The Host City Glasgow Project is a 3-year project, lead by Glasgow Life, to help maximise the potential impact of Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games on civic pride, volunteering legacy aspirations, and communities in the host city of Glasgow.

Two key components:

• Host City Volunteers;
• Altogether Glasgow flexible learning programme.

Funding support has been confirmed from Big Lottery Fund and Glasgow City Council – with Glasgow Life providing in-kind support through provision of staffing resource, which will include a number of development opportunities for staff. 

Host City Volunteers

Background

Host City Volunteers (HCV) will be managed by Glasgow Life and deployed in the high footfall thoroughfares and ‘live zones’ in the city centre during Games Time. Complementing the support provided by the OC’s volunteers (clyde-siders) in and around Games’ venues, approximately 1,500 volunteers will be required.

As the host city, Glasgow is keen to maximise opportunities for local people to feel connected with and play an active part in delivery of the Games. Discussions with the OC indicate that the level of applications to their programme from those living within Glasgow city was lower than had perhaps been anticipated by GCC and city partners.  In particular, lower levels of Glasgow city applications from the following groups (compared to population level): disabled people, older people (60 years+), and those living in deprived wards.

There are also some people who were unable to apply to the OC’s programme due to eligibility criteria - e.g. age (people had to be 16 years of age at the time of application, effectively meaning they will be 17.5 – 18 years by Games Time); or identification/security requirements (i.e. asylum seekers were unable to apply as most would not have access to the required documentation for security vetting).

Finally, the Glasgow Household Survey suggests that whilst the vast majority of residents feel that the Games will be positive for the city, many do not feel it will impact directly on them and their families.  

Role

Host City Volunteers will assist with wayfinding and general information for spectators and visitors to the city during Games-time (including information on: games venues; event times; transport links; the 2014 cultural programme; as well as other city attractions and amenities).

Eligibility Criteria

The HCV programme provides an opportunity for us to try and proactively address some or all of the aforementioned issues re under-representation of Glaswegians in actively supporting delivery of the Games. In order to be eligible for the HCV programme, participants must meet the following criteria:

• live, work, study, or already volunteer in Glasgow city;
• are 16 years of age as at 1 January 2014 (N.B. there may be limited opportunities for 14-15 year olds to participate as part of appropriately supervised groups within live zones, which will offer a more controlled environment);
• will be prioritised if they have membership of one or more of the identified target groups (60 yrs +; disabled people; those living in deprived wards in the city). We will also explore whether asylum seekers can be supported to participate.

Recruitment

Initial recruitment focussed on a targeted approach, working in conjunction with GL Area Teams, local networks and community partners (e.g. Glasgow Disability Alliance; Enable Glasgow; Volunteer Glasgow; GCC SWS supported employment programme; GCC SWS looked after & accommodated children’s services; Age Scotland; GHA; Jobs & Business Glasgow; and others) in order to encourage applications from priority groups.  A wider recruitment drive, employing social media and  mainstream media, has followed in order to help achieve overall target numbers.

Key Project Milestones

Jan – Feb 2014                               Briefing of community stakeholders

Feb – March 2014                            Recruitment (HCV Team Leaders)

Feb – May 2014                               Recruitment (HCV general)

7 & 8 March 2014                            OC’s Orientation events (150 places have been offered to HCV for team leaders)

April 2014                                       Training 1 (HCV Team Leaders)

21^st May 2014                                  HCV Orientation event

7-8 June 2014                                 Test Event: MELA

June 2014                                       Training 2 (HCV Team Leaders)

17 June – 3 July 2014                       Training (HCV general)

20 – 23 July 2014                             QBR in Glasgow

23 July – 3 Aug 2014                        Games-Time Deployment of Volunteers

Post – event                                    Recognition, including community exhibition in 3 x cultural hubs
                                                      (Nov 2014 – Jan 2015) and main People’s Palace exhibition (from Jan 2015)

Altogether Glasgow: Flexible learning programme

Altogether Glasgow aims to enable Glasgow’s communities to better engage with the delivery of the 2014 Commonwealth Games and future major event opportunities via a programme of flexible learning, citizenship, and volunteering. The programme intends to achieve the following outcomes:

• Increased learning opportunities for Glaswegians to understand, develop and sustain local and city-wide concepts of identity and civic pride;
• Increased awareness of and engagement with the city’s cultural and sporting assets;
• Increased uptake and active participation by Glaswegians in volunteering and delivery opportunities associated with major cultural and sporting events.

The focus of the first year’s activity will be development and delivery of an online flexible learning programme to include content based around the following themes: Discovering Glasgow; Exploring the Commonwealth Games; Introducing Commonwealth visitors. Programme content will also be available through delivery of parallel workshops for those for whom the digital medium may create a barrier.  The website has just been launched (May 2014) and can be accessed at: www.altogetherglasgow.com

Years 2 & 3 of the project will develop support to encourage people to become increasingly active in terms of their engagement in the city, including through trying new activities, and sharing their learning – for some through active involvement in formal volunteering activities.  Participants will be encouraged to generate content (e.g. photographs, blogs) that can be uploaded to the website.