Search by topic
Volunteering programme
The Saltire Awards, the Scottish Government’s new youth volunteering award for 12- 25 year olds were launched across Scotland on 1 April 2012. The awards build upon the positive aspects of the previous MV Award scheme. The new awards aim to strengthen the links between volunteering and schools and increase the opportunities for young people to take part in volunteering within their local community.
Young people can opt to volunteer as part of a team and undertake a Saltire Challenge such as organising a fund raising event, helping out at a marathon or fun run or doing a community clean up. Alternatively they can volunteer as an individual and make a regular commitment to help out at a local charity or voluntary organisation. The Saltire Awards are designed to record the skills, experience and learning gained through successful volunteering placements. There is clear evidence from research and studies that volunteering does support young people to become successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors. Volunteering can assist them to identify the transferable skills they acquire that employers, Further and Higher Education institutes now routinely demand.
These awards build on our wide ranging work to help young people gain the new skills which they can then take into the world of work and increase their chances of success.
Young people who participate in the Awards will not only receive a Saltire certificate signed by Scottish Ministers, they can also collect Young Scot reward points towards a positive opportunity such as shadowing a top chef, lawyer or judge for the day, a behind the scenes theatre experience and the chance to become a zoo-keeper for the day.
Further information on the Saltire Awards can be found at www.saltireawards.org.uk
(added on 27 June 2012)