Celebrating 25 Years

Our Annual Review entitled 'Modernising Volunteering' is now available to view online. It covers the successes and achievements of the last year and outlines our ambitious plans for the coming years.

Volunteer Development Scotland Annual Review 2009

If you would like to know more about Volunteer Development Scotland and the work we are involved in e-mail vds@vds.org.uk

Or if you are interested in becoming a member - please click here.

2009 marks our 25th birthday at Volunteer Development Scotland (VDS). Established in 1984 with one member of staff and initially based in Edinburgh,Volunteer Development Scotland has grown over the past 25 years into an organisation with nearly 70 staff at their current offices in Stirling. 2002 saw the establishment of the Central Registered Body in Scotland as an integral service of VDS.

We will be celebrating throughout the year with a programme of events which link to our programme and policy areas and which also includes fundraising events and activities by our staff in support of our 'adopted' charity for the year.

Our special year also includes relocation to new offices in Stirling during April 2009 which will bring the VDS and CRBS offices into one building. 

During 2009 staff at Volunteer Development Scotland have chosen to support The Children's Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS) as the charity for which staff will fundraise throughout the year. A number of fundraising activities have been chosen throughout the year.

CHAS is a Scottish charity established to provide hospice services in Scotland for children and young people with life-limiting conditions.

A children's hospice offers professional care, practical help and emotional support to the whole family usually from the day of acceptance to the death of their child, and beyond.

Rachel House in Kinross, Scotland's first children's hospice, opened in March 1996. Robin House in Balloch opened in August 2005. Both hospices are purpose-built and each can provide ongoing support for up to 200 families across Scotland each year. The CHAS at Home Team offers support to families across Scotland by providing a home care service to families in their own homes when they need it.