3rd Sector Supported Volunteering Programme

Tender description

Following previous delivery of a capacity building programme and engagement with VASLan, South Lanarkshire Local Employability Partnership and local third sector organisations, a programme was developed and delivered in 2025/26 to provide supported, employability-focused volunteering placements to VASLan local 3rd sector member organisations. Key Features - Target Group: Participants referred from Council employability teams and other third-sector partners. - Supported Volunteering Placements: Participants placed within local third-sector organisations. - Financial Incentives: Daily payment rates provided to host organisations for each active placement. - Keyworker Support: One-to-one guidance from Council/Routes to Work South (RTWS) employability keyworkers. - Monitoring & Evaluation: Progress tracked through structured action plans, placement reviews, and impact reporting. Lot 1: Placements: The length and duration of placements will be determined by individual need but will typically last between 8-12 weeks with attendance 2-3 days per week. It is anticipated that the programme will support 100 employability participants to access placements. VASLan will be responsible for working with 3rd sector organisations to identify a range of suitable placements and maintaining a database of opportunities which will be circulated to the Council and RTWS keyworkers and updated on a regular basis and will set out the opportunities and tasks to be undertaken. Placement Payment Scheme: 3rd Sector Organisations hosting Supported Volunteering Placements will be eligible to receive GBP 55 per day per placement. The payment will be administered by VASLan. The Placement Payment Scheme will be administered on an actual costs basis with the Council providing up to GBP 88,000 to VASLan subject to evidence of payment. The costs will be covered by the NOLB grant at no expense to the Council. Placement allowance: South Lanarkshire Works / RTWS will be responsible for paying an allowance of GBP 25 per day to participants through the bankline system (this is the finance system that the Council currently uses in employability to pay participants training allowances and expenses). Programme Costing & Budget Breakdown This budget includes costs for four Support Officers (one per locality) to coordinate placements, liaise with third-sector organisations, and ensure programme success.