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.

These figures would indicate that volunteer participation in Scotland is showing early signs of recovery, following the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and cost of living crisis. In 2019, the formal volunteer participation rate was 26%.

Volunteer Scotland has noted it is particularly encouraged to see a 9% increase in formal volunteering among the 16 – 34 years old age group.

However, analysis of the 2024 Scottish Household Survey data shows that inclusion and equity of access to formal volunteer opportunities remains a priority, and that while volunteer participation has increased across all demographic groups, inclusion gaps are widening. Additionally, the volunteering participation gap for people living in Scotland’s most deprived communities and least deprived has increased from 12% to 15%.

For further information, please visit the Scottish Government website (linked for your convenience). Alternatively, view the blog post by some of the Volunteer Scotland team, on what these numbers could mean for volunteering in Scotland.