The Action Earth campaign, run by national charity Volunteering Matters, has launched to help support communities to participate in outdoor environmental volunteering. Projects can apply now to the campaign, which NatureScot funds.
Nature is in crisis, and we face a climate emergency. Last year, we completed 134 successful projects, helping restore and protect environments to deliver a ‘nature-rich’ future for all.
Volunteering Matters Action Earth offers easy-to-access grants of up to £250 for environmental activities across Scotland. This year, we have 132 nature awards for any group of volunteers carrying out practical environmental improvements or wildlife habitat creation in local urban spaces.
Previous projects have included wildflower meadow and pond creation, woodland and wetland renovations, bird and bat box siting, and creating or improving community gardens.
We are also keen to support projects working with people with disabilities, defined health issues, or barriers to involvement. From last year’s 134 projects to benefit from Action Earth grant funding, over 3,325 volunteers were involved in improving biodiversity in their community – 1,100 of them having disabilities and/or defined health issues.
The campaign is also keen to hear from projects whose work benefits disadvantaged communities, especially in urban areas and in places with reduced local amenities. 45% of volunteers in 2022 were from areas in the lowest 20% of the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation.
2023 Marks the 20th anniversary of Volunteering Matters and NatureScot’s partnership to help communities make positive local change.
NatureScot Chief Executive Francesca Osowska says: “The Action Earth campaign is a brilliant way for communities to make space for nature and protect local greenspaces, native wildlife and habitats – in turn, helping tackle the nature and climate crises. I encourage groups to apply and look forward to lots of exciting projects this year.”
For those looking for inspiration for their projects, the Volunteering Matters Action Earth website has instructions on how to build bird boxes, bat boxes, frog hibernacula, hedgehog boxes, and bee/insect homes. NatureScot also has many tips to help nature this spring through its Make Space for Nature campaign.
More information is available and applications can be made NOW at the Volunteering Matters Action Earth website:
The Action Earth campaign, run by national charity Volunteering Matters, has just made Winter grants available to support communities with outdoor environmental volunteering.
Projects can apply now to the campaign for activities such as tree and hedge planting, bird & bat box building and siting and habitat creation and improvements. Activities should conclude by the end of January 2023. The campaign is funded by NatureScot.
Nature is in crisis and we face a climate emergency. Last year, 157 successful projects completed, showing great resilience and adaptability in the face of very difficult circumstances. This year our focus is on helping restore and protect environments to deliver a ‘nature-rich’ future for all.
Volunteering Matters Action Earth offers easy-to-access grants of up to £250 for environmental activities across Scotland.
We have limited numbers of nature awards for Winter for any group of volunteers carrying out practical environmental improvements or wildlife habitat creation in their local green spaces. Previous projects have included meadow and pond creation, woodland and wetland renovations and creating and improving community gardens.
We are also keen to support projects working with people with disabilities, defined health issues or barriers to involvement. From last year’s 157 projects to benefit from Action Earth grant funding, over 4,406 volunteers were involved in improving biodiversity in their community – 1,329 of them having defined health and social issues.
The campaign is also keen to hear from projects whose work benefits disadvantaged communities especially in urban areas or in places with reduced local amenity. 50% of volunteers in 2021 were from areas in the lowest 20% of the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation.
NatureScot Chief Executive Francesca Osowska said: “Nature can be a powerful tool in bringing communities together and rallying them into action, whether it’s to protect local greenspaces or create new opportunities for enriched biodiversity.
“In doing so, community groups have the chance, through the Action Earth campaign, to be involved in activities which help tackle the climate emergency, while enjoying the benefits of companionship, wellbeing and purpose. We are looking forward to welcoming lots of exciting project ideas this year.”
For those looking for inspiration for their projects, the Volunteering Matters Action Earth website has instructions on how to build bird boxes, bat boxes, frog hibernacula, hedgehog boxes and bee/insect homes.
NatureScot also has a host of tips to help nature through its Make Space for Nature campaign.
More information is available and applications can be made NOW at the Volunteering Matters Action Earth website:
National volunteering and social change charity, Volunteering Matters and City of Edinburgh Council have joined forces to launch Volunteers Supporting Families in Edinburgh – a project that recruits, trains and support volunteers to mentor families going through a range of challenges, are in crisis or who need extra help in their lives.
This will be the first time Volunteers Supporting Families has launched in Scotland, with the programme already established in three local authorities in England.
The programme, run by Volunteering Matters, will enable trained volunteers to help families address the challenges they face and assist them in creating a happy and safe environment in which they can thrive.
Volunteers provide a listening ear, practical support and encouragement, helping families with budgeting, healthy eating, setting routines and improving social networks.
Thanks to a 3 year award from the Edinburgh Communities and Families Grant Programme, the projects volunteers will meet their allocated family on a weekly basis, over a six-month period.
Their support will empower parents to develop the skills required in overcoming serious challenges or hardships. In many cases this will enable the family to rebuild their lives and move on from social worker intervention, reducing the need of social services.
Already a success in other areas including Greenwich and Southend-on-Sea, the programme is now available to Edinburgh residents and Volunteering Matters is calling on potential volunteers to get in touch for this exciting opportunity.
John Brown at Volunteering Matters, said: “Our volunteers, and the parents they support, continue to impress us with their energy, resilience, patience and commitment to overcome serious challenges, protect vulnerable children and rebuild family relationships.
“We are proud to be able to offer this key support to people across parts of Edinburgh and would like to invite prospective volunteers to contact us to find out more.”
For the first time, 10 UK charities are uniting to respond against the impact that COVID-19 is having on the charity sector by staging The Massive Get Together – an online charity event comprising of celebrity entertainment, performance, prize draws and lots of laughs, in a bid to raise £500,000!
This special collaborative, relaxed, and fun variety event, the brainchild of one of the UK’s leading charities Volunteering Matters, will be hosted live from London by TV and radio presenters Gaby Roslin and Amanda Byram.
Streaming live and online on Thursday 17th September at 20:00 to an anticipated audience of more than 20,000, these 10 incredible charities are inviting us to ‘take the night off’ and relax with them to enjoy their fun online event which promises to have ‘something for everyone’ – including no 1 hits, comedy, and surprise special guest appearances.
UK charities are facing over £12bn1 loss in income due to the COVID-19 restrictions as critical funding and crucial fundraising events ceased overnight. This means that the UK voluntary sector is expected to face a colossal funding shortfall by the end of the year.
Chief Executive of Volunteering Matters and Founder of the Massive Get Together Paul Reddish said: “This year the nations’ charities have been critical to so many. They’ve been at the heart of much of the COVID-19 response – from delivering food to supporting those most isolated in every community throughout the UK.
“Their staff and volunteers continue to provide these vital services, such as end of life care and key support for the vulnerable, despite of the ongoing conditions created by this pandemic.”
Charities have seen demand rise, and the sector is expecting to see over £12bn loss over the course of 2020. One in 10 charities2 are at risk of closure if things continue as they are. Charities and organisations that do manage to survive will face major constrictions and capabilities to operate the way they once did. Even with the gentle easing of restrictions, large scale fundraising events will not be able to function for many months to come.”
The unique aspect of this campaign is the cooperation and unity of all 10 charities who have seamlessly united together for a common goal of responding to the ongoing challenges and impact COVID-19 is having on their sector.
In the face of coronavirus, charities are #NeverMoreNeeded for the essential support they provide in crisis and beyond, and how they shape our society for the better.
Paul continued: “We thought if leading members of the charity sector could come together and join forces, then collectively we could unite and help each other respond on mass to the impact of COVID-19. That’s the thinking behind the Massive Get Together – When charities unite, to entertain us all.”
The Massive Get Together will provide an evening of entertainment and variety, surprise and intrigue, whilst fundamentally facilitating valuable fundraising for the 10 amazing charities involved – Marie Curie, The Children’s Trust, FareShare, St John Ambulance, Royal Voluntary Service, Love Your Neighbour, Crisis , The Conservation Volunteers, Thames Hospice and Volunteering Matters.
For just £10 audiences will be supporting all 10 incredible UK charities, making a positive difference within action against homelessness and hunger, protecting the vulnerable, connecting communities, supporting end of life care and volunteer provision, as well as helping emergency and crisis response services.
Tickets for The Massive Get Together go live today – people can access the event by donating just £10 to help 10 charities at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/the-massive-get-together.
The Massive Get Together online event will be hosted live from London by TV & radio broadcasters Gaby Roslin and Amanda Byram.
Gaby Roslin said “The Massive Get Together is a really unique online event, with charities coming together to put on a fabulous variety show. The past few months have been challenging for everyone, and this evening will offer entertainment that people can enjoy from the comfort of their own home, whilst raising much-needed money for 10 vital charities.
“I’m grateful to have the opportunity to present The Massive Get Together with Amanda, and do my bit to help these charities, who have all been affected by the impact of COVID-19.”
Amanda Byram said “We find ourselves living in extraordinary times and I think it’s incredible that charities are coming together in this way to support each other. It is such a feel-good event and I am so honoured to be a part of it and also over the moon to be working with the wonderful Gaby for this very special online evening.”
The Action Earth campaign, run by national charity Volunteering Matters, has officially launched its 2020 grant giving scheme, encouraging volunteers to get involved in planting activities and habitat builds designed to enrich local nature and help tackle the current climate emergency.
The campaign, which is funded by Scottish Natural Heritage, offers easy to access grants of up to £500 for environmental activities across Scotland.
Volunteering Matters Action Earth grants are available to any group of volunteers carrying out practical environmental improvements or wildlife habitat creation in their local green spaces. Previous projects have included wildflower meadow and pond creation, woodland renovations, shared foraging projects and the establishment of new community gardens or food growing areas.
Projects should offer a safe volunteering experience and will have to adhere to Scottish Government guidance and safe practice around Covid-19. Groups should only apply once they are certain that activities can be supervised and carried out safely within current and developing recommendations.
Volunteering Matters Action Earth is especially keen to hear from projects whose work benefits disadvantaged communities especially in urban areas or in places with reduced local amenity. Last year, 167 projects benefited from Action Earth grant funding, and 7,240 volunteers were involved in improving biodiversity in their community.
Volunteering Matters Action Earth also offers enhanced £500 grants to projects which significantly benefit people with defined health needs. This could include people with learning or physical disabilities, dementia, mental health issues or other medical conditions.
SNH Chief Executive Francesca Osowska said: “We all benefit from nature in so many ways – and we all have an important role to play to create a nature-rich future for Scotland.
“Action Earth projects and volunteers are leading the way with their fantastic work to improve local biodiversity in communities across the country.
“We look forward to continuing to support this crucial work to improve the state of our nature, which we know is vital to help solve the climate emergency we all face.”
For those looking for inspiration for their projects, the Volunteering Matters Action Earth website has instructions on how to build bird boxes, bat boxes, frog hibernacula, hedgehog boxes and bee/insect homes.
More information is available and applications can be made NOW at the Volunteering Matters Action Earth website:
Action Earth campaign launched at North Edinburgh Arts
The Action Earth campaign, run by national charity Volunteering Matters, launched its 2019 grant giving scheme yesterday with the creation of a new biodiversity pond in North Edinburgh. The campaign, which is funded by Scottish Natural Heritage, offers easy to access grants of up to £250 for environmental activities across Scotland.Continue reading Call for communities to apply for Environmental Grants
The Action Earth campaign, run by national charity Volunteering Matters, launched its 2018 grant giving scheme at Castlemilk Park in Glasgow last week. The campaign, which is funded by Scottish Natural Heritage, offers easy to access grants of up to £500 for environmental improvements across Scotland.Continue reading Action Earth: encouraging active and healthy communities
Charity Volunteering Matters has been awarded £650,000 in funding from players of People’s Postcode Lottery to support its work in tackling social isolation and loneliness, and boosting the health and wellbeing of older people across the UK, including its Learn Together Scotland programme.Continue reading People’s Postcode Lottery cash for Volunteering Matters
