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Welcome to February’s Volunteer Network News
Welcome to the second issue of our new-look VNN. We hope your 2022 has got off to a good start. Spring will be with us before we know it and with it, our new Head of Volunteering and Public Engagement in March! We look forward to sharing more details in the next VNN, so do check back here in April.
In this issue, we cover guidance on face-to-face meetings, fundraising highlights, and details of how to get involved with our Members and Volunteers Committee. We also introduce Bone Matters, a new online series of expert Q&A sessions, and share details of the ROS’s newly launched online petition for equal access to osteoporosis care and treatment.
As always, we are keen to hear your feedback on VNN as well as any thoughts on the content we feature. Please do get in touch with us at volunteerengagement@theros.org.uk
Fiona and Susan,
Volunteer Engagement Team
Face-to-face support group meetings
We know that some support groups are keen to start meeting face to face again and hopefully, as we move into spring, this will be able to happen. We remain really cautious as infection rates are still very high in some areas of the country.
To help you make an informed decision, the first step will be to view the Government interactive map to check whether your group meets in an area that has an infection rate lower than 400 per 100,000. Please then contact the Volunteer Engagement Team and we will help you complete a risk assessment, talking through the practicalities of returning to face-to-face meetings.
The health and wellbeing of our volunteers and the people that attend the support group meetings remains at the heart of this approach and there is no obligation to return to face-to-face meetings even in areas where infection rates are low.
Anyone attending a support group meeting online or face to face can receive £5 off their first year of ROS membership. Please call 01761 473287 and quote code 'SupportGroup22' to pay £19 instead of the usual price of £24.
Programme planning for 2022
A lot of our support groups have been busy planning their programmes for 2022, which we’ve been adding to the website.
For online meetings, we’ve now been able to add a 'book your place here' button to make it as easy as possible for people to get their online tickets.
If you are still thinking about your programmes for 2022, we have some ideas for potential speakers. Suzanne Hewitt has re-filmed her ‘Fashion, Flair and Fractures’ video and is also available to join face-to face meetings when guidance permits. We are hoping to have a presentation from our Research Manager for you to show at meetings alongside the Helpline Nurses’ presentation. We also have links to a Consultant Gynaecologist, who is a specialist in menopause health and lifestyle, and is willing to give online talks. Do get in touch with us to find out more and book your speaker.
Bone Matters - a new online Q&A series
Taking on board your feedback about the need to reach a wider audience with our information and support, we’re pleased to be launching Bone Matters - a new UK-wide online series of expert Q&A sessions on osteoporosis and bone health. These will take place once a month online from February in the form of Facebook Lives, videos, and webinars for anyone to join and will be available to watch back. As the sessions will address many of the key questions people have about the condition, including living with fractures and understanding scans and tests, we’re really keen to reach as many people as possible. With your unique and vital role in the local community, will you help us spread the word?
Coming up on Monday 28 February at 5:00pm is a #BoneMatters Facebook Live Q&A on pregnancy associated osteoporosis. More information about this and future sessions will be shared on the ROS Facebook page, so do encourage your groups to follow @RoyalOsteoSoc to keep up to date.
We’re keen to hear your thoughts on your preference for days and times of the Bone Matters sessions going forwards to ensure they work for you. We’ve put together a short survey. To have your say, please complete this by Friday 18 February.
Petition for equal access to osteoporosis care and treatment
The ROS has launched a national campaign calling for 100% Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) coverage in England, following recommendations from our All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Osteoporosis and Bone Health's Inquiry report.
The Inquiry report released by the APPG last year revealed that only half of Trusts in England provide an FLS (51%), compared to 100% coverage in Scotland and Northern Ireland. This is leaving around 90,000 people without the vital treatment and care they need.
The campaign begins with our online petition calling for 100% Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) coverage in England, so everyone can have access to the care they need. We need 10,000 people to sign the petition so that the Government legally has to debate this in parliament. To help us reach this goal and make a difference, please sign the petition, and share with your friends, families, and networks. Thank you in advance.
Stockport Christmas card sales
We’d like to say a big thank you to the Stockport Volunteer Team who sold our cards in two Charity Christmas Card shops, Knutsford and Wilmslow. We are delighted to share that the group raised just under £1,000 - an amazing amount which will help support those living with osteoporosis. A special mention to Karen who coordinated this and made it happen. Thank you, Karen, for all your hard work.
If you’re interested in getting your group involved for this year, then please get in touch with the team on supporters@theros.org.uk.
If your group has raised funds for us or is thinking about sending a donation to the ROS, the easiest way to do this is to request an internal transfer from your support group account to the ROS. If you can email accounts@theros.org.uk they can action this and let you know when it’s been done. It means you don’t need to get cheques signed and posted anymore!
Recruiting now for the Members and Volunteers Committee
We’re 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. As part of the Committee, you will play a key role in informing and improving the delivery of ROS services, including advising on policy and new work programmes.
We are particularly interested in hearing from our male volunteers and people from a range of backgrounds and cultures living with osteoporosis. To find out more about the application process please contact us: volunteerengagement@theros.org.uk
Here, Elisa, shares some of her highlights of being on the Committee:
“Being part of the M&V Committee not only means you are involved actively in many aspects of the ROS and have first-hand access to the latest research and information on osteoporosis, but also, most importantly, that you are heard. Your words matter and changes are made as a result. The Committee held a virtual 4-hour workshop on the charity’s communications and our input helped shape the ROS website, information leaflets and the communication plan.”
Thank you for reading VNN.
If you’ve got a story to share or would like to see something featured, please get in touch.
