MEDIA RELEASE HAMMERSMITH & FULHAM VOLUNTEER CENTRE PARTNERING WITH RUSSIAN CHARITY TO DEVELOP SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROJECT HAMMERSMITH, August 29th 2013 – The Hammersmith & Volunteer Centre (HFVC) has partnered with Russian organisation, Good Deeds Case, to develop innovative forms of citizen participation for people interested in social entrepreneurship and social change. Funded through the Youth in Action Programme (Action 3.1), two representatives of HFVC, one member of staff and one young volunteer, will visit Good Deeds Case in St. Petersburg in November to develop this new transnational project. Marion Schumann, HFVC Chief Executive said, ‘We are one of the only Volunteer Centres in the country to be developing international volunteering opportunities and partnerships to enable local people to have life-­‐changing cultural exchanges and experiences as well as sharing of volunteering best practice. We are looking for a youth volunteer to come with me to St Petersburg to help develop this exciting new project with our Russian partner Good Deeds Case.’ Together the two organisations, using the non-­‐formal education method will explore the needs of the young people from United Kingdom and Russia, their expectations from a youth exchange, and will work on the specific elements of the new project: participants, aims, objectives, activities, methodology, dissemination and multiplier effect, as well as the financial aspects of the cooperation. During this ‘Feasibility Study’ HFVC representatives will meet Russian local authorities, introduce the new project and obtain commitment for the future initiative (a youth exchange), and will also visit one Russian social enterprise in order to understand the reality of this relatively new domain. If you are under 30 and interested in representing the Volunteer Centre in this project, please get in touch with Marion Schumann by telephone 020 8471 9876 or email [email protected] FURTHER INFORMATION Hammersmith & Fulham Volunteer Centre Founded in 1996, HFVC is one of the largest Volunteer Centres in London whose function is to promote, support and develop volunteering, and provide assistance through information, advice and guidance and training to get people into work and education. Website: www.hfvc.org.uk Contact: Marion Schumann (email: [email protected] or Tel. 020 8471 9876) Good Deeds Case Founded in 2010 in Saint-­‐Petersburg, Russia, its main goals are: development of civil society in Russia through the promotion of ideas of volunteerism and citizens involvement in voluntary activities; promotion of international understanding, developing friendship and cooperation among people of different cultures and religions; citizens' engagement in sport, healthy living, ecological and social activity. Contact Lyubov Ermolaeva (E-­‐mail: [email protected] or Tel.: +7 981 846 82 79)