Glasgow’s Volunteering Charter
Glasgow faces a range of challenges, but we’ve shown that the city can take advantage of opportunities and achieve outstanding success, often developing innovative ways to do so.
We’ve been very successful at increasing people’s interest in volunteering but we need more quality, accessible opportunities for more people to donate their time, energy and skills to not-for-profit organisations like your’s.
We have some fantastic examples of inclusive volunteering opportunities developed by organisations in both the third and public sectors, but the available data also shows that people in Glasgow seem to volunteer less than the rest of Scotland.
Glasgow’s Volunteering Charter offers a new, strategic programme which will enable more organisations to involve more people.
Can your own organisation register for the Charter, use the available support services and work towards one or more of the Charter pledges?
The Pledges
As a Charter signatory, you will commit your organisation to…
- Create and expand appropriate opportunities for volunteering within your organisation,
and/or: - Ensure your opportunities are accessible to all sections of the community, and that your volunteering workforce reflects the demographics of the city, and/or:
- Facilitate and enable your staff, members and/or service users to undertake volunteering activity which improves their wellbeing and benefits Glasgow.
Register for the Charter
Before registering your organisation’s interest in working towards achieving ‘The Charter Mark’ it is very important to understand the processes involved. Please familiarise with the Section Pages in the right hand pane of this page. Also, consider your organisation’s resources and its commitment to the following points prior to Registering and Interest in The Charter:
- Organisations should consider their organisational ‘readiness’ to take on the Charter Pledges (above) We have designed an online survey (this will accompany further contact from Volunteer Glasgow) which will assist in your organisation outlining potential resources.
- There is a requirement for organisational ‘buy-in’ at their strategic level (CEO, Board of Trustees, etc) and operational level (the person who will be sanctioned by strategic level to oversee the work in achieving the Charter Mark)
- Initial commitment prior to taking on the pledge(s) by agreeing commitment by signing off an individual Charter Signatory Template based on the organisational agreed internal resources.
We need to know a little bit about you and your organisation. Click here to register for the Charter.
Latest Charter news and resources
- A Wellbeing Economy, Volunteering and the PromiseIn a stimulating and challenging presentation to the Volunteer Glasgow AGM, Jimmy Paul from the Wellbeing Economy Alliance explained what the Wellbeing Economy means, and its implications for volunteering generally and for Volunteer Glasgow in particular. Quoting Kirsty Flannigan of LCDT Jimmy explained vividly some of the things a Wellbeing Economy means: “It is when you’re able ...
- Impact of Council funding decisionsLike many other third sector organisations in the city, we are expecting delayed decisions very soon from the Council on grant funding for services from 1st October onwards. Although our Befriending & Mentoring Services will be unaffected, if you use (or have an interest in) our Volunteering Services, we’ve provided an update for you on the ...
- Glasgow’s Volunteering Charter; calling all Third Sector Organisations in Glasgow!Volunteer Glasgow had originally put out a call for Registrations of Interest for Glasgow’s Volunteering Charter (GVC) in May this year. With hindsight we understand that many Glasgow Third Sector Organisations may not have been in a position to make initial Registrations of Interest for Glasgow’s Volunteering Charter at the time due to Covid-19 protocols. ...
- Saltire Awards for Covid-19 youth volunteering 💖 🙌Great news! We want to ensure that we recognise and support the great efforts of young people helping in their communities, many of whom won’t have volunteered before, and as such Saltire Awards have relaxed the rules on informal volunteering during the Covid-19 crisis. Young people (aged 12-25) can claim awards up to 100 hours’ Saltire ...
- Volunteering Charter evaluation report publishedGlasgow Centre for Population Health (GCPH) has conducted a process evaluation of the Charter (phase 1) and has recommended that we roll out the Charter with some minor changes on the basis of Partners’ feedback. A big thank you to everyone that helped with the evaluation. Read the full report…
- Charter Mark awarded to GCHSCPThe Health & Social Care Partnership has been awarded the city’s Volunteering Charter Mark having successfully submitted its baseline census information and publishing a clear action plan for achieving its pledges. Fiona Moss (the HSCP’s Head of Health Improvement and Equalities) received the Charter Mark certificate from Bernadette Monaghan, Volunteer Glasgow’s Chief Executive.
- 2017 Impact ReportA huge thank you to everyone that worked with us to achieve so much!
- National recognition for adults volunteering?Is there a need for a national scheme to better recognise everyone over the age of 25 that volunteers to support public and third sector organisations making Scotland fairer, healthier, and smarter? And, if so, what should it look like? Read our short, interim report on what people have told us and what we’re proposing to do ...
- 100,000 Saltire Awards for Scotland’s Young People…a Legacy 2014 success story
- Glasgow 2014: has there been a Legacy?Recent report and associated headlines suggest we’ve failed collectively to capitalise on the success of volunteering at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games: this is what we think…
- Ideas to help you achieve Volunteering Charter pledgesBe inspired by a number of examples of proven ways of creating and expanding volunteering in other organisations and of making opportunities more inclusive. Examples from CHAS, the NHS InS:PIRE programme, Glasgow Homelessness Network, Glasgow Life, Hidden Gardens and the Food Train include family volunteering, young people under 16, peer support/advocacy, equalities processes, achieving ...
- New DWP guidance on volunteering……for welfare benefits claimants published today! Brilliant news. This is a massive step forward, making it easier for people to volunteer, knowing where they stand.
- First organisations receive Volunteering Charter MarkCan your organisation also do more for your beneficiaries/community by involving more volunteers? More people are offering donations of time, skills, energy and expertise: you can harness their support!
- Gathering Equality DataThe basics, best practice and useful ideas …
- First organisations listed as Charter Signatoriesand their pledges are very interesting…
- Funding for more volunteeringHow to get the money you may need for increasing opportunities and supporting increased diversity.
- Charter Launch – videos and slidesView and share the films, speeches and presentations at the launch of Glasgow’s Volunteering Charter – held in Glasgow City Chambers during Volunteers’ Week.
For more information
Please click on the links below or on the links in the Section Pages menu
