Volunteer Story – Allan Stewart
Allan Stewart lives in Dumbarton. He has been a volunteer driver for Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland since 2018 and is involved in two peer support groups in Paisley.
Volunteer Story – Elaine Clarke
Elaine has been a volunteer with CHAS for more than six years, starting with occasional visits to Rachel House. Now that she is retired, Elaine has enthusiastically embraced various volunteer roles with the organisation. During the pandemic Elaine made over 4000 face masks raising around £15000 for CHAS.
Volunteer Story – Bärbel Rigby & Sheila Law
Bärbel Rigby & Sheila Law, Helpers at Loaves and Fishes Foodbank share their Volunteer Stories for Volunteers’ Week 2023.
Volunteer Story – Diane Rayner
Diane Rayner, 62, lives in Aberdeen. A former paediatric nurse, she signed up to become a volunteer with Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland but suffered a stroke just as she was about to take up the role. Three years on, Diane is celebrating both her recovery and a year as an admin volunteer with the charity.
Volunteer Story – Alan Boe
Alan has now been a volunteer with CHAS for almost 20 years!
One of his most memorable experiences was when he volunteered to collect cans from the Heriot Watt University shop. Through their efforts, the university shop raised a remarkable £10,000 for CHAS. Alan has certainly counted a lot of cash!
Volunteer Story – Jocelyn
Jocelyn has been playing the hospice piano in Edinburgh since 2019 and was formerly a teacher at a school in Edinburgh. When the pandemic hit and we had to ask our volunteers not to attend the hospices, she asked if there was anything else she would be able to do while unable to carry out her role.
Volunteer Story – Laura Chen
Laura Chen, 37, is a retail volunteer at Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland’s Partick store. Laura began volunteering as a way to meet people in Glasgow after moving back to the city. Now almost two years on she’s discovered a whole new charity family.
Volunteer Story – Jane Lynn
Jane began volunteering with Victim Support Scotland after health considerations meant taking early retirement from a corporate career.
Volunteer Story – Milly
Milly was awarded a British Empire Medal last year in recognition of the support she has provided throughout her life to marginalised communities and people in need.
Volunteer Story – Svita Chernetska
Svita Chernetska, a fashion stylist, buyer and boutique owner in her native Ukraine found her perfect volunteering role as a retail volunteer in Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland’s charity boutique in Bothwell. She shares why giving back to the community is so important to her.
Volunteer Story – May
May is one of our Chaplaincy Team Volunteers in the Glasgow hospice. Our Chaplains provide pastoral and spiritual care to our patients and their loved ones.
Volunteer Story – Chinasa
Chinasa is on placement for her masters in Social Work. She has a law background, and her lecturer suggested VSS for her placement as it was in line with her experience.
‘Community Wealth Building’: two sides of the same coin?
Community Wealth Building sounds great. I mean, the idea of tackling economic inequality by ensuring more wealth is generated and retained in communities makes sense to me. But, if it’s to do with generating wealth, what’s that got to do with volunteering?
Youth Volunteering During Times of Crisis
Matthew Linning, Head of Research and Evaluation at Volunteer Scotland, discusses new evidence on the impact of the ‘perma-crisis’ on youth volunteering in Scotland.
Scottish Household Survey – 2021 Results
The SHS results for 2021 were published Tuesday 25 April 2023. Only formal volunteering is reported on odd-numbered years.
The SHS Team has cautioned against comparing their 2021 data with previous years due to changes in the research method, and representativeness of the sample.