Appeal to recruit 1000 volunteers for COP26 event
IT will be the biggest postlockdown event in Scotland and bring together the largest gathering of heads of state ever hosted in the UK. And to ensure COP26 runs smoothly, today organisers are calling for applications to fill more than 1000 volunteer roles to support the event.
Glasgow will host the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC)
These vital climate talks will bring together heads of state, climate experts and campaigners, to agree coordinated action to tackle the climate emergency.
A variety of volunteer roles will be available in both Glasgow and Edinburgh, including providing information on the conference and the venues, supporting delegates staying in and travelling around the city, and promoting the best of what Glasgow and Scotland has to offer.
Leader of Glasgow City Council, Susan Aitken, said the city is “proud” to be staging the event and urged anyone interested to step forward.
She added: “Glasgow has firmly established itself among the best in the world at hosting world-class events and volunteers have long been at their centre. “Our COP26 volunteers will provide delegates and visitors with our world-famous warm Glasgow welcome, ensuring they have the best possible experience.”
Ahead of taking on their roles for the summit, which runs from November 1 to 12, volunteers will receive a workshop on sustainability from the UN and be given the training and tools required to carry out their roles.
Karen Donaldson, from Cardonald, has volunteered at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and Glasgow Doors Open Day and described volunteering as a “cracking opportunity to represent your city”.
She added: “Volunteering COP26, in particular, will be once-in-a-lifetime chance.
“Event volunteering is such at a
a
buzz, you get so much from it and it opens your mind. There’s also a community spirit among all the volunteers.
“You’re joining people from all walks of life and it gives you a warm feeling to know you’re part of that team.”
Scott Twigg, of Govanhill, who is originally from Liverpool and has lived in Glasgow for five years, said: “I’m very passionate about climate change so the COP26 volunteer programme is a fantastic opportunity for me to follow that passion and represent the city I love and call home, to an international audience.
“Whether you want to have new experiences, learn new skills or represent your city, I recommend you take this opportunity to be involved in a collective, collaborative effort in Glasgow and make it your own.
“It’s a really exciting thing to be part of and I personally hope to come away with a fantastic experience that I’ve learned from and can use in the future.”
The summit was postponed by a year to November 2021 and organisers intend to hold the summit in person, subject to the health requirements towards the end of the year.
COP26 President Alok Sharma said: “Time and time again we see the generosity of the great British public in making global events a triumph, and we are asking you to play a part in making COP26 a huge success.
“This is an exciting opportunity to volunteer in Glasgow and help us all tackle climate change.”
Anyone interested in volunteering can submit their application at www.ukcop26.org/volunteer until Wednesday, March 31.