November 2024 Update with Mike Melvin

Recognise, Celebrate and Support Volunteering

ACVO along with our partners in Aberdeen and nationally across the third sector interface network are always keen to recognise, celebrate and support the tremendous contribution volunteers and volunteer involving organisations make. Three forthcoming magnificent occasions all of which involve volunteers highlight the enormous positive difference volunteers are making:‍

International Volunteer Managers Day:

International Volunteer Managers Day was on the 5th November 2024. This brings attention to and celebrates the essential work everyone who assists in volunteer co-ordination/management does and the real difference this makes for people and communities. 2024 marks the 25th anniversary of International Volunteer Managers Day and the theme for this year is ‘What’s Our Future Normal?’.

More information is available at: volunteermanagersday.org

Trustees' Week 2024:

It is Trustees’ Week 4th-8th November 2024. A time for celebrating, supporting and inspiring over 1 million volunteer Charity Trustees across the country and thanking Trustees for their commitment and contribution, which is so incredibly important and greatly appreciated.

For more information about being a Charity Trustee/Board Member, including support and training available to Charity Trustees/Board Members in Aberdeen please visit  acvo.org.uk / volunteeraberdeen.org.uk / oscr.org.uk and trusteesweek.org

National Befriending Week 2024:

National Befriending Week, 1-7th November, 2024 brings together befriending organisations and volunteers across the country. It is a marvellous opportunity to recognise and celebrate existing volunteer befrienders, recruit new befrienders and raise awareness of befriending services.

For the latest about Befriending Week please visit: befriending.co.uk/befriending-week and if you are interested in being a Volunteer Befriender in Aberdeen please visit volunteeraberdeen.org.uk/opportunities (and click on the Befriending category for latest Volunteer Befriender roles).

ACVO extends a huge thank you to everyone supporting volunteering in Aberdeen during International Volunteer Managers Day, Trustees’ Week and National Befriending Week 2024.

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Community Planning Aberdeen becomes a Volunteer Charter Champion

ACVO is delighted that Community Planning Aberdeen has become the first Community Planning Partnership in Scotland to become a Volunteer Charter Champion in recognition of the significant role volunteers have in supporting communities and people across the city.

The Volunteer Charter is a tool for policy makers, elected members and funders to use when making decisions about how volunteering is represented in decision making processes, policy development, and how volunteering is resourced and utilised.

ACVO and Volunteer Scotland invited Community Planning Aberdeen to sign up to the Volunteer Charter which sets out 10 key principles which help to underpin good relations within a volunteering environment and is open to any individual, group or organisation from any sector which either involve volunteers, or influence decisions on volunteering.

Aberdeen City Council Co-Leader Councillor Christian Allard, Chair of the Community Planning Aberdeen Board, said: “We are very fortunate in Aberdeen that so many people give up their free time, share their knowledge and skills, and their enthusiasm to support people and communities across the city on a voluntary basis. It is in recognition of the importance of volunteers to communities, people and place that Community Planning Aberdeen has agreed to become a Volunteer Charter Champion. We would like to thank all volunteers for their dedication and commitment. By working in partnership, we can all ‘do our bit’ to ensure Aberdeen is a place where everyone can prosper.”

Find out more about volunteering opportunities with Community Planning Aberdeen at volunteeraberdeen.org.uk/ cpa-opportunities and communityplanningaberdeen.org.uk/get-involved

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Get involved with Tall Ships Aberdeen

The Tall Ships Races are coming to Aberdeen next summer!‍

Local residents are being urged to get ready, get excited and get involved as the event returns to the city for the first time in nearly 30 years on 19-22 July 2025.

Applications are open for both volunteers and sail trainees to be part of Aberdeen’s biggest event for a generation.

It is Europe’s largest free family event and is expected to draw 50 Tall Ships from across the globe as well as attract 400,000 visits to the city.

Young people between 15 and 25 years old living in an AB postcode can apply to be part of a Tall Ship crew, and anyone over 16 can sign up to take up a range of volunteer roles during the event.

Volunteers are essential to delivering a successful festival and giving the international crews a warm Aberdeen welcome.

The city’s harbour will transform from an energy hub into a world-class event space which will offer a whole range of opportunities from ship liaison officers to transport co-ordinators and visitor experience hosts.

Applications are open to people aged 16 or older by 1 July 2025 who are available for a minimum of three shifts between 19 and 22 July.

As part of the Tall Ships Aberdeen 2025 Volunteer Working Group, I can say that everyone is very excited about the Tall Ships Aberdeen 2025. It will be an amazing occasion and volunteers will be at the very heart of it. There are a range of brilliant volunteer roles that people can assist with and it is a fantastic opportunity to be involved in the most spectacular event of 2025.

To find out more – and get applying – head over to tallshipsaberdeen.com

Get involved: Volunteer in Aberdeen!

There are hundreds of different ways you can give your time as a volunteer in Aberdeen! The great thing about volunteering is that it is so inclusive, no matter your experience, time you have to give or age, there is a volunteer opportunity to suit you and an organisation in Aberdeen that would really value your contribution.

Have a look below at some of our recently added opportunities and discover how you can make a big difference in your local community!