Voluntary Action, a membership organisation, was established in 1998, by volunteers from local community groups who wanted to create a one-stop shop that would support voluntary organisations and volunteering.
Voluntary Action was unique by being established to perform the dual role of a Volunteer Centre and a Council for the Voluntary Sector (CVS)
The operational boundaries of Voluntary Action matched those of the newly-formed East Renfrewshire council.
Voluntary Action remains unique today.
- It provides the only comprehensive service for volunteering and support for third sector organisations in East Renfrewshire.
- The guidance and advice offered is unbiased, as Voluntary Action has no financial or contractural interests in the organisations that are supported.
Some of the key milestones in the development of Voluntary Action and the challenges and successes that have shaped the organisation are highlighted below.
1999
Secured original operating base at Burnfield Road in Giffnock.
2001
Secured premises, and multiple streams of money to create UnderCOVER. Renovated from a derelict warehouse and situated in the heart of Barrhead, UnderCOVER was designed to provide a “hub” for the third sector. It offers reception facilities, a library, training rooms, meeting spaces, serviced office accommodation and administrative services.
2002 - 2008
The Media and Millennium project offered young volunteers training in graphic design, web design, photography and filmmaking. Highlights during the life of this project include Volunteers from the MnM project attending Robert Redford’s Sundance Festival and Pinewood Studios. National volunteering programme, Project Scotland, was launched at MnM.
2003
Following the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003, Voluntary Action was appointed to East Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership.
2003 - 2006
Disabled Person’s Housing Services was established. They offered information, support and advice on finding suitable housing and supported people to stay in their own homes.
2003 - Ongoing
BefriendER Older People’s project has supported over 120 people offering one-to-one befriending, group events and peer support groups.
2005
Please Stand Up, a dedicated youth volunteering project, was established to encourage young people into volunteering. It also increased opportunities available to young people by supporting organisations to build their capacity to enable them to offer young people volunteering opportunities.
2005 - 2006
Network Lunches were established providing volunteers and voluntary organisations a forum in which to exchange thoughts and ideas; comment on and inform the development of strategies which affected their lives. After a short lapse, the network lunches evolved into the Third Sector Forum.
April 2006
Voluntary Action officially moved in to its new one-stop-shop, underCOVER.
2006 - 2009
Supported Volunteering Service gave additional support to people who felt they needed extra help to volunteer by providing buddies who attended volunteering placements with the volunteers until they had gained enough confidence to volunteer independently.
2006 - 2007
BME Action was formed and funded to strengthen links with, and support to, black and minority ethnic communities.
2007 - 2008
A pilot project, Hospital Evening Visitor Service demonstrated the need to develop a community transport service in East Renfrewshire.
Sept 2008
Third Sector Forum was established.
April 2009
Voluntary Action was recommended by East Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership and appointed by the Scottish Government as the pilot single interface for East Renfrewshire. This is now known as the Third Sector Interface.