About Us
The Volunteer Centre Western Isles is an independent local charity with offices based in Stornoway, Northern Lewis, Harris, Uist and Barra. Our vision is of a Western Isles where young people are more aware of volunteering, its value, and how to get involved. A place where the barriers to volunteering are being dismantled and there is a greater awareness of volunteering as a positive force; where organisations are more aware of simple steps they can take to improve volunteering. The Volunteer Centre Western Isles is part of the national network of 32 volunteer centres which exist across Scotland. We work closely with our network colleagues and Volunteer Development Scotland to improve the quality of our services, keep up to date with volunteering issues and act as a two way link between local volunteering and the Scottish Government. |
We provide information, advice and support to Individuals interested in Volunteering, Volunteer managers, Voluntary groups, clubs and organisations, Private and Public sector organisations and companies. Actively encouraging, supporting and promoting volunteering. |
Working in Partnership
A new partnership of Third Sector intermediaries in the Western Isles has been signed and has been approved by the Outer Hebrides Community Planning Partnership. The five Partners, Voluntary Action Barra and Vatersay, Harris Voluntary Service, Volunteering Hebrides, Volunteer Centre Western Isles and Outer Hebrides Social Economy Partnership have come together as Co-cheangal Innse Gall (Linking the Outer Hebrides) to support and develop the Third Sector in the Outer Hebrides.
The Partnership will now work together strategically to deliver the four main objectives of the agreement throughout the Outer Hebrides, ie
• Develop volunteering
• Develop Social Enterprise
• Support and develop a strong third sector
• Build the third sector relationship with community planning
The individual partners will retain their independence and will continue to deliver the services they currently provide, but will be able to do so more efficiently, by avoiding duplication and being able to call on each other’s areas of expertise.
The Chair and secretariat of the Partnership will rotate on a yearly basis. The first Chair is the Volunteer Centre Western Isles and the first secretary is Harris Voluntary Service.
Speaking on behalf of the Partnership, Kirsty Macdonald, Volunteer Centre said, “We are all delighted to have reached this significant milestone and look forward to working together for the good of the Outer Hebrides in the years ahead. I would also like to thank the Community Planning Partnership for their assistance in getting us to this point.”
Speaking on behalf of the Community Planning Partnership, Chairman Councillor Angus Campbell said “We are all very conscious of the contribution that the voluntary sector makes to the lives of people in the Outer Hebrides and this is likely to increase in the difficult times ahead. The |Outer Hebrides Community Planning Partnership look forward to working with Co-cheangal Innse Gall.”
Annual Report
Click on the title below to download a copy of our most recent annual reports. If you would prefer a hard copy please contact the Stornoway office.
LEAP Work Plan
The Volunteer Centre uses the Learning Evaluation And Planning method of monitoring and evaluation of its work. Click on the link below to access the current Work Plan as used by all staff.
Company details
On 28th January 2010 the Volunteer Centre Western Isles became a company limited by Guarantee.
Registered address: 95 Cromwell Street, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, HS1 2DG. Company no. SC371733, Charity no. SCO27472.