The Value of Volunteers

I was asked recently why we have volunteers.

The true success of a voluntary organisation is, I believe, when you can't tell who is a volunteer from a member of staff - indeed within CCH we talk of "unpaid staff" because this is how we see the role of volunteers, in the many ways in which they help, being of equal worth with the paid staff.

But this does not fully answer the question. Nor is it simply that volunteers "help out" an organisation, because while they inevitabilty do, this is not the full reason for supporting and encouraging volunteers.

Perhaps the answer lies with the fact that as a voluntary community organisation it keeps us close to the community and the needs and aspirations of the local community. Then again we talk with pride about our founding mission to "make all our resources work for the greater advantage of the disadvantaged". Is it about helping others in need of help?

I am proud of the work we have done as an organisation over the past few years, linking in with best practice in the sector to really highlight the contribution people make, and that they are recognised for this effort. Today we recieve thousands of hours of voluntary effort every year.

You know, perhaps having volunteers is as much about providing a platform for individuals to be volunteers - a way in which they can "give back" to their community.

Our role, no duty, is to ensure this is done with respect and value, in a safe place and time, where the Big Society meets the ground.

Royal Magic Sparkle

Yesterday evening I was invited to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Queens official residence in Scotland for a Princes Trust presentation on excluded young people, and to be presented to HRH The Prince of Wales.

These things can be a bit posh for my taste, and indeed the number of "high heidens" was great, with Directors of this, Chief Executives of Colleges, and Councils, etc across Scotland. But two people impressed me most:

Sean, the young Able Seaman, an ambassador for Princes Trust who at 24 had seen his life turnaround with the help of the programme, identical to the ones we run at CCH - with a great speech and at ease (at least on the surface as he later told us!) with all these guests. His story was inspirational and encouraging for all those of us working away trying to make a difference.

The other was HRH the Prince of Wales, who set up the Trusts 25 years ago to help young people 16-25 across the UK who faced disadvantage. His vision has made a difference. He expressed delight that the programme he launched in CCH in 1989 was still going strong. A little dusting of Royal magic sparkle which gave recognition to the years of hard work and challenges. In a world of cuts, and performance monitoring and targets, and numbers it can be hard enough sometimes to remember its about people, never mind get a sense of recognition. Last night that changed.

Scalpel at the ready

Today the new Conservative/Liberal government announced £6.7bn of spending cuts to be implemented this year (some 4% of the funding deficit in UK terms). For the Devolved Administration in Scotland this represents some £332m nett, delayed until next year, but some 6% of savings, with the expectation that there will be more on the way.

The reality is this will trickle down to local councils, and voluntary and community organisations like CCH, perhaps not always evenly, as certain services get protection, and others are easy targets. There is also the possible impact on purchasing power, with less jobs in the public sector will there be less demand for things like classes and childcare. The exact position wont be known for some time yet, but we all have to prepare now, if we havent already started, as we are doing at CCH. This everyone agrees is the first of many cuts. We need to get fit to survive.

On the News

I don't normally listen to Radio 4, unless it's election time. But I did this morning on the way in to work. Being interviewed was Nat Wei the UK Governments new Advisor on "Big Society" and now a Member of the House of Lords. I lost count of the times he used the phrase "social enterprise" or "social capital", but I could tell also from what he said that he actually knew what he was talking about, and understood it.

There has been a lot of talk about what this "Big Society" that the Prime Minister has been raising will all be about. If he has Mr Wei helping him, it might bring a true golden age for social enterprise and community development. Time will tell.

Begining of the Week

Don't you find that the beginning of the working week tends to bring mixed feelings - the end of the rest period (normally the weekend) and the start of the week. Sometimes I feel energised and am raring to go at the week and the challenges it presents, and the surprises which it keeps until you are in the thick of it! Sometimes I have a sense of foreboding, nay dread, and have to struggle to get up and face the seemingly uphill battle.

Sometimes of course these can be self-fulfilling. What was yours like this week?

Remembering - the Stockline ICL Disaster Memorial

Today is the sixth year since the worst industrial accident in Scotland, and the death of nine people. It happened here, in our community, right next door. Today we stop and remember. For we will always remember, but especially on this day. Some of our number were there, others of us were not, but we cannot fail to be affected by the events of that day, and the days and nights that followed.

When things go well

Well the Inquiry started - at CCH were are the host venue for the ICL Inquiry (Govt) into Scotlands worst industrial accident - the first Scottish / UK Public Inquiry - and before we knew it finished sitting with witnesses. The next stage will be shorter and take place in late October.

For us it proved that we can handle, and handle well, an important and complex event - there were no hiccups from our end - and indeed praise some several quarters on our professionalism and friendly responsiveness.

Much praise has also been received for the look of our completed building.

All this is topped off by the news this week that our Youth Services won the Scottish round of the StreetLeague football tournament and we are the only Scottish organisation to be awarded one of five inaugural BT Community Connector Awards!

It's simply great when things go well!!!