LinkLiving Ltd has been reaccredited as an Investor in Volunteers which recognises the support the organisation provides to its volunteers.

The Investing in Volunteers standard, managed in Scotland by Volunteer Development Scotland, demonstrates that LinkLiving is committed to its volunteers and to the highest organisational standards of volunteering.

Part of the Link group of social enterprises, LinkLiving works to make a positive difference to the lives of people affected by social exclusion including homelessness, mental health issues and learning disabilities. LinkLiving has 82 volunteers who work hard not only change their own lives but help change the lives of others.

In the past year over 13,000 hours of volunteer support were provided across its volunteer services including the award-winning, RealLiving and SmartLiving projects as well as Horizon Housing Association’s Care and Repair North Lanarkshire service. LinkLiving’s RealLiving service in Fife trains and supervises a team of committed volunteers to support isolated older people and their carers to develop positive relationships, re-engage with their community and increase community capacity and involvement to support these relationships.

SmartLiving delivers a course for young people aged 16 – 25 to help them improve their employability skills. On completion of the course, each young person has the opportunity to become a volunteer Peer Educator with SmartLiving or other volunteering opportunities, or to undertake further training to help achieve their goals.

LinkLiving volunteers provide the handyperson service as part of the Care and Repair North Lanarkshire service. The volunteers provide practical help to older and disabled people in North Lanarkshire to help them live in their homes in comfort and security and with greater independence.

George Thomson, chief executive of Volunteer Development Scotland, said: “Congratulations to LinkLiving for retaining the Investors in Volunteers Award accreditation. As well as being recognised for your quality as an organisation the feedback in the assessment process from the volunteers themselves speaks highly of you. Well done.”

Sarah Smith, director LinkLiving, added: “We are delighted to be reaccredited as an Investor in Volunteers. The contribution of volunteers to our services is invaluable. Volunteers enable us to expand our reach into the communities we work within as well as bringing new ideas and skills into our organisation to the great benefit if the people we support.”