Policy and Strategy


Policy Team
John Lee email john.lee@vds.org.uk mobile 07917 476 405
Norrie Murray email Norrie.murray@vds.org.uk mobile 0788 797 6038
Landline 01786 479593

What we do

Our policy and strategy services aim to influence a wide range of policy makers in order to help create a positive environment for volunteer development.
We use volunteering research and evidence to inform our policy work and in turn, use policy to influence learning and practice in volunteer development.

We support, influence and develop policies which;

• Encourage proper resourcing for volunteer development
• Value the diversity of volunteering and its important role in creating inclusion
• Improve the volunteering experience
• Advocate the idea that volunteers identify and articulate unmet needs and emerging issues
• Challenge and remove the barriers to volunteering
• Promote good practice in the recruitment, management and retention of volunteers
• Promote joined up thinking across government and which take a strategic approach to volunteer development 





 

What we are saying
VDS has submitted evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s Health and Sport Committee Inquiry on Pathways in Sport. The submission considers ways of overcoming barriers to volunteering in sport and calls for public bodies to work more strategically with support bodies in sport and volunteering.

VDS Response Pathways into Sport

Health and Sport Committe call for evidence

VDS has responded to this Scottish Government’s consultation. The response considers the inclusion of volunteers in the new right, the eligibility of volunteers to the new right and the apparent exclusion of the Third Sector.

Right to Request Time

Scottish Government Consultation

VDS has responded to this consultation by calling for a 9 point action plan to be put in place in order that people on welfare benefits can decide if volunteering could help them back into the paid labour market and/or better cope with periods of unemployment.

 

DWP Response

DWP Green Paper

VDS has produced a briefing on this debate which lists five suggested actions including more training for volunteer coaches and more resources for volunteering in sport

 

Briefing for Independant Debate

Official Debate Report

VDS has produced a briefing for this debate which says a year of sport could be used to highlight, celebrate and develop a deeper and wider appreciation of the benefits of volunteering in sport.

 

Briefing for Members 17 September

Year of Sport for Scotland 2014

VDS has responded to this consultation by calling for any funding to support volunteering primarily in smaller third sector organisations

 
VDS Response Changes to the Childrens Hearing System

Consultation Document Reforming the Childrens Hearing System


VDS has produced a briefing for this debate which calls for a systematic review of volunteerings role in the criminal justice system

 
VDS briefing Scottish Prison Commission Report

Scottish Prison Official Debate Report

VDS has responded to this consultation by calling for any funding to support volunteering primarily in smaller third sector organisations


VDS response Dormant Bank

Consultation Information Dormant Bank

VDS has responded to this consultation by calling for a volunteering strategy for 2014, a pre-volunteering programme and enabling people to share their experiences of volunteering

 

VDS 2014 Legacy Response

Glasgow 2014 Delivering a lasting Legacy Consultation Information

VDS has responded to this consultation by highlighting 4 roles for volunteering -Volunteering as a pathway into education, training or paid employment -volunteers directly supporting those in poverty to break free from it - volunteers providing services that help people better cope with poverty- volunteers campaigning against poverty

VDS Poverty Response

Consultation Information Poverty Response

VDS has responded to this consultation by saying volunteering should be viewed as a very practical thing people can do to help maintain and/or improve their mental health and the mental health of others. It needs to be better recognised as an action which can contribute towards better community wellbeing, solidarity and social cohesion.

VDS Response Towards a Mentally Flourishing Scotland

Consultation Information Mentally Flourishing Scotland
VDS has responded to this consultation by calling for the Refreshed Strategy for Volunteering in the NHS to be contained within the planned Better Health, Better Care Action Plan

VDS Response Better Health, Better Care
 
Consultation Information Response to Better Health Better Care


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