Volunteering Focus - 09 April

We hope you’re all enjoying the sunny Easter holidays and finding time to recharge! With spring in full swing and the warmer weather on the horizon, there’s no better time to get involved and make a difference!

This week, we have some exciting updates and opportunities to share, from the upcoming Renfrewshire Volunteer Fair on June 2nd, to the Volunteers Week Resource Bank and the next Volunteer Managers Forum. Plus, there’s a host of workshops and events coming up that will support you and your team, including the Volunteer Charter Champions Workshop and the National Youth Strategy Consultation—all designed to help strengthen and inspire your volunteering efforts.

As always, if you’re looking for ways to enhance your organisation's volunteer program, connect with others in the field, or simply find some new inspiration, we’ve got you covered.

 

The next Renfrewshire Volunteer Fair is coming up, and we want YOU to be part of it!

This is an opportunity to showcase your organisation to local members of the community, share the volunteering opportunities you have available, and highlight the many benefits of getting involved in volunteering. If you’re struggling with volunteer recruitment, this is the perfect chance to connect with potential volunteers who are eager to make a difference. Don't miss out—get in touch today to reserve your FREE stall and be part of this amazing community event!

When: 02 June 2025

Where: The Tannahill Centre, 76 Blackstoun Road, Paisley PA3 1NT

Time: 12-2pm

Get in touch with Louise, our Volunteer Development Officer to reserve your space - lwalker@engagerenfrewshire.com

Volunteers Week

54 days to go!

Click the image to access all Volunteers' Week resources:

 
Join us on Wednesday, 14 May, from 10:00 to 12pm, at Engage Renfrewshire. This forum is your chance to connect with fellow volunteer managers, exchange insights, and learn from inspiring approaches to Inclusive Volunteering Strategies. We’ll spotlight organisations that have successfully embraced inclusivity in their volunteer programs. Whether you’re an experienced manager or just starting out, this event is a fantastic opportunity to gain practical ideas and showcase your own work. Spotlight sessions from Dates N Mates, STAR and Pachedu will feature diverse topics such as:

• Creating Accessible Volunteering Opportunities
• Engaging Diverse Demographics
• Overcoming Barriers to Inclusion
• Partnerships for Inclusion
• Measuring Success

We’ll also be joined by Fraser Clark from #YouthVIP, YouthVIP is part of the Volunteering Matters (charity) organisation who work in the voluntary sector all over the UK. They work in partnership with Young Scot & Youth Link Scotland as well as Scottish Government, the Third Sector (TSI) community and lots and lots of other organisations at a grassroots level, ALL working together with Young People within the voluntary sector.

YouthVIP develop ideas and support opportunities to help create an impact within your local community with young people at the heart of everything we do. HOME | Youth VIP
 
Register now to secure your spot!
 
Renfrewshire Volunteer Managers Forum Tickets, Wed, May 14, 2025 at 10:00 AM | Eventbrite

I’ll be attending this free online session delivered by the Scottish Recovery Network on Thursday 01 May, 2-4pm. This workshop is open to people in Scotland working in peer roles (paid or voluntary), service leads and managers of peer workers, and people with lived experience who have taken part in peer support relationships. This workshop will explore the purpose and role of the framework and father your views on what needs to be included to help peer support in Scotland flourish.

Book your place here, and I hope to see you there Let's Create a Framework for Peer Support in Scotland! Tickets, Thu, May 1, 2025 at 2:00 PM | Eventbrite

You can sign up to their newsletter here Newsletter sign up - Scottish Recovery Network

Introductory Training to Youth Scotland’s Hi5 Award and Dynamic Youth Award

I will also be attending this online workshop on 29 April from 10-12pm for an introduction to Youth Scotland’s Hi5 Award and Dynamic Youth Award, enabling you to effectively promote, support and deliver these awards in your youth group, project or school.

It will familiarise you with the approach used, the plan-do-review structure of the awards, how young people evidence their learning and achievement and the quality assurance process that ensures consistent standards across Scotland, essential for the credit rating and levelling of these qualifications on the Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework (SCQF).

What is the Hi5 Award?

To gain a Hi5 Award, young people choose a ‘challenge’, complete a minimum of 5 hours of activity, think about and comment on their achievements, recording time spent on their activities and gather evidence of their participation. They will then receive a certificate showing their name, their challenge and the hours completed. More info here Hi5 Award - Youth Scotland

Book your space here Level 1- Introductory Training to Hi5 and DYA | YouthLink Scotland

 

Thank you to those organisations at the recent Development Day at Johnstone Town Hall for taking the time to say hello and pledge to the Volunteer Charter. We are keen to encourage every member of the Renfrewshire Volunteer Managers Forum and beyond to take a few minutes out of your day to sign up to become a Renfrewshire Charter Champion. Sign up here Become a Charter Champion - Volunteer Scotland.
 
For those already signed up... Charter Champion Workshops

Workshop Programme:

• Welcome to the event: You will have the opportunity to network with other Volunteer Charter Champions.
• Volunteer Charter and Investing in Volunteers (IiV): What’s the difference?
• Interactive breakout sessions: Where you will reflect on your progress as a Volunteer Charter Champion and discuss what changes you have made since becoming a champion and highlight what you plan to do in the next 12 months to embrace the Charter in your volunteer programme.
• Learning together: There will be an opportunity to share ideas and examples of how you have embedded the Volunteer Charter in your group/organisation.
• What now: Next steps, further support and progression onto a quality standard.

It's a great opportunity to learn and grow together. We hope to see you there!

 Next Workshop- 22 April, 10am-1230pm, online

 The Volunteer Charter Champions Workshop Tickets, Tue, Apr 22, 2025 at 10:00 AM | Eventbrite

The Government is creating a new ten-year National Youth Strategy to tackle the challenges for this generation of young people and ensure that every young person can thrive. The National Youth Strategy will bring power back to young people and their communities, and improve youth-focused services, moving away from a one-size-fits-all approach from the Government.

Take 5 minutes and join IWill here in responding to the consultation, encouraging thousands of young people aged 10-21 (aged 25 with SEND) to shape this once in a generation strategy.