Festival opens to celebrate our volunteers
Stirling’s Festival of Volunteering opens today (Wednesday), celebrating the city’s volunteers.
The week-long festival (September 19-25) is expected to attract over 1000 participants.
George Thomson, chief executive of Volunteer Scotland said:“As a candidate city for European Volunteering Capital 2020, we hope to use the festival as an opportunity to increase volunteering participation which will benefit all local communities.”
There will be plenty of inspiration on how to get involved at the festival’s family day at King’s Park on Saturday, September 22, from noon until 4pm, with over 30 local organisations and charities set to take part.
Local children are in for a treat, with a free bouncy castle, bubble football, water walkers and silent disco.
Free arts and crafts activities will also be on offer, including Stirlingshire Voluntary Enterprise’s rock painting activity, #volrocks. Youngsters will be encouraged to paint, hide and find rocks that raise awareness of the voluntary sector in Stirling to be in with a chance of winning a prize.
The Festival will also see Stirlingshire Voluntary Enterprise celebrate the 15th anniversary of their Supported Volunteering Programme with a special afternoon tea for past and present volunteers tomorrow (Thursday).
Natalie Masterson, SVE chief executive said:“In the past 15 years the programme has been privileged to help over 500 volunteers with extra support needs to find and maintain a voluntary placement within Stirling’s community. In turn, they have given their time, energy and enthusiasm to community causes across the Stirling Council area.
“During the festival we want to celebrate all volunteers, but there is something special about individuals who have faced adversity and yet still give their time to help make our communities a better place to live.
“We want to celebrate the impact that the supported Volunteering Programme has had, not only on the organisations that have gained volunteers, but also on the individuals who have experienced such a positive impact on their physical and mental health.”
For the full festival programme: www.festivalofvolunteering.org/ stirling2018/