Claire backs community volunteering

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I recently joined forced with Focus Scotland Magazine to help promote community based volunteering.

The campaigns aims to get the Scottish public to embark on a volunteering journey in 2013 whilst also raising awareness and promoting community volunteering throughout the year.

I’m pleased to join Focus Scotland in promoting community based volunteering and hopefully build on the success of 2012. I signed their banner in Parliament pledging my support to the campaign, with the hope of seeing an increase in community involvement throughout Fife in 2013.

Last year was a positive year for the image of volunteering with the successful summer of ‘Games Makers’ during the Olympic Games. Focus Scotland hope that individuals within Scotland will continue to volunteer and that the campaign will act as a reminder for them of the impact they can have at community level.

Volunteering gives those willing to get involved the opportunity to learn new skills that can benefit them throughout their lives along with having a positive impact on the community around them.

It is also important to thank those that already donate their time to help their local communities, their help is invaluable and hopefully they will have plenty of people joining them throughout 2013.

The last Scottish Household Survey showed that 30% of adults volunteer, this campaign hopes to add to that figure by encouraging everyone to kick off the New Year with a resolution to volunteer in their local community and make a difference.  

Volunteering Facts and Figures

  • 30% of adults in Scotland volunteer through an organisation or group (Scottish Household Survey, 2009/10).
  • These volunteers give over 142m hours each year, equating to an economic value of £2.2bn.
  • 60% of people feel they have never been asked to volunteer (VDS, 2004).
  • An estimated 78% of young people do not associate volunteering with good citizenship (Being Young in Scotland, 2009).
  • Volunteering can deliver health benefits to volunteers (Volunteering England, 2008).
  • Volunteers report that their volunteering provides them with valuable skills and experience, and helps them find a job.
  • Volunteering can have major positive benefits, including skills development, health improvement, mental wellbeing, building confidence and self esteem.