Volunteer Scotland has announced that the formal volunteer participation rate in Scotland is increasing. Analysis of the latest Scottish Household Survey for 2024 show positive changes, with 25% of adults in Scotland volunteering with a group, club or organisation in 2024. This means the number of volunteers in Scotland increased by 331,000 between 2023 and 2024, after formal volunteer participation dropped to its lowest recorded level of 18% in 2023.
Volunteering News
Volunteer Opportunity: Commonwealth Games Glasgow 2026
The Commonwealth Games 2026, taking place in Glasgow, has lowered the minimum age of its volunteers to 16 years old. Applications for volunteers are now open.
Volunteer Opportunity: Strathcarron Hospice 10K Race Marshals
Strathcarron Hospice is holding its fundraising 10K race on Sunday 12 October 2025, 11am – 1pm, beginning from Denny High School, and is currently looking for Volunteer Marshals.
Save the Date: Make Your Mark 2026 Conference
The Make Your Mark volunteer managers conference, scheduled for Wednesday 4 February 2026, will explore the current state of volunteer management, highlighting the importance of inclusive volunteering.
Blog: Creating the Future of Volunteering With Language
Laura White, Senior Volunteering Manager at Sustrans, has released a thought-provoking and interesting blog which explores the language used in relation to volunteering, and how it can influence others and create the vision of volunteering we want to see in Scotland.
Micro-Volunteering Article from Charity Digital
Charity Digital has put together an insightful article to include resources, tips on managing micro-volunteering opportunities and links to ideas on what these roles could look like. This includes some high profile examples of micro-volunteering in the UK recently.
Young Scot Award Winners Spotlight
Through a new series of videos, Young Scot is shining a spotlight on this year’s Young Scot Award winners, young people who have gone above and beyond to make a difference in their communities, overcome massive challenges or spark real change.
AI Prompts Collection to Strengthen Volunteer Recruitment, Engagement, and Management
VolunteerHub has created a collection of AI prompts to use when supporting volunteers, designed to provide volunteer managers with practical support across 4 areas: Volunteer Recruitment, Volunteer Engagement, Volunteer Onboarding, Strategy & Planning.
Creative Lives Volunteering in the Arts Toolkit Micro-Grant Competition
Creative Lives is developing a new Volunteering in the Arts toolkit, with tips and ideas to help groups ensure volunteers feel welcomed, informed, supported and appreciated. As part of this, Creative Lives is keen to include innovative ideas and examples from creative groups on how they look after their volunteers, and is running a new micro-grant competition for submissions. Stories will be shared in the final online guide, with the winning entry receiving a £250 micro-grant. The deadline for submissions is Tuesday 30 September 2025.
Falkirk Festival of Trees 2025
This year, Falkirk town centre will see its first Festival of Trees, taking place Saturday 6 December, Sunday 7 December, Saturday 13 December, and Sunday 14 December 2025 in the former Wilko unit. The Festival of Trees is free for the public to attend, with opportunities to make a donation. Organisers are currently looking for volunteers, and entertainers to perform during the event.
