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7th June 2023

Volunteer Scotland Employer Supported Volunteering

Employees from Volunteer Scotland share their experiences volunteering using their Employer Supported Volunteering time for Volunteers' Week 2023!

Allana

I volunteered for CRUK for 5 years as the Chair for Wee County CRUK, I loved it, we had a committee meeting once a month and covered fundraising events across Forth Valley, from fundraising at supermarkets, to Race for Life and Stand up to Cancer events. I met such lovely people who I still see in the community and get catch ups with.

I have also volunteered with work colleagues on one off volunteering experiences,  previously we have done the Breast Cancer Care fundraising event in Glasgow, bird boxes building in Stirling Riverside and litter picking, these are all opportunities I would never had experienced if it wasn’t for work organising, I really enjoyed all three events, doing something different and having fun.

Annemarie

I use mine mostly for the sports volunteering that I do.  Big events like the 6 nations rugby, the commonwealth games and this year in August will be the UCI World Cycling championships.  My role on most occasions has been spectator Services – helping them to seats, entertaining in concourses, the odd bit of face painting.

My other big ones are charity days, fundraising for Marie Curie, Poppy Scotland, Help for Heroes and that is mostly can collecting.

Christine

I have used my volunteering days in the past to volunteer with Food Train Stirling. Food Train makes hundreds of grocery deliveries every week, ensuring those most in need have access to fresh groceries.

I have also volunteered for a day at the Edinburgh Festival helping the Jazz festival by promoting the event on the day up the Royal Mile and helping customers find their seats etc. I also got to enjoy the show.

I organised a litter pick through lockdown and few of Volunteer Scotland staff joined me using their volunteering days.

Julie

I volunteer with a dog rehoming charity – Springer Rescue Scotland - assessing potential foster and permanent homes for dogs which are surrendered to their care. I also visit families who, for a variety of reasons, cannot keep their dogs any longer and have approached the charity about rehoming them.

We are very grateful to Springer Rescue as we adopted our own ‘furry son’ from them 4 years ago.  I wanted to volunteer with them to give something back and to support a cause which I’m passionate about. I also get to go to people’s houses and talk about dogs for hours which gives me great joy!

I’d always intended to go back to volunteering now that our family are older, and starting in my new role at Volunteer Scotland last year pushed me to do this – and it’s great to have the Employer Supported Volunteer days which give me some of my time back.

Wendy

I've done so many different things over the years!

  • Scottish Rugby: Face painting and visitor support at 6 nations
  • Edinburgh Festival Parade: Costume workshop assistant with a festival group from Bahamas; Participated in the parade; Volunteer manager
  • Fife Jazz Festival: Participated in parade
  • Battery hen rescue and rehoming: Rescued approximately 3000 hens which were destined for slaughter at only 18 months old and then helped to rehome them.
  • Piping Live: Back stage support for bands
  • Forth Bridges Festival: Visitor support
  • The Backpack Project: Collected filled backpacks from Stenhousemuir and from the office to be distributed to those experiencing homelessness
  • The Battle of Bannockburn: Visitor support
  • Party at the Palace: Chief queue buster at the toilets (it’s a glamorous job haha)
  • Gok Wan Fashion Event: Assisted models to change outfits backstage