Engagement and Inclusion E-Bulletin December 2022
Its been a great year for the Volunteer Glasgow Engagement & Inclusion team. This year, we were delighted to return to in-person service delivery after a long period of WFH. We also resumed face to face appointments and our weekly drop-in session, and began to offer brand new monthly Get Ready To Volunteer Sessions, with a little help from our friends at Skills Development Scotland (thanks SDS!). We’ll be doing it all over again in 2023, as well as trying out a couple of new things too. If you work with groups and individuals who might benefit from volunteering, read on to find out more…
We’re closing for Christmas
We’re hanging up our Santa’s Grotto hats and taking a well-earned break from Friday 23rd December – Wednesday 4th January 2023. During this period, the office will be closed. If you are looking for guidance and support around volunteering, you can email engagement@volunteerglasgow.org and we will get back to you on or after the 4th January.
2023 Dates for your Diary:
Volunteering drop-in
Our weekly volunteering Drop-In will begin once again in 2023 on Wednesday 11th January. The drop-in will take place every Wednesday, between 11am and 1pm, at the offices of Skill Development Scotland (SDS) at Monteith House, 11 George Square, Glasgow G2 1DY. If you have any query relating to volunteering or need some support, you can pop by to speak to an advisor.
Everyone is welcome – there’s no need to book ahead. Remember, it won’t be running during the first week of January – the first session is on the 11th!
Get Ready To Volunteer!
We’ll be resuming our monthly, Get Ready To Volunteer! sessions in the New Year. These relaxed group sessions are open to everybody, and perfect for anyone new to volunteering. The sessions last approximately one hour and cover the following:
- What is volunteering?
- Where you can volunteer
- Benefits of volunteering
- Things to consider before volunteering
- How to register with Volunteer Glasgow and search for opportunities
We won’t be delivering a session in January – the next session is on the 1st February 2023. Again, there is no need to book ahead – those interested are welcome to just turn up. The session will take place at Skill Development Scotland (SDS) at Monteith House, 11 George Square, Glasgow G2 1DY.
Volunteer Toolkit Training
These training sessions aim to enable your organisation to deliver your own volunteering information sessions, and will help you provide better support to clients to help them access volunteering. Our next session is booked for 26th January 2023 and you can book your place here.
Volunteer Glasgow – Befriending and Mentoring Christmas Appeal
Our brilliant Befriending and Mentoring Services team are raising money to support young people in Glasgow. Just £10 could go towards a Christmas meal out or other activity with a befriender for a young person – and a larger donation could fund activities between a mentor and a young person well into the New Year. What could be more full of seasonal good cheer than that? Read more about the appeal and make a donation here.
Helping over the Holidays?
GCVS (Glasgow Council for the Voluntary Sector) is creating a Directory of Festive Services and is inviting organisations, charities and community groups to share details of their service provision – including FoodBanks, Warm Places, Advice, Gifts or other help in Glasgow. Get the word out there about your service by emailing everyoneschildren@gcvs.org.uk or completing this short form.
Have your Say
The Scottish Centre for Employment Research (University of Strathclyde) has been commissioned by Glasgow Council for the Voluntary Sector, Highland Third Sector Interface and The Robertson Trust to undertake research that maps the extent of fair work in Scotland’s voluntary sector and identifies the opportunities and challenges for employers in delivering fair work.
If you’re a paid worker in the voluntary (or third) sector, have your say by completing this survey. Your participation is crucial to providing a full picture of fair work experiences from which to develop practice and policy, and to having your views and experiences heard.
‘Tis the Season for Giving…
As the weather worsens and the cost of living crisis rages on, the most vulnerable members of our society will be the most affected. Several organisations, including The Scottish Refugee Council, Positive Action In Housing, The Simon Community and many others, are running Winter Appeals – if you can, consider donating or sharing the information among your networks. Financial contributions aren’t the only way you can help – you can also donate old toys to Glasgow’s Spirit of Christmas Campaign and warm clothes, toys and other items to Refuweegie.
And finally…
Did you know that Jingle Bells is down in history as the first song ever played in space? In December 1965, astronauts Tom Stafford and Wally Schirra pranked NASA mission control. On the radio transmitter, they claimed they could see ‘a UFO driven by Santa’ before breaking out the song.
Happy Holidays! 🎄 🎅 ☃️
