Stirling Council have allocated £50,000 of funds to volunteering initiatives.
The move comes after Stirling’s bid, which was backed by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and 140 organisations, was not selected to be “European Volunteering Capital 2020” and instead the title was awarded to Pauda, in Italy. Furthermore, volunteering in Stirling has increased by 7% compared to last year.
Despite the setback, the council has reaffirmed its intention, along with Volunteer Scotland and Stirlingshire Voluntary Enterprise, to make a festival of volunteering which will continue throughout 2020.
Convener of the Community Planning and Regeneration Committee, Councillor Chris Kane, said the funding was evidence of a “continued commitment” to volunteering and that the festival would be a “special” event in 2020.
Councillor Kane also added:
“From working together during this process, the three bid partners have built a very strong relationship and we are all moving forward with a common purpose and a shared vision.”
The leader of Stirling Council, Scott Farmer, described Stirling’s attempt to become the European Capital of volunteering as “hugely positive.”
“39 per cent of people are already giving up their time to help others. This is more than ten per cent above the national average in Scotland.”
A Stirling Volunteering Society spokesperson said that more funding for volunteering is “fantastic” and “will allow communities to thrive.”
Featured Image Credit: Stirling Council
