Tell me about your commitment by Jennifer Fulton

This project gave an opportunity to volunteers to meet other likeminded individuals and share experiences. There were conferences in Vienna, Slupsk in Poland and Glasgow. As well as being attended by delegates from these cities, there were also representatives from Barcelona, Berlin, Ulm and Slovenia. The conference in Glasgow and visits to other conferences was organised by Lynda Scott, project organiser at Strathclyde University.

Last May a group of seven delegates from Glasgow gathered with other Europeans in Vienna for our two day conference. On our arrival we celebrated with a Buffet of the Nations. There was a wonderful spread and it was a great way to meet together informally. Some were puzzled about our contribution of a “clootie dumpling” but enjoyed it all the same.

On the first day there were discussions in groups and presentations about volunteering. In the afternoon there were workshops. The following day there was a World Café and we were given topics to discuss such as training/supervision, competition with paid workers and the possibility of jeopardising their jobs. The main focus was working in groups and the informal atmosphere enabled many to reflect on their experiences. There were many issues common to all countries and it was felt there was a need for more state funding, legal assistance and insurance for voluntary organisations.

The work carried out by volunteers was very varied. Polish delegates spoke of their work with the elderly and vulnerable young people-some were involved with Caritas. Many delegates from Barcelona, Berlin and Glasgow worked with refugees – helping them settle and learn their new language.  Some intergenerational work was carried out in Barcelona, which resulted in a book with stories written by older people and illustrated by children. Mana Hazlett gave an emotional account of her work as a counsellor with the Miscarriage Association.  The delegates were all very involved and committed to their work.

Do you remember when Glasgow was warm and sunny on the 21^st March? This ensured a warm welcome to our European visitors coming to Glasgow for the Strathclyde University stage of the conference. It was lovely to renew acquaintances with old friends, we had met in Vienna. The first day the conference was held in the Lighthouse, which was an excellent venue. I enjoyed all the presentations but the most inspirational, I thought, was from Martina Gerbec and Marusa Gorsak .  They told us that the 24^th March is a national “Clean Up Slovenia” day. In one day using 200,000 volunteers a great attempt is made to clean their country. More than 108 companies help both financially and also by supplying materials. In one day they cleared up 12,000 tons of waste!

When we had been in Vienna, Ena Brown gave a presentation about the Hub, which is a weekly café in East Kilbride. Anyone can visit this café on a Thursday afternoon but it is mainly those who are retired and also some elderly people, who are in nearby nursing home, who enjoy this facility. In the afternoon the conference group visited East Kilbride and, as well as enjoying home baking, were enthralled by a young guitarist and flautist, graduates of the Conservatoire. Ena was able to run this café and pay entertainers, as she had funding from Nesta.

The second day of the conference was a full and very interesting day. Jim King, Training Officer for the Volunteer Centre, Glasgow, as part of his presentation stated, “There is no such thing as altruism.”  Apparently no one volunteers without some kind of reward.  When he was asked, how young people can be encouraged to volunteer, he responded by saying that the least represented group, who are volunteers, are those over fifty-five.  He also added that the value to the UK economy from formal volunteering is 22.7 billion pounds.

On Friday afternoon all the clubs set up their tables and our visitors were very interested and impressed by the variety of clubs on offer to members of 3L’s.

The two day conference finished on Friday evening with a sail on Loch Lomond and a meal at Ross Priory. We all agreed it had been an intensive but most worthwhile conference. There is so much good work been done in many countries by volunteers.  Many of the delegates are professional organisers and coordinators and there are plans for cafés similar to the one in East Kilbride to be organised in Slovenia. At the same time why don’t we have a special day to Clean Up Scotland? There is no doubt that the dedication, enthusiasm and commitment of delegates and organisers to volunteering is inspirational. 

Although it was sad to say goodbye to our new friends, there is a dedicated website- www.tell-me.org which will enable us to keep in touch.