The Wave of Friendship Volunteer Exchange Programme
The Wave of Friendship is a volunteer exchange programme which has been launched to promote and support the exchange of volunteers between Scotland and London by the provision of grants of up to £500 to cover travel, accommodation and other expenses. The programme will provide grants to 200 volunteers over the four-year period of the scheme, with each successful applicant receiving up to £500 to cover their costs.
The programme is part of a larger initiative called People Making Waves, a four year programme to develop and celebrate volunteering activity ahead of the 2012 Olympics in London and 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, which also aims to create ‘waves’ of connections between London and Scotland. The programme is managed by Volunteer Development Scotland in partnership with Greater London Volunteering.
Volunteers who wish to apply to the scheme can choose any opportunity that takes place between now and September 2012 that demonstrates some or all of the values of the Olympics movement: Friendship, Respect, Excellence, Courage, Determination, Equality and Inspiration. Suitable opportunities are likely to be for a set time, rather than an ongoing commitment, for example providing support for an event, carrying out a piece of work or volunteering for a fixed period of time.
The Wave of Friendship programme would also like to hear from organisations which wish to participate in the scheme by offering volunteer placements to applicants, providing information about volunteering opportunities which would be suitable for the scheme, or by publicising the scheme to their volunteers and supporters and encouraging them to apply to take part in the volunteer exchange programme.
The programme may be of particular interest to organisations which operate in both London and Scotland, or work closely with similar organisations in either location. Other organisations may also be interested in the scheme as a way of gaining new volunteers or developing the skills of their existing volunteer workforce.
Kerry Tweed, Director of Greater London Volunteering said “This is a fantastic chance for people to try out volunteering, make new connections, support charities and start to create a legacy for 2012”.
Jane Sterland, the first volunteer to take part in the exchange scheme, said “I would certainly encourage anyone else, whether a regular volunteer already or new to volunteering, to take up this great opportunity”.
More information about the programme can be found on the Wave of Friendship website: www.peoplemakingwaves.org.uk/thewaveoffriendship or by email wave@glv.org.uk or phone 020 7953 7254.
