Volunteers or climate change ‘revolutionaries’?
Whilst researching our response to the Scottish government consultation on the Circular Economy Bill, published on the 1st September, I was amazed and inspired to read about the important contribution of volunteers in this space.
Your Voice counts because Volunteering matters
Each year Volunteer Scotland asks our stakeholders – “how are we doing?” Or rather, we asked our stakeholders to rate their experience of us and provide suggestions on where we can improve.
Fair Work and the Volunteer Charter
Fair Work Convention member Anna Fowlie is the Chief Executive of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) talks about Fair Work and the ten key principles of the Volunteer Charter which help to underpin good relations within a volunteering environment.
Volunteers and the State – where does volunteering fit in 21st century Scotland?
Last week, Volunteer Scotland facilitated a Festival of Politics panel event exploring the relationship between volunteering and the state. Our CEO, Alan Stevenson, was joined on the panel by Sara Redmond from the Health and Social Care Alliance and Alan Sherry from the CLD Standards Council. The discussion was expertly chaired by Jeremy Balfour MSP who dared to ask some of the more thorny questions!
Fee waiver for PVG’s for new roles in Childcare Profession
The Scottish Government is providing the childcare profession with cost of living support, by covering the cost of PVG checks for anyone starting a new childcare role from 1 August 2023 – 31 March 2024.
Social Enterprise Awards Scotland 2023
The shortlist for the prestigious Social Enterprise Awards Scotland 2023 has been announced by Social Enterprise Scotland recognising some of Scotland’s most pioneering social enterprises.
100 Charter Champions!
Ensuring that each and every volunteer has a good experience is important to us at Volunteer Scotland. That’s why we’re pleased that more than 100 individuals, groups and organisations share that goal and have signed up to be #CharterChampions.
Volunteering in a Shifting Skills Landscape
Widespread reform in Scotland’s education and skills landscape seems inevitable. The past few years have seen a raft of publications which all recommend seismic changes to Scotland’s education system, qualifications regime and post-school skills environment.
Net Zero Week 2023
Net zero is the world’s answer to stopping climate change. On the 27th June 2019, the UK became the first major economy in the world to pass laws to end our contribution to climate change. Find out more about the campaign and what Volunteer Scotland are doing to meet our aims of Net Zero!
Make Your Mark receive a Heritage Fund Grant
Today, the Make Your Mark campaign has received a Heritage Fund grant of £142,722. Made possible by money raised by National Lottery players, Make Your Mark supports everyone in Scotland to volunteer with their cultural, built and natural heritage.
Volunteering Action Plan – 1 year on
It’s the first anniversary of the Volunteering Action Plan. We’ve been blown away by what’s been achieved over the past year since the Volunteering Action Plan launched in June 2022. Let’s take a look at some highlights and what’s coming up in the near future!
Volunteer Scotland and CLD announce new partnership
As part of Volunteers’ Week celebrations, the Community Learning & Development (CLD) Standards Council Scotland and Volunteer Scotland are excited to announce their new partnership.
Volunteer Scotland Employer Supported Volunteering
Employees from Volunteer Scotland share their experiences volunteering using their Employer Supported Volunteering time for Volunteers’ Week 2023!
Volunteer Story – Hazel Anderson
I have been volunteering in the food bank warehouse for over two years. I chose Aberdeen Cyrenians as I wanted to volunteer in an organisation where I could see the benefits first hand.
Volunteer Story – Stephen Fraser
Stephen Fraser, 34, lives in Glasgow where he owns the FITT Principle, a personal training studio, and hosts a podcast. He is also a volunteer with Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland on its plot at the Growchapel community allotment project in the Drumchapel area of the city.
Volunteer Story – Kirsty Paterson
Kirsty Paterson, General Volunteer at Community Links South Lanarkshire shares her Volunteer Story for Volunteers’ Week 2023
Volunteer Story – Ash Kasibante
Ash Kasibante is a 23-year-old Software Engineering student at Glasgow University. Not content to just focus his time on his studies, Ash is also a volunteering hero for Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland’s retail store in Partick, as well as being a member of the charity’s Health & Wellbeing Working Group.
Volunteer Story – Graham Morris
I have been volunteering at Cyrenians for almost one year now. We lived away and moved back to Aberdeen and I retired early but still wanted to contribute. Someone recommended Cyrenians and I looked into it and thought it would be rewarding being part of the charity