We are looking to increase our pool of volunteers who kindly give a few hours as often as it suits them, to help us open the Corstorphine Hill Tower every Sunday, 2pm – 4pm, for visitors.
Unfortunately our volunteer numbers are running low, which means we may not be able to continue with this popular event on a weekly basis, unless we are able to recruit some additional volunteers.
This fun and interesting role would be to:
Meet at the tower on agreed dates (could be once a month, could be twice a season. Up to you!)
Meet the regular volunteers who will give you an overview of what happens and what you can do (it’s very relaxed, no prior knowledge of the tower or hill required!)
Chat to visitors to the tower! (If they ask any questions, our website has a lot of info and is an easy reference for answers!)
Enjoy yourself, and learn something about the hill!
If you might be interested in supporting FoCH, learning more about our wonderful Hill and the tower on it, and supporting the work we do in conservation of the Hill, then we would love to hear from you!
Local Volunteer Recruitment Fair celebrating the diversity of volunteer opportunities in the North West area
Friday 1 August, 10am – 12noon
There will be a lovely diverse mix of volunteer-involving organisations coming along to share their volunteer roles and answer any questions about what volunteering with them is like.
Come along and find out more about local volunteering opportunities.
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.
You can also read the full Inspiring Scotland report: Catalysts for Change: Understanding the motivations of volunteers in Scotland (new report published)
Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home is celebrating one of its dedicated team members and volunteers, Wendy Loftus, who has been recognised for her outstanding commitment to animal welfare at this year’s Inspiring Volunteer Awards.
Wendy, who serves as a Data Analyst & Pet Food Drive Volunteer at the Home, has dedicated countless hours as a Data Analyst. She works closely with the Fundraising Administrator on data input for various campaigns, often managing time-consuming tasks.
Recently, Wendy also signed up as a Pet Food Drive volunteer, fundraising at local supermarkets to support the Pet Food Bank.
Her ability to engage with the public passionately about the Home’s work has been invaluable, and her collaborative spirit and innovative ideas have significantly contributed to the success of the charity’s different initiatives.
At a special ceremony at the City Chambers, Wendy received a certificate presented by Robert Aldridge, The Rt. Hon. Lord Provost and Lord Lieutenant of the City of Edinburgh, in recognition of her exceptional contribution to the Home and the wider community.
Wendy commented: “I was brought up with the Edinburgh Dog & Cat Home being part of my life.
“It is nice to be able to give something back to a Charity that has given three generations of my family so much joy & pleasure over the years, with the dogs we’ve been allowed to rehome.”
Lindsay Fyffe-Jardine, CEO of Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, added: “Wendy truly embodies the spirit of volunteering. Her dedication and warmth have brought comfort to countless animals and inspired our entire team.
“We’re thrilled that her efforts have been recognised at such a prestigious event.”
The Inspiring Volunteer Awards shine a spotlight on the individuals who make Edinburgh a better place through selfless service. Wendy’s recognition is not only a personal achievement but also a testament to the power of community-driven support for animal welfare.
To learn more about volunteering opportunities at Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, visit www.edch.org.uk.
Inspiring climate action through this year’s Edinburgh Climate Festival
As we take in the fearful effects of the worsening climate crisis and the uncertainty that takes hold of the many challenges we are facing around our planet today, looking ahead to a hopeful future can be a very daunting task.
For this, we find great importance & delight in announcing the return of this year’s Edinburgh Climate Festival, a free festival that aims to celebrate & inspirate climate action in our local communities. A day that brings together numerous climate related organisations, projects and individuals, all looking to help positively raise awareness & work towards creating a brighter future!
The festival will be taking place at the Edinburgh Meadows, Melville Dr EH9 1ND, on Saturday 28th June 2025, from 12 to 7pm.
During the day, attendees can find a variety of free lively performances, workshops, art installations & themed talks, as well as a bouncy castle and activities that welcome everyone of all ages.
The festival will also be welcoming stallholders that cover topics related to circular economy, mitigation, adaptation, climate education, transport, activism, conservation and more.
As a special feature to the ninth edition of the festival, this year the team have introduced an additional theme: Root & Rise.
The theme represents a call to root in ourselves by grounding in who we are, reconnecting with nature, and prioritising our well-being. The festival defends that just as strong roots support a thriving tree, a deep connection to ourselves and the earth can allow us to rise with strength and purpose.
By truly rooting in nature, we find the power to rise – to embrace new sustainable habits, take meaningful action, and stand together in the fight for climate justice and systemic change. This message is present throughout the event, through visuals and tailored activities encompassing this ethos.
As an additional attempt to become more sustainable as an event itself, this year the festival is also trialling a few new schemes in hopes to achieve better waste reduction & improve its practices overall.
A few to highlight, is their additional single use packaging fee that will be implemented by all food vendors as well as a free raffle that aims to encourage attendees to bring their own containers, rewarding their commitment by offering a chance to win one of three prizes (which are valued at £60, £50 and £40).
Franciele Sobierai, the ECF Event Coordinator said: “The climate crisis can be daunting, leaving us feeling powerless.However, when we unite, work together, and support one another, we can accomplish far more.
“This is the message the Edinburgh Climate Festival aims to spread — encouraging community-driven climate action and solidarity to tackle the climate emergency.”
The attractions and activities will include various artwork, free yoga, somatic movement, paper-making, dancing, climate stories, musical performances from Airdan Band, Fossilheads, Samba Sene, an energetic Ceilidh & much more!
Don’t miss this opportunity to engage, learn, and celebrate our collective efforts towards a sustainable future! You can find the full programme here
Confirm your presence on the event here, with the option to give a donation here.
Volunteering: If you like to get involved in the delivery of the event, the ECF team is looking for individuals passionate about climate and community action to help on the day.
The Edinburgh Climate Festival is brought to you by Edinburgh and Lothians Regional Equality Council (ELREC) & Networking Key Services (NKS), through the Communities’ Reduce Reuse & Recycle (C3R) Project.
The festival is funded by The National Lottery Community Fund’s Climate Action Fund and is supported by The University of Edinburgh and Edinburgh Napier University.
Charities of all sizes in Scotland are being encouraged to sign up to a new volunteering platform, to help recruit more volunteers to support their invaluable work.
Leading volunteering charity, Royal Voluntary Service, has created a digital volunteering platform, thanks to support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery, to help charities across the country to connect with would-be volunteers in their communities.
Local and regional charities are vital to the fabric of the country, and many rely on the time and support of volunteers, yet charities across the board are seeing fewer people step forward in recent years.
However, research by Royal Voluntary Service found that people in Scotland are interested in volunteering their time, if they could fit it around their lives. 48%1 of people in Scotland agreed that an app or platform offering the ability to volunteer on an ad-hoc-basis and fit in and around their life would make them more likely to volunteer, suggesting there’s an untapped pool of potential volunteers.
When combined with the finding that making a valuable contribution to society or local community was a leading motivator for people to volunteer, a positive picture is painted for local causes looking to recruit.
The platform will launch to the public in the autumn, when potential volunteers will be able to browse, search, filter, click and connect with causes and charities they care about.
Charities across the region are able to sign up to the platform now completely free of charge and will be invited to upload roles to test the platform from June onwards, ahead of the full launch to local people in the autumn.
It is hoped that the platform will be a hub of flexible, accessible digitally-enabled volunteering, and a resource that local charities can tap in to, to supercharge their volunteer recruitment.
Charities of all shapes and sizes, from sporting or arts charities, to those supporting people living with health conditions, and environmental causes to animal charities, are urged to sign up and consider uploading as diverse a range of volunteer roles as possible in the coming weeks and months.
Ensuring volunteering opportunities are varied and inclusive, from one-off, remote and flexible roles, to team-based, skilled, and traditional volunteering roles will help to broaden access to volunteering and inspire a new generation of volunteers for the benefit of causes and communities across the country.
Charities will also be able to benefit from welcoming new volunteers, whilst reducing the costs and admin associated with recruitment.
The goal of the platform’s simple ‘on-board once’ process for volunteers will mean that once a person has registered and completed an identity check, they will be able to move seamlessly between volunteering opportunities, charities and causes through the platform, without the need to re-register and repeat basic assurances.
Eventually, charities will also be able to utilise free criminal record checking, which will be introduced to the platform at a later date.
Catherine Johnstone CBE, Chief Executive of Royal Voluntary Service said: “We have shaped this exciting new platform in partnership with charities big and small across the country, to make sure it’s valuable for causes of all sizes.
“Together we can make volunteering more accessible and empower more people to give their time to support the host of invaluable charities and causes they care about, across Scotland.
“The platform addresses what we know to be barriers for would-be volunteers and makes fitting volunteering in to modern life easier than ever. Thanks to support from Postcode Lottery players we are on the cusp of a volunteer revolution, and I am passionate that as many charities and causes be a part of it as possible.”
Clara Govier, Managing Director at People’s Postcode Lottery, said: “We work with a range of amazing charities and we understand the fundamental part that volunteers play in their operations and in civil society.
“Thanks to our players’ support, Royal Voluntary Service is creating a platform which makes it simpler for volunteers to find the opportunities that suit them, either where they live or online.
“Just think what could be possible for our communities if new generations of people start to volunteer their time. I’d like to thank everyone who plays People’s Postcode Lottery for their support in making this possible.”
Partnerships for Wellbeing is a Highland charity best known for its community transport, health walks and friendship groups. It also organises the annual festival of walking and wheeling.
Jeff Zycinski, Manager at Partnerships for Wellbeing, said:“Small community-based charities like ours are always looking for new ways to recruit volunteers.
“It’s been so great to be involved in the early development of this project which has the potential to be a game-changing tool for people looking for ways to include an element of voluntary work in their lives and so make a difference to the lives of others.”
The platform is entirely free for charities to use, including identity checking of volunteers.
Charities interested in participating in workshops and webinars, or registering to upload their volunteering opportunities to the platform can find out more and sign up at royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk.
Edinburgh Leisure has paid tribute to the vital role of its volunteers with a special Volunteer Thank You Day, held on Thursday 6 June as part of the UK’s annual Volunteer Week celebrations.
The event brought together 60 of the organisation’s 190 volunteers for a day of appreciation, connection, and insight into the impact of their contributions. Hosted at one of Edinburgh Leisure’s Meadowbank Sports Centre, the gathering recognised the essential role volunteers play in supporting health and wellbeing across the city.
“Our volunteers are the heartbeat of many of our community programmes,” said Stephen Hughes, Volunteer Development Manager at Edinburgh Leisure.
“They help us reach more people, deliver more services, and ultimately improve lives through physical activity. This event was a small way to say a big thank you.”
Volunteers at Edinburgh Leisure support a wide range of initiatives, from health walks and inclusive fitness sessions to youth engagement and wellbeing programmes. Their efforts help reduce barriers to physical activity and promote healthier, more connected communities.
The celebration also offered volunteers the opportunity to share their experiences, learn more about Edinburgh Leisure’s services, and connect with fellow volunteers and staff. Many spoke of the personal rewards of volunteering, including meeting new people, supporting others, and seeing participants grow in confidence and wellbeing.
Volunteer Week, which runs annually in early June, is a UK-wide initiative that recognises the invaluable contributions of volunteers in all sectors.
Interested in Volunteering?
Edinburgh Leisure is always looking for enthusiastic individuals to join its volunteer team.
LifeCare’s community hub has supported local people for half a century
LifeCare’s dedicated staff team with volunteers, room-bookers and hub-goers
“It’s there for everyone, young to old and the combination of everyone interacting together is just priceless”’
Opened as Stockbridge House in 1975, the LifeCare Hub on Cheyne Street has been a vital part of the local community for fifty years.
Originally established as a day centre for older people, it has evolved into a fully accessible, intergenerational community hub for everyone. A hugely popular big, bright and beautiful space, the hub hosts over 80 different weekly activities and welcomes over 47,000 visits a year from people who live across the city.
Run by local charity LifeCare Edinburgh, the organisation ensures all its services are affordable, or offered for free, so that everyone gets the chance to take part in community activities which help to keep them connected and support their health and wellbeing.
However, with continuing rising energy, staff and insurance costs the charity is bracing itself for an anticipated 30% increase in overall running costs this year creating a shortfall of around £30,000 this year alone.
The charity is launching an urgent appeal to help cover this shortfall and help sustain its hub and support for those that need it most.
Sarah Van Putten, CEO of LifeCare said:“The LifeCare hub is a really important place for local people. We are very proud of the support we offer and the accessible spaces we make available for everyone in our community. In an increasingly isolated world, where would people go if we didn’t exist?
“We want to be here for years to come, but we need support. No donation is too small, if we received £1 each time a person visited, we’d cover our shortfall and help sustain our future. Please give what you can.”
Lynne Herbert provides LifeCare’s free hairdressing for unpaid carers and runs her own yoga classes from the hub on a Monday and Thursday. Lynne said: “The LifeCare Hub is such an amazing place.
“From the moment you walk in, you feel welcomed and full of joy. It’s there for everyone, young to old and the combination of everyone interacting together is just priceless.”
LifeCare works alongside a dedicated group of volunteers who generously give their time to ensure the smooth running and a friendly greeting for visitors.
Shirley Galbraith is often one of the first happy faces visitors encounter when they enter the hub. Shirley said:“I feel that I am making a small difference to some peoples’ day by just chatting or helping them see what classes or services they could use. It makes me feel great!
“People should support the hub appeal to make sure that these services can continue – it is such a fantastic charity.
“The best thing is the variety of amazing services and classes that are offered. Supporting this appeal will ensure they are there for years to come!”
The charity is running an information morning from the LifeCare Hub on Monday 2nd June 11am-1pm. Come along to find out more and chat about how to get involved.
Everyone is also welcome at LifeCare’s Community BBQ on Friday 20th June 12noon – 4pm, with free food, bouncy castle and a whole range of activities for local people of all ages.
️Corstorphine Hill Tower – Volunteers needed! 
Meet at the tower on agreed dates (could be once a month, could be twice a season. Up to you!)
BECOME A TRUSTEE OF EDINBURGH’S MOST EXCITING NEW CHARITY! VINTAGE VIBES 
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