I joined with MSPs of all parties in the Garden Lobby of the Scottish Parliament to help mark the tremendous contribution made each year by volunteers to the Scottish economy and society.
From 1 to 12 June, Volunteers’ Week Scotland will take place as part of a UK-wide series of events to highlight the invaluable work done by volunteers up and down the country. Events are already planned in communities as far apart as Shetland and Galashiels. This year Volunteers’ Week is running for an extra five days to coincide with the Queen’s Patron’s Lunch on 12 June.
”Volunteers play a critical role in supporting so many groups from sports clubs to community organisations across the constituencies that make up Mid Scotland. Thousands of people are supported week in and week out as well as vital support given to those less able and we are indebted to everyone who volunteers to support others, to run local clubs and generally give up their time to help others. I’m supporting Volunteers Week Scotland and showing my thanks.”
George Thomson, Chief Executive of Volunteer Scotland said:
Volunteers’ Week Scotland is a chance to say thank you to volunteers for their contribution and to celebrate the power of volunteering to bring communities together. It’s also an opportunity to encourage more of us, where we can, to play a bigger role in our communities. The focus of our work this year is to encourage more people, from more diverse backgrounds, to volunteer more often.
The latest research tells us that 27 per cent of Scottish adults provided unpaid help to organisations or groups in the last 12 months. 75 per cent of them do so for up to 10 hours a week. These volunteers offer up their skills and time across an enormous range of activities, through which most of us have benefitted in some way.
This year’s focus is on providing an opportunity for beneficiaries to say thank you to their local volunteers. Volunteer Scotland and partners are encouraging anyone that’s benefitted from volunteering to get involved, this includes:
- Tweeting or posting thanks on social media using the hashtag #volunteersweekscot
- Tweeting or emailing one or more specially designed ‘thank you’ cards http://bit.ly/bigthankyoucards
More information on getting involved can be found at bit.ly/thankavolunteer or by following #volunteersweekscot on Twitter
Notes
Volunteering facts
- The latest Scottish Household Survey (2015) informs us that in 2014 27 per cent of Scottish adults provided unpaid help to organisations or groups in the last 12 months in Scotland.
- In 2012 volunteering output contributed 162 MILLION HOURS of help and £2.6 BILLION to the Scottish economy.
- Local area statistics are available here http://bit.ly/localareastats and also attached to this release
- For more information please contact Gemma Jackson on (01786) 479593 or email Gemma.Jackson@volunteerscotland.org.uk
- Volunteers’ Week started in 1984, and is now in its 32nd year
