Council apprentices support Volunteers' Week
COUNCIL apprentices gave up some of their time to help out at an Inverclyde charity as part of Volunteers' Week.
Local authority trainees spent the day at Parklea Branching Out in Port Glasgow on Tuesday 3 June 2025 alongside representatives from West College Scotland and CVS Inverclyde.
The council modern apprentices worked in small groups to carry out maintenance around the grounds and learned gardening and horticultural skills and made new connections.
Among those taking part were business admin trainees Fern Rodgers, Alanah Wilson, Alana Reid and Ellie Church, and Mark Strachan, Robbie Carlin, Sam Rafferty, who are working on a mixture of craft technician and warehouse stores apprenticeships.
The group also helped out inside the Parklea Branching Out polytunnels as they got to grips with hundreds of potted plants.
Robbie said: “It was my first time volunteering and I was keen try out different activities and exercises.”
Colleague Mark added: “I’ve done some volunteering previously at Inverclyde Royal Hospital and I think volunteering is great for the community.”
Volunteers' Week, which runs from 2-8 June, is a national campaign to raise awareness of the huge difference made by volunteers across the UK.
Councillor Michael McCormick, Inverclyde Council’s convener of environment and regeneration, said: “We have such a vibrant third sector in Inverclyde which does an incredible job supporting our people and our communities so it was heartwarming to see some of our apprentices giving up some of their time to lend a hand.
“Volunteering also allows people to learn new skills and meet people so it’s also been a positive developmental experience for the apprentices.
“Well done to all involved and I encourage anyone out there who has time to spare or who would like to learn something new to think about volunteering because there are so many worthwhile groups and organisation right on our doorstep who would welcome an extra pair of hands.”
The visit to Parklea was part of a series of volunteering activities both council apprentices and CVS Inverclyde representatives have been involved in during Volunteers' Week.
Calum Easton, from Parklea Branching Out, said: “It was great to have volunteers from CVS, West College Scotland and Inverclyde Council supporting the work we do here at Parklea Branching Out.
“The group got involved with planting activities, weeding the polytunnels, and tidying up our glasshouse areas and were a great help on the day.
“Volunteers are vital to our operations throughout the year and it was great to be a part of this event as part of Volunteers Week.”
More information about volunteering in Inverclyde, including how to offer and request volunteer support, is available from the CVS Inverclyde website at www.cvsinverclyde.org.uk or via the link in the Other Websites section of this page.