helping participants understand how biases develop, how they can affect the workplace, and what strategies can reduce their impact.

Headquartes of Cheshire Football Association

The Chester Bluecoat Charity

This interactive session explores how staff and volunteers can support people experiencing vulnerability without taking away their voice, choice or control. Participants consider how well-intentioned helping can sometimes create dependence or unintentionally disempower people, and how support can instead build confidence, choice and involvement.Through discussion, practical scenarios and paired activities, participants explore the Empowerment Ladder – FOR, WITH and ENABLE – and practise listening, asking open questions and using language that encourages people to make their own informed choices.The session also considers professional boundaries and safeguarding, helping participants recognise when to empower, when additional support may be needed and when concerns must be reported.

The Windings

This is a free, online Q&amp;A webinar delivered by Access Insurance in partnership with Cheshire West Voluntary Action. Come along to ask an insurance adviser about all of those little questions around volunteering.... What type of insurance do I need? How do I know my volunteers are definitely covered? Am I covered by another group's insurance? There is certainly no such thing as a bad question. Whether you are completely new to the world of volunteering and you need some guidance, or you have been around for a while but need a bit of a refresher - come along to get the answers you need. If you have any questions, please contact, michael.mitchell@cwva.org.uk.

Ask the Insurance Adviser: What You Need to Know About Insurance and Volunteering 

An opportunity for CYPF Alliance members to come together, network and explore what could be achieved collectively through the Community Investment Fund.We’ll look at the first-round priorities, share ideas, make new connections and consider where partnership working could add value. There is no expectation to develop a partnership for this first round — the Fund is intended to be longer term, and this workshop is the start of wider conversations and future opportunities to work together.

Hello,Just a reminder about our Community Investment Fund Partnership Workshop on:Wednesday 21 October, 9.30am–12.30pmThe session is an opportunity for CYPF Alliance members to come together, network, share ideas and explore what could be achieved collectively through the Community Investment Fund.We’ll look at the first-round priorities, make connections and consider where partnership working could add value. The Fund is intended to be longer term, and this is the start of wider conversations and future opportunities to work together.Access to the room is via the Conference Room buzzer on the right-hand side under the arch.The Conference Room is upstairs and there is a lift available. If you use a wheelchair, please let us know in advance so we can make sure a member of staff is available to assist with the ramp over the two steps at the entrance.If you have any difficulties getting in, please press the CWVA buzzer.Looking forward to seeing you.Thanks so much, Clare

The Bluecoat Building

Please note that we do require attendees to pay a £10 deposit to book on. This will be refunded upon attendance, or cancellation with three working days notice.This qualification is typically delivered over 1 working day. It is designed for those working in lower risk workplaces, or higher risk workplaces with a lower number of staff and visitors. The course fits the following criteria:<ul><li>Regulated qualification</li><li>Meets H.S.E requirements</li><li>6 guided learning hours (1 day)</li><li>Valid for 3 years</li><li>Certificate included</li><li>Assessed by MCQs and practical observation</li></ul>This qualification has been developed to meet the first aid training requirements outlined by the H.S.E. The course includes:<ul><li>What is first aid?</li><li>First aid in the workplace</li><li>Responsibilities of the first aider</li><li>Primary survey</li><li>Unconscious casualty management</li><li>Resuscitation</li><li>Choking</li><li>Shock</li><li>Wounds and bleeding</li><li>Minor burns</li><li>Seizures</li></ul>Schedule for the session:<ul><li>8:45am - arrival</li><li>9am - start and registration</li><li>10:15am to 10:30am - BREAK</li><li>12:15pm to 12:45pm - BREAK</li><li>2pm to 2:15pm - BREAK</li><li>3:30pm - short written assessment and questionnaire</li><li>4pm - departure</li></ul>If you have any additional learning needs or adjustments required, please do contact michael.mitchell@cwva.org.uk.

St Mary's Handbridge Centre

This £650,000 investment will create new opportunities for Cheshire and Warrington’s voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector.The VCFSE Grant Programme is funded by the Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority through the Mayoral Investment Fund (MIF).The programme forms part of the Celebrating Place: Communities, Culture and Renewal theme of the MIF.It will be led by Cheshire and Warrington Infrastructure Partnership (CWIP), a collective of the four infrastructure support charities across the area – Cheshire Community Action, Cheshire West Voluntary Action, CVS Cheshire East and Warrington Voluntary Action – along with Voluntary Sector North West (VSNW) and Cheshire Community Foundation (CCF).This webinar is an opportunity to find out more about the programme, the priorities it is looking to support, and the application process for VCFSE sector organisations. Full details about the programme

This session helps volunteers understand how to build positive, professional relationships while maintaining clear and healthy boundaries. Participants will explore the importance of boundaries in volunteer roles, learn how to recognise and respond to challenging situations, and develop practical strategies for managing expectations, communication, and confidentiality. By the end of the session, volunteers will feel more confident in supporting others safely, effectively, and within the limits of their role.

Thank you for booking your place on this webinar. Joining instructions will be shared in due course.

Cheshire West 4 Sanctuary is running a positive messages campaign, showcasing positive examples of community cohesion across Cheshire West.Cheshire West Voluntary Action (CWVA), as the independent chair of Cheshire West 4 Sanctuary, is helping host this webinar, designed to provide an overview of the campaign, encourage community sector organisations to engage with it, and direct them to resources that are available. A series of videos have already been created to support the campaign, celebrating diversity and communities coming together to make Cheshire West a better place for all.

Cheshire West 4 Sanctuary - positive messages campaign webinar

CWVA will be hosting a series of Volunteer Managers Network Meetings throughout 2026. These meetings are open to staff AND volunteers, community sector OR public sector, who are involved in recruiting, managing, and coordinating volunteers within their organisation.They are a key chance to network, learn from one another, and share information about what is happening within the sector.&nbsp;This month, we will be hosted by Theatre Porto in Ellesmere Port. Tea, coffee, and biscuits will be available throughout.

Theatre Porto

This interactive session provides staff and volunteers with a practical introduction to safeguarding and their responsibilities for helping to keep people safe.Participants will explore what safeguarding means in everyday community and voluntary sector settings, including how organisations can prevent harm, abuse, neglect, bullying and harassment, and why safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.The session introduces the six key principles of adult safeguarding and considers how empowerment, prevention, proportionality, protection, partnership and accountability can be applied in practice.Participants will learn about different forms of abuse, including physical, sexual, psychological, financial, discriminatory and organisational abuse, neglect, self-neglect and modern slavery.Through discussion, scenarios and interactive activities, the session also explores professional boundaries and some of the everyday situations that can develop into safeguarding concerns, such as giving out personal contact details, offering lifts, physical contact and lending money.By the end of the session, participants will be better able to:<ul><li>understand what safeguarding means and why it matters;</li><li>recognise different types and possible indicators of abuse;</li><li>understand who may be at increased risk of harm or exploitation;</li><li>recognise when boundaries or everyday situations could become safeguarding concerns;</li><li>understand their individual responsibility to safeguard others; and</li><li>know the importance of reporting concerns or disclosures promptly and appropriately.</li></ul>

Roles and responsibilities of charity trustees is being funded and offered in partnership by Cheshire West Voluntary Action and The Bluecoat Charity. This session is designed to help you understand and confidently apply the legal, governance, and practical duties that come with leading a charity.This session will explore the Charity Commission's core legal duties, such as ensuring the charity’s purposes are met for the public benefit, complying with the law, acting in the charity’s best interests, managing resources responsibly, acting with reasonable care and skill, and ensuring accountability. It will cover practical governance principles — including decision-making processes, delegation, conflict of interest management, and the distinction between governance and day-to-day management.

Congratulations! You've booked a place on CWVA's Communication and Listening Skills training session at The Windings. Hope you enjoy every second of it! It will start at 1pm and end at 3:30pm.

This training equips participants with the essential communication and active listening skills needed to build strong voluntary workplace relationships, reduce misunderstanding, and improve overall performance. Through practical activities and guided reflection, learners will explore effective verbal and non‑verbal communication techniques, develop strategies for listening with purpose and empathy, and learn how to respond constructively in challenging conversations.

CWVA is hosting its networking event and Annual General Meeting (AGM) at Ellesmere Port Civic Hall on Wednesday 11 November.This always proves to be an extremely popular event, bringing staff and volunteers together from across sectors to explore partnerships and strengthen existing ones.Last year, around 200 people attended the event, with 96 per cent of feedback saying they made new connections, and everyone rating the overall event as either excellent or good.There is the following schedule for this year's event.<ul><li>11am - stall holders arrive to set up</li><li>11.30am-3pm - main networking event</li><li>3pm-4pm - CWVA AGM</li></ul>Please note that, because of demand, stall holders will be expected to share tables. Spaces will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Ellesmere Port Civic Hall

The purpose of the Stop Loan Sharks Training is to give an in-depth understanding about the dangers of loan sharks.Learn about the key things to lookout for, the relevance of Loan Sharks to your organisation and a better understanding of information and intelligence. We will also show you the impact that loans sharks have on victims/ communities and what you can do to help.The training will cover:<ul><li>what is a Loan Shark and how they operate</li><li>how Loan Sharks affect our communities</li><li>how easy it is for people to become victims and trapped in a cycle of debt</li><li>how to identify warning signs/ red flags</li><li>raising awareness and how to report the issue</li><li>how to help safeguard against Loan Sharks</li></ul>This training is being delivered by The Illegal Money Lending Team aka Stop Loan Sharks hosted by Birmingham City Council

Thank you for registering for this online training. We'll be back in touch closer to the training with joining instructions.

Cheshire West Voluntary Action (CWVA) is providing training for community sector organisations that are interested in using Plinth as their community impact system. Plinth has been used by CWVA since the start of 2025, offering a wide range of features, such as case management, event bookings, outcome measurements, surveys and forms, and much more. Community sector organisations linked to CWVA are able to use Plinth for free. This training will provide an overview of the system, how community sector organisations can take advantage of the different features, and how CWVA is planning to use Plinth to aggregate data and show the collective impact being made by the sector.

This training session explores the importance of maintaining healthy, professional boundaries when working with volunteers, service users, colleagues, and partner organisations. Participants will develop a clear understanding of what boundaries are, why they matter, and how they help create safe, respectful, and effective volunteering environments.Through practical examples, group discussions, and real-life scenarios, attendees will learn how to recognise boundary challenges, manage difficult situations confidently, and respond appropriately when personal and professional lines become blurred. The session also examines safeguarding responsibilities, confidentiality, power dynamics, and strategies for maintaining wellbeing while supporting others.Learning outcomes:<ul><li>Understand the purpose and importance of professional boundaries in volunteer roles.</li><li>Recognise common boundary issues and potential risks.</li><li>Distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate relationships and behaviours.</li><li>Develop confidence in responding to boundary concerns and maintaining professional standards.</li><li>Understand the links between boundaries, safeguarding, confidentiality, and duty of care.</li><li>Apply practical strategies to protect both volunteers and the people they support.</li></ul>This session is suitable for volunteers, volunteer coordinators, trustees, and staff working within voluntary, community, and charitable organisations. No previous training is required.

Lache Community Centre

Thank you for booking on! SESSION LEADER&nbsp; |&nbsp; GRAHAM PHILLIPS&nbsp;Graham Phillips is CEO of Cheshire Young Carers, a position he has held for over 12 years. Before this, his professional career focused on building companies and sales teams, with experience across IT, retail, media and travel.&nbsp;Passionate about the community sector and its role in supporting local communities, Graham combines his business and sales experience with the challenges of running a community sector organisation to deliver these workshops for any relevant community sector staff or trustees.&nbsp;DEVELOP YOUR PITCH. STRENGTHEN YOUR MESSAGE. IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF SUCCESS.&nbsp;Two 3-hour practical sessions • Designed specifically for the community sector&nbsp;

Build the foundations for a more effective pitch.&nbsp;You will explore how to:&nbsp; • understand the real needs of prospective buyers and funders&nbsp; • recognise signals that your message is hitting home&nbsp; • handle objections with confidence&nbsp; • close conversations with the best chance of success&nbsp;

PITCH YOUR CHARITY: Turn your message into an opportunity 

Cheshire FA

This emotive and powerful workshop focused on a film of the lived/living experience of young people in Cheshire West and aims to raise awareness and understanding the experiences young people in West Cheshire face, caused by poverty.Shot through the eyes of a young person to remind us all to have a person centred approach and to look at the barriers surrounding that ideal non-judgemental practice.The aim is to help influence the change we would like to see within the lives of young people.Produced by young people living in Cheshire West with support from television producer and screenwriter Phil Redmond CBE and other industry professionals.The workshop will give an opportunity to• Explore how our attitudes and behaviours impact others• Increase insight into the factors that can contribute to child poverty• Develop greater understanding of the journey and struggles young people face• Look at how we react to the challenges, and consider how we can adapt• Consider how we can support families and young people to break down barriers and achieve their goals.Delivered by the Tackling Poverty Team at Cheshire West and Chester council

Is your organisation's total annual income under £50,000?

Cheshire West Voluntary Action are delighted to be working in partnership with The Chester Bluecoat Charity to offer this training to voluntary and community sector organisations.Please note there is a £15 charge for each booking, with no more than 2 spaces per organisation.For organisations with a total annual income under £50,000, spaces are free and the £15 charge will be reimbursed upon attendance.This qualification is typically delivered over 1 working day. It is designed for those working in lower risk workplaces, or higher risk workplaces with a lower number of staff and visitors. The course fits the following criteria:<ul><li>Regulated qualification</li><li>Meets H.S.E requirements</li><li>6 guided learning hours (1 day)</li><li>Valid for 3 years</li><li>Certificate included</li><li>Assessed by MCQs and practical observation</li></ul>This qualification has been developed to meet the first aid training requirements outlined by the H.S.E. The course includes:<ul><li>What is first aid?</li><li>First aid in the workplace</li><li>Responsibilities of the first aider</li><li>Primary survey</li><li>Unconscious casualty management</li><li>Resuscitation</li><li>Choking</li><li>Shock</li><li>Wounds and bleeding</li><li>Minor burns</li><li>Seizures</li></ul>Schedule for the session:<ul><li>8:45am - arrival</li><li>9am - start and registration</li><li>10:15am to 10:30am - BREAK</li><li>12:15pm to 12:45pm - BREAK</li><li>2pm to 2:15pm - BREAK</li><li>3:30pm - short written assessment and questionnaire</li><li>4pm - departure</li></ul>If you have any additional learning needs or adjustments required, please do contact michael.mitchell@cwva.org.uk.

The Bluecoat

You will explore how to:&nbsp; • identify the different needs within a group of decision makers&nbsp; • tailor your presentation to collective requirements&nbsp; • stand out from the crowd&nbsp; • build long-term relationships&nbsp; • use negotiation tactics to give you confidence to win your corner&nbsp; PRACTICAL SKILLS • REAL-WORLD APPLICATION&nbsp;Use the techniques from professional sales to strengthen personal presentations, written submissions, contract bids and funding applications.

Pitch your Charity: Strengthen your approach when the decision-making is more complex

Building Stronger Partnerships to Win Funding and Deliver Greater ImpactThis practical and interactive workshop explores how voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations can work more effectively together to respond to funding opportunities and deliver improved outcomes for their communities. As commissioners and funders increasingly favour collaborative approaches, organisations need the knowledge and confidence to develop successful partnerships and joint funding applications.

CWVA is hosting its CYPF Alliance Marketplace networking event at Ellesmere Port Civic Hall on Wednesday 19th May.This always proves to be an extremely popular event, bringing staff and volunteers together from across sectors to explore partnerships and strengthen existing ones.Last year, almost 100 people from across sectors attended the event, with 96 per cent of post-event feedback rating it as either excellent or good. All responses said they made new connections at the event, while 91 per cent of them would be following up with these connections around potential partnership opportunities.&nbsp;There is the following schedule for this year's event.<ul><li>11.30am - stall holders arrive to set up</li><li>12pm-2pm - main networking event</li></ul>Please note that, because of demand, stall holders may be expected to share tables. Spaces will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Cheshire West Voluntary Action

Unconscious Bias

Empowering Vulnerable People

Ask the Insurance Adviser: What You Need to Know About Insurance and Volunteering

CYPF Alliance - CIF Workshop 1

Level 3 Emergency First Aid at Work

Mayoral Investment Fund (MIF) webinar

Positive Boundaries

Cheshire West 4 Sanctuary - positive messages campaign webinar

CWVA Volunteer Managers Network

Basic Adult Safeguarding

Roles & Responsibilities of a Trustee

Communication and Listening Skills

CWVA networking event and AGM

Stop Loan Sharks Training

Plinth online demo

Boundaries