DUMFRIES and Galloway Council have become the first council in Scotland to receive high praise for its volunteering efforts.
The local authority have earned the Investing in Volunteers Charter Mark of Excellence. It is given to organisations that improve the standard of volunteering forces and invest in giving back to the community. The evaluation for the award is rigorous, and the council received high marks for the quality of its volunteer program and the execution of delivery to the community.
Dumfries and Galloway Council introduced its volunteer strategy in 2017. Volunteers of all ages and backgrounds from all over the region have helped out within the past six years. They have held a slew of responsibilities as part of the programme, including providing pupil support; delivering food parcel provisions; carrying out beach cleans, and litter picks, cataloguing archives, working with the Southern Upland Way ranger on practical maintenance, and helping the community respond to unexpected events and emergencies.
Allana Fotheringham, of Volunteer Scotland, is impressed with the region’s promotion of giving back to the community. She said: “Great pride should be taken in the work they have done, becoming the first local authority area in Scotland to achieve Investing in Volunteers across all its services in an integrated way. We look forward to continuing to work with you, supporting your future learning and developments.”
Councillor Stephen Thompson is proud of the award and said: “To be the first whole council in Scotland to receive this award is a unique achievement and it recognises the excellent work and significant contribution our volunteers make to the council’s service delivery.
“We are extremely fortunate to have a such wealth of volunteers working across our region, giving freely of their time and skills, enhancing their local communities, and supporting the work and priorities of our council.”
Anyone interested in participating should email [email protected] for additional details.
Pictured above: Alanna Fotheringham from Volunteer Scotland, DG Council chief executive Dawn Roberts and Cllr Stephen Thompson with the awards
