The Scottish Government has announced that it is has awarded £1.1m worth of funding to 117 voluntary organisations to encourage people from disadvantaged backgrounds to “receive training and help to become volunteers”.
Angela Constance, cabinet secretary for education (pictured), made the announcement yesterday to celebrate the start of Volunteers’ Week, and said that grants of up to £10,000 had been awarded to 117 different organisations which work in deprived communities, the arts, as well as heritage and environmental charities.
The organisations which have applied for the grant funding from the Volunteering Support Fund will be encouraged to use the money to “recruit volunteers from vulnerable backgrounds”. Those could include “people who have mental health issues, learning disabilities or are unemployed”.
Angela Constance said: “This £1.1 million funding boost will help organisations across the country recruit, support and train volunteers to address the inequalities and poverty in their areas.
“The funding will target people who have been marginalised in the past because of their age, background or health, and support them to become volunteers.
"Whether it’s by mentoring young people, refurbishing an old building or coaching the local football team, we know that volunteering is a way of boosting self-confidence, making new friends and learning new skills.”
The Volunteer Support Fund was first launched in 2013. It is now into its fourth round of grant funding and is delivered on behalf of the Scottish Government by the Voluntary Action Fund.
Keith Wimbles, chief executive of the Voluntary Action Fund, said: “Now in its fourth round, the Volunteering Support Fund provides grants of up to £10,000 for organisations to increase the diversity of their volunteers, and improve the way they support them.
“VAF is delighted to be working with the Scottish Government again to provide funding and a programme of support and training to funded organisations.”
A full list of the 117 organisations which have received the latest round of grant funding can be found here.
