A new guest blog on the #YouthVIP recommendations, from Erin Fulton, YouthVIP Engagement Manager (South and West including Falkirk) at ProjectScotland:
Let’s support youth volunteering!
As part of the new National Volunteering Framework, the Scottish Government commissioned ProjectScotland and Young Scot to create a youth volunteering design team – #YouthVIP. The group formed recommendations to encourage more young people to volunteer and to improve the experience of those who currently give their time to their communities.
(Image caption: (right) the #YouthVIP logo, featuring the name, and underneath, each partners’ logo.)
Early in 2020, the Scottish Government announced they would accept all #YouthVIP’s recommendations. Since then, the pandemic has shone an even brighter light on the role that young people play in volunteering, social renewal and civil society. In response, the Scottish Government is supporting Project Scotland, YouthLink Scotland and Young Scot to partner and drive forward the #YouthVIP recommendations. The recommendations are:
- One: Training for Voluntary Organisations on youth inclusion
- Two: Develop Guidelines on Supporting Young Volunteers
- Three: Local Area Network Meetings
- Four: Legacy Group to Oversee Recommendations
- Five: Annual Volunteering Summit
- Six: Review of Quality Assurance Marks for Voluntary Organisations
- Seven: Local Area Volunteering Advisory Scheme
- Eight: Rollout Youth Volunteering Champions
- Nine: Framework for Young People who Face Greater Barriers to Inclusion
- Ten: Campaigns to Promote Volunteering in Local Communities
- Eleven: Dedicated Access Fund for Voluntary Organisations
- Twelve: National Forum for Business and the Third Sector
- Thirteen: Pilot Scheme for small and mid-sized enterprises
The next stage of the recommendations is to make them happen!
At ProjectScotland we are working with organisations to build confidence in including youth volunteers. This includes a training from Get the Gen which introduces key ways of involving young people in your organisation. There is training coming up in February:
(Image caption: A colourful table in yellow, red and blue, with training details.)
You can sign up via the Get the Gen website.
Beyond the training we can help with things like thinking creatively about volunteer role profiles and connecting to other organisations for ideas and support. We can also help with the detail of youth volunteering including learning about safeguarding and insurance. Let’s give young people a positive to start to their volunteering journey.
To chat or find out more please get in touch:
Erin Fulton – YouthVIP Engagement Manager (South and West inc. Falkirk):
- email: Erin.fulton@volunteeringmatters.org.uk
- phone: 07398603609
