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.
Reading between the lines: our response to the new First Minister’s vision
Volunteering is not explicitly mentioned in the First Minister’s vision for Scotland. However, it is clear that volunteering continues to have a central role in achieving many government priorities.
Volunteers’ Week 2023: Celebrate and Inspire
With just over two months to go until Volunteers’ Week 2023, taking place 1-7 June, the organisers have shared the theme for this year’s week-long celebration is ‘Celebrate and Inspire’.
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.
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.