Fe wnes i gyrraedd y Deyrnas Unedig yn 2009 i ymuno â Mam, a oedd wedi bod yn byw yng ngogledd Cymru ers dipyn. Ers hynny rydw i wedi magu fy nheulu fy hun, bwrw gwreiddiau a datblygu gyrfa. 
    Ar ôl wyth mlynedd o weithio ym myd lletygarwch, fe wnes i ddechrau dyheu am newid. Dyna oedd dechrau fy siwrnai gwirfoddoli. Roeddwn i’n awyddus i ennill sgiliau newydd, i gyfarfod pobl o bob lliw a llun, ac i gael gwell dealltwriaeth o’r gymuned roeddwn i’n byw ynddi. Dywedodd un o fy ffrindiau agosaf wrtha i, “Gwirfoddoli ydi’r peth perffaith er mwyn gwneud hynny i gyd. Byddi di’n dysgu cymaint ac yn cyfarfod pobl fyddet ti byth yn eu cyfarfod fel arall.” Taniodd ei geiriau fy niddordeb mewn gwirfoddoli ac fe wnes i ddechrau gwneud rhywfaint o ymchwil i edrych ar y dewisiadau yn fy ardal leol. Bryd hynny roeddwn i’n gweithio’n rhan amser mewn gwesty, roedd fy mhlant yn yr ysgol eu dau ac felly roedd gen i rywfaint o amser sbâr i’w fuddsoddi yn fy antur newydd.
    Fe wnes i ddechrau chwilio am gyfleoedd gwirfoddoli ar-lein cyn cofrestru ar wefan Gwirfoddoli Cymru yn y pen draw. Fe wnes i gais am ychydig o wahanol swyddogaethau oherwydd doeddwn i ddim yn siŵr ym mha faes roeddwn i am fwrw ymlaen (datblygu fy sgiliau). Roeddwn i’n awyddus i helpu pobl eraill ond hefyd i ddysgu sgiliau newydd a fyddai’n gallu fy helpu i yn y dyfodol. Fe wnaeth Donna, y Swyddog Datblygu Gwirfoddolwyr yn CGGC, gysylltu â mi yn cynnig cymorth ac arweiniad. Fe wnaethon ni anfon ambell e-bost nôl a mlaen ac fe wnaeth hi fy nghyfeirio I at rywfaint o wahanol gyfleoedd oedd o ddiddordeb i mi.     Un ohonyn nhw oedd Gwirfoddolwr Galw Heibio ym Mind Aberconwy (Mind Conwy bellach) ac un arall oedd Cynorthwyydd Gweinyddol Gwirfoddol yn CGGC ei hun. Fe wnes i roi cynnig ar y ddau oherwydd roeddwn i’n teimlo bydden nhw’n rhoi gwahanol brofiadau i mi ac yn fy helpu i benderfynu pa lwybr dylwn ei ddilyn. Fe wnes i fwynhau’r ddau am amryw o resymau. 
    Ym Mind Conwy fe wnaeth Mark Rose, y cydlynydd gwirfoddoli, fy nghyflwyno i’r grŵp defnyddwyr gwasanaeth ac i wirfoddolwyr eraill, oedd yn bobl hyfryd ac agored pob un. Fe gefais i gyfle i gymryd rhan mewn prosiect a oedd yn cynnig lle diogel i bobl ag anawsterau iechyd meddwl ac anableddau dysgu. Roeddwn i’n gallu gweld hefo fy llygaid fy hun cymaint roedden nhw’n elwa ar ddim mwy na chael sgwrs hefo rhywun cyfeillgar, hy pa mor bwysig ydi hi iddyn nhw fod rhywun yn gwrando ac yn talu sylw. Roedd hyd yn oed pethau syml fel chwarae gemau bwrdd yn eu gwneud yn hapus. Unwaith roedden nhw’n ymddiried yno’ i, roedden nhw’n rhannu eu hanesion hefo fi ac roeddwn i’n ddiolchgar eu bod yn gadael i mi fod yn rhan o’u bywyd. Roedd yn rhoi teimlad o foddhad i mi. Am brofiad gwerthfawr. Yn anffodus, oherwydd amgylchiadau personol roedd rhaid i mi roi’r gorau i wirfoddoli hefo Mind Conwy ar ôl ychydig fisoedd.
    

    Yr un pryd ag yr oeddwn i’n gwirfoddoli hefo Mind Conwy, fe wnes i ddechrau fy rôl weinyddol yn CGGC. Fe wnes i fwynhau o’r cychwyn cyntaf. Roedd yr holl staff a’r gwirfoddolwyr eraill yn gyfeillgar a chymwynasgar iawn, ac fe ges i groeso cynnes a oedd yn meddwl y byd i mi, a finnau’n dod o dramor. Roedd pob diwrnod yn gyfle i ddysgu rhywbeth newydd, nid dim ond am ddyletswyddau gweinyddol ond hefyd am sut mae sefydliadau’r trydydd sector yng Nghonwy yn gweithio, a’r hyn maen nhw’n ei gynnig i’r gymuned. Roedd hi’n hynod ddiddorol ac yn agoriad llygad sylweddoli bod cynifer o bobl leol yn rhoi eu hamser a’u hymdrech i helpu pobl eraill mewn cynifer o wahanol feysydd. Roedd hyn yn fy nghymell i wneud fy ngorau glas i wneud eu gwaith yn haws ac yn fwy effeithlon.     Fe wnes i weld fy mod i’n gallu gwneud hynny’n dda a bod amgylchedd swyddfa yn fy nharo i’r dim. Roedd fy mentor, Jan Smith, yno bob amser i fy nghefnogi a fy rhoi ar ben ffordd er mwyn ennill sgiliau a gwybodaeth newydd. Rydw i wedi magu hyder a hunan-barch i’r graddau fy mod yn gallu ateb y ffôn a delio ag ymholiadau heb gryndod yn fy llais, a hyd yn oed mynd i ddigwyddiadau fel rhai i Ddarparwyr yn y llyfrgell leol ac yn y Ganolfan Waith er mwyn rhannu fy hanes hefo pobl eraill, a’u helpu nhw i gychwyn ar eu taith gwirfoddoli eu hunain.
Flwyddyn yn ddiweddarach, ges i gyfle i gymryd rôl gyflogedig rhan-amser fel Cynorthwyydd Gweinyddol. Roeddwn i ar ben fy nigon! Dyma rywbeth doeddwn i erioed wedi meddwl byddwn i’n gallu ei wneud – newid gyrfa a gweithio mewn sector sy’n meddwl y byd i mi. Sôn am wireddu breuddwyd. Cam cyntaf oedd hwn oherwydd roeddwn i’n dal yn gorfod gweithio mewn bwyty ar yr un pryd i gynnal fy nheulu, ond fe arweiniodd at bethau gwell byth oherwydd erbyn hyn, rydw i’n gweithio amser llawn i CGGC ac rydw i wrth fy modd. Bydda i’n fythol ddiolchgar i bawb yn CGGC am agor eu drysau, eu calonnau a’u cypyrddau ffeilio i mi. Drwy gydol fy amser yn gwirfoddoli hefo CGGC rydw i wedi teimlo fy mod yn cael fy mharchu, fy ngwarchod a fy ngwerthfawrogi. 

    Mae gwirfoddoli wedi bod yn newid byd go iawn oherwydd erbyn hyn, rydw i mewn lle hollol wahanol o’i gymharu â phedair blynedd yn ôl ar ddechrau hyn i gyd – ac mae’n lle gwell o lawer.
    

    Dywedodd Jan Smith o CGGC, “Roedd Kasia’n seren o’r cychwyn cyntaf. Roedd ei brwdfrydedd, ei hymroddiad a’i gwaith caled yn ddiddiwedd. Mae wedi ysbrydoli cynifer o bobl o ran buddion gwirfoddoli ac wedi cyfrannu’n helaeth at ein presenoldeb cynyddol ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol, a’n datblygiad ar y we. Mae’n unigolyn medrus ac mae CGGC yn ffodus iawn o’i chael fel rhan hollbwysig o’n tîm. Diolch o galon, Kasia, am dy holl ymdrechion sylweddol.”

Amgueddfa Syr Henry Jones, Llangernyw yw cartref plentyndod Syr Henry Jones (1852 - 1922) a ddaeth, wedi dechrau cymharol ddi-nod, yn Athro Athroniaeth Foesol nodedig ym Mhrifysgol Glasgow ac yn ddylanwad mawr ar y system addysg yng Nghymru. Maent yn chwilio am Drysorydd Gwirfoddol newydd i ymuno â'u Bwrdd Ymddiriedolwyr presennol. Mae hwn yn gyfle gwych i bobl sydd â chefndir / diddordeb mewn cyllid a chyfrifon, i'w helpu i gadw cofnodion a gweithdrefnau ariannol priodol. Ni fyddai'r rôl yn heriol, gyda dim ond ychydig oriau'r mis yn ofynnol fel arfer, a bydd hynny’n hyblyg iawn. Fodd bynnag, maent yn gobeithio penodi rhywun am gyfnod o ddwy flynedd.

Bydd cyfarfod nesaf Rhwydwaith Iechyd a Lles Conwy yn cael ei gynnal ar 2il Rhagfyr am 2pm ar Zoom. Bydd yn gyfarfod ar y cyd gyda Rhwydwaith Lles Cyngor Gwasanaethau Gwirfoddol Sir Ddinbych (DVSC) a byddwn yn canolbwyntio ar yr argyfwng ynni presennol, colli incwm a'r ffynonellau o gyngor a chefnogaeth lles sydd ar gael i'r cyhoedd. Cysylltwch ag Ann Westmoreland neu Geraint Davies i gael mwy o wybodaeth.

 Mewn ymateb i ganllawiau ynghylch coronafirws, mae Swyddfa CVSC ar gau, ond mae'r holl staff yn parhau i fod ar gael trwy e-bost a ffôn.   Rydyn ni yma i gefnogi nid yn unig grwpiau gwirfoddol a chymunedol presennol, ond unrhyw fentrau a gweithgareddau gwirfoddol newydd.Mae ein rôl yn fwy hanfodol byth rwan wrth eich helpu chi i gefnogi'ch cymunedau yng Nghonwy,  gydag arweiniad, gwybodaeth am gyllid ac ati. Ffoniwch ni ar 01492 534091 neu e-bostiwch mail@cvsc.org.uk  
neu volunteering@cvsc.org.uk

 

The National Lottery Community Fund is offering funding from £1,000 to £10,000 to support communities across the UK to take action on climate change. The aim of the £2.5 million Together for Our Planet funding to engage people with COP26 and inspire positive climate action. Funding is intended to support projects that focus on one or more of the following areas:
    •    Food.
    •    Transport.
    •    Energy.
    •    Waste and consumption.
    •    The natural environment.
Applications are invited from not-for-profit organisations, such as: community and voluntary groups, charities, social enterprises, and statutory organisations, such as: schools, and community councils
The Application deadline is 5pm on 18 November 2021.

Here you will find latest news from CVSC Volunteering Team 

    I came to the UK in 2009 to join my mum who had been living in North Wales for quite some time. Since then, I’ve started my own family, grown some roots and developed a career. 
    My volunteering journey started, when after 8 years of working in hospitality, I started to crave a change. I wanted to gain some new skills, meet people from different backgrounds and walks of life and better understand the community I lived in. Then one of my dear friends told me “Volunteering is the very thing that will help you to achieve all that. You will learn so much and you will meet people you would never meet otherwise.” Her words instigated my interest in volunteering and I started doing some research to explore options in my local area. At that time I was working part-time as a waitress in a hotel, my children were both in school and so I had some free time I could invest in, in my new quest.
    I began looking for volunteering opportunities online and eventually registered on the Volunteering Wales website and applied for few different roles, as I wasn’t sure in which field I would like to progress (develop my skills). I wanted to help others but also to learn new skills that could help me in the future. Then Volunteer Development Officer, Donna from CVSC, contacted me offering support and guidance. We exchanged a few emails and she referred me to a few different opportunities I was interested in. One of them was the Drop-in Volunteer at then Aberconwy Mind (now Conwy Mind) and the other one was Administration Assistant Volunteer at CVSC itself. I commenced both, as I felt that they could provide different experiences, and would help me to decide which direction I should go in. I enjoyed both for various reasons. 
    In Conwy Mind, volunteer co-ordinator, Mark Rose, introduced me to the group of service users and to other volunteers who were all lovely and open individuals. I had an opportunity to get involved with a project offering a safe space for people with mental health issues and learning disabilities. I was able to see with my own eyes how much they benefited from just having a chat and a laugh with a friendly person, ie how important it is for them that someone listens and pays attention. Even simple things like playing board games gave them joy. Once I had earned their trust, they shared their stories with me, and I felt grateful that they let me into their lives. It gave me sense of satisfaction. It was a very valuable experience. Unfortunately, due to personal circumstances I had to finish volunteering for Conwy Mind after a few months.
     

    At the same time as I was volunteering for Conwy Mind, I started my admin role at CVSC. I enjoyed it from the very first day. All staff and other volunteers were very friendly and helpful and made me feel welcome which meant a great deal for me being a foreign national. I learned something new every day, not only about administration duties, but also about how Third Sector organisations in Conwy County work and what they offer to the community. It was fascinating and eye-opening to realise that so many local people give their time and effort to help others in so many different fields. This gave me a motivation to do my best to make their work easier and more efficient. And I discovered I am good at it and the office environment suits me very well. My mentor, Jan Smith, was always there to support me and guide me in gaining new skills and knowledge. I’ve built up my confidence and self-esteem to the point where I was able to pick up the phones and deal with enquiries without a shake in my voice and attend events like Provider events in the local library and Job Centre to share my story with others, and help them to start their own volunteering journey.
    After a year, I was given an opportunity to take on a part-time paid role as an Admin Assistant and I was over the moon! This was something I thought I would never be able to do – to change my career and work in a sector I’ve become really passionate about and it is a dream come true. It was a first step as I still had to work in a restaurant at the same time to support my family, but it led to even greater things as I now work full time for CVSC and I couldn’t be happier. I will be forever grateful to everybody at CVSC for opening their doors, hearts and filing cabinets to me. For the whole of my time volunteering at CVSC I’ve been respected, cared for and appreciated. 
    Volunteering truly has changed my life as now I’m in a completely different place to where I was four years ago when it all started. A much better place.
    

    Jan Smith, CVSC says “Kasia was a ray of sunshine from day one and she brought with her endless enthusiasm, commitment and hard work. She has inspired so many people to the benefits of volunteering and contributed vastly to our increased social media presence and our web development. She is a talented individual and CVSC is very fortunate in having her as an integral part of our team. A huge thank you Kasia, for all your efforts"

Sir Henry Jones Museum, Llangernyw is the childhood home of Sir Henry Jones (1852 - 1922) who, from humble origins, became an eminent Professor of Moral Philosophy at Glasgow University and a major influence on the education system in Wales. They are looking for a new Volunteer Treasurer to join their existing Board of Trustees. This is a great opportunity for people with a background / interest in finance and accounts, to help them maintain proper financial records and procedures. The role would not be demanding, with typically only a few hours per month required, in a flexible manner. However, they would look to appoint someone for a period of two years.

The next Conwy Health & Wellbeing Network meeting will be held on 2nd December at 2pm via Zoom. It will be a joint meeting with Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council (DVSC) Wellbeing Network and we will be focusing on the current energy crisis, loss of income and the sources of welfare advice and support available to the public. Please contact Ann Westmoreland or Geraint Davies for more information. 

In response to guidance around coronavirus, CVSC Office is closed, but all staff remain fully available via email and telephone.  We are here to support not only existing voluntary and community groups, but any new initiatives and voluntary activities. 

Our role is even more vital now in helping you to support your communities in Conwy, with guidance, information on funding etc

Call us on 01492 534091 or email mail@cvsc.org.uk  
or volunteering@cvsc.org.uk