Volunteering Focus - 20 November

Good Morning
 
It’s another frosty November morning, so grab a cup of something hot and enjoy reading through this week’s Volunteering focus newsletter. As the festive season fast approaches, Renfrewshire is gearing up for a range of volunteering opportunities to spread warmth and support – including shopping deliveries, community events and bucket collections. There will be plenty of ways to get involved and make a positive impact during this special time of year.
 
If your organisation has any ‘festive volunteering’ opportunities coming up, please send any information over by Monday 02 December to include in our next Volunteering newsletter.
 
Keep an eye out on our socials for upcoming updates on how you can lend a hand and bring a little extra joy to Renfrewshire this holiday season.

                               
A huge congratulations to the Tannahill Centre in Paisley for being awarded the King’s Award for Voluntary Service! This recognition highlights the incredible dedication and tireless efforts of everyone involved in supporting the local community. The Tannahill Centre has long been a beacon of resilience, compassion, and community spirit, enriching the lives of countless residents through its programs and initiatives. This award is a testament to their outstanding commitment to volunteering and positive change. Well done to the team – your hard work continues to inspire and uplift us all!
 
Some of the groups who are based in the Tannahill Centre include; the Ferguslie Community Choir, Our Volunteers, Darkwood Crew, Events Team, Own Yer Bike, No Substitute For Life Mens Group, Youth Voice, Youth Club Volunteers, Ferguslie Community Church, Ferguslie Seniors Volunteers, Ferguslie Women's Group, Community Together!

                       

We were delighted to attend the 12th annual PAY (Positive about Youth) Awards, hosted by Renfrewshire Youth Voice. This inspiring event was a celebration of the remarkable contributions young people make across Renfrewshire. The night was filled with stories of dedication, creativity, and the outstanding achievements of youth who continue to enrich and uplift their communities.

It was an honour to witness the talent and commitment on display and to connect with so many passionate individuals dedicated to positive change. A big thank you to Renfrewshire Youth Voice for hosting such a memorable evening and for showcasing the power of youth engagement. We’re proud to be part of a community where young people are recognised for their hard work and impact.
 
We were delighted to sponsor the ‘Volunteer of the Year’ Award. And the winner was… Chloe McConville! For her exceptional work with the active school's volunteer workspace at Park Mains HS, Chloe has volunteered over 330 hours of her own time to organise events for the young people she works with.

Welcoming Young People as Volunteers

I attended this session last month and found it incredibly interesting and informative. If you would like to learn more about how to make your organisation more young people friendly then join #YouthVIP for a highly immersive and interactive online workshop. Upcoming dates –
 
Wednesday 11 December – 10.30am to 12pm.
 
Friday 07 February – 9.30am to 11am.
 
Location: Online
Cost: FREE
 
Sign up here:
Welcoming Young People as Volunteers | YouthLink Scotland


 

Developing leadership practice in voluntary organisations: FREE online course at the Open University
 
This course provides an opportunity for people who work within voluntary organisations, as paid employees or staff, to develop energetic, practical and thoughtful leadership practice. 
 
After studying this course, you should be able to:

• approach leadership in a more energetic and thoughtful way 
• discuss approaches to leadership in relation to a number of pressing concerns relevant to voluntary organisations
• practise leadership in a more robust way within small teams and with volunteers, through drawing on some key practices
• offer a critique of dominant approaches to leadership in relation to cases from the voluntary sector
• discuss and reflect on leadership in the voluntary sector in relation to ethics
• Articulate a form of leadership rooted in practice between diverse groups of people and contexts.

More information here: Developing leadership practice in voluntary organisations | OpenLearn - Open University

Research by the University of Glasgow on Volunteering
 
The University of Glasgow are conducting a research project on volunteers, their underlying motives for volunteering and contributions to charity and third sector organisations. As part of this research at the University of Glasgow, Adam Smith Business School, Marketing Department/Cluster, they are collecting information on the topic via a questionnaire with charity/third sector organisation volunteers.
 
They will share the findings of the research with charities/third sector organisations and will also make a small financial donation to each organisation/charity that submits at least one completed response to the questionnaire (there will be a lucky prize draw, and this donation would be paid on behalf of one of the respondents/volunteers who has completed the questionnaire). The questionnaire is reviewed and ethically approved by the Ethics Forum at the University of Glasgow.
 
We would really appreciate if you could complete and share the link with your volunteers and anyone else you think appropriate: https://uofg.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_erqHZq4f0npaIjc

When?                              
Tuesday 26 November 20249:30am-3:30pm
 
Where?                           
Paisley Town Hall
 
Focus?                              
Violence, Safety and Substance Use (Vaping)
During 2024, we have carried out youth consultations, surveys, outreach and focus groups where we have listened to children and young people and the top three themes this year’s Youth Assembly will focus on come from young people themselves.  The event will allow young people an opportunity to find out more about the key topics that young people in Renfrewshire have said they are most concerned about. 
 
Who for?                         
Young people aged 14+ years, from schools and community-based organisations.
 
What to expect?            
The programme will include interactive workshops on the themes, offering information, sharing views, using creative ways to generate ideas for future projects and looking at how to positively influence services and support for young people across Renfrewshire.  Young people who are part of youth voice groups will be co-leading and helping to put questions to a Panel of experts and decision-makers, before the Youth Assembly votes on the top priority for action in 2025.
 
Who’ll be there?            
Panel members will include Scottish Youth Parliament, Police Scotland, Health and Social Care Partnership, Renfrewshire Council leaders and decision-makers.
 
Stalls?                               
Information and signposting from Youth Services, Young Scot, Renfrewshire Youth Work Network.
 
Booking for event?        
Book your places for your school group (maximum of 10 young people plus 1 accompanying teacher/staff member) or community-based organisation (maximum 2 young plus 1 accompanying youth worker) by completing this table and returning to youth@renfrewshire.gov.uk  by Friday 22nd November.  Please indicate your attendance asap to secure places asap and to assist with booking transport and catering.