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VDS membership adopted the constitution at AGM on 25th September 1984. VDS was set up to;

1. Identify issues relevant to volunteering
2. Promote good practice to volunteer involving organisations
3. Support the development of Volunteer Bureaux
4.Provide a Scottish link with the UK Volunteer Centre (now Volunteering England)
VDS appoints its own staff. VDS office moves to Stirling and appoints Liz Burns as Project Director giving VDS its first sense of independence and self-confidence, whilst acknowledging the support it received from SCVO and the UK Volunteer Centre (Volunteering England)
The Gibson Review of SCVO was taken seriously. It referred specifically to the growth of VDS and recommended VDS work with the development of Volunteer Bureaux. VDS response to the report was to ensure that voluntary action in Scotland required strong national support and local development agencies.
Publication of the first VDS Policy Development Project report. The report identified key areas of change likely to affect volunteering in the 1990s. An increase in older population and a drop in younger population, role of volunteers in social care sector, the relationship of paid work to volunteering and volunteers taking on service delivery roles, all created changed styles of involvement.
Main areas for development work in 1990-1991 were 50+ volunteering, Environmental volunteering, volunteering in BME communities and Employee Volunteering. Volunteer Bureaux were also included in the consultation phase of the Care in the Community white paper.
A mission statement for Volunteer Bureaux was accepted at the 1992 Conference. A fact file was produced outlining their core functions, funding and the way in which VDS supported the network. Also completed was a handbook for running a VB, a directory and a quarterly newsletter for news and views around the network.
During this year VDS published its Charter for Volunteering which outlined what was required from governments, organisations the private sector and the media, if volunteering was to remain an effective expression of citizenship. VDS also published its Charter for Volunteers which if adopted by organisations would help to ensure the quality of the volunteering experience.
VDSs 10th Anniversary year. Connections were achieved by organising conferences and seminars around the country; links made between ideas, current issues and practice and being connected to networks in the field; by responding to new ideas through a development agenda, and by communicating key messages such as Volunteers Week, new VDS logo; connections with Europe.
Responsibility for administration of Volunteer Bureaux core funding given to VDS. Work begins to establish one in every local authority area. Liz Burns receives OBE for promoting volunteering in Scotland.
10th anniversary of Volunteers Week. Work continues with UK Volunteering Forum to further objectives throughout the UK.
Three new Local Volunteering Development Agencies (formerly Volunteer Bureaux) are set up. A Joint statement on key roles of LVDAs (now Volunteer Centres) and Councils for Voluntary Service (CVSs) is published. Key policy areas are Giving Age, active citizenship, and social inclusion.
Millennium Festival of Volunteering celebrates the year. 100th MV award MV on your CV. First Scottish symposium on Volunteering held. VDS gains Investors in People standard.
New Scottish Parliament established. Key policy areas are healthier living, ageing well, routes into employment, and lifelong learning.
VDS move to Stirling Enterprise Park in October. Its the UN International Year of the Volunteer. Set up of Employment Service volunteer mentoring. Establishment of Black and Minority Ethnic Unit at VDS and research into the extent of BME volunteering is published.
The network of 32 Volunteer Centres is completed. Active Communities Development Unit Road shows link work to the media strategy action group.
Manifesto for the Scottish Parliamentary elections published. Launch of new members magazine Spectrum. Establishment of new Research and Innovation Unit at VDS along with new series of Research Findings on research into volunteering in Scotland. New branding developed across all corporate material.
VDS hosts the European Volunteering Assembly. Publication of the first Annual Digest of Statistics. Launch of Investing in Volunteers standard. The new Photographic Exhibition tours in the Scottish Executive, the Scottish Parliament, The Volunteer Centre Conference and Ocean Terminal in Edinburgh. First Members Forum held at the AGM in December.
Network of Youth Development Workers established in each Volunteer Centre. Global Year of the Volunteer. First Volunteering Assembly held. Development of the Contact Management System within VDS. Volunteering policy in Health influenced by the Patient Focus, Public Involvement agenda.
Young Peoples Panels are established across Scotland First Third Sector Summit held with partners SCVO, Big Lottery and Scottish Executive. VDS strengthens the brand. Personal and professional development programme established for Youth Development Workers.

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© 2007 Volunteer Development Scotland - Registered in Scotland Company No. 106743, Scottish Charity No. SCO13740

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