Volunteering Services

Looking for Volunteers?

If you involve/or are looking to involve volunteers in your organisation then VASA can help.

VASA is the main resource for people who want to volunteer in South Ayrshire.  By advertising your vacancies/opportunities with us, we will be able to signpost potential volunteers to your organisation.

Our staff will try to match volunteers to the skills and personal attributes you require for each particular opportunity you have.

Over the past year we have seen the number of volunteering enquiries double.  This has been mainly due to high unemployment, people looking to gain work experience, others looking for a new career path, whilst potential students may require some volunteering experience before going to college or university.  So now is the time to advertise will us and to consider possible new opportunities you may need to help grow and deliver your services.

Besides having an office in Ayr town centre, we carry out surgeries in Girvan on a monthly basis.  We also promote opportunities at pre retirement training events, fresher’s fairs and other events throughout the year.    

It’s simple and free to register your opportunities with us, so register now and don’t miss out on volunteers!  For an organisation registration application form, please click here and for a volunteer opportunity form, please click here.

For more information either email seonaid@voluntaryactionsouthayrshire.org.uk or call 01292 291 997

 

Want help with Managing your Volunteers?

We have a range of services to help you manage your volunteers.  From help with good practice guides, to training courses to help develop your board, employees and volunteers. 

IIV (Investors in Volunteers) 

IIV is a National Award for organisations who engage volunteers.  It is the UK Quality Standard for good practice in Volunteering Management.  Many Third Sector organisations across Scotland and the rest of the UK have either achieved the award or are working towards it.  By working towards the award will ensure that you have solid foundations of good practice in place for recruiting, training and supporting volunteers. 

For more information either contact vds.org.uk or iiv.investinginvolunteers.org.uk

Award Schemes for Volunteers

MV
MV Awards are open to all 16-25 year old volunteers. The Scottish Government endorsed these awards.

MV Awards are given for 50 and 100 hours of volunteering. The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth signs both the 50 hours Awards and the 100 hours Awards.  At 200 hours an Award of Excellence is presented, which is signed by the First Minister.  The time limit for completing the required hours is two years.

Voluntary Action South Ayrshire hosts a yearly award presentation ceremony to which the young achievers of the awards and the organisations they volunteer with are invited.

So if you engage young volunteers and want more information, then please email us at enquiries@voluntaryactionsouthayrshire.org.uk 

South Ayrshire Volunteer Awards
From 2011 VASA will be introducing an award scheme for older volunteers who have made a big contribution to their community through volunteering.  Further information will be posted at a later date.

Volunteer Ready Award
Later in the year VASA will be launching a best practice award for organisations that engage volunteers within the South Ayrshire local authority area. 

The award will be based on a set of best practice criteria and a toolkit containing templates etc will be made available online. Watch the news for more information.