New campaign aims to see Stirling become Scotland’s ‘volunteering city’

A festival which aims to boost the number of people donating their time to good causes is taking place in the city this week.

Stirling will play host to Scotland’s first ever festival of volunteering which will kick-off tomorrow (Thursday) and run to Tuesday.

Organisers want to see more than half of the population enjoying active volunteering within three years and for Stirling to become the country’s first ‘volunteering city’.

Events include a special ceremony where the city’s volunteer of the year will be crowned, a crowd-funding event at Stirling Soup and a volunteer story exhibition at the Engine Shed.

There will also be a cycle treasure hunt led by Recyke-a-bike and a volunteering family fun day at King’s Park on Saturday, September 23 with fun activities and entertainment. Around 20 stalls will be set up giving visitors the chance to find out more about local groups looking for volunteers.

The six-day festival is being organised by Volunteer Scotland in conjunction with eight partners and director Rob Rae said: “The people of Stirling already do a massive amount of voluntary work, with over a third currently volunteering.

“But we know far more people want to volunteer and the festival will highlight the many ways to get involved. We want to show how flexible volunteering can be, there really is something for everyone.

“The festival is being piloted in Stirling but we intend to roll it out across the country and encourage even more Scots to volunteer.”

He added: “Volunteering can make a real difference, but it’s not just about helping others.

“There are lots of personal benefits to getting involved, from boosting your wellbeing and adding a skill to your CV, to gaining confidence and connecting with your community.”

The festival marks the culmination of a six-month campaign which saw a series of groups and charities take over a pop-up shop on Murray Place where they could promote their volunteering opportunities.

A funding pot of £2000 was also divided among ten local groups with an idea on how to improve their community.

One of the successful projects included the setting up of a weekly memory cafe for people living with dementia and their families.

This was officially launched yesterday (Thursday).

For more information go to festivalofvolunteering.org.