Earlier in June, we marked the 40th anniversary of Volunteers’ Week 2025, a moment to celebrate the extraordinary impact of volunteers across Scotland. From 2 to 8 June, organisations, communities and individuals came together to recognise the essential role volunteers play in shaping a more compassionate and connected society (writes FOYSOL CHOUDHURY MSP).
Behind every community hub, crisis helpline and mentoring programme in Scotland, there is a volunteer quietly making a difference.
This year’s campaign came at a critical time. Volunteering rates, particularly in Edinburgh and across Lothian, have seen a worrying decline. They are down around 8 per cent since 2019, as a result of pandemic disruptions, the rising cost of living and reduced funding for volunteer support programmes. Yet across food banks, youth services and elderly care, the calls for help continue to rise. The need for volunteers has never been greater.
In response, Inspiring Scotland commissioned Catalysts for Change, a new report exploring what motivates people to volunteer, the barriers they face, and how Scotland’s volunteering landscape can evolve. The report was launched during Volunteers’ Week and shared with the Scottish Parliament’s Cross-Party Group on Volunteering, offering practical and timely recommendations to strengthen recruitment, engagement and retention.
Two of Inspiring Scotland’s initiatives bring this work to life. The Specialist Volunteer Network brings together professionals who offer their time and expertise to support charities and community organisations.
Meanwhile, Intandem, a mentoring programme for care-experienced young people, is entirely powered by volunteer mentors. Last year alone, more than 280 volunteers provided consistent weekly support to young people navigating life in or on the edge of the care system.
During the most recent Cross-Party Group meeting, several organisations spoke about the far-reaching benefits of volunteering for both communities and individual wellbeing. Vintage Vibes, a project combatting loneliness among Edinburgh’s older population, matches isolated individuals with committed volunteers. One pairing, Natalia and Maja, shared the joy, connection and sense of purpose their weekly visits bring to both their lives.
Similarly, the RNLI, where volunteers fill 97 per cent of frontline roles, emphasised how life-saving work in schools and coastal communities depends on public goodwill and civic action.
One volunteer, Rachel, described how volunteering gave her confidence, a sense of community, and a renewed sense of direction, something that positively influenced her career. It is proof that volunteering may begin as an act of giving, but it often gives you so much more in return.
While Volunteers’ Week is a national moment of recognition, the value of volunteering is felt year-round. Whether by offering time, skills or simply a listening ear, volunteers form the backbone of Scotland’s social infrastructure. From mentoring teens to delivering meals to vulnerable neighbours, their quiet work touches every corner of our society.
As Co-Convener of the Cross-Party Group on Volunteering, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who dedicates their time to supporting others.
But appreciation alone is not enough. We must make it easier for people to get involved by offering more flexible opportunities, investing in local initiatives, and creating pathways that remove barriers to participation.
By working together, we can rebuild a thriving culture of volunteering and ensure that no community is left behind.
The Scottish Government must match recognition with meaningful investment, stronger coordination, and long-term policy support to help volunteering thrive across the country.
To explore local volunteering opportunities, visit https://volunteer.scot
You can also read the full Inspiring Scotland report: Catalysts for Change: Understanding the motivations of volunteers in Scotland (new report published)
