About the Volunteer Centre.

The Volunteer Centre West Lothian is part of a national network of 42 Volunteer Centres located throughout Scotland's 32 unitary authority areas with a common objective to promote, support and develop volunteering at a local level.

The Volunteer Centre was launched in West Lothian in July 1997, operating from a room at Voluntary Action West Lothian with two full time and one part time member of staff and one volunteer. Seven years on the Volunteer Centre has eleven members of staff, 140 volunteers working directly in support of our ten projects.

Opening hours

The Volunteer Centre is open Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm.  Volunteers can be seen outside these hours by prior arrangement. Staff will visit volunteers at their place of work on request.

What we do

The Specific role of the Volunteer Centre is to assist individuals and organisations by providing advice and guidance on matters relating to volunteers and volunteering.  We do not refer volunteers to other
organisations what we do is provide a variety of volunteer opportunities that fits in with the needs of the volunteer; they then choose the organisation providing the volunteer opportunity that best meets their needs.

In addition to providing advice and guidance to individuals, staff members are available to give talks and presentations to groups and organisations on a variety of subjects such as:

• The benefits of volunteering
• Training of Management Committee members
• The recruitment and retention of volunteers
• Training of volunteers
• Best Practice
• Developing a Volunteer Policy

Who Volunteers?

The simple answer is anyone who wants to.  Volunteers are drawn from all over West Lothian and from a variety of backgrounds e.g. unemployed people looking for experience; retired people looking to fill their time; people with a disability or suffering ill health; employed people and young people aged 16 - 25

Services

Volunteer Centre West Lothian aim to provide all of the information you need to get involved in volunteering now.

We provide information and resources in the form of a range of publications which are essential reading on volunteering issues.

We arrange special events and training for volunteers, and our team offer support and advice to local organisations who’re looking for volunteers or who’d like to offer placements to volunteers with extra support needs.

Finally, we run a programme of seminars and events for volunteers and volunteer organisations – why not check our calendar and see what’s on this month?