Church Charity Wins Volunteering Award

Tuesday June 9

^{Bob Bogle, chair of Volunteer Glasgow, presents the Award for Innovation to the GK Experience team. Picture: Deirdre Hannon/Volunteer Glasgow}

A charity begun by the Church of Scotland was among the winners in new awards honouring volunteers in Glasgow.

The team behind the GK Experience were presented with the Award for Innovation at the Alistair Malloy Inspire Awards last night (Monday).

The award is for ‘a particularly creative approach to volunteer engagement and an excellent example of best practice in the city’.

The GK Experience provides outdoor residential experiences and supports local youth work among some of the poorest neighbourhoods in Scotland. It began life as a project of the Church of Scotland’s Priority Areas team and, while now an independent charity, still receives much of its funding from the Church.

Morag Sievwright from Faith in the Community Scotland said: “Young people who live in areas challenged by poverty and social problems are encouraged [by GK Experience] to have confidence in themselves and their communities.

“Through a range of specific youth focused opportunities - outdoor activities and residential experiences, the young people grow determination, aspiration and hope to achieve their fullest potential and then can give other young people a hand up to the same place. It uses a peer support model that in itself strengthens communities.”

The awards are named in memory of Alistair Malloy, who was the Volunteering Services Manager at Volunteer Glasgow before his sudden death, aged 45, in March 2014. They celebrate the contribution of volunteers to the life of Glasgow, particularly reflected in the contribution of the ‘Clydesiders’ to last year’s Commonwealth Games.

The Host City Volunteers Programme for the Games won the Award for Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion. The night’s other winners were Glasgow Homelessness Network, which was named Best Newcomer.

The GK Experience on the Church of Scotland website

Faith in Community Scotland

Volunteer Glasgow

Post Tags: gk experience, priority areas

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