4th December 2024
Permanent Secretary of the Scottish Government pledges support of the Volunteer Charter
This morning we had a very productive meeting with the Permanent Secretary of the Scottish Government, John-Paul Marks, and the Director General for Communities, Louise MacDonald.
At this meeting, Mr Marks also signed up as a Charter Champion on behalf of the Scottish Government – a clear commitment to promote and uphold the principles of the Volunteer Charter. This is a major step in ensuring that the Volunteer Charter is embedded in government decision-making and legislation.
We spoke about a range of issues, including the recent Scottish Household Survey 2023 results showing a decline in formal volunteer participation and the proposal to introduce a PVG membership fee for volunteers in Qualifying Voluntary Organisations. We also had a wide ranging discussion about the role of volunteers in Scotland’s education and Skills landscape, and touched on our plans to develop a national approach to Employer Supported Volunteering.
Our thanks to Mr Marks and Ms MacDonald for their time today, and their ongoing commitment to volunteering in Scotland.