Stirling is aiming to be named the European Volunteering Capital and has received support from Nicola Sturgeon

Stirling’s bid to be named the European centre of volunteering has received backing as the team behind the project aim to make their case.

Representatives of Volunteer Scotland, Stirlingshire Voluntary Enterprise and Stirling Council are in Brussels this evening (Thursday 25 October) as they bid to have the city named as European Volunteering Capital 2020.

And the First Minister has backed the team to secure Stirling’s place as the first Scottish city to take the title.

Nicola Sturgeon said: “Volunteering is one of the greatest expressions of Scotland’s values and of our shared European values. It’s at the heart of everything we do as a government – key to our ambition of creating a fairer and more prosperous country with equality of opportunity for all, a country where everyone has the chance to make a difference.

“That is why I am proud and delighted to be adding my endorsement, and the full support of the Scottish Government, to Stirling’s bid for European City of Volunteering 2020.

“We have much to be proud of in our current volunteering practice and much to share with friends across Europe. But we are ambitious for the future – for a growth in participation for all, for greater reach and impact and for building a strong body of best practice and policy internationally.”

Stirling will go head to head with the Italian city of Padua for the title of European Volunteering Capital 2020. The winner will be revealed on 5 December.

If the bid is successful, Scotland will be home to a European Volunteering Capital for the very first time. Previous winners include Barcelona, Lisbon, London and Sligo (Ireland).