Tag: volunteering

Lottery support for North Edinburgh Arts’ garden and shed projects

Spring has arrived at the NEA Community Garden, and we’re thrilled to share some exciting news with you all! We’ve received funding from The National Lottery Community Fund to support our Garden and Shed projects over the next two years.

This funding will help us grow more than just plants. It will create opportunities for our local community to get involved in activities that respond to the climate emergency, focusing on outdoor learning, sustainability, and the circular economy.

It also means we can continue to strengthen North Edinburgh Arts’ commitment to sustainability, improving how we manage our carbon impact.

Watch this space for more updates!

In the meantime, come and visit our NEA Community Garden within our opening hours (Monday-Wednesday: 9am-5pm, Thursday & Friday: 9am-8pm & Saturday: 10am-2pm)

If you live locally in the areas of Muirhouse, Pilton, Drylaw and Telford, come and join our free drop-in sessions at the Garden (Tuesday & Thursday, 1.30pm – 4pm) or the Shed (Tuesday – Thursday, 10am – 2pm).

Get in touch for more information!

Girlguiding: Be a Peer Educator

Become a peer educator and give girls a space to talk about what’s important to them!

As a peer educator you will explore important topics like mental wellbeing, safety and gender stereotypes, using your own experiences to become a role model for girls all across Scotland.

If you are 14-25 join us in May at our next peer education training weekend. Find out more through the link below 👇

https://bit.ly/4scuRKL

If you know someone who would make a great peer educator make sure to share the link with them 🔗

Summer Opening Hours at Granton Castle Walled Garden

Please note that our visitor hours are changing to summer hours from this weekend.

We are now open Saturdays and Sundays 2 – 4 pm

Visit us sometime. Everyone welcome 🌻

#grantoncastlewalledgarden

#grantoncommunity

#granton

#grantoncastle

#gardening

#nature

#walledgarden

#historicgarden

Debbi goes to Holyrood!

Debbi McCulloch, Chief Executive Officer of the Spartans Community Foundation, gave evidence in the Parliament yesterday, where she spoke extensively to the Education, Children and Young People’s Committee about the Foundation’s work in Pilton and the wider community.

During the evidence session Ms McCulloch said that North Edinburgh has fantastic networks and collaboration, referring to R2 and that network’s ability to signpost and help individuals and directly help individuals who might otherwise be missed:

https://scottishparliament.tv/meeting/education-children-and-young-people-committee-march-18-2026?clip_start=10:53:02&clip_end=10:56:28

Ms McCulloch said that 94% of young people surveyed by the Spartans said that they felt like they had a trusted adult at the foundation.

She says the Foundation’s work has increased employment and volunteering opportunities and has provided families with a place where they can come and be listened to in a dignified way:

https://scottishparliament.tv/meeting/education-children-and-young-people-committee-march-18-2026?clip_start=10:27:43&clip_end=10:31:30

Ms McCulloch also gave examples of the impact of the Foundation’s work, referring to Naomi Hume, who is now the Assistant Operations Manager, who started off attending the Foundation’s Street Football offering:

https://scottishparliament.tv/meeting/education-children-and-young-people-committee-march-18-2026?clip_start=10:36:41&clip_end=10:40:01

FetLor: Male Volunteer Wanted

We have an exciting new opportunity for a male volunteer during our boys group!

This is a great chance to gather some youth work experience and to grasp a unique insight on what it is like for young males growing up in todays society!

For more information please email: Richie@fetlor.org.uk

Home Library Service is looking for volunteers

BRINGING THE LIBRARY TO PEOPLE’S DOORSTEPS!

We are currently looking for volunteers at Leith Library and across the city to support our Library Link groups and Home deliveries for elderly, housebound and disabled service users.

https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/…/libraries-elderly…

For more information, please email:

edinburghhomelibrary@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk

or visit royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk

Volunteer in 2026 with NSPCC

Dear Editor, 

As we step into 2026, many people will be thinking about the positive changes they’d like to make in the year ahead. For anyone looking to give back to their community, volunteering with the NSPCC is a meaningful way to support children and young people across Scotland. 

One of the ways to support children is by becoming a Childline counsellor. Our Childline bases in Aberdeen and Glasgow are always looking for new volunteers to support children and young people through our phone and online services. With a child contacting Childline every 45 seconds, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, volunteers play a vital role. 

Another rewarding opportunity is with our Schools Service. Volunteers deliver our Speak out, Stay safe workshops in primary schools, helping children understand their right to be safe, recognise the signs of abuse, and know who they can turn to for support. Last year, the programme reached more than 60,000 across Scotland, and in 2026 we hope to reach even more. 

Full training is provided, and visits can be arranged around work or family commitments. Every shift is different, and volunteers often tell us that the enthusiasm and curiosity of the children they meet is what makes the role so special. 

If this sounds like something for you, visit the NSPCC website to find out more. 

Yours sincerely, 

Adeniyi Alade 

NSPCC Scotland Service Head Helplines 

Letter: Finding time to give back

Dear Editor, 

Many people want to give back to their communities, but sometimes finding the time to volunteer can be a real challenge. 

It’s not always easy to commit to a traditional volunteering shift, at a specific time or on a regular basis. Balancing giving back with work, family, and other responsibilities can be difficult. 

That’s why, thanks to support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery, Royal Voluntary Service has launched GoVo, a free platform created to make it easier for people to discover volunteering opportunities in their local area, or remote, suited to their interests, availability, and the causes they care about. 

Alongside the more traditional and regular volunteering roles people may already be familiar with, GoVo also offers flexible, one-off, remote, and more unexpected opportunities, with location dependent roles. These include dog walking for people with a terminal illness, DJing at discos for people living with dementia, knitting baby clothes for families in need, and providing exam support for young people with visual impairments.  

Time can be priceless, and volunteering your time can be even more so – not just for the causes and people it supports, but for you as a volunteer too. 

Volunteering can have a powerful impact on your own wellbeing, improving mental health, building confidence, developing new skills, and creating a sense of purpose and connection with others in your community. 

So, to anyone who would like to give volunteering a go – even if you feel short on time – I would encourage you to explore what’s available at GoVo.org, or to visit your local volunteer centre. There’s so much out there, and you may be surprised by just how easy it is to make a difference. 

Thank you, 

Dave Stott,

Director of Volunteering at Royal Voluntary Service

Drop-in Gardening at Lauriston Agroecology Farm restarts TODAY

Drop-in Gardening starts again on Thursday 15 January, and Tuesday 20 January 1pm-3pm …

If you’re looking for a way to learn about growing food …

or to share the knowledge you have…

or for community…

or for some fresh air and gentle exercise…

or to feel like you’re making a difference…

or for a reason to get out the house – try coming along!

Newcomers and beginners always welcome. Please try to arrive 10 minutes before the start time on your first day (12:50pm) – after that, it’s drop-in anytime during the opening hours.

You can get involved with growing fruit and veg in the shared plot, wildlife habitat enhancements, and taking care of the wildflower mound and Community Orchard.

Just come along on a Tuesday or Thursday afternoon and you’ll be welcomed in.

We’ve got outdoor work kit you can borrow, plus gloves, and we supply all the tools. Just bring yourself.

Access notes and FAQs are on our website here:

http://www.lauristonfarm.scot/…/drop-in-gardening…/

If you have any questions or need some support to get started, please contact us!

#NorthEdinburgh

#Edinburgh

#CommunityGarden

#GrowYourOwn

#CommunityOrchard

Letters: Volunteer in 2026 with NSPCC

Dear Editor, 

As we step into 2026, many people will be thinking about the positive changes they’d like to make in the year ahead. For anyone looking to give back to their community, volunteering with the NSPCC is a meaningful way to support children and young people across Scotland. 

One of the ways to support children is by becoming a Childline counsellor. Our Childline bases in Aberdeen and Glasgow are always looking for new volunteers to support children and young people through our phone and online services.

With a child contacting Childline every 45 seconds, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, volunteers play a vital role. 

Another rewarding opportunity is with our Schools Service. Volunteers deliver our Speak out, Stay safe workshops in primary schools, helping children understand their right to be safe, recognise the signs of abuse, and know who they can turn to for support. Last year, the programme reached more than 60,000 across Scotland, and in 2026 we hope to reach even more. 

Full training is provided, and visits can be arranged around work or family commitments. Every shift is different, and volunteers often tell us that the enthusiasm and curiosity of the children they meet is what makes the role so special. 

If this sounds like something for you, visit the NSPCC website to find out more. 

Yours sincerely, 

Adeniyi Alade 

NSPCC Scotland Service Head Helplines