Open Letter to next FM to prioritise volunteering
In this open letter to the three SNP leadership candidates, we reflect on the vital role of volunteering in achieving key Scottish Government priorties. We ask each candidate to prioritise volunteering if they are successful in becoming the SNP leader and our next First Minister.
Your ‘Duty to Refer’
Organisation have a legal duty to report harmful behaviour towards vulnerable individuals by staff/volunteers to Disclosure Scotland. Find out more about your Duty to Refer here.
Returning to the training room – we hope to see you there!
In the last week we announced the return of our face-to-face training.
Lothian charity achieves prestigious volunteering award
VOCAL, Voice of Carers Across Lothian, has achieved the Investing in Volunteers Award in recognition of the charity’s ongoing commitment to volunteering.
Return of Face-to-Face training
After a few years of online learning only, we’re excited to return to the training room from April to provide a more in depth and personal learning experience for customers.
Dumfries and Galloway Council achieve IiV
Dumfries and Galloway Council has become the first whole Council in Scotland to be awarded the Investing in Volunteers (IiV) Charter Mark of Excellence by Volunteer Scotland.
Funding Cuts and Volunteering
In this blog our Policy Officer, Sarah Latto, reflects on the difficult funding decisions affecting the voluntary sector at the moment, and what this could mean for volunteering.
E-Certificates – understanding the new process
On 1st December 2022, email certificates were introduced. Here’s how the process has changed.
VSDS Compliance Update
There has recently been a change to the conviction information that is shown on higher level disclosure certificates. This change has taken place from 19 December 2022 and will affect conviction information shown on Standard and Enhanced Disclosures and also PVG scheme disclosures. These changes do not apply to Basic Disclosure Checks.
Cost of Living Crisis: The Hard Facts
Matthew Linning, Head of Research and Evaluation at Volunteer Scotland, discusses new evidence on the impact of the cost of living crisis on volunteering.
Happy Holidays from Volunteer Scotland
We close a fantastic year with some final words from across Volunteer Scotland.
International Volunteer Day 2022
International Volunteer Day (IVD) 2022 celebrates the theme of solidarity through volunteering. This campaign highlights the power of our collective humanity to drive positive change through volunteerism.
Cost of Living and Volunteering: Policy Briefings
In September this year we launched a research report, Testing our Resilience, which explored the potential impact of the cost of living crisis on volunteering. It was a sobering read, and highlighted the potentially devastating impact of the crisis on both volunteers and the organisations that they support.
PVG Disclosure Certificates – New Secure Handling Policy
The way you receive your Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) disclosure certificate is changing. VSDS issued communication on 27th October 2022 informing you that from 1st December 2022, we will begin issuing email certificates.
Fee waiver for PVG’s for new paid roles within the Social Care Sector
Scottish Government will cover the cost of PVG checks for Social Care Workers (and comparable roles in Justice and Children’s Services) from 1 October 2022 – 31 March 2023.