Volunteering Highlights

April 2019 – March 2020 “If you are someone who has experienced the amazing work a volunteer does then you are like us and very lucky to see that there are lovely people in the world. If you’ve never experienced the work of a volunteer and you have spare time and a

big heart then maybe you could be one and be the reason someone believes in the goodness of people…”

Amy (Caleb and Zac’s Mum, supported by a CHAS home support volunteer)

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INTRODUCTION This has been a really exciting year for volunteering in CHAS as we launched our new volunteering strategy and helped to develop Scotland’s new National Outcomes Framework for Volunteering. We recruited a Volunteering Development Manager to join the growing CHAS team in the North-East of Scotland. This new post is focused on developing volunteering to support families in their homes, in the community and in hospital. The launch of CHAS Connect in 2019 was a highlight. CHAS Connect is our new alumni network for volunteer and staff leavers. The CHAS Connect newsletter is edited by volunteer, Kirsty White, and already has a membership of 37 people. We’re really excited about implementing our new volunteering strategy over the next year which will help ensure volunteering in CHAS is fit for the future and able to deliver even more for children and families going through the toughest of times. Morven MacLean Head of Volunteering MorvenMacLean@chas.org.uk

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VOLUNTEERING NUMBERS

We were supported by 888 active volunteers Volunteers donated 55,836 volunteer hours The total monetary value based on CHAS hourly rates for 2019/20

amounts to £770,000 We processed 327 volunteer applications, conducted 226 interviews

and welcomed 163 new starts We developed 9 new volunteer roles 8 volunteers started an accredited learning course through CHAS.

EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY

5% of volunteers consider themselves to be from non-white

backgrounds with another 5% preferring not to state their ethnicity. This shows an increase from last year.

Those under 26 make up 22% of CHAS volunteers (up from 20% last year)

3% of volunteers (up from 2.5% last year) identify as LGBT+ with 2% preferring not to state their sexual orientation.

Just over 4% of volunteers consider themselves to be disabled with 2% of volunteers preferring not to state their disability status.

ANNUAL VOLUNTEER SURVEY RESULTS

Over 90% of volunteers are proud to volunteer for CHAS More than 90% enjoy volunteering with CHAS Over 90% feel they are making an impact on children and families

through volunteering with CHAS 32% feel their health and wellbeing has improved as a result of their

volunteering 51% reported gaining new skills as a result of their volunteering

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EXIT DATA INDICATES

86% of leavers would recommend volunteering with CHAS 100% of leavers have reported gaining something from volunteering

NEW VOLUNTEERING STRATEGY In January 2020 we launched our new volunteering strategy which demonstrates the key role that volunteering will play in our ambition of reaching every family in Scotland who needs us. Our strategy development process was led by the principle 'nothing to us without us,' so just as volunteers will be involved in the implementation phase, volunteers were also involved in shaping the strategy. A volunteer, St John Hattersley, with significant strategic experience from his time working in both the public and third sectors in Scotland, co-produced the strategy with the Head of Volunteering. As part of the strategy development process, there was significant consultation with volunteers, staff and the families supported by CHAS. Families told us: ‘We want volunteers involved in our children’s care…we don’t see the difference between staff and volunteers…we want to get more involved in volunteering ourselves…’ With that in mind, for the period of 2020 – 2023, we have developed four strategic outcomes for volunteering in CHAS. The outcomes we have set will enable us to attract, support, develop and retain a broader diversity of volunteers, which in turn will enable us to reach more children and families. These four strategic outcomes include:

1. Our volunteers are diverse, coming from a wider range of backgrounds, age groups and communities

2. CHAS is recognised as an inclusive and enjoyable place to volunteer. 3. All volunteers are fully integrated in to teams and have a positive

experience of volunteering with CHAS. 4. There is a more flexible volunteering offer, with opportunities for

people to make an impact, regardless of how much time they have to give.

Working in partnership with staff and managers across CHAS, the Volunteering Team will lead on the implementation of this strategy.

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VOLUNTEER STORY– Ellie McConnell 31 year old, Ellie McConnell lives in Renton and has been volunteering at Robin House in Balloch for just over a year. We caught up with her to find out what being a volunteer means to her and about her experiences with CHAS. Hi Ellie, can you tell us a bit about yourself? I’m Ellie McConnell and I’m a volunteer with CHAS. As well as volunteering, I like going out with my friends and playing my PlayStation. I also like watching movies and love doing arts and crafts and computer stuff. What made you want to become a volunteer with CHAS? I had a friend who was supported by Robin House before she died and I wanted to be in her favourite place to help keep her memory alive. Before you came to volunteer with CHAS did you look at other organisations to volunteer with? No because I knew it was wheelchair accessible in Robin House. I’ve got cerebral palsy and so it can be a struggle just finding a space that is suitable for my wheelchair. Do you find it frustrating that other organisations aren’t accessible? Yeah, it can get really frustrating with accessing stuff like that. Even sometimes in Robin House, I can have trouble getting through doors and I have to rely on people to help me, which I don’t like. How often do you volunteer? Once a week, sometimes twice depending on what’s going on. I also volunteer in the fundraising team so I do bucket collections and things like that. What different volunteer roles do you have? I like to help out in the garden when it’s nice weather. I help Nicola Porciani, the Volunteering Development Manager at Robin House and I do the bucket collections and stalls when I can. How did you find becoming a volunteer with CHAS? It took a wee while but once I got in and got settled it was fine because I was a bit apprehensive about coming back in after everything happened with my friend. I was a bit emotional but I seem to have, not got over that, but thought I need to get on with things.

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Have CHAS staff been supportive? Yes, they’ve been great, especially Nicola, she’s been great at getting all the equipment I need and things. What does being a volunteer mean to you? It means more independence, because I’ve got somewhere I can get to easily and I’ve got a reason to get up and go, that kind of thing. It also gives me a social life as well because I’m making friends. It just gives me a purpose and saves me staring at four walls. Do you have any memorable moments or unexpected benefits of volunteering? I’ve made a good friend in Rachel - she’s a volunteer who works in the garden. She’s one of my good friends and I’ve made lots of other friends as well. Any funny stories or incidents? Me and Rachel singing when we are doing our crafts and my chair getting covered in paint! What do you think is one of the best things about volunteering with CHAS? The benefits I get are a social life, it gets me motivated to actually want to do something and I like to help. Is there anything you would like to change? I’d like to improve some of the access issues in Robin House. When I’m sitting at a computer desk, I have to sit side on because I can’t sit underneath. A rise and fall desk would make such a big difference. What would you say to someone thinking about volunteering? With CHAS I would say go for it! Robin House is a happy place with sad times, just go for it. Is there anything else you want to add? I just love volunteering at CHAS.