Saltire Awards are Scottish Government endorsed certificates recognising and rewarding the commitment, contribution and volunteering achievements of young people aged 12 – 25 years old. Young people gain nationally recognised certificates, signed by Scottish Government Ministers, for the different amounts of volunteering they do. In South Lanarkshire, VASLan supports, promotes and administers the Saltire Awards.
There are four milestones to the Awards designed to help you celebrate your volunteering journey and they are enhanced with a possibility of becoming a Saltire Ambassador.
The Challenge
This is a great way to start. Volunteer in a one-off team event to get a taste of volunteering, see if it’s for you and make a real difference to your community. Start a team with friends or classmates or join one that’s already organised in your local area. Build your team-work skills, have a really fun time and you’ll get a certificate after taking part.
The Approach
Ready to give volunteering a go? The Approach gives you the recognition for the regular volunteering you undertake whether it be in the community, with a charity, at school or part of a youth group. You choose the project and fit it around your needs. You’ll discover more about your skills and strengths and receive certificates after 10 and 25 hours of volunteering.
The Ascent
Taking volunteering to the next level. Develop your skills and strengths through placements and make a longer commitment to volunteering. You can record your achievements, training, new skills and certificates in your personal online journal, keeping them handy for any university, college or work applications. You can get certificates of 50, 100, 200 and 500 hours
The Summit
Volunteering above and beyond expectations! This Award is for an outstanding contribution to volunteering. It is awarded to those who have completed at least 200hrs and have exceeded expectations. A volunteer is nominated for this level of Award (e.g. by the organisation they volunteer for, their school, college or local volunteer development worker).
Saltire Ambassador
If you achieve The Ascent you could become a Saltire Ambassador.
Ambassadors have the opportunity to further develop their skills through being involved in all aspects of the Saltire Awards; from promotional and publicity activities through to helping to make decisions about Summit Award nominations and taking part in local advisory groups.
Interested in signing up?
Signing up for Saltire Awards is really quick and easy, simply visit www.saltireawards.org.uk and register yourself using the "Sign Up Today button". You can then add your volunteering roles, log your hours and claim your certificate when you reach each milestone.
If you need some assistance to register download this help guide My Saltire Manual
Useful information
If you have signed up or are still making up your mind here are some things you may want to know:
- You will receive Young Scot points for every certificate you achieve
- You can back date your volunteering hours for up to two years
- If you volunteer at more than one place your hours will automatically total
- You can include some travel time for volunteering events
- You can add your role training as volunteering time
- You only need to register once and can pick up where you left off at any time
- Your account is available until you are 25 years old
- We can’t verify your hours if you don’t give us your supervisor contact information
Claiming Your Certificates
Claiming certificates is easy, all you need to do is look in your Achievements page and click to Claim the award you are due. As soon as we receive your certificate request we will contact your volunteering supervisor(s) to confirm your hours. Once your hours are verified your certificate will either be posted to you or delivered to your school or voluntary group.
Contact us on saltire@vaslan.org.uk or telephone 01698 300390 if you would like any Saltire Awards information or support.