Grow Richer and Younger:
Young Volunteers From Fife Urged To Enter MV Awards

VOLUNTEERS from Fife aged between 16 and 25 are being invited to take part in an awards scheme which recognises the valuable contribution which they make to the lives of others.

The MV Awards are being run by Volunteer Development Scotland and Fife Volunteer Centre, and were launched earlier this month by TV comedienne Karen Dunbar.

Karen commented: "I am delighted to be involved with this event and I look forward to meeting up with so many hard working volunteers."

Karen joined a growing list of celebrities endorsing MV Awards. The First Minister of Scotland Jack McConnell has also declared his support “I am proud to support the efforts of young people through the Millennium Volunteers Awards, as increased participation in Volunteering is central to my ambitions for Scotland.

MV Awards are endorsed by the Scottish Executive as a positive recognition of the commitment and contribution made by young volunteers.

Delivered locally by Volunteer Centre Fife, MV Awards are open to all volunteers aged between 16-25 years. A new certificate for 50 hours of volunteering has been introduced alongside awards for 100 hours and the 200 hours Award of Excellence.

Participants have up to two years to complete the hours required and the awards are flexible and easily accessible for the volunteer.

An online volunteering passport has been developed to let volunteers keep track of their volunteering hours counting towards the MV Awards. This is particularly useful for people who volunteer with a range of different projects and organisations.

Volunteer Development Scotland has overall responsibility for the delivery of the MV initiative on behalf of the Scottish Executive.

Volunteer Centre Fife specialist youth development worker Linda Turnbull has been tasked with raising awareness of volunteering and volunteering programmes for young people. She will target hard to reach young people currently under -represented in volunteering.

Linda said: “We’re delighted to launch the MV Awards and give young volunteers from Fife the chance to celebrate the contribution they have made. These volunteers are having such a positive impact on their communities and the MV Awards are an excellent way of recognising their achievements.”

“The MV Awards promote flexibility of volunteering and demonstrate that giving even a little of your time, whenever you can, can quickly build up and make a difference. It’s a great way for young people to improve confidence, learn new transferable skills and do something that interests them and that they enjoy.”