People Making Waves

The Wave of Friendship programme runs for four years up to September 2012 and during this time will provide grants to 200 volunteers, with each successful applicant receiving up to £500 to cover their travel, accommodation and other costs to volunteer in London (for Scottish volunteers) or Scotland (for London-based volunteers). The grants can support individual volunteers or groups, and do not have to part of volunteer exchanges.

The scheme has been launched to promote and support volunteering in Scotland and London in the lead up to the 2012 Olympic Games. It's part of larger programme called People Making Waves, which aims to encourage a cultural and volunteering legacy from the Olympics.

Suitable volunteering opportunities can be practically anything providing they are fixed term (from a day, a weekend to a week or more) and demonstrate some or all of the values of the Olympics movement: Friendship, Respect, Excellence, Courage, Determination, Equality and Inspiration.

So far the scheme has funded a wide range of volunteering opportunities including stewarding on the Edinburgh Moonwalk and Race for Life in London, planting Caledonian forest in the Scottish highlands, volunteering at the British Museum and London art galleries, and supporting charities and voluntary organisations in London and Scotland.

You can find more information about the scheme on their website: www.peoplemakingwaves.org.uk/thewaveoffreindship including details of the simple application process.