View all 49 Plan Actions here to see how we’re making progress in this 10-year project. Key collaborators and supporters are actively contributing to our success. Explore key examples and evidence of development, and follow along as we continue updating with ongoing progress and new achievements.
Actions 1 - 6
Actions 7 - 9
Actions 10 - 11
Actions 12 - 13
Action 14
Actions 15 - 16
Actions 17 - 18
Action 19
Actions 20 - 25
Actions 26 - 30
Actions 30 - 33
Actions 34 - 36
Actions 37 - 38
Actions 39 - 41
Actions 42 - 47
Actions 48 - 49
Through government-wide performance indicators; a cross-government group on volunteering, hosted by the Third Sector Unit; and volunteering inclusive policy analysis.
Will be developed by Community Planning Partnerships, supported by local Third Sector Interfaces, local authorities and COSLA.
That reflects Stakeholders’ views (Volunteer Scotland, SCVO, COSLA, Scottish Government, Chambers, Trade Unions, NHS Scotland and Funders) on volunteering and supports national and global initiatives in this area.
Through a Policy Champions Network, developed and supported by the Scottish Government and Volunteer Scotland, with representation from across the volunteering sector.
Through a comprehensive policy review calendar to support timely inputs and implementation of a ‘test of change’ approach for reviewing a key policy area.
Through influencing how volunteering is represented in the practical application of policy, for example the recent work around Work Capability Assessments. This will ensure (potential) volunteers can fully participate and engage.
To fund ‘complex’ issues such as inclusive volunteering, and fund ‘capacity building’; to agree objectives; to agree standards; reduce bureaucracy; and improve guidance.
The opposite of large scale projects these are small scale ‘tests of change’ where learning is prioritised. Actions address more complex issues and where impact is less certain.
That focus on societal impact, employ standardised templates, make explicit the funds for volunteering, create agreed outcomes for volunteering impact and make ‘impact measurement’ a condition of grant.
Through identifying leadership development opportunities (e.g. young leaders), assessing current leadership development activity and providing leadership support.
Which is focused on taking participants through a process of making change within an area of volunteering through understanding underpinning systems and how to improve impact.
Through embedding Voice (especially volunteers’ voice) into key decision-making structures and building ‘voice gathering’ capacity (developing skills, educating and providing guides for individuals and organisations).
Which includes exploring the feasibility of a Volunteering Research Centre; engaging other sector research specialists; agreeing Volunteering Research protocols for wider research sharing; and supporting organisations to increase their volunteering research capability.
Is a ‘shared space’ through which to (a) review voice and evidence inputs (b) understand / articulate the system at the highest level (c) generate or help prioritise proposed actions nationally and (d) review and help support, refine or exit from existing actions.
Through developing standardised training, an accredited train-the-trainer model and developing career pathways for volunteer practitioners (managers and coordinators).
Through enabling the scoping and potential pilots for future large-scale initiatives, such as a Volunteer Passport Scheme.
Through appropriate third sector engagement with the Resilience Partnership Infrastructure; and greater access to learning & development on emergency resilience topics.
To reflect the contribution made by communities; promoting good safeguarding practice in respect of vulnerable people; and updating guidance on informal volunteering.
By helping organisations to apply digital tools and share best practice; which includes signposting to existing support (from SCVO and others) that increases use of digital generally; and providing guidance to create accessible content around a volunteering programme.
And expanding the Volunteers’ Week programme by including other national events relevant to volunteering.
Which build on existing national celebrations and focus on locally driven community events.
And inclusive volunteering practice through awareness raising campaigns.
That allows volunteers to tell their story in their own words.
And their importance for lifelong engagement, including the potential for adult awards.
Through tailored, comprehensive and accessible information and guidance that addresses key questions for non-volunteers.
Through engaging ‘anchor’ organisations and individuals and supporting volunteers’ use of greenspace and bluespace.
Through understanding the success factors and supporting wider application, thematically and geographically.
Through initiatives aimed at participants and recipients within community services and interest groups.
Through supporting a volunteering response to important issues, such as national emergencies, protecting assets under threat, rescuing land for a community garden – this includes sharing good practice examples.
i.e. support entrepreneurial action that’s focused on creating community-volunteer engagement models or approaches.
Through a plan to increase current opportunity volumes and matches which involves identifying and removing barriers for both opportunity publishers and searchers.
Through collating, reviewing and recommending changes based on motivations and needs at each life stage, including employer supported volunteering and intergenerational activity.
Through collating case studies via volunteers and practitioners, and providing guides to help others create roles in this area.
Through building relationships between volunteering and community engagement partners.
Around successful community-volunteer engagement initiatives in order to understand and support.
Into adulthood by engaging education-focused stakeholders and employers; and into retirement by engaging employers and others.
Through research that examines their needs and motivations to volunteer.
Through research and monitoring and evaluation data.
Gain a better understanding of the contribution of volunteering to the Wellbeing Economy by aligning existing research with the National Outcome indicators related to health and social capital.
Through wider promotion of the impact of volunteering in policy and the media.
Reinforce the distinction between volunteering and paid employment by reviewing and relaunching the Volunteer Charter, introducing fair volunteering principles, and reinforcing the importance of paying expenses amongst others.
Which includes an agreed value statement, guidance and accreditation routes and signposting to existing services.
Through practical resources, training and peer support.
And ensure that minimum standards are in place for recognising volunteers.
Through understanding where bureaucracy can be streamlined (with relevance to VIOs, infrastructure bodies, funders, and others) and the application and impact for different types of volunteers / volunteering.
Which supports volunteers to maintain positive physical and emotional wellbeing and sets a national baseline to support volunteer practice
Through the increased promotion of ‘a quality pipeline’ which includes the Volunteer Charter, Volunteer Friendly (VF) and Investing in Volunteers (IiV). Assess potential for ‘QA marked’ opportunities.
Understanding the impact of the cost of living crisis on volunteering and work in partnership with key partners to influence decision-makers and develop guidance for volunteer involving organisations on responding to the crisis.
That is fair and creates a better future for everyone. Through a set volunteering ‘actions’ (which tackle inequalities and centre on people’s wellbeing), we’ll reduce our emissions and respond to a changing climate.