Make Your Mark Inclusive Volunteering Conference 2026

Bookings are now live for the free Make Your Mark Inclusive Volunteering Conference 2026: Power in Partnership, taking place on Wednesday 4 February 2026, 10am – 4pm, online and in-person at Edinburgh Zoo, 134 Corstorphine Road, Corstorphine, Edinburgh, EH12 6TS.

Make Your Mark is the campaign to increase the number and diversity of heritage volunteers in Scotland. In this instance, “heritage” means built, natural and cultural heritage. Make Your Mark is made possible with funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The event aims to bring together organisations from across the heritage and wider third sectors to explore how collaboration and co-creation can strengthen inclusive, sustainable volunteering. Sessions will focus on practical approaches to the following themes:

• Inclusion and belonging: “Creating volunteer programmes that reflect and empower a diverse range of communities.”
• Co-creation and collaboration: “Sharing power between organisations, volunteers and communities.”
• Accessibility and wellbeing: “Embedding psychological and structural safety in volunteering practice.”
• Sustainability and impact: “Using research, data and design to build lasting, meaningful engagement.”
• Cross-sector partnership: “Connecting heritage with health, education and community development.”

In the main atrium area (where attendees will gather for refreshments and networking in between sessions), there will be digital posters displayed, highlighting achievements in inclusive volunteering, as well as celebrating volunteers’ stories.

Please note that while the conference is aimed at volunteer-involving organisations (heritage and non-heritage), booking an in-person ticket requires that the organisation is a member of Make Your Mark. Joining Make Your Mark is also completely free, and can be done via the dedicated webpage (linked for your convenience).

For further information, including how to book your place, request accessibility support, and all accessibility guidelines in place for the event, please visit the Eventbrite page.

Alternatively, for further information, contact Make Your Mark by email: hello@makeyourmark.scot