The city is vying to bring the of European Volunteering Capital title to Scotland for the first time
A host of high profile names have backed a bid to name Stirling as a centre for volunteering.
Stirling will go head to head this week with the Italian city of Padua for the title of European Volunteering Capital 2020.
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).
And a variety of well-known faces from the area have given their support to the bid, which is centred around Stirling becoming the first place in the country where more than half of the population give up their time to help others.
Actress Simone Lahbib, who returned to city in August this year as chieftain of the Stirling Highland Games, is one of those who is backing the bid. The Bad Girls star said: “I grew up in Stirling, so I’m really keen for the city to get the recognition it deserves.
“As patron of local charity the Eilidh Brown Memorial Fund, which was set up in memory of my niece, I’ve witnessed firsthand how committed the Stirling community are to helping local good causes. Our family have been overwhelmed by how generous people have been with their time and skills to support Eilidh’s dream of building a respite home for children affected by cancer and their families.”
European Captain for the 2019 Solheim Cup golfer Catriona Matthew said: “Having studied in Stirling myself, I know what a strong community it has, and hopefully we’ll see plenty of volunteers coming forward to support the Solheim Cup at Gleneagles in September 2019. Any participation events, no matter what their size, are reliant on volunteers – they are often the unsung heroes.”
Fellow alumnus, the playwright and author Alan Bissett has also voiced his support: "I was a student at Stirling University, both undergrad and postgrad, so lived in or near the city for eight years, and the place holds a special place in my heart. I'd love to see Europe taking notice of its unique charm and historical importance, as well as the generosity of its people.”
Scotland’s politicians, as well as over 140 local businesses, have also thrown their weight behind the campaign.
Lord Jack McConnell, First Minister of Scotland 2001-2007 and a former leader of Stirling Council, said: “From the town out to the university and across the rural communities, residents of Stirling volunteer at all ages and in all communities. Becoming European Capital of Volunteering would recognise all of those considerable efforts across many diverse communities and age groups, but it would also set an ambitious target to increase volunteering and therefore strengthen our communities further.”
Representatives of Stirling’s bid team - Volunteer Scotland, Stirlingshire Voluntary Enterprise and Stirling Council - will travel to Brussels on Thursday 25 October to make their case to the judging panel. The winner will be announced on 5 December, to coincide with International Volunteer Day.
