VDS and the Scottish Trade Union Congress (STUC) have signed a new Volunteering Charter for strengthening relations between paid staff and volunteers. The Charter recognises that volunteering helps to build social capital and community cohesion and plays an important role in supporting the delivery of key public services with positive impacts on the volunteer. As well as helping to improve health and wellbeing, it provides opportunities for individuals to acquire skills and knowledge that can enhance career development or employment prospects.