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Welcome to April's Volunteer Network News
Spring is here and with it, our new Head of Volunteering and Public Engagement, Helen Richards. Welcome, Helen! Helen lives in South Wales with her husband and two Hungarian Vizslas, aged 17 and 15. Before joining the ROS, Helen worked for the national charity, Family Fund and before that, The Prince’s Trust Cymru.
“It’s a pleasure to join the ROS and I look forward to meeting our volunteers online or in person very soon. In the meantime, please do get in touch if you have any questions or feedback on your volunteering experience.” Helen
In other news, earlier this year, the charity launched its ambitious new four-year strategy, Breaking the Silence. With the new strategy, we are committing to raising awareness and inspiring action among the public and policymakers, and demanding change for the millions of people living with osteoporosis.
Our employees, trustees, volunteers, and committee members were at the heart of designing this new strategy over the second half of 2021. Thank you for your valuable insights and ideas.
Fiona, Susan, and Helen
Volunteer Engagement Team
volunteerengagement@theros.org.uk
Our 2021 highlights: Walk with Sholto
You may have spotted that our new, animated film about the charity’s 2021 highlights, is narrated by ROS Liverpool Support Group volunteer, Sholto! Sholto walks us through some of the ways people have engaged with the charity, including calling our Helpline, attending an online support group meeting, or volunteering. We’re really grateful to Sholto for providing such an excellent voiceover, and to each of you for your dedication and support through 2021. Thank you!
Recommended Safer Behaviours guidance for face-to-face meetings
The new Recommended Safer Behaviours guidance is a protective, long-term approach to moving out of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ROS is keen to maintain the wellbeing of all our volunteers as restrictions continue to ease across the UK. We are now able to apply this new guidance to enable our support groups and volunteer teams, (who wish to do so) to meet face to face again.
Upcoming Bone Matters Q&A sessions
There’s still time to join our next Bone Matters Facebook Live Q&A on Thursday 7 April at 1.00pm on DXA and other scans for osteoporosis. Launched earlier this year, Bone Matters is our UK-wide online series of expert Q&A sessions on osteoporosis and bone health.
In conversation with Jill Griffin, ROS Clinical Lead for vertebral fractures, and Sarah Leyland, ROS Clinical Advisor, tomorrow’s Facebook Live Q&A will explore many of your key questions about bone density scanning. The session is available to watch live and can be accessed without a Facebook account. If you’re unable to make the live session, you can catch up on the recording, which will be available on the ROS YouTube channel and the Bone Matters dedicated webpage later in April.
Coming up on Tuesday 17 May at 6.00-7.30pm is the first Bone Matters webinar hosted on Zoom. Three leading experts will be exploring the topic of medication support and answering many frequently asked questions on this important topic. More information will be added to the Bone Matters webpage, so do keep an eye out for details on how to book.
Call for evidence - APPG Inquiry into Primary Care
The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Osteoporosis and Bone Health has launched an inquiry into primary care for people with osteoporosis.
People living with osteoporosis, other people interested in this issue and experts, are being asked to submit written evidence of their experience of primary care, (including GPs, practice nurses, and pharmacists) to the inquiry.
After reviewing the written evidence, the APPG will make recommendations to Government, the NHS and other public bodies on how to improve care for people with osteoporosis. This will be published as a policy report later this year.
If you have your own lived experience of osteoporosis, or you wish to submit evidence on behalf of someone with the condition, you can take our short APPG Primary Care Survey.
You can also submit written evidence by emailing appg@theros.org.uk or in writing to: Primary Care Inquiry, Royal Osteoporosis Society, Camerton, Bath, BA2 0PJ. To share your experience, please email the APPG by Sunday 24 April.
We’ve put together the following guidelines to help you with your submission.
California Prunes receives ROS Bone Health Accreditation
California Prunes is the newest partner to join the ROS Bone Health Accreditation Scheme. Under the scheme, a wide range of products and services including foods, beverages, supplements and living aids can apply to use a bespoke Bone Health Approved logo from the ROS on their promotional activities.
The Accreditation scheme is managed by our Corporate Partnerships Team, Henry Mace, Head of Partnerships and Philanthropy, and Vanessa Rossiter, Corporate Partnerships Manager. This is just one way that the team supports the ROS’s fundraising efforts through creating and managing partnerships with a range of companies.
Have you come across a bone health related brand that could be a potential accreditation partner? Or perhaps you, a family member or friend, work for a company that supports charities and would be interested in learning more about the work of the ROS? Henry and Vanessa would love to know. Please get in touch corporate@theros.org or visit the webpage for more information.
Celebrating The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
What better way to celebrate The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee than by holding a Better Bones Picnic to raise vital funds with your support group, friends, or family.
It’s easy to get involved - whether you prefer afternoon tea with cucumber sandwiches and scones, a teddy bear’s picnic for the children, or a potluck picnic where everyone brings a dish, there’s plenty of inspiration for everyone. You could also enjoy a sandwich together virtually if you prefer.
There are lots of ways to get together and enjoy the great outdoors - while raising vital funds to support people with osteoporosis. Every £26 raised from our Better Bones Picnic could help fund one of our specialist nurses for one hour.
Order your free Better Bones Picnic pack, complete with how-to guide, quiz, and recipe cards or call 01761 473287 or email supporters@theros.org.uk
Recruiting now
Communications volunteer
We’re on the look out for a volunteer to support our communications team and help us to create additional content for our website and printed resources. This could include writing blogs, social media posts, regional press releases and articles for Osteoporosis News magazine. Perhaps you have a background in communications or are a keen writer and this could be a role for you? Or perhaps you know of a friend or family member who’d be keen to apply?
To find out more, please email imogen.smith@theros.org.uk
Members and Volunteers (M&V) Committee
We’re still looking for some new faces to join our Members and Volunteers (M&V) Committee, which meets three times a year both online and face to face. You’ll play a key role in informing and improving the delivery of ROS services, including advising on policy and new work programmes. To find out more, please contact volunteerengagement@theros.org.uk. The closing date for applications is Thursday 28 April.
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