Volunteering

S3W-02384: To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost is of each volunteering opportunity under the Project Scotland programme.

Answered by Jim Mather (05/10/2007): Project Scotland is a company limited by guarantee and registered as acharity whose aims and objectives are to promote the welfare and relieve the needsof the population in Scotland by encouraging and assisting young peopleto provide their skills and services voluntarily to charitable organisations. Fullinformation about the work of Project Scotland is available from its Chief Executiveat 49 Melville Street, Edinburgh, EH3 7HL.

The Chief Executiveadvises that: “From the inception of Project Scotland to the end of the latest tax year (2006-07) we placed 1,292 volunteers which,dividing total expense by the number of volunteers, shows an average cost of £8,934per volunteering opportunity of 30 hours per week for six months. Having put thenecessary infrastructure in place, the cost of an average volunteering opportunityin the current tax year is forecast at £4,995”.

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place with volunteering infrastructure bodies to ensure that it receives value for money.

Answered by Jim Mather (27/08/2007): The Scottish Executivefunds only Volunteer Development Scotland and the network of 32 volunteer centresas volunteering infrastructure bodies.

Value for money isensured by the agreement of a business plan, a sound grant application andon-going monitoring. Regular meetings are held with volunteering infrastructurebodies to discuss a range of topics, including best use of resources.