Fund aims to target barriers to volunteering

APPLICATIONS are being invited for funding to help those who experience barriers to volunteering.

The Scottish Government has made £3.3 million available to the Volunteering Support Fund to support small to medium third sector organisations recruit volunteers who experience disadvantage or barriers to volunteering.

The fund is being managed by Impact Funding Partners on behalf of the government.

During the funding period applicants should aim to recruit a minimum of 36 volunteers with 13 who experience disadvantage or would traditionally experience barriers to volunteering.

Among the diverse areas of focus for the fund are people on low incomes, those with mental health conditions and people who are physically disabled.

Following on from the success of the previous Volunteering Support Fund in supporting the recruitment of volunteers with a disadvantage, this fund would particularly like to recruit more volunteers who are from minority ethnic backgrounds, disabled or with a long term health condition.

The fund also aims to support organisations to specifically recruit skilled volunteers to enhance the capacity of the organisation as well as the third sector.

Funded projects are expected to: Increase diversity in the third sector’s volunteer pool, to particularly include people who experience disadvantage or would traditionally experience barriers to volunteering; Improve governance, leadership and financial knowledge of organisations through the recruitment of skilled volunteers to enhance the third sector's capacity; Improve organisational capacity to provide opportunities for skills and personal development through volunteering; Enhance services delivered by organisations to better meet the needs of the communities they serve.

For mor information, and to apply, visit https://www.impactfundingpartners.com