First Citizen and Volunteer Glasgow thank everyone who helped

To celebrate Volunteers' Week, the Lord Provost teamed up with Volunteer Glasgow to pay tribute to everyone who has helped, and continues to help, the city through the pandemic.

Lord Provost, Philip Braat, said: "I have witnessed first-hand the magnificent difference volunteering has made throughout the city during the Covid-19 pandemic.  Whether individuals formally signing up with local groups and charities, with the NHS or through mutual aid groups. Or simply by being good neighbours.

"I recognise your selflessness and can say, hand on heart, Glasgow could not have coped without you. On behalf of everyone you have aided, I thank you. It makes me very proud that our citizens have proved their kindness and generosity, time and time again, during what has been an exceptionally challenging period.

Volunteers' Week (June 1 - 7 June) is marked across the UK to celebrate the work and achievements of millions of people who generously contribute their time and effort to assist in their communities.

David Maxwell, Chief Executive of Volunteer Glasgow, said: "We want to thank everyone who has rallied round. People signed up with Volunteer Glasgow in their droves. It was overwhelming. Not all were needed. However, it underlines the kindness and initiative of Glaswegians - always keen to roll our sleeves up and lend a hand. You can all be deeply proud of yourselves."

Volunteer Glasgow is an independent charity that supports and develops volunteering across the city.  Its digital platform at volunteerglasgow.org experienced a huge increase in registrations to volunteer over the last 15 months. People offering to help in third and public sector organisations. It also received thousands of enquiries from individuals seeking advice about how best to help their neighbours while staying safe.

As the city continues to cope with the ongoing restrictions due to the pandemic, policy-makers are currently planning for recovery.

David explained how, as part of that recovery, Volunteer Glasgow, Glasgow City Council and a wide range of public and third sector partners need to work together to make sure volunteering becomes more accessible and inclusive. "Many of us had to stop our normal volunteering activities during lockdown to keep ourselves safe and we need to remember that volunteering isn't just for emergencies.  Volunteering impacts every aspect of Scottish life.  We are a country of volunteers, a country of people dedicated to serving our communities, committed to enriching our own lives and the lives of others.  Not everything worked well before the pandemic. If we want to make sure that each of us can get involved when we choose to, we all have a responsibility to help make sure volunteering is more inclusive."

Volunteering information

Volunteering is the lifeblood of our 21st Century, democratic, civil society: tens of thousands of people in Glasgow choose to do something without remuneration to run sport and the arts, support other people when they're vulnerable, provide programmes and activities for our children and young people, govern charities and community groups, raise funds for charity, protect and enhance the environment, develop other people's skills, provide mutual support, health and social care services, and campaign for change.

Glasgow City Council chairs the city's Social Recovery Taskforce which has been reviewing Glasgow's Volunteering Strategy with the support of Glasgow Life, GCVS and Volunteer Glasgow. 

Volunteer Glasgow is the operating name of the Volunteer Centre - the Centre for Volunteering, Community Action and Employment Initiatives which is registered as a Scottish Charity (SC005462) and is part-funded by Scottish Government and Glasgow City Council.  It is a partner in Glasgow's Third Sector Interface with GCVS and Glasgow Social Enterprise Network (GSEN).