Dumfries and Galloway Council has become the first whole Council in Scotland to be awarded the Investing in Volunteers (IiV) Charter Mark of Excellence by Volunteer Scotland.
The external accreditation was officially presented to Dawn Roberts, Chief Executive and Stephen Thompson, former Council Leader at the Ewart Library in Dumfries on Tuesday 14 February 2023 by Alanna Fotheringham, Volunteer Manager, Volunteer Scotland.
Investing in Volunteers is a UK quality standard that aims to improve the quality of the volunteering experience and ensure organisations acknowledge the contribution of their volunteers.
The award, which involved a rigorous evaluation of the Council’s volunteer programme is recognition of the important role volunteers undertake in supporting the Council’s Priorities and service delivery.
Dumfries and Galloway Council introduced its Volunteer Strategy in 2017 and since then has developed to work with volunteers across all its directorates as well as in the wider communities across the region.
Volunteers of all ages and backgrounds carry out roles including everything from providing pupils support; delivering food parcel provisions; carrying out beach cleans and litter picks to cataloguing archives, working with the Southern Upland Way ranger on practical maintenance and helping their community respond to unexpected events and emergencies.
The Investing in Volunteers Charter Mark represents continuous improvement, and securing the award is only the start of the journey. The council will continue to work in partnership with Volunteer Scotland to enhance standards and further strengthen its volunteer programme, to ensure volunteers receive the very best experience offering opportunities to upskill and enhance health and wellbeing.
Dumfries and Galloway Council look forward to working in partnership with Volunteer Scotland over the next three years.
Allana Fotheringham, Volunteer Manager, Volunteer Scotland said: “We are pleased to congratulate Dumfries and Galloway Council on their Investing in Volunteers achievement, they have shown real commitment to their volunteer programme, volunteers, and community. Great pride should be taken in the work they have done, becoming the first local authority area in Scotland to achieve Investing in Volunteers across all its services in an integrated way. We look forward to continuing to work with you, supporting your future learning and developments.”
Councillor Stephen Thompson said: “To be the first whole Council in Scotland to receive this award is a unique achievement and it recognises the excellent work and significant contribution our volunteers make to the Council’s service delivery.
“I would like to express wholehearted thanks on behalf of Members and Dumfries and Galloway Council to all our volunteers. We are extremely fortunate to have a such wealth of volunteers working across our region, giving freely of their time and skills, enhancing their local communities, and supporting the work and priorities of our Council.”
If you are interested in volunteering with a council service, please contact: VolunteerGuidance@dumgal.gov.uk