

Status
Complete

Network
Community
Heritage Volunteers
Volunteering was a vital part of efforts to conserve and enhance the natural and cultural heritage of the Garnock Connections landscape. From nature reserves to historic buildings, the importance of volunteers cannot be underestimated. For many people however, significant barriers to volunteering remain, whether it is difficulty in travelling or simply being unable to find the right opportunity.
This project aimed to tackle this issue by providing links between existing volunteer groups and communities throughout the landscape. We delivered a series of volunteering events, enabling people to find out about what opportunities were, and still are, available in the landscape, and actively supported groups by providing equipment and putting them in touch with new volunteers.
We also created a digital volunteering hub on our website, and a dedicated Facebook page, helping volunteers to connect with different groups, and each other, within the landscape. This helped tackle some of the barriers to volunteering that existed in the Garnock Connections area.
This project was also funded through the Green Infrastructure Community Engagement Fund.
Outputs achieved
33 volunteer engagement events
159 volunteer activities supported
33 volunteer groups supported
231 people volunteering for the first time
1 volunteering hub


Volunteers on an archaeological dig at Ardrossan Castle


Volunteer dry stone walling - Credit RSPB Images


Ardrossan Castle litter pick pre-bioblitz Credit - George McGrattan


Good times restoring the bog at Bankhead Moss


The Impact Arts team planting trees at Dalry Station


The Great British Beach Clean 2019, Stevenston
Did you know?
Word of mouth is the most effective way of recruiting volunteers, a recent survey by NCVO showed 48% of volunteers in the UK are recruited through this method.
Photo credit: RSPB images