Stirling's Volunteering Action Plan
Working together to make volunteering accessible, inclusive and valued
Stirling's Volunteering Action Plan sets out a shared vision for the future of volunteering across Stirling. Developed by SVE and local partners, the plan is our local response to Scotland's Volunteering Action Plan and aims to create a thriving volunteering culture where everyone has the opportunity to get involved.
Launched during Volunteers' Week in 2023, the Action Plan was shaped through consultation with partners from the public, third and community sectors to ensure it reflects the needs and ambitions of Stirling's communities.
Our Vision
Our shared ambition is simple:
To increase volunteering participation for all.
We want volunteering in Stirling to be accessible, inclusive and rewarding, enabling people of all ages and backgrounds to contribute to their communities while developing skills, building confidence and improving wellbeing.
Why it Matters
Volunteers play a vital role in strengthening communities. They support local organisations, improve people's wellbeing, help deliver essential services and create opportunities for people to connect.
The Action Plan recognises that while volunteering already makes a significant difference across Stirling, there is more we can do to remove barriers, widen participation and ensure everyone has the opportunity to volunteer if they choose.
Our Priorities
Working together with local partners, we are committed to:
- Increasing participation in volunteering across Stirling.
- Making volunteering more inclusive and accessible.
- Supporting organisations to provide high quality volunteer experiences.
- Recognising and celebrating the contribution of volunteers.
- Strengthening collaboration between organisations and communities.
- Demonstrating the impact volunteering has on people and places.
The Stirling Alive with Volunteering Steering Group
The Stirling Alive with Volunteering Steering Group provides strategic leadership for volunteering across Stirling. Established to support the Year of Volunteering 2020, the group developed the first Stirling Volunteering Action Plan and continues to oversee its implementation while shaping future priorities.
The Steering Group brings together representatives from organisations across the public and third sectors who share a commitment to making volunteering more accessible, inclusive and valued. Through partnership working, the group helps identify opportunities to increase participation, remove barriers to volunteering and celebrate the positive impact volunteers make across Stirling's communities.
The group meets quarterly to review progress, share learning and guide the development of future volunteering priorities.
Working in Partnership
The Action Plan has been developed through collaboration between SVE and a wide range of local partners, including Stirling Council, NHS Forth Valley, Active Stirling, Police Scotland, Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, PLUS Forth Valley and the University of Stirling Students' Union. Together, we are working to build stronger communities through volunteering.
Supporting Stirling's Future
The Action Plan contributes to the wider ambitions of The Stirling Plan by helping create communities that are healthier, more resilient, inclusive and connected. By investing in volunteering, we are investing in stronger communities and better outcomes for everyone.
What's Next?
The first three-year Action Plan has provided a strong foundation for growing volunteering across Stirling. As this phase comes to an end, we are working with volunteers, community groups and partner organisations to shape the next Volunteering Action Plan, ensuring it reflects local experiences, addresses emerging challenges and builds on what has already been achieved.
Before developing a new plan, we want to take the time to listen and understand what volunteering looks like across Stirling today, what is working well, and where there are opportunities to grow and improve. The next phase will be shaped by the experiences, insights and ideas of the people and organisations who make volunteering happen.
There are a number of ways you can get involved:
If you volunteer, we want to hear about your experiences, what motivated you to get involved, what has supported you to stay, and what could make volunteering more accessible and rewarding. Volunteering Survey here.
If you represent an organisation, we are keen to understand your current approaches to volunteering, what you are doing well, the challenges you face, and where additional support or collaboration could make a difference. Organisation Survey here.
We are also inviting case studies to capture real examples of volunteering in action across Stirling. These stories will help us build a richer picture of what is happening locally and highlight the impact volunteering has within our communities. Case Study form here.
Each of these contributions will play an important role in shaping a renewed Volunteering Action Plan that reflects the reality of volunteering in Stirling and supports a more inclusive, sustainable and impactful future.
We encourage you to take a few minutes to get involved and share your insight.
