Wikipedia
ProjectScotland is a Scottish volunteering organisation allowing 16 to 30-year-olds to volunteer with a local charity or non-profit organisation. All placements are approximately 20–30 hours per week and last for a minimum of 3 months. To date, ProjectScotland has placed more than 5,000 young people, who have in turn completed over 3 million hours worth of volunteering throughout Scotland.
The volunteering opportunities help young people unlock their potential and take part in meaningful youth social action, but also have a multiplier effect by benefiting hundreds of charities across Scotland, local communities and Scotland’s Third Sector.
ProjectScotland provide all of their volunteers with critical developmental support including help with travel expenses, a local mentor to help them set and achieve goals, before, during and after placement; and access to ProjectScotland's employability workshop programme which held throughout the year across Scotland. And in return charities get fresh ideas, increased capacity, the opportunity to progress with organisational priorities and a great way of learning new things.
Project Scotland's main aims at both a local and national level are to:
- support all young people throughout Scotland to get on in life regardless of age, stage or qualifications;
- significantly increase the employability chances of young people through growing their skills and experience;
- help young people give back to their communities, encouraging a culture of volunteering for Scotland’s youth;
- promote the benefits of investing in the young people of Scotland long term,
- support and increase the capacity of local charity organisations and Scotland’s Third Sector.
ProjectScotland was inspired by the AmeriCorps organisation and in 2005 it was founded by Julia Ogilvy. Current CEO is Paul Reddish.