Employer Supported Volunteering
Volunteering as a colleague
Each year, you can apply for one paid day off to volunteer. You can use this day to support your local community on your own or with your team.
Benefits
- Helping you feel more motivated and confident
- Building new skills and knowledge
- Supporting your wellbeing
- Strengthening your links with local communities
- Improving how people see Glasgow Life
- Helping you understand the experiences of the volunteers we work with
It was good to be able to make a small contribution towards keeping the grounds maintained. It was also a great opportunity to spend time with my colleagues, which helped to bring us closer together as a team.
Applying for volunteering leave
- To request volunteering leave, fill out our application form. If you need a paper copy, just ask the Volunteering Team.
- The Volunteering Team will look over your application. If your chosen organisation hasn’t signed a host agreement yet, the team will get in touch with them to set this up.
- After the host agreement is in place, the Volunteering Team will send your application to your line manager for approval.
- Your line manager will review your application and tell you if it’s approved or not. If it’s not approved, they’ll explain why. It’s a good idea to speak with your line manager before you apply.
Support for managers
Managers can get help from the Volunteering Team or their HR Business Partner if they need it.
Email: volunteering@glasgowlife.org.uk
Freephone: 0808 5001315
MCR Pathways
Make a difference in a young person’s life
MCR Pathways is a charity that runs mentoring programmes in schools. It helps young people who need extra support to build confidence and reach their potential. Meeting a trusted adult for one hour a week can make a big difference.
How does it work?
MCR Pathways matches each young person with a trained volunteer mentor. You meet in school for one hour a week during term time. You do not need qualifications or experience. You only need the desire to help a young person grow.
As a mentor, you give encouragement and a safe, steady space to talk. You help young people build confidence and resilience while you get to know each other and have fun.
Benefits of becoming a mentor
Mentoring changes lives. It helps young people grow, but it also helps you.
Volunteering as a mentor can boost your wellbeing, build your confidence and help you learn new skills in communication and leadership. Giving back to your community feels good and makes a real difference.
Where can I mentor?
You can mentor in any of the 30 high schools in Glasgow. Use the MCR Pathways school locator to find a school near you or your workplace.
MCR Pathways does not cover travel costs, so please keep this in mind when choosing a school.
Time allocated to volunteering
You will get paid time to take part in the mentoring programme. This includes:
- A 30-minute information session
- A one-hour interview with MCR
- Mandatory training sessions (three hours plus travel time)
- Weekly meetings with your mentee during term time (up to 38 weeks each year), for up to two years. Each meeting is up to two hours, including travel time.
Where possible, Glasgow Life and MCR Pathways will arrange information sessions and interviews in Glasgow Life venues.