2. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the implementation of the volunteering action plan. (S6O-02253)

The Scottish Government appreciates the contribution that volunteers make to society. Our 10-year volunteering action plan, which was published in June 2022, was co-produced with partners in the third sector, and its aim is to support people to volunteer throughout their lives.

Volunteer Scotland is raising awareness of volunteering and its benefits for all who are involved. New groups have been established, including a cost of living volunteering task group and a policy champions network, to ensure that the power of volunteering is recognised as policies are developed.

I welcome the plan’s aim of creating an environment in which everyone can volunteer more often and throughout their lives, and the plan’s focus on tackling inequality for people who have traditionally faced barriers to volunteering.

What specific steps is the Scottish Government taking to increase public awareness of volunteering and to tackle the stereotypes that exist around what volunteering is and who the people who volunteer are?

Stephanie Callaghan has raised an important point about the need to encourage diversity in our volunteers. The Scottish Government funds Volunteer Scotland as the national advice centre for volunteering, which helps to increase participation in volunteering as well as widening access to volunteering. For example, Volunteer Scotland has a search facility to ensure visibility of the volunteering options that are available to people.

Stephanie Callaghan is right to point to the need to ensure that volunteers come from diverse backgrounds. We all have an obligation to encourage that. The Government, in conjunction with Volunteer Scotland, is determined to tackle the barriers that might be preventing people from coming forward.