CHAI to Develop Volunteering Project

That the Parliament congratulates all at the Community Help and Advice Initiative (CHAI), which delivers a range of advice, support and employability services aimed at maximising household income, preventing homelessness, reducing poverty and improving employability across Edinburgh and Midlothian; notes that it has received £10,000 from the National Lottery Community Fund - Awards for All programme towards developing a volunteering project; understands that the funding will allow CHAI to appoint a volunteer coordinator to recruit volunteers among vulnerable and disadvantaged people in the community, who will receive training in providing advice and support; acknowledges that the project will help CHAI support and strengthen the communities that it serves and address the demand for its advice services by increasing its capacity to support disadvantaged groups; welcomes CHAI's plan to encourage community members to come together and get involved with its services; believes that it will offer volunteers the opportunity to use their skills and experience to support and empower their communities, and wishes all involved with CHAI continued success.