Volunteering Focus - 02 July

July is here!

This time of year often brings a bit of a quiet spell, with schools off and many folk heading off on holiday. I’ve always found it’s the perfect opportunity to take a step back and focus on your internal processes, a chance to tidy things up, make sure everything’s up to date, and get organised before things pick up again.

With that in mind, this week’s newsletter is packed with useful information and reminders about the support Engage Renfrewshire can offer around volunteer development.

Have you registered your volunteering opportunities on Team Kinetic?

Are you up to date with the latest features and updates on the system? If not, don’t panic! We are here to help.



Promote Your Volunteering Opportunities with Us!

Did you know you can promote your volunteering opportunities for free on our online volunteer portal, Team Kinetic? By uploading your roles, you’ll reach a wide pool of potential volunteers from across Renfrewshire who are actively looking for ways to get involved, we currently have 2,000 volunteers who are based in Renfrewshire registered on the system. It’s quick and easy to use, and gives you full control to manage, update and track your opportunities.

Plus, when you list your roles with us, you’ll gain access to free support and training through our Volunteer Development Officer. Whether you’re looking for help with recruitment, best practice guidance, or just want to connect with others in the sector, we’re here to support you. Let’s work together to make volunteering accessible and rewarding for everyone. If you’ve not uploaded your opportunities yet – now’s the time!

Check out our volunteering page here 

If you’re already using Team Kinetic to promote your volunteering opportunities, you might have joined one of the recent online training sessions covering the latest system updates. These new features are designed to make things easier for both you and your volunteers. Highlights include:

• The ability to create to-do lists for individual volunteers
• A handy check-in/check-out function using QR codes
• The option to bulk add volunteers to opportunities
• AI support to help you write opportunity descriptions
• Folders where you can store key recruitment resources and documents, making them easier for volunteers to access

These updates aim to enhance the overall experience. If you’d like more support or a refresher on these features, just let us know!   

Read more about the updates here

And as always, if you need any support navigating the updates reach out to Louise.

Join us on 20 August for our ‘Supporting Young Volunteers’ Development Day. This development day is aimed at Volunteer Managers and co-ordinators in Renfrewshire who directly support – or whose organisation supports – young people.

We are delighted to have presentations from Ygam (Young Gamers & Gamblers Education Trust), a smoking and vaping awareness workshop hosted by Renfrewshire HSCP and finally NilbyMouth – whose session will explore how volunteer managers and co-ordinators can support staff and volunteers to navigate issues around religion and belief in Scotland, with a particular focus on sectarianism and its impact on communities.

Booking link

Session 1: Young Gamers & Gamblers Education Trust
Session 2: Smoking and Vaping Information Session Renfrewshire HSCP
Session 3: NilbyMouth

What will you gain from attending?
Attending this development day offers a range of valuable benefits for individuals who support young people. Participants will gain up-to-date knowledge on emerging risks such as gaming and gambling harms, as well as smoking and vaping trends, enabling them to stay informed and better support young people. The sessions will provide practical tools and resources that can be used in everyday work, including workshop ideas and signposting options. Attendees will also build confidence in having meaningful conversations about sensitive or complex issues. In addition, the day will raise awareness of how to promote inclusion and challenge sectarianism, helping to create safer and more respectful environments. Finally, the event offers a chance to network with peers and local organisations, encouraging the sharing of best practice and the strengthening of partnerships across Renfrewshire.

You can find out more information about our presentations through the below links:

https://ygam.org/training/
https://www.nilbymouth.org/

In summer 2024, Archaeology Scotland and the Scottish Refugee Council partnered to offer refugees and asylum seekers a hands-on introduction to archaeology, supported by Make Your Mark and funded by the Heritage Fund Scotland.

The process began with co-design workshops, where participants discussed accessibility needs and preferred activities. This led to a practical session at the Camphill Enclosure Site in Glasgow's Queen's Park, where attendees engaged in archaeological surveys, including photography and site analysis.

Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with 62.5% of participants reporting increased skills and confidence, and 75% feeling more connected to local places. Many expressed a desire for more such opportunities. This initiative highlights the value of inclusive, co-designed volunteer experiences in engaging underrepresented communities.

Read the article in full here

Glasgow Life has launched a fresh plan to make volunteering truly inclusive and welcoming for everyone. The document outlines practical steps to ensure all volunteers feel valued, supported, and able to contribute, no matter their background or experience. It covers creating accessible opportunities, offering tailored support, and fostering a culture of respect and belonging. The plan also highlights how diversity enriches volunteering and strengthens communities. Whether you’re new to volunteering or want to help others get involved, this guide shows how Glasgow Life is breaking down barriers and opening doors to make volunteering accessible, enjoyable and rewarding for all. Check out the full plan to see how they’re shaping a more inclusive future!

Read all about it here

For the first time in over 8 years, Youth Scotland will be making small changes to the pricing of Hi5, Dynamic Youth and Youth Achievement Awards, effective from 1st January 2026. This change supports the continued development and accessibility of the awards, while still offering great value.

Training Opportunities
Introductory sessions have been renamed:

• Level 1 – Covers Hi5 & Dynamic Youth Awards (must complete this first)
• Level 2 – Focuses on Youth Achievement Awards
• IV Training – Internal Verification training

Upcoming Dates:

• Level 1: 24 June, 9 July
• Level 2: 9 July, 27 August
• IV Training: 28 August

You can also complete Level 1 via a new e-learning module at your own pace.

Plus, monthly drop-in sessions are available for questions, support, and sharing experiences.

Booklets remain valid for 2 years from purchase. You can find full details and sign up at Youth Scotland Awards.

The Buddy Beat are a Renfrewshire drumming group for adults with mental health experience, aimed at promoting social inclusion and helping people self-manage their week. They meet once a week on a Thursday morning 10-12pm in Johnstone High Parish Church Hall (Quarry Sreet). Buddy Beat is a group that exists to help people with mental health issues and learning difficulties through drumming and singing. They also use percussion instruments. For more in depth information about our work, click here https://www.thebuddybeat.org/theprocess. The committee meets once a month, for roughly one hour. The duties of this role require 2-3 hours every month. 

The main duties of this role include: 

• Minute Taking (Training provided) 
• General administrative duties including maintaining accurate records and file or attendee's and their support workers
• Prepare and circulate agendas for committee meetings and AGM. Ensure follow up actions from meetings are recorded and monitored
• Maintain contact details of trustees and keep records up to date
• Ensure the charity complies with its governing document (e.g. constitution and keep up to date with OSCR (Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator) requirements

More information on our website: https://volunteer.engagerenfrewshire.org/volunteers/opportunity/10242422

A new report from #YouthVIP (a partnership between Young Scot, Volunteering Matters and YouthLink Scotland) gives valuable insight into the experiences of young volunteers in Scotland.

Many young people expressed a strong desire to volunteer, particularly around the ages of 14 to 15. Their main motivations include wanting to help others, develop new skills, and achieve recognised awards such as The Saltire Awards. Volunteering offers significant benefits, including boosting confidence, improving mental health, fostering a sense of community, and enhancing their CVs. However, despite this enthusiasm, there are still several barriers that prevent some from getting involved. These include a shortage of interesting and accessible opportunities, poor communication about roles, difficulties with transport, and the challenge of balancing volunteering with school and other responsibilities.

What can we do better?
The report recommends 9 actions to attract and support young volunteers, including:

• Clear role info
• Friendly, flexible opportunities
• Good communication
• Recognition and inclusion
• Support with transport

The message is clear: young people want to volunteer, we just need to make it easier and more rewarding for them to get involved.

You can read the full report here, or get in touch if you'd like help making your roles more youth-friendly.

https://www.youthlink.scot/equalities-and-participation/youthvip/