00
Contents
"To create the conditions under which volunteering activity within South Ayrshire can develop and flourish."
02 1. Foreword Cllr Peter Henderson & Marie Oliver
03 2. Definitions Volunteering Formal & Informal Volunteering Informal Volunteering
06 3. National & Local Context The Local Participants
Sectors engaged
10 4. Objectives One to Six
14 5. The Process Qualitative Data Relationship Building Person Centered Networking Improved infrastructure
Volunteer Self care Quantitative Data In person survey Online surveys
32 6. Appendix
39 7.The Next Step - Action Plan
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1. Foreword Volunteering, either formally or informally, contributes greatly to the health and wellbeing of communities and the environment in which we live. This became vitally important during the lockdowns in 2020 when a wave of informal volunteers came together to look after those within their community who were shielding, isolated or in need. Without this surge of kindness and compassion many would have struggled far more than they did. This Volunteering Strategy shows our commitment to ensuring that volunteers have the best possible experience and by incorporating a best practice infrastructure, we will help to support the many local organisations and charities to achieve this. It also demonstrates our collective commitment of continually improving the community planning process to support our local communities to improve outcomes and reduce inequalities. Many months of extensive consultation with a diverse range of stakeholders and members of the public has formed the objectives and action plan. Volunteering is the constant that has been, and will continue to be, the backbone of our communities. It plays a key role in prevention and early intervention and is a hugely valuable social asset often working away in the background to make South Ayrshire a better place. The Community Planning Partnership wish to thank those who give up their time to help our communities, our environment and our people.
Cllr Peter Henderson Leader of South Ayrshire Council
Marie Oliver CEO Voluntary Action South Ayrshire
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2. Definitions
As told by volunteers... "It keeps me focused." "If I am in a bad
Volunteering "The giving of time and energy through a third party, which can bring measurable benefits to the volunteer, individual beneficiaries, groups and organisations, communities, environment and society at large". " It is a choice undertaken of one's own free will, and is not motivated primarily for financial gain or for a wage or salary."[1]
mood, a few hours [volunteering] later I feel better." "It was a way for me to deal with my anxiety, they [charity] offered training and gave me a way to cope."
"If it was a paid job, I wouldn't do it. It [volunteering] benefits others as much as it benefits you."
"Knowing that you are helping people that day in, day out they wouldn't be able to cope, is the big draw for me."
"It is getting my life on
"It is giving back, a
track again. Going from a functioning addict, to life getting completely out of hand.
little, just a little, which will make a big difference to someone, something,
Volunteering and getting involved saved me."
needing our help."
[1] Definition of volunteering held by the Scottish Government. Return to Contents Page
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Formal & Informal Volunteering Formal volunteering has been long accepted as giving up time and effort for a worthy cause through a structured environment such as a voluntary organisation. Informal volunteering is now gaining more recognition and could be rephrased as 'helping out' in a less structured way, perhaps what used to be called as being 'a good neighbour', helping out friends and/or sharing family responsibilities.
A 'spectrum' of participation [1] [1] Volunteering 'below the radar'? Informal volunteering in deprived urban Scotland: research summary (2020) Volunteer Scotland Return to Contents Page
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Informal volunteering ....a shift from formal to informal volunteering, from regular, committed volunteering to occasional and sporadic volunteering. 40%
40%
35%
35%
30%
30%
25%
25%
20% 15%
20% 15%
10%
10%
5%
5%
0
0 Age 16 - 24
25 - 34
35 - 44
Informal
45 - 59
69 - 74
75+
Formal
There is more activity through informal participation, in the case of:
Neighbourhoods with different backgrounds getting on well together engaging in more action to help improve the neighbourhood. Adults with a caring responsibility have a higher informal (64%) and formal (36%) participation rates than those without any caring responsibilities. An average 9% increase of informal volunteering across households whether they receive any income from benefits or not. Informal (41%) and formal (32%) participation rates are highest for those that have a long term illness but whose daily activities are not impacted. More informal participation in all areas SIMD Q1 to Q5, yet volunteering rates remain highest in the SIMD Q5 both formal and informally. [2]
[1] Woolvin, M., Harper, H., Volunteering 'below the radar'? Informal volunteering in deprived urban Scotland research summary
[2] Volunteer Scotland, (2020) Cross-sectional analysis for both informal and informal volunteering, Scottish Household Survey Return to Contents Page
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3. National & Local Context
The Scottish voluntary sector encompasses an estimated 40,000+ voluntary organisations (registered SCVO, credit unions, community groups, etc.) [1]
South Ayrshire [1] Population (2018): 112,550 Voluntary sector charities (2018): 332 Charities per 1,000 people (2018): 2.9% Charities per 1,000 people (2016): 2.9%
[1] SCVO, (2020) State of the Sector 2020: Scottish Voluntary sector statistics [2] Source: Volunteer Scotland, Scotland's profile of volunteering [3] Source: Volunteer Scotland, Local profile of volunteering
48% of adults in Scotland have volunteered - that's over 2.17m people, of which 26% in formal volunteering and 36% informal volunteering. [2] [1]
In Scotland, formal and informal volunteers contributed to 361 million hours of help providing £5.5 billion to the local economy. [2] 24% of adults in South Ayrshire, an estimated 22,969 people, volunteer formally through an organisation or group. [3] In South Ayrshire, formal volunteers contributed to 2.7 million hours of help providing £42.2 million to the local economy. [3] Return to Contents Page
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The Local Participants
423 charities registered (OSCR Scotland)
Scottish Fire & Rescue Service
Scottish Enterprise
Strathclyde Partnership for Transport
Community Planning Partnership Community Planning Partnership members initiated the Volunteering Strategy.
Skills Development Scotland
Voluntary and community groups, including social enterprises operating in South Ayrshire contributed to the development.
South Ayrshire Council
& Volunteers and non volunteers as individual members of the public added depth to the research. Police Scotland
Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Department of Work & Pensions
Health & Social Care Partnership NHS Ayrshire & Arran
Voluntary Action South Ayrshire
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Sectors engaged with during consultation Variation and frequency of self described purpose by the organisations which shows the inclusivity, diversity and the fair representation of all sectors consulted throughout the process.
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4. Objectives
01 Activities across national & local government, community and voluntary sector to be more integrated and aligned. The Volunteering Strategy recognises that strategies and policies are continuously evolving, however volunteering remains a constant factor. The following reports, strategies and papers all give credit and value to volunteering in South Ayrshire.
Involvement in the revision of the Volunteering Scottish National framework. Involvement in the Community Learning & Development Partnership Plan for 2021- 2024.
HSCP Integration Joint Board Strategic Plan 2021-31 with an overarching vision 'Empowering our communities to start well, live well and age well'.
Local Outcomes Improvement Plan, annual progress report October 2020. Thriving Places, South Ayrshire Council (2021) The Scottish Government has also recognised the importance of volunteering and referenced it, in the National Performance Framework, more specifically, "we are encouraged to volunteer, take responsibility for our community and engage with decisions about it."
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02 Volunteering infrastructure to be strengthened and supported leading to more confident and knowledgeable management systems.
Setting up of a volunteering forum, meeting regularly to share information, resources such as Team Kinetic, examples of best practices and networking.
Supporting online and in person volunteering opportunity hubs. 1. Online - continuing with the upkeep of the Volunteer Scotland and the South Ayrshire Lifeline webpages. As well as creating and maintaining a volunteering portal allowing easy access to volunteering opportunities. 2. In person - providing information and drop in sessions at easily accessible places.
03
Recruit, deploy more volunteers and support both volunteers and voluntary organisations.
Ensure that training and support is provided for both voluntary organisations and volunteers. Engage more voluntary organisations in national volunteering awards and standards such as the Volunteer Friendly and Investing in Volunteers. Set up workshops/masterclasses and webinars about good practice, good governance, leadership, HR support, Health & Safety, funding opportunities. Support voluntary organisations to create and maintain their own volunteering strategies. Ensure a variety of high quality volunteering opportunities which serve as pathways to employment, community engagement and individual well being.
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04 Levels of volunteering to be re-energised and increased.
Raising the profile of volunteering through volunteer drives. Liaising with partners such as Community Learning & Development, Skills
Development Scotland, Department of Work and Pensions (Employer Supported Volunteering), Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce (Corporate/Social responsibility), CEIS, etc. to address working age people. Liaising with bodies such as the Ayrshire College, University of West of Scotland, and the Scottish Youth Parliament Members. In conjunction with the promotion of awards and leadership programmes for young people, such as Saltire, Duke of Edinburgh, Dynamic Youth Award, Youth Achievement Award, focusing on a younger generation of volunteers. Promote different ways of volunteering such as remote (home based) volunteers, informal volunteering together with formal volunteering opportunities.
05 The benefits of volunteering to be recognised, valued and promoted.
Increase the input of £42.2 million contributed by volunteers to the local economy[1]. Link with partners from the employment sector to increase the importance of volunteering experiences in recruitment processes. Encourage employers to support a corporate social responsibility project; adding volunteering recognition for employees. Enhance volunteering experiences by liaising with voluntary organisations to support in volunteer management, create more flexible and diverse role descriptions of volunteer opportunities, etc. Support a South Ayrshire celebration to recognise and value volunteers on a yearly basis.
[1] Volunteering in South Ayrshire, Volunteer Scotland data from the Scottish Household Survey (2019)
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06 Promoting volunteering as a means to improve the wider community.
Engage with community projects and the thriving communities to support and assist. Engage and support partners to assist in projects and initiatives addressing civic responsibility and social activism. Encourage and support intergenerational activities. Ensure that under-represented groups in volunteering are encouraged and
engaged in volunteering opportunities, to ensure a more cohesive and equal community encouraging social equity. Focus on the local context with local campaigns addressing diversity and accessibility issues.
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5. The Process
Through out the process a comprehensive approach was taken, we: - Invested in a relationship building exercise with volunteering involving organisations across a range of sectors; - Looked into outreach approaches for non-volunteers; - Discussed with partners who are responsible for the infrastructure of volunteering in South Ayrshire.
Online meetings with interested volunteer involving organisations, partners, educational bodies, policy makers & other interested parties.
1
Consultation groups
2
Focus groups
3
One to one meetings with VIOs
4
Online surveys
Volunteering & Employment Volunteering & Community Wellbeing Volunteering & Individual Wellbeing
An opportunity to build relationships but also to contribute thoughts and views about the development of the volunteering strategy.
Known organisations with a 25% response rate, targeting previous and current volunteers.
5
Online outreach survey
6
In person survey
Outreach survey targeting anyone in connection with an organisation, partners, etc. to get a broader view about volunteering.
In person survey targeting non volunteers, across South Ayrshire.
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5.1 Qualitative Data Interaction with participants
Networking
Relationship building
Person centered
Improved infrastructure Volunteer self-care
In a series of consultation, focus group and one to one meetings, themes revolving around different aspects of the volunteering experience were discussed. - The need for a volunteering strategy. - The barriers to volunteering. - The new needs and challenges faced by organisations. - The need of better networking between organisations. - The need to increase volunteering rates, attracting different kinds of people into volunteering. - The need of volunteering to be recognised and valued by potential employers, and social structures.
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Relationship building
The volunteering strategy followed a linear growth in the relationship with participating groups. The participants had the possibility to engage to a degree and manner according to their capacity and will: from the minimum of receiving emails, to participating more actively in the development of the strategy. Working group participants engaged for about 5 hours; and interested parties engaged in anything between two and five hours. A feedback loop was ensured as participants could have chosen to move on from the initial brief survey, to more in depth and focused participation. Questions, objectives, themes and focus were changed for subsequent groups following the responses from previous ones. Means of communication were adapted to accommodate different needs. Some participants showed preference to engage through emails, others through phone calls, group online meetings, one to one online meetings and once it was safe to do so, also in person meetings.
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Person centered Having a strategy with a person centered focus is key. Anecdotal reporting was preferred as it added richness and depth to findings. Supplementary questions and dialogue went beyond set questions in surveys and meetings. Although time consuming, it allowed for human connections to grow, encouraged interdependence and facilitated ownership on behalf of participants. To increase interaction with and amongst the participants, the impetus was on questions answered rather than the questions asked. Having different participants reiterating the words "volunteering could be half an hour, an hour or five hours a week, it could be anything you want it to be", is a clear indication of
Companionship, friendship, discussions, building relationships, connections. A reason to be.
the person centeredness of volunteering and the volunteering strategy.
Volunteering gives focus. To feel needed and have a social purpose. It counteracts lack of purpose. It is equally important to the person who volunteers but also to the recipients. Return to Contents Page
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Networking Training All levels
Networking was fundamental throughout the strategy. The participants were willing to work collectively to improve the volunteering experience in South Ayrshire.
Two way communication Volunteering Strategy
Consultation
Events Collegiality Sharing
Consultation was carried out with a constant representational diversity across themes and sectors in South Ayrshire. The scope was to encourage discussions and allow different perspectives and circumstances to be shared and appraised. Instead of having a community of interest (for example, community wellbeing; sports; health; housing, etc.) discussing themes which are of relevant to one particular sector, participants were encouraged to compare and contrast their modes of practices and share ideas how volunteering can be an asset within other sectors. Key notes from consultations which should be included in the action plan: Co-training of volunteers Sharing of materials Volunteers' skill & experience transferability across different organisations Integrated system to promote volunteering opportunities
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Improved Infrastructure
Volunteer Self-care
Invest in and support effective volunteer engagement professionals with the knowledge, expertise and insights to help organisations adapt and thrive into the future.
Clarity, purpose but most importantly safeguarding the volunteer is important in developing the strategy.
Sourcing of volunteers: how & where to advertise for volunteers. Mentoring and management of volunteers. Local communication can be a very efficient and useful local tool, but it (GDPR) has to be used carefully.
The knowledge that they can pause their volunteering was reassuring. Some volunteered around their duties and engaged in different training. Volunteers were retained but safeguarded during the pandemic by keeping in touch through a group chat, then adequate changes could be agreed upon.
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5.2 Quantitative Data - Surveys
In person surveys
Survey to known organisations
Outreach surveys
Two online surveys were circulated. One targeted the known organisations who already had a history of involving volunteers or an interest in volunteer management. The 25% response rate received from this online survey was mainly made up of volunteer managers, organisations' administrators and/or trustees. The second online survey targeted a larger audience and was circulated through partners, organisations, social media platforms, etc. A substantial number of a few more than 250 responses was elicited. A third survey was carried out in person at various localities in South Ayrshire. A proportional representation of population percentage living in different areas in South Ayrshire. Return to Contents Page
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In person survey Respondents by locations
Newton Park Holmston Tarbolton Troon Dundonald Monkton Maybole Alloway Loans Girvan Ayr Prestwick Straiton Kirkmichael Symington Wallacetown
Respondents by gender and age
Female
Male
Prefer not to say
From the sixteen locations visited for this in person survey, 216 people responded. Respondents were fairly distributed by age, with an average of 15% response rate for each age segment between 21 and 80 years of age. Age segments of those respondents aged 16 - 20 and 81 - 90 had an average of 6%. Only one respondent was aged 90+ (detailed graphs available in the appendix). Return to Contents Page
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Participation Rates in Volunteering
To contextualize the distribution of the survey: it was carried out post lockdown, when people could walk around freely. It was administered during office hours and public places with most people traffic were chosen, such as bus stops, convenience stores outlets, public gardens, social events, etc. Albeit there was a number of people who turned down the participation request, the survey was generally well received and respondents happy to interact with researchers. As for the question 'Do you volunteer?', the researchers rephrased the question to 'Do you volunteer or help out? Participation levels vary according to different localities in South Ayrshire. Yet the average rate of 38% of the respondents volunteer either informally or formally. Formal and informal volunteering shared an almost equal split by respondents: 51% volunteer within their own community and/or neighbours; and 49% formally organisation.
volunteer
with
Ayr North Ayr South Girvan Maybole Prestwick Troon
an
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0
10
20
Yes
30
40
50
No
21
Reasons why people volunteer
23%
The 'I enjoy it' statement was the first choice for the majority of respondents.
'It's for the benefit of the community' placed
19%
as the second preference.
Respondents' answers clearly show that the benefits for volunteering are truly mutual. People feel good when they volunteer but they also feel good that they are giving back to the community. It was also interesting to note the option for further comments, where respondents included 'ownership within the community', 'being good and respectful neighbours', 'added to my work experience' and 'therapeutic'. Nuances that add more value to the personal experience in volunteering (detailed graphs in the appendix section).
Reasons why people do not volunteer
32%
Primary factor for people who do not volunteer is 'no time'. A second predominant barrier is closely linked to the
19%
first one, as respondents feel that their responsibilities for dependants made volunteering unlikely.
Monetary factors in terms of money spent in conjunction to volunteering was not predominant. Respondents did not classify expenses (transport, equipment, etc.) whilst volunteering as a barrier. However, the work and personal life balance did factor in greatly, both in terms of lack of hours available to volunteer and caring responsibilities of family members. 22 Return to Contents Page
A second set of barriers for respondents were: 'not aware of any opportunities available' and 'I never thought about it'. Another barrier which was picked up in the 'others' option was health issues. A number of respondents felt that they were physically unable to cope with the physical demands of volunteering.
What would make people volunteer? 'If I thought I could help others' was the first choice, which suggests that people are not aware of how
14%
they can contribute and/or about the benefits of volunteering. 'If I knew more about opportunities' (9%) and 'If
8% 9%
someone I knew volunteered with me' (8%) indicate that there is an issue with promotion of volunteering but equaly the self motivation of individuals too.
Such answers from respondents give direction to the action plan as volunteering in South Ayrshire needs more promotion about the benefits of volunteering. On the same lines, a promotional campaign should emphasis that volunteering need not bring about big changes in the individual's life to be able to volunteer.
Volunteering and Family & Friends Non volunteers Family/friends do not… Volunteers Volunteering family/friends 0 Ayr South
20
Girvan
40
60
Ayr North
80 Maybole
100
120
Prestwick
Troon
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Given that volunteering could be such a social activity, respondents were asked whether they had relatives and friends who were volunteers. The focus of this question would be an attempt to move the discussion towards the positive influence of people encouraging acquaintances to volunteer.
dies u t eS Cas
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Online Surveys Two online surveys were circulated. One was sent out to known groups and organisations (25% response rate), the second was circulated through partners, newsletters, social media, emails, etc. with a response of above 250 replies. Assuming that administrative staff or volunteering managers replied to the surveys received by the organisations, the responses reflected an administrative bias. Whilst the outreach survey had a vaster range of response rate and perception, since it was filled in by volunteers. Gender and Age (Known organisations & Outreach survey)
Results from both surveys reflected the statistics from the national figures with women aged between 51 and 70 years of age scoring more than any other age group or gender (detailed graph in the appendix). There are certainly low rates of young people volunteering in both surveys, which gives more scope to the action plan which follows this Volunteering Strategy. Points to address would be the motivation and engagement of a younger generation of volunteers. It would be counterproductive for the improvement of the volunteering experience in South Ayrshire if there is no impetus amongst the majority of organisations to change the status quo. Currently the organisations are not gender balanced and with poor participation from younger volunteers. A more balanced, socially just and equal organisation should reflect the South Ayrshire population in terms of gender, age, interests, background, etc. It should strive to ensure a legacy towards continuity.
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Locality and place-based volunteers (Outreach survey)
Although the outreach survey was circulated digitally the respondents reflected the population proportions of South Ayrshire with 40% from Ayr South, Coylton and villages, Ayr North and villages 21%, Troon and villages 16%, Prestwick and villages 12%, Maybole and North Carrick 6% and Girvan, South Carrick and villages 5% [1]. Reflecting the research done by Volunteer Scotland 'Who contributes the most to volunteering in Scotland', the majority of the volunteers are placebased volunteers, in the sense that they volunteer in close proximity to where they live or work. From those who volunteer, the highest number of respondents answered that they do so with an organisation (62%). The second highest was a tie between the people who do not volunteer (23%) and those who do so within their community (23%). A few others helped out their relatives and/or neighbours (5%) or within local schools (3%). (Graphs in appendix)
Formal Organisations and less formal involvement (Outreach survey) 62% of the respondents named an organisation linked to their volunteering hours: a list made up entirely of formal organisations, with the majority of which are registered charities. 24% chose 'I do not volunteer'. A significant response, given that respondents still chose to fill in a volunteering survey despite not being volunteers. A few assumptions might be made:
They are aware of the benefits of volunteering but haven't as yet stepped up to the idea of volunteering. They have already had volunteering experience but currently not
volunteering (health issues, fear of returning post pandemic, changes in personal/family circumstances, etc.).
[1] Broadly representative of population in South Ayrshire: Ayr South 31,258; Prestwick 23,006; Ayr North 20,084; Troon 18,889; Maybole 9,907; Girvan 9,406. Census, National Records of Scotland 2019.
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24% of respondents who are consciously making the decision not to volunteer prompts the thought about barriers to volunteering. Bypassing the more commonly known barriers to volunteering such as the work/life balance and/or care of dependants, the following can be pondered upon: . - personal perspective, the incapability and inadequacy to volunteer. - not finding the right opportunity / niche to volunteer. - being dissuaded by acquaintances or groups who want to sustain the current status quo. - access to physical, digital, social difficulties. - availability of adequate places and spaces for volunteering. Referencing again the report by Maltman, Linning and Stevenson (2021), it is worth noting that the people who are considered to be at a disadvantage, are in reality contributing to the most hours in volunteering. Hence, an untapped resource in volunteering.
Volunteering Experience Less than a year Between a year and 2 years Less than 5 years More than 5 years Between 5 and 10 years A lifetime 0
2
4
6
Known organisations
8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 Outreach surveys
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The frequency of involvement in volunteering graph, is a clear indication that the pandemic has really influenced the volunteering participation rates. On one hand volunteers with a lifetime experience in volunteering (with a probability that they were asked to suspend their volunteering due to risk assessments) and on the other hand newer people getting into volunteering due to the immediate need and effect. Such an interpretation was confirmed by the next question in the online survey as: 53% confirmed that they did help out with an organisation during the pandemic; 30% helped out relatives; 26% helped out neighbours and 25% helped out people from the community. 21% chose not to help (graph in the appendix). The strategy recommendations should include a drive to allow previous volunteers to re-enter and re-start volunteering, whilst taking advantage of the growth in personally motivated and socially encouraged newer volunteers. In so doing the national social percentages would be better represented. Pairing such a volunteer growth, with ongoing and continuous positive volunteering experiences could possibly bring about an improved culture change in volunteering.
Positive volunteering experiences Volunteering experiences are generally positive good experiences. In fact, such positivity was confirmed by 70% of the respondents, and 13% even specifically choosing that it was 'an eye opening experience' (graph in appendix).
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More recognition More training More support More opportunities to choose from Feeling safe enough to help out It was fine, nothing to improve Other 0
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
How could your volunteering experience be improved?
Despite the very encouraging rates of volunteers with very positive experiences, one should still note the areas to improve, which should be included in the action plan (recognition, training, support, more opportunities, safety). Furthermore, there were a few interesting comments in the 'others' option: - more opportunity for out of the box thinking - taking partnering ideas forward - applied but didn't get a response - direct input and influence equal to hierarchy
Barriers to volunteering experiences Similar to the responses from the in person survey, the major barriers to volunteering is work/life balance (22%) and caring responsibilities of dependents (12%). However, the less popular choices 'no opportunities I know of' (5%) and 'I never thought about it' (6%) might be easier to tackle and more effective.
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If I had more confidence If someone I knew volunteer… If it would improve my skills If it helped me gain… If it would improve my… If it was good fun If I knew more about the… If I volunteer when I felt like it If I thought I could help others 0
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
What would make you consider helping out in the future?
Preceding the recommendations section, the responses from the last question from the outreach online survey gives much scope to the action plan. 'If I thought I could help others' (38%) option in it's self gives direction to any volunteering strategy. The other popular option divide the benefits of volunteering in between self fulfilment and achievement and community wellbeing.
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6. Appendix
I enjoy it It's for the benefit of the… I used the services befor… Had family/friends who… Thought it as a good way… I needed to feel useful I had loads of free time It was a way to build up… I needed it for… It looked good on my CV I retired and had loads of… I feel better 0 Ayr South
Girvan
5
10
15
20
25
Ayr North
30
Maybole
35
40
45
Prestwick
Troon In person survey: Reasons why people volunteer
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No time No opportunities I know of Because of the expense… I never thought about it I don’t like volunteering Because of dependants … I don’t want to lose my… 0 Ayr South
10
Girvan
20
30
40
Ayr North
50
Maybole
60
70
Prestwick
Troon In person survey: Reasons why people do not volunteer
If I had more confidence If someone I knew… If it would improve my skills If it helped me gain… If it would improve my… If it was good fun If I knew more about the… If I volunteer when I felt lik… If I thought I could help… 0 Ayr South
5
Girvan
10 Ayr North
15
20
Maybole
25
30
Prestwick
Troon In person survey: What would make people volunteer
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80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Female
Male
Other
Known organisations
Prefer not to say
Outreach survey
Online surveys - Gender
under 16 16 to 20 21 to 30 31 to 40 41 to 50 51 to 60 61 to 70 71 to 80 81 to 90 90+ 0
5
10
15
Known organisations
20
25
30
35
40
Outreach survey
Online surveys - Age Return to Contents Page
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Troon & Villages 16%
Girvan, South Carrick & Villages 5%
Ayr North & Villages 21%
Maybole & North Carrick 6%
Prestwick & Villages 12% Ayr South, Coylton & Villages 40%
Online Surveys - Respondents by Locality
Relatives / neighbours Within my community Within local schools I do not volunteer With an organisation 0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Online Surveys - Where do volunteers help out?
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Less than a year Between a year and 2 years Less than 5 years More than 5 years Between 5 and 10 years A lifetime 0
2
4
6
8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26
Known organisations
Outreach surveys
Online Surveys - Volunteering in years
Pre pandemic During pandemic Currently 0
10
20
30
Known organisations
40
50
60
70
80
90
Outreach surveys
Online Surveys - Volunteering participation rates
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It’s for the benefit of the… I used the services before,… Had family/friends who… Thought it as a good way … I needed to feel useful I had loads of free time It was a way to build up… I needed it for… It looked good on my CV I retired and had loads of… I feel better 0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Online Surveys - Why Volunteer?
Yes, I helped out relatives Yes, I helped out neighbours Yes, I helped out people from the community Yes, I helped out with an organisation No 0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
Online Surveys - Did you help out during the pandemic?
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“An eye opening experience” “It was a good experience” “I’m happy I tried but it is not something for me” “It was not a good experience” I never volunteered Other 0
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
If you ever volunteered, how would you rate your volunteering experience?
External Links Council Plan 2018 - 2022 (2020 mid-term refresh), South Ayrshire Council, council plan 2018-22 (south-ayrshire.gov.uk) Scottish Household Survey, scottishhouseholdsurvey_2007_-2017_summary_presentation__updated_january_2019_. pdf Scottish Volunteering Forum, Volunteering in 2020 and Beyond: Key Asks volunteeringin-2020-and-beyond.pdf (wordpress.com) Social Renewal Advisory Board report: January 2021, 'If not now, when?' If not now, when? - Social Renewal Advisory Board report: January 2021 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) South Ayrshire Community Learning and Development Plan 2018 - 2021 Volunteer Scotland, Who Contributes the most to volunteering in Scotland? Full Report, Volunteering Intensity: a demographic analysis. Maltman, Linning & Stevenson, Jan 2021 who_contributes_the_most_to_scottish_volunteering_-_full_report.pdf Return to Contents Page
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Partners to review policies and action plans which include volunteering as a delivery mechanism
Partners share expertise and resources though networking and establishing a resource library of volunteering policies and practices
Partners are more aware of the significance and value of volunteering as a contributor to the economy and community
Partners to engage in networking and aligning policies at strategic and operational levels
Link in to Employability and Lifelong Learning Partnership to support and assist the Young Person's Guarantee and No One Left Behind.
Action
Outcome
Measure
Performance
Lead Timescale
National Performance Framework – Scottish Government Volunteering for All: national framework, Scottish Government 2019 South Ayrshire Council, Community Learning & Development Partnership Plan, 2021- 2024 South Ayrshire Integration Joint Board Strategic Plan 2021-31 South Ayrshire Council Local Outcomes Improvement Plan (LOIP) South Ayrshire Council, Thriving Places, 2021
Progress
Objective 1 Activities across national & local government, community and voluntary sector to be more integrated and aligned
7. The Next Step - Action Plan
This is an indicative Action Plan which identifies some of the outcomes and actions which may be required to enable volunteering to flourish in South Ayrshire. The content will be agreed by the partnership at further meetings.
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Set up a volunteer to manager forum network and share development and good practice
Partners share a common approach to and supporting increasing to volunteering grow a stronger infrastructure
Establish a range of routes to volunteering in person and digital – to encourage easier access to volunteering opportunities
Communication system to be established to operate in a horizontal and vertical structure
Action
Outcome
Lead
Timescale
Progress
strengthened, leading to more confident
Performance Measure
Objective 2 Volunteer infrastructure is supported and and knowledgeable management systems
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Training and support will be made available to support volunteers and volunteer involving organisations
Ensure a high quality volunteering opportunities which serve as pathways employment, to community engagement and individual wellbeing
Outcome Increase the number of active volunteers in South Ayrshire
involving Engage more volunteer organisations in national volunteering awards and standards
Support volunteer involving organisations to create and maintain their own volunteering strategies
of training Increase coproduction materials and liaising with other partners
Organise webinars, masterclass and training programmes offered b partners who are one step ahead
involving Work with volunteer organisations to develop volunteering roles which add value to the volunteering experience
Action Organise volunteer drives to attract new volunteers and/or bring back non-active volunteers Performance Measure
Objective 3 - Recruit, deploy and support volunteers and voluntary organisations Lead Timescale
Prpogress
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Events organised within the communities to encourage people to realise that they might already be ‘helping out’ and help with the realisation that volunteering is benefitting them and the community
Work with volunteer involving organisations to develop an awareness and access to not traditional volunteering – remote volunteering, flexible roles and alternative roles
Locating and addressing non-volunteers who perceive themselves as not capable of volunteering
Younger generation of potential volunteers to be addressed through projects linked to schools, events, awards and guidance
Working age population addressed through employment initiatives, community engagement
Action Liaise with volunteer involving organisations to explain and promote the mutual benefits of volunteering
the Communicating definitions of volunteering to the partnership and wider community
Outcome Raising the profile of volunteering
Objective 4 - Levels of volunteering to be re-energised and increased
Establish a baseline
Establish a baseline
Performance Measure Establish a baseline
Lead Timescale
Progress
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Increase awareness of the benefits and contribution of volunteering to the local economy
Promote the potential value of volunteering as to pathways employment, personal development and wellbeing
Outcome Volunteers and voluntary to be organisations recognised and thanked volunteering for the effort
Assist groups to create and develop high quality volunteering opportunities which contribute to the local economy
volunteer involving Work with to structure organisations volunteering opportunities to become pathways to increase employment potential, personal development and wellbeing
employers to develop Liaise with corporate social and support responsibility initiatives
Action Organise an annual event to celebrate volunteers and volunteering and informal Include formal volunteering
Performance Measure
Objective 5 - The benefits of volunteering to be recognised, valued and promoted Lead
Timescale Progress
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Community based projects are assisted to develop volunteering opportunities
Volunteering contributes to cohesion of local communities
in
are
support
Support groups to develop and coordinated initiatives, addressing volunteering issues
Encourage and intergenerational activities
Create and link in with partners dealing with civic responsibility and social activism projects
Local community activities identified and supported
Identify and address barriers to volunteering
Action under-representation Identify volunteering in South Ayrshire Performance Measure
Objective 6 - Promoting volunteering as a means to improve the wider community
Outcome underPeople from represented groups in are volunteering encouraged to engage in volunteering opportunities
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Lead
Timescale
Progress
Thanks to...Action
Against Stalking Action for M.E. Age Concern Ayr Alzheimer
Scotland Ayrshire Independent Living Network Ayrshire Young Parkinson’s group Bipolar Scotland (South Ayrshire) Breastfeeding Network Partners for Inclusion Group RNIB (South Ayrshire) RNID * previously Action on Hearing Loss S.I.S.G (Sensory Impairment Support Group Charity) SADSA- South Ayrshire Dementia Support Sensory Impaired Support Group The Three Sixty Ayrshire Food Network Ayrshire Pregnancy Crisis Centre Barrhill Community Interest Company Barrhill Development Association Biosphere Bikes Borderline Theatre Co Ltd Carrick Activity Centre Carrick Community Leisure Group Carrick Complementary Therapies Carrick Money Advice Service CEIS Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce Co-op Food Poverty/SAWA Domain Youth Centre Dundonald Gymnastics Club Hansel Headway Ayrshire Home Energy Scotland Hope Counselling + Wellbeing Key North Carrick Community Benefit OiR Ayr Oshay's FASD Putting Plus Community Interest Company Sanctuary Care Queens Care Home South Ayrshire Carers Centre- The Princess Royal Stepping Stone for Families Money Advice Service Straiton Village Co-operative The Carrick Centre The Kirkmichael Community Shop & Cafe TKS Martial Arts and Fitness Tsukure Hub CIC Unity Enterprise Unity Grill West of Scotland Housing Association Whiteleys Retreat Community Builders North Ayr Community Partnership Officers Health and Social Care Partnership NSPCC Scotland (South Ayrshire) Skills Development Scotland Studenteer University of West of Scotland Volunteer Scotland WEA Scotland Who Cares? Scotland (South Ayrshire) Active Schools Adult Learning Hub, Community Learning and Development, South Ayrshire Council Arts At Rozelle Ayr Housing Aid Centre Ayrshire Council on Alcohol Ayrshire Housing Rozelle House Museum & Galleries South Ayrshire Council South Ayrshire Community Transport South Ayrshire Council Culture- Libraries and Museums South Ayrshire Council- Learning Disabilities Social Work South Ayrshire Foodbank South Ayrshire Sport and Leisure Aberlour ARC Scotland Barnardo’s Blesma Blue Triangle British Heart Foundation (South Ayrshire) British Red Cross (South Ayrshire) British Red Cross Shops (South Ayrshire) Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland (South Ayrshire) Children 1st Circles Network Advocacy (South Ayrshire) Crohn's and Colitis UK (Ayrshire and Arran) Cruse Scotland Defence Medical Welfare Service Enable Scotland (Ayr and District) Epilepsy Connections Guide Dogs Scotland (South Ayrshire) Macmillan Move More South Ayrshire Macmillan/NHS Ayrshire and Arran Marie Curie MS Society Scotland (South Ayrshire) National Autistic Society National Trust for Scotland (South Ayrshire) New Life Trust Oxfam Shop Troon (South Ayrshire) Quarriers Royal British Legion Scotland (South Ayrshire) Scottish War Blinded The Richmond Fellowship Scotland The Royal British Legion Scotland The Salvation Army Children’s Panel Children's Hearings Scotland (South Ayrshire) Community Justice Ayrshire Department of Work & Pensions NHS Arran & Ayrshire Police Scotland Scotland Fire and Rescue South Ayrshire Local Authority 17c Castlehill Brownies 17th Ayr Boys Brigade Company 1st Crosshill Guide Unit 1st Girvan Company, The Boys' Brigade 1st Monkton Brownie Pack 1st Prestwick Boys Brigade Company 31st Ayrshire (Loans) Scout Group 3rd Alloway Brownie Unit 3rd Alloway Rainbow Unit 3rd Ayrshire (1st Girvan) Scout Group 43rd Ayrshire Scout Return to Contents Page Group
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4th Ayr Company The Boys Brigade 65 Club 7th Ayr Boys Brigade Company 7th Ayrshire Beavers And Cubs 8th Ayr Company Boys Brigade Girl Guiding Association 2nd Troon Guides Girlguiding Ayrshire South ABC Education Group Adventure Centre Education Annbank Church Aspire 2 Access Ayr and Prestwick Lions Club Ayr Ark Ayr Arts Guild Ayr Film Society Ayr Gaiety Partnership Ltd Ayr Rugby Club Ayr Sea Cadets Ayr Seaforth Athletics Club Ayr St Columba Ayr United Football Club Ayrshire Beats Ayrshire Cancer Support Ayrshire Childrens Services CIC – KoNekt, Ayr Ayrshire Hospice (South Ayrshire) Ayrshire Interfaith Group Ayrshire Sportability Ayrshire Women’s Hub Ayrshire Youth Theatre (Fib Expressive Arts) Ballantrae Parent & Toddler Group Ballantrae Youth Club Barr Community Association Belleisle Conservatory Ltd Bethany Christian Trust Broken Chains Care and Share Ayr Carrick Coastal Rowing Club Carrick Rugby Football Club Castlehill Church Christ in Action Foodbank Colmonell Community Association Community Gift Exchange Coylton Community Association Coylton Parish Church Coylton Tennis Club CRAG Community Arts SCIO * previously Carrick Rural Arts Group Crossroads Dailly Community Activity Centre Association Limited Debra Charity Shop Dementia Arts Trust Dementia Friendly Prestwick Diocese of Galloway Dundonald Community Sports Recreation and Heritage Association Dunure Youth Club Equal Futures Faith in Older People Fertility Network Scotland FFU SCOTLAND Fisherton Church Food Train (South Ayrshire) Friends of Dundonald Castle Friends of Fullarton Friends of Newton Park Girvan Community Garden Girvan Community Sports Hub Girvan Football Club Girvan North Parish Church Girvan South Parish Church Girvan Youth Trust (Z1 Girvan) Kingcase Parish Church Kirkmichael Village Renaissance Kirkoswald Parish Church Kyle Stroke Club (Part of Chest Heart Stroke Scotland) LGBT Scotland Lighthouse Church Little Art Stars Mary’s Meals Maybole Youth Club McCandlish Hall Committee, Straiton Milestone Christian Fellowship Monkton & Prestwick North Narture New Life Christian Fellowship New Prestwick Baptist Church Newton Wallacetown Church No One Dies Alone North Ayr 'The Gither' Our Lady St Cuthberts Pets As Therapy Pinwherry and Pinmore Community Development Trust Poppy Scotland Ayrshire Presbytery of Ayr Prestwick Howie Bowling Club Prestwick Oval Junior Park Run Prestwick South Church RecoveryAyr RHET Ayrshire and Arran Countryside Initiative Riding for the Disabled (South Ayrshire) Riverside Community Trust Riverside Evangelical Church Room Sixty (Newton Youth Ministries) Seagate Church Seagate Evangelical Church Seascape See Me (South Ayrshire) South Ayrshire Befriending Project South Ayrshire Table Tennis Club South Ayrshire Toy Bank South Ayrshire Women’s Aid Southside Church Spirit/Girvan Community Market Sported (South Ayrshire) Spotty Zebra Spred Galloway Springback (Survive the Bullies) St Colmon Parish Church St Cuthberts Parish Church St James Parish Church St Ninians Episcopal Church Troon St Ninians Prestwick St Oswalds Episcopal Church Symington Community Projects Limited Symington Parish Church Tarbolton Coronavirus Community Group Tarbolton Parish Church TCV Scotland (South Ayrshire) Teenage Cancer Trust (South Ayrshire)
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The Adventure Centre for Education The Auld Kirk of Ayr Church The Ayr Ark The Ballantrae Trust The Breastfeeding network Troon First Responders Troon Old Parish Church Troon St Meddans Parish Troon Thistle Youth Football Club TS Mountbatten Sea Cadets Unit No 17 U3A VASA Befriending Project VASA Living Well Project Vics in the Community Victim Support Scotland South Ayrshire Willie Stewart ( New Life Prestwick) Woodpark Evangelical Church Action Against Stalking Action for M.E. Age Concern Ayr Alzheimer Scotland Ayrshire Independent Living Network Ayrshire Young Parkinson’s group Bipolar Scotland (South Ayrshire) Breastfeeding Network Partners for Inclusion Group RNIB (South Ayrshire) RNID * previously Action on Hearing Loss S.I.S.G (Sensory Impairment Support Group Charity) SADSA- South Ayrshire Dementia Support Sensory Impaired Support Group The Three Sixty Ayrshire Food Network Ayrshire Pregnancy Crisis Centre Barrhill Community Interest Company Barrhill Development Association Biosphere Bikes Borderline Theatre Co Ltd Carrick Activity Centre Carrick Community Leisure Group Carrick Complementary Therapies Carrick Money Advice Service CEIS Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce Co-op Food Poverty/SAWA Domain Youth Centre Dundonald Gymnastics Club Hansel Headway Ayrshire Home Energy Scotland Hope Counselling + Wellbeing Key North Carrick Community Benefit OiR Ayr Oshay's FASD Putting Plus Community Interest Company Sanctuary Care Queens Care Home South Ayrshire Carers Centre- The Princess Royal Stepping Stone for Families Money Advice Service Straiton Village Co-operative The Carrick Centre The Kirkmichael Community Shop & Cafe TKS Martial Arts and Fitness Tsukure Hub CIC Unity Enterprise Unity Grill West of Scotland Housing Association Whiteleys Retreat Community Builders North Ayr Community Partnership Officers Health and Social Care Partnership NSPCC Scotland (South Ayrshire) Skills Development Scotland Studenteer University of West of Scotland Volunteer Scotland WEA Scotland Who Cares? Scotland (South Ayrshire) Active Schools Adult Learning Hub, Community Learning and Development, South Ayrshire Council Arts At Rozelle Ayr Housing Aid Centre Ayrshire Council on Alcohol Ayrshire Housing Rozelle House Museum & Galleries South Ayrshire Council South Ayrshire Community Transport South Ayrshire Council Culture- Libraries and Museums South Ayrshire CouncilLearning Disabilities Social Work South Ayrshire Foodbank South Ayrshire Sport and Leisure Aberlour ARC Scotland Barnardo’s Blesma Blue Triangle British Heart Foundation (South Ayrshire) British Red Cross (South Ayrshire) British Red Cross Shops (South Ayrshire) Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland (South Ayrshire) Children 1st Circles Network Advocacy (South Ayrshire) Crohn's and Colitis UK (Ayrshire and Arran) Cruse Scotland Defence Medical Welfare Service Enable Scotland (Ayr and District) Epilepsy Connections Guide Dogs Scotland (South Ayrshire) Macmillan Move More South Ayrshire Macmillan/NHS Ayrshire and Arran Marie Curie MS Society Scotland (South Ayrshire) National Autistic Society National Trust for Scotland (South Ayrshire) New Life Trust Oxfam Shop Troon (South Ayrshire) Quarriers Royal British Legion Scotland (South Ayrshire) Scottish War Blinded The Richmond Fellowship Scotland The Royal British Legion Scotland Return to Contents Page
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The Salvation Army Children’s Panel Children's Hearings Scotland (South Ayrshire) Community Justice Ayrshire Department of Work & Pensions NHS Arran & Ayrshire Police Scotland Scotland Fire and Rescue South Ayrshire Local Authority 17c Castlehill Brownies 17th Ayr Boys Brigade Company 1st Crosshill Guide Unit 1st Girvan Company, The Boys' Brigade 1st Monkton Brownie Pack 1st Prestwick Boys Brigade Company 31st Ayrshire (Loans) Scout Group 3rd Alloway Brownie Unit 3rd Alloway Rainbow Unit 3rd Ayrshire (1st Girvan) Scout Group 43rd Ayrshire Scout Group 4th Ayr Company The Boys Brigade 65 Club 7th Ayr Boys Brigade Company 7th Ayrshire Beavers And Cubs 8th Ayr Company Boys Brigade Girl Guiding Association 2nd Troon Guides Girlguiding Ayrshire South ABC Education Group Adventure Centre Education Annbank Church Aspire 2 Access Ayr and Prestwick Lions Club Ayr Ark Ayr Arts Guild Ayr Film Society Ayr Gaiety Partnership Ltd Ayr Rugby Club Ayr Sea Cadets Ayr Seaforth Athletics Club Ayr St Columba Ayr United Football Club Ayrshire Beats Ayrshire Cancer Support Ayrshire Childrens Services CIC – KoNekt, Ayr Ayrshire Hospice (South Ayrshire) Ayrshire Interfaith Group Ayrshire Sportability Ayrshire Women’s Hub Ayrshire Youth Theatre (Fib Expressive Arts) Ballantrae Parent & Toddler Group Ballantrae Youth Club Barr Community Association Belleisle Conservatory Ltd Bethany Christian Trust Broken Chains Care and Share Ayr Carrick Coastal Rowing Club Carrick Rugby Football Club Castlehill Church Christ in Action Foodbank Colmonell Community Association Community Gift Exchange Coylton Community Association Coylton Parish Church Coylton Tennis Club CRAG Community Arts SCIO * previously Carrick Rural Arts Group Crossroads Dailly Community Activity Centre Association Limited Debra Charity Shop Dementia Arts Trust Dementia Friendly Prestwick Diocese of Galloway Dundonald Community Sports Recreation and Heritage Association Dunure Youth Club Equal Futures Faith in Older People Fertility Network Scotland FFU SCOTLAND Fisherton Church Food Train (South Ayrshire) Friends of Dundonald Castle Friends of Fullarton Friends of Newton Park Girvan Community Garden Girvan Community Sports Hub Girvan Football Club Girvan North Parish Church Girvan South Parish Church Girvan Youth Trust (Z1 Girvan) Kingcase Parish Church Kirkmichael Village Renaissance Kirkoswald Parish Church Kyle Stroke Club (Part of Chest Heart Stroke Scotland) LGBT Scotland Lighthouse Church Little Art Stars Mary’s Meals Maybole Youth Club McCandlish Hall Committee, Straiton Milestone Christian Fellowship Monkton & Prestwick North Narture New Life Christian Fellowship New Prestwick Baptist Church Newton Wallacetown Church No One Dies Alone North Ayr 'The Gither' Our Lady St Cuthberts Pets As Therapy Pinwherry and Pinmore Community Development Trust Poppy Scotland Ayrshire Presbytery of Ayr Prestwick Howie Bowling Club Prestwick Oval Junior Park Run Prestwick South Church RecoveryAyr RHET Ayrshire and Arran Countryside Initiative Riding for the Disabled (South Ayrshire) Riverside Community Trust Riverside Evangelical Church Room Sixty (Newton Youth Ministries) Seagate Church Seagate Evangelical Church Seascape See Me (South Ayrshire) South Ayrshire Befriending Project South Ayrshire Table Tennis Club Return to Contents Page
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South Ayrshire Toy Bank South Ayrshire Women’s Aid Southside Church Spirit/Girvan Community Market Sported (South Ayrshire) Spotty Zebra Spred Galloway Springback (Survive the Bullies) St Colmon Parish Church St Cuthberts Parish Church St James Parish Church St Ninians Episcopal Church Troon St Ninians Prestwick St Oswalds Episcopal Church Symington Community Projects Limited Symington Parish Church Tarbolton Coronavirus Community Group Tarbolton Parish Church TCV Scotland (South Ayrshire) Teenage Cancer Trust (South Ayrshire) The Adventure Centre for Education The Auld Kirk of Ayr Church The Ayr Ark The Ballantrae Trust The Breastfeeding network Troon First Responders Troon Old Parish Church Troon St Meddans Parish Troon Thistle Youth Football Club TS Mountbatten Sea Cadets Unit No 17 U3A VASA Befriending Project VASA Living Well Project Vics in the Community Victim Support Scotland South Ayrshire Willie Stewart ( New Life Prestwick) Woodpark Evangelical Church
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