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ACTIVE COMMUNITIES NEWSLETTER

edition Four · Winter 2002

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Employers Passionate About Volunteering

BUSINESS ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY

As the leader in its field, the work of Scottish Business in the Community (SBC), the Edinburgh based not-for-profit organisation, has a major impact on the way companies invest in their communities across Scotland.

With the government's continuing focus on Active Communities, employee community involvement looks set to remain the fastest growing element of corporate community investment.

Whether a company is supporting existing staff involvement or developing its own programme to meet human resource needs, employee investment can bring benefits to the company, the employee and the community.

SBC Chief Executive, Samantha Barber believes most companies want to work to best practice and help develop a healthy society and a more productive workplace.

She says "As Scotland's leading authority in corporate investment, it is part of our role to help companies understand more fully the vital link between business prosperity and the well-being of society.

"We are the broker who makes the connections, provides practical advice and channels resources to deliver sustainable community investment.

Samantha Barber (left) helps load a fresh food delivery for people in need.

"Investing time and knowledge in the community is every bit as important as giving financially. We bring together companies committed to making a positive contribution to the communities in which they operate.

"Our goal is to champion community investment, making it an integral part of good business practice."

Samantha adds the SBC's Business Support Group network is at the centre of its work, bringing together companies who want to work to help address the social and economic needs of disadvantaged communities. These groups work in partnership with both the public and voluntary sectors.

Samantha is particularly up-beat about SBC's recent partnership arrangements with Volunteer Development Scotland (VDS) and the Volunteer Centre Network.

"Our development work with companies seeking to invest in the communities they serve, sits alongside the wide range of volunteering opportunities available through VDS links to Volunteer Centres across Scotland.

"Businesses benefit from a better understanding of their customers and stakeholders by being active in their communities - it is in effect a win-win situation."

SOUTH KOREAN VOLUNTEERING DEVELOPING FAST

George Thomson of Volunteer Development Scotland and Alister Murphy of the Scottish Executive's Voluntary Issues Unit, recently attended the 17th International Association of Volunteer Effort world conference in South Korea, where the theme was peace and reconciliation.

Alister represents Scotland at the IAVE conference in Korea

As two of many guest speakers from every continent, they promoted the work of the Scottish Executive and the volunteering sector in Scotland.

The two Scottish representatives discovered South Korea itself has a healthy, but fairly recently developed volunteering sector supported by a network of centres who receive State funding and operate in a similar way to those in Scotland.

In his report back, Alister credits the development of volunteering in South Korea to the impetus gained from the Olympic Games in 1988 when thousands helped make the event a success and the profile raising work of the International Year of Volunteers through ceremonies, exhibitions and in other ways.

A further shot in the arm for volunteering in South Korea came through the recent football World Cup, that again called on the help of volunteers.

During their seven day stay in Seoul, George and Alister heard speakers from North America, Europe, Australasia and the Far East and were fascinated by accounts from other delegates talking of the part played by volunteers in bringing together "warring factions" in areas like East Timor and Southern Africa.

Says Alister: "The way we arrange and do our volunteering in Scotland differs in many respects from elsewhere in the world, but similarities can be found in commitment, how we engage with communities and the work of individual volunteers."

School children entertain the IAVE delegates

They visited the Song Pa district of Seoul to discover around 35,000 volunteers from diverse backgrounds and age groups were registered with/by the local centre. Their numbers represents about 5% of the district's population.

Alister continues: "Interestingly, every centre maintains a record of individual volunteer hours and recognises their contribution with a specific certificate at an annual award ceremony attended by their families, local politicians and representatives of business and the community as well as the beneficiaries of their volunteering efforts.

"But voluntary activity in South Korea tends to concentrate on delivering services to the vulnerable in society - something we might expect to be provided in the first instance by various statutory agencies. At one centre we visited, the focus was on groups such as the physically disabled and isolated poor older people.

"The volunteering agencies are examining ways to involve school pupils more and improve training for staff as well as looking to their legislators for further Government support."

Alister concludes: South Koreans are determined, keen, willing and generous people. It was wonderful to experience their hospitality and enthusiasm. George and I have little doubt that through the efforts of the thousands of people involved, the contribution of volunteers to Korean society will go from strength to strength."

PARTNERS IN VOLUNTEERING AWARDS

Volunteer Development Scotland (VDS) will announce the winners of the Partners in Volunteering Awards 2002 at a presentation ceremony early in the New Year.

The Award scheme, supported by Scottish Business in the Community, recognises and rewards the best examples of volunteering partnerships between business and communities in Scotland.

There are four Award categories - Best Ongoing Partnership, Best Newcomer, Best Small Business and Best Broker.

Launched at the Getting Connected Conference in June, the 2002 Awards are once more sponsored by IBM UK Ltd whose Community Investment Manager, Robert Beattie comments:

"It is in the business sector's interest to invest in the world around it. It is not a 'nice to have' - it is essential."

Increased interest in the Awards is reported this year with record entries in the Best Ongoing Partnership and Best Newcomer categories.

2001 Award finalists included Guinness UDV and Alba Place, a residential childcare centre for children with special needs run by the Aberlour Childcare Trust in Elgin.

Other winning volunteering partnerships featured the Shell Brent Asset Team and Easter Anguston Farm Training Centre in Aberdeen.

The Abbey National, Rolls-Royce PLC and the Centre for Independent Living in Glasgow, were also among last year's finalists.

Winning voluntary sector partners received a PC courtesy of IBM and the business sector partner, a commemorative trophy. Runners-up received Highly Commended certificates.

Encouraging and advising Award entries this year was Diane Sutherland-Lockhart of VDS, while the Award Judging Panel were:

John Watt, SBC's Director of Programmes, Brid Cullen, Head of Development Services at VDS; and Mary McNeil, Manager of the Volunteer Centre North Lanarkshire.

More employers are recognising the business benefits in giving time. The company shows its commitment to the community through active involvement and support. Employees gain by developing new skills and confidence, and the community benefits from the experience and resources of the business sector.

Winners and runners-up at the presentation of last year's Awards by Nicol Stephen MSP, Deputy Minister for Education and Young People, at the Awards Dinner hosted by the Royal Bank of Scotland at their Edinburgh headquarters.

IF YOU GO DOWN TO THE WOODS TODAY

Birds and bats around Balmaha on Loch Lomond can enjoy a snugger Winter and look forward to the Spring tucked up safe from the chilly winds thanks to Volunteer Development Scotland's contribution to Make a Difference Day (MADD).

As their way of embracing employer supported volunteering, a group of VDS staff and their families set off in late October to fix bat and bird boxes to lochside trees

The 15 brave souls headed for the woods after being briefed by the National Park's staff on the MADD task ahead of them and hoping the ferocious local midgy population had hung up their boots for the Winter.

Ready to make a difference

Lesley Greenaway, Depute Director at VDS explained that their contribution to nature's well-being involved both National Park officials and the Volunteer Centre Stirling.

She comments: "The location could not have been more appropriately chosen, as the recently established National Park at Loch Lomond is bordered by Argyll & Bute and West Dunbartonshire, where two new Volunteer Centres now complete the Scottish network."

Lesley spoke of VDS plans to create a 24-hour photographic record of MADD volunteering. "It will show the range and depth of volunteers work across Scotland and reflect it visually right round the clock, including during the hours of darkness.

"Once complete, our plans are to turn the record into a table top publication for organisations, including businesses to have on display in their reception areas."

Make a Difference Day, the flagship campaign of Community Service Volunteers (CSV), encourages thousands of people, taking part in a huge variety of activities all over the UK to change their communities for the better.

Employer supported volunteering supports our active communities

Brid Cullen

Brid Cullen, Head of Development Services at Volunteer Development Scotland, is a great believer in strong, active communities supported by volunteering.

She is passionate about the way volunteers are changing communities and that employers as well as individuals have a part to play in their positive development.

Brid says: "volunteering gets things done that might otherwise be neglected and what is more, it is good for the people and organisations involved."

Her particular focus on employer supported volunteering takes Brid and her team into offices and board rooms around the country.

She will tell you: "No company or organisation operates in isolation and there is an increasing awareness of the links between profitability and the well-being of the community."

Brid sees the success of that message all around her as many household names including the major banks and large public organisations, turn words into action.

IBM UK's Community Investment Co-ordinator, Robert Beattie says: "It is in the business sector's interest to invest in the world around it."

Brid responds: "This is echoed by the actions of visionary organisations across the country - employers in companies who have already experienced the benefits - encourage and recognise their staff to engage in volunteering.

"Employees are often encouraged to volunteer in their spare time, exercising their skills to help causes and groups that interest them. But some employers give agreed time off to volunteer, perhaps on a matched time basis.

"In Scotland many companies are already supporting both individuals and team volunteering, carrying out valuable activities and services in their local communities.

"As well as enhancing the social impact of volunteering, building strong relationships with communities can improve the image of a company as a good corporate citizen.

"From a commercial perspective every business has its own agenda linked to core values that often includes a programme of community involvement. Volunteering can help win over hearts and minds."

Brid is also keen to recognise and promote employee volunteering in rural parts of Scotland where many smaller and medium size companies are located.

She believes there is already a tradition of business-community partnership in areas like the Highlands & Islands where communities are close knit and inter-connected.

"We are interested to find out more about what is happening in rural areas and already have a better picture thanks to local Volunteer Centres feeding back information on-line.

"The development of information technology has impacted in a major way on how we make volunteering opportunities available and in measuring interest and response. It is the way forward for us and others involved in the promotion of volunteering."

Brid concludes: "And if all of this fails to convince the sceptics, there is also the thought that volunteering can be good for your health!

"In fact some GP's already recommend patients think about helping others as part of their recovery regime. This sends out a very positive message - you may feel better by being active in your community. It's known as 'volunteering on prescription'."

Young engineers help out locally

Rolls-Royce apprentices from the company's Hillington Industrial Estate plant are a big hit at Kersland School, Paisley.

The young engineers of the future visit the special needs school on Monday afternoons to work with the pupils on specially adapted science based projects.

The success of the initiative is highlighted by the fact that it is now in its third year and as popular as ever with the trainees, teaching staff, pupils and parents.

"This project is part of our long established commitment to communities in which we are based," says Rolls-Royce Human Resources and Training Officer, Drew McNeice.

"As well as thoroughly enjoying the experience, our apprentices grow in self-confidence and develop real transferable skills including teamworking, time management and self motivation."

The usefulness of the initiative is echoed by Kersland Head Teacher Carol Jackson who believes it can alter the apprentices' view on disability in a life changing way.

Currently seven Rolls-Royce apprentices work with around 20 pupils with severe learning difficulties on a British Association Youth Session (BAYS) award scheme.

The Rolls-Royce classroom helpers each take a group of pupils through a variety of interesting practical experiments, guided by worksheets provided by teachers.

But their involvement goes beyond the Monday sessions to helping out at sports days, swimming galas, Summer fairs and the Christmas disco.

Carol Jackson concludes: "The Rolls-Royce apprentices are a great asset to the life of the school. They are both the extra pairs of hands that helps us carry out practical science activities and excellent role models for our older pupils.

"By the end of their year with us, the young men appreciate the individuality of each person with a disability and understand that their needs, hopes and aspirations for adult life are not, in fact, dissimilar to their own."

SHELTER'S BUSINESS SUPPORT INITIATIVE

An initiative first launched in Edinburgh by Shelter Scotland to help homeless families settle into a place of their own, is proving a winner.

Idea is to offer families skilled trades support for the kind of jobs Shelter's enthusiastic core volunteer group are not qualified to tackle.

Jobs like plumbing, electrical work and joinery, best left to the experts but not affordable to a family struggling to make ends meet.

Titled the Business Voucher Scheme, the initiative was first mooted and developed by Shelter Families Project Volunteer Co-ordinator Claire Wheeler.

Now it is expanding out of Edinburgh for the first time to Hamilton and the West where Jess Findlay will have responsibility.

Claire Wheeler explains: "Shelter Families Project in the Capital is supported by a great team of volunteers - people from all walks of life.

"Their efforts are targeted at essential work like helping families decorate their new home, short term child minding, befriending and assisting with light removals.

"But there are clearly tasks we could not ask them to tackle - a skills gap we needed qualified tradespeople to fill on a voluntary basis."

Claire admits she was lucky in hitting the jackpot almost right-off with an offer of help from Edinburgh's Inscape Joinery who pledged 40 hours of joinery per year.

"Inscape have been brilliant," says Claire, "very clued up and willing to persuade some of their sub-contractors of the merits of the scheme.

"Now we have an electrician and perhaps rarest of all tradespeople these days, a plumber! Of course we have to be patient until they have a quiet moment, but it does happen."

Keen to develop the scheme even further, Claire will be contacting other businesses to invite them to join the scheme which does not rely on firms making an an onerous commitment.

Inscape help prepare for the new tenants

And her initiative saw Shelter Scotland collect an award last year in Voluntary Development Scotland's Best Partnership with Small Companies award, jointly sponsored by IBM, Royal Bank of Scotland and Scottish Business in the Community.

"It was tremendous to receive a reward for a practical step that helps families win back their self-respect and settle into a home of their own.

"Businesses from other sectors, including finance have also responded generously with their support.

"Notable has been the help of the Newton Investment Company whose staff brightened up the children's play area in our Newhaven Road offices and launched a successful appeal for school clothes for homeless families.

"Self esteem is so important for people struggling with all kinds of difficulties and helping them settle in can mean they stay in their new home rather than becoming despondent and homeless again, unable to cope with mounting pressures."

Families can be referred to the project if they are in homeless temporary accommodation and have children.

Project staff will then visit families in the temporary flat to talk through the support the family needs.

The main aim of the Families Project is to help prevent the recurrence of homelessness so families who have been homeless before, get priority.

Most families are referred from the housing department. Sometimes health visitors or social workers might refer. Families can also contact the project themselves.

Project staff visit families weekly to provide practical help and support. The Business Voucher Scheme is used when families move to permanent accommodation. Most families are on a low income and cannot afford to pay tradesman. The skills and time that local trade firms provide helps families settle in their new communities by turning a house into a home.

VOLUNTEER CENTRE'S KEY ROLE

Volunteer Centre Edinburgh sums up what has become a multi-billion business.

Team leader, Paul Wilson notices a steady growth in individual volunteering in the Capital, but fewer employers looking for team volunteering opportunities.

"As one of a network of independent Volunteers Centres throughout Scotland, we detect the knock-on effect of the current economic slowdown.

"The corporate sector is generally quieter and individuals now work longer hours.

"Also more people volunteer in times of high unemployment. Edinburgh has had very low unemployment, less than 3% over the past few years.

"But smarter companies continue to allocate budget for community involvement and the service and support we offer employers remains as cost effective and worthwhile a solution to team training as ever compared to a classroom environment.

"It also offers new experiences, for example, a team of office worker volunteers spending a few hours helping out in a city farm, exposes them to an alien environment and fresh challenges.

"The results of being away from their desks can often be surprising. It is a leveller and different people may shine through. You cannot replicate that experience in a classroom, so employers love it.

"Businesses also benefit from the positive effect of being seen by the community as being involved - What better local PR can you get?

"For my money the impact of being seen to care for the community is often more credible and effective than an advertising campaign. Team volunteering is a win-win situation."

Paul also talks about the "feel good factor" as a tangible benefit for people who feel they are doing something worthwhile for the community.

Volunteers sort out the goods

He recalls an example of Royal Mail postmen installing smoke detectors in the homes of elderly people.

"Everybody trusts their postie and it was a feather in the cap for the mail service.

"Ultimately what is important is that people focus on what is interesting to them, assess whether it is realistic to take it on - is it safe, viable and of benefit to the community? All important questions and that's where the Volunteer Centre can help."

Like other Volunteer Centres throughout Scotland, Edinburgh has regular contact with employers, but much of their work is focused on individual volunteering.

"If someone with a job wishes to volunteer without the active support of their employer, then they are very much on their own. Part of our job is to persuade employers of the value of volunteering.

"Even just letting us advertise opportunities on notice boards or intranets is a worthwhile way employers can support volunteering."

The Volunteer Centre recently celebrated it's 115th team volunteering event organised since the Employer Supported Volunteering project started.

At any one time there are about 500 volunteering opportunites available from their offices in Easter Road or on the Award Winning Website www.volunteeredinburgh.org.uk .

BANK'S COMMUNITY DAY HITS THE MARK

A group of employees from the National Australia Group - owners of the Clydesdale Bank - recently took part in Community Day.

The event is an initiative of the National's wealth management division, which offers financial planning, investments and insurance services to customers of the Clydesdale Bank.

Community Day co-ordinator, Robert Allen, explains that the initiative gives employees an opportunity to improve or enrich the communities in which they live and work.

"We give people a day off work to organise themselves into teams and go out into their communities to do some good work," says Robert. "No money is involved - this is about participation rather than charity.

"This year, more than 600 employees joined in activities all over the UK, and we are looking forward to even more participation next year. Many people from the community commented on the excellent work done by the volunteers. It really is a rewarding experience for all parties."

One of the volunteers, Andrew Berry, adds: "It was a two way thing - we enjoyed the opportunity to assist the local communities and enjoy some good Scottish weather!"

Andrew was among 40 people from the company's Stirling House office in Clydebank, assisting the Canal & Waterways Trust in a clean up of the Forth & Clyde Canal.

"Recovering bicycles, trolleys and even dead fish was all part of the clean-up," says Andrew.

Another 25 people assisted the Glasgow City Council Parks and Cleansing departments and Carmunnock Village Council in a clean-up of the Cathkin Braes conservation area and Carmunnock, Glasgow's only village.

Enjoying helping in the community

Lawnmowers and mattresses were among the items that overflowed from two rubbish skips. Another 12 people assisted the St Margaret's Hospice in painting a fence and sorting through donated clothing.

Staff from the company's other principal Scottish office, Brunswick House, in Wilson Street, Glasgow, assisted on two separate projects. The first, painting the outside of The Glen Family Centre, a pre-school for handicapped and mainstream kids, in Thornliebank. The children had a party afterwards to celebrate their new look premises.

The second project team helped to create a garden and then held a children's' party at The Richmond School, for handicapped children, in the Gorbals, Glasgow.

For both projects, staff at National Wealth Management engaged local businesses and persuaded them to donate materials to help the project.

Angela Fox, another of the Community Day organisers comments: "We had the best day ever and it not only helped the two schools concerned but it also helped us get to know each other and work together outside of Brunswick House."

Robert explains that Community Day is a part of the Group's People and Community Trust (PACT) programme.

"PACT is open to all of our employees and encourages our people to organise initiatives that improve their lives and the lives of others. It is an employee driven scheme that is making a commitment to investing in current and future generations of our people and the wider society, in which we live and work."

Smartening up the outside

A Scottish Executive Active Communities grant of nearly 250,000 over three years has opened up an important new volunteering development opportunity for CSV Scotland.

This new funding paves the way for CSV to prepare a programme targeted at providing volunteering opportunities for disadvantaged young people.

For the first time CSV can turn its full attention to the best ways that young people from disadvantaged backgrounds can serve others.

And the work has already begun through a series of talks with social work departments and youth groups from several parts of Scotland, including Dumfries and Galloway together with east and north Ayrshire.

Is Szoneberg, a Regional Director with CSV Scotland describes the funding as an important step forward in an area where much needs to be done.

"It is crucial that we begin to look seriously at the contribution that can be made by disadvantaged young people, many of whom feel isolated in their own communities.

" What it equally important is the life-changing opportunity this presents to them, including increased confidence, self esteem and a sense of purpose.

"I know from experience the changes this bring about with direct benefits to the community and the long term future of the young people themselves.

"We are still at the relatively early stages, but with the funding behind us, CSV Scotland looks forward to developing an exciting and worthwhile programme."

Warm welcome on Baltic coast

Scottish Executive Librarian, Sarah Hutchinson travelled to the Polish town of Gdyina on the Baltic Sea coast this year as part of an eight person team from Girlguiding UK.

Her trip to Eastern Europe was arranged under the Guiding Overseas Linked with Development programme (GOLD) that has been running now for 10 years.

Sarah, who is based at Saughton House, leads the 1st Uphall Guides in West Lothian and has been an adult Guider since the mid-1990s.

She was selected for the 13-day trip to Poland, after attending an International Opportunities (INTOPS) weekend run by the Guiding movement.

Poland was one of five foreign countries included in the GOLD programme this year. The others were Bangladesh, Belarus, Uganda and Russia.

On arrival in Gdyina, Sarah and her team met up with Czech, Slovak and Polish Guider teams at their Scout House base close to the sea.

There they ran a themed programme for Polish Guiders, with each day covering a different topic, including conversational English and guiding leadership.

Sarah Hutchinson (back row, far right) and other Guiders in Poland.

"It was a superb experience that included visits to guiding HQs in Warsaw and Gdansk and the Poles were extremely welcoming and friendly," says Sarah.

"Adult Guiding enhances self-confidence and teaches leadership and people skills that can be very useful in the workplace.

"I was delighted that The Scottish Executive supported my trip with five days paid special leave and colleagues and others were equally generous in helping me raise the 1000 needed to take part."

Sarah, who originally comes from Essex, was introduced to Guiding as a 10 years old schoolgirl. Later after graduating from University, she came to live in Scotland.

"I was working on a casual basis with The Scottish Office and staying in Pencaitland when I got back into Guiding locally. Several changes of location followed, but my interest continued until I returned to Scotland when I joined 1st Uphall Guides.

"Guiding as an adult is an excellent way to volunteer and put something back into the community and the opportunity to visit other countries and share our experiences makes a real contribution to the Guiding movement world-wide and promotes international understanding."

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES

Derek Cranston

Sports enthusiast Derek Cranston of the Scottish Executive's Voluntary Issues Unit chose a local Edinburgh YWCA centre for his employee volunteering day-off.

Derek opted to help out at the centre during the busy school holidays period when the after school club role is extended to looking after children for the whole day.

"It's a busy centre close to my home in Pirniefield, Leith and along with a variety of part time employees and volunteers I spent a day keeping a group of children, between the ages of 5 and 11, busy while their parents were at work.

"Activities included an afternoon visit to the nearby Leith Academy swimming pool where I was able to teach one young girl to swim without the aid of her armbands," says Derek whose own two children are both excellent swimmers, one competing for Edinburgh.

During their time in the pool, Derek was also able to teach the children some of the basic water polo moves, including passing and shooting.

Earlier the group had spent time at the Princes Street outdoor playground in the city centre, followed by a visit to a fast food restaurant for lunch.

"It's very satisfying, but hard work helping look after a group of energetic children for a day and I especially enjoyed the pool work, though the lunchtime burger came a close second!" adds Derek.

A keen indoor bowler, Derek plays table tennis in the Edinburgh League and coaches staff at the Scottish Executive Victoria Quay offices where he is based.

Websites to watch

Articles for our next issue, on the topic youth volunteering, should be in Word format of 1 page of A4 or less, accompanying photographs especially welcome; please submit to viu@scotland.gsi.gov.uk, for the attention of Jillian Gilchrist by end March 2003.

Scottish Volunteering Hotline
08000 151 511