Cross-Party Group on Volunteering Wednesday 27th March 2024, 1.00 – 2.00 pm Minute Present MSPs Foysol Choudhury MSP Jeremy Balfour MSP Non-MSP Group Members Margaret Starkie – Volunteer Scotland – Secretariat Fraser Clark - Youth VIP Lauren Alexandra Arthur – Youth VIP Georgia Artus – Vintage Vibes Helen Fleming – Helen Fleming Freelancing Emma Kyles – Youthlink Scotland Barri Millar – St Johns Scotland Kirsten Worsely – The Breastfeeding Network Amanda Simpson – University of West of Scotland Annalise Gillian - University of West of Scotland Magdalena Clark – Volunteer Midlothian Kiera Mar Russell – Rowan Alba Ruth Hutton – Scottish Government Wendy Diack – CRUSE Scotland Bereavement Support Valerie Ewan – NHS Tayside Tracey Passway – Marie Curie Tracey Brown – NHS Tayside Sue Bowen – Dyslexia Scotland Sharon Duncan Scott Coyne – Epilepsy Connections Sarah Van Putten - Lifecare Sarah Murray - RVS Rob Murray – British Red Cross Rebecca McDonald – Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity Mike Melvin – ACVO Magda Clark – Volunteer Midlothian Luthien Lark – Highland Third Sector Interface Louise Henderson – Girlguiding Scotland Louise Bluett – Volunteer Centre East Lothian Kiera Russell – Rowan Alba Kelly McKnight - VOCAL 1 John Cardno – Marie Curie Alan Stevenson – Volunteer Scotland Debbie Maltman – Volunteer Scotland Julie Lonsdale – Volunteer Scotland (minutes of meeting) Emma Christie – Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action Ewan Davidson – Impact Funding Partners Fiona Harvey - CHAS Gemma Campbell – Scottish Government Gillian Kay – Voluntary Action South Ayrshire Heather Robertson – Maidsafe Foundation Ian McCall – Paths for All Janice Malone - HIS Jason Henderson - SCVO Jessica Lightfoot – Macmillan Cancer Support Jo Elston – Planning Aid Scotland Ashleigh Burt – Fife Voluntary Action Beth Cowen – CVS Falkirk & District Bev Read – Firsthand Lothian Caroline Johnstone – CVS Inverclyde Carolynn Malone – Housing Options Scotland Claire Mechie – Clan Cancer Support David Maxwell – Volunteer Glasgow Chris Ringland – Evangelical Alliance Scotland Apologies None Agenda item 1: Welcome, Introduction & Apologies Foysol Choudhury MSP (FC), Joint Convenor, opened the meeting and welcomed everyone in person and online to the Cross-Party Group on Volunteering, and looked forward to their contributions to the meeting.