How does this impact on Community Wellbeing? Volunteering gives individuals the opportunity to feel included. It can help to improve routine, learn new skills, build confidence, make friends, reduce isolation and improve employment opportunities giving life more meaning and purpose. Why should the Committee focus on this as part of their future work? Recent research (Volunteer Scotland 2018) shows that those who have most to gain through volunteering are the least likely to get involved through low confidence, health issues or other support needs. For volunteering to thrive, organisations need support & resources to build their skills, experience & capacity to involve those who will benefit most. Individuals benefit, organisations benefit and the wider community is enriched by the contributions of a wider and more diverse range of citizens
Increasing paid staff in voluntary orgs to increase volunteering opps in local communities + offering support for people to volunteer will improve people’s mind-sets, helping them realise what they are capable of. Investing in orgs to support volunteers will reduce peoples limiting beliefs about themselves, help them feel they have purpose and increase motivation to live a healthier life and become role models for their families. This can have a positive impact on communities.
This content is created by the open source Your Priorities citizen engagement platform designed by the non profit Citizens Foundation