volunteering strategy

A city where the positive impact of volunteering is universally valued and respected, and where everyone, regardless of their background or situation has the opportunity to contribute as active citizens and volunteers.

Volunteering in Edinburgh: Building on a Legacy, Shaping the Future

Edinburgh has always been a leader in volunteering. Back in 2006, the city became one of the first in the UK to create its own dedicated Volunteering Strategy — Inspiring Volunteering. At the time, there was no national framework, making this a pioneering step in recognising the value of volunteers in building strong, resilient communities.

By 2012, the volunteering in Edinburgh had grown and evolved. A refreshed five-year strategy Inspiring Edinburgh’s Volunteers: Building on Success was launched. While the 2006 strategy laid the foundation, this new version deepened the city’s approach and expanded opportunities. Together, they created a legacy of civic pride and community action that still shapes volunteering today.

A National Vision: Scotland’s Volunteering Action Plan

In 2022, the Scottish Government introduced the Volunteering Action Plan (VAP) a bold, co-produced 10-year national strategy with one clear vision: “To create a Scotland where everyone volunteers, more often, and throughout their lives.”

VAP sets out 49 actions to strengthen volunteering across the country by 2032. Many of these actions will be progressed nationally, while others directly connect to work already happening or which needs to happen locally. You can see how Edinburgh is progressing those actions below and view all 49 actions by clicking the Plan Actions and Progress button lower done the page.

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Enhancing volunteering practice Capacity Building15

Capacity Building for Volunteer-Involving Organisations in Edinburgh

Volunteer Edinburgh provides a wide range of capacity building solutions for charities, community groups, and volunteer-involving organisations in Edinburgh. We help strengthen organisations through tailored support, including:

One-to-one expert advice on volunteer management

Inspire – monthly peer support sessions for volunteer managers in Edinburgh

A comprehensive programme of specialist training courses for volunteer managers

Beyond Edinburgh, organisations across Scotland can benefit from our resources. Visit volunteerwiki.org.uk to access a huge range of free volunteer management guidance, best practice advice, and downloadable templates designed to support volunteer recruitment and management.

Wider, more informed local resilience partnerships Resilience17

Volunteer Edinburgh and Community Resilience

Since the 2020 pandemic, Volunteer Edinburgh and our local TSI partners have worked closely with local Resilience Partners. The voluntary sector played a vital role in Edinburgh’s COVID-19 response, collaborating with statutory agencies to support communities and vulnerable people across the city.

From this crisis, our Community Taskforce Volunteers (CTV) programme was created—) a deceptively simple concept: match the willing to the need it also introducing a flexible new way for people to volunteer their time and help others. CTV continues today, having successfully delivered thousands of individual support sessions, deployed hundreds of volunteers, our CTV programme remains largely unique as a model of volunteer engagement and service delivery. It is also saving the city approximately £90,000 annually in costs for care packages, while also reducing the demand on NHS and Health and Social Care services.

Having CTV established proved in valuable following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, when we worked with City of Edinburgh council and other partners at the start of the war. In just 10 days we were able to mobilise volunteers to welcome displaced people from Ukraine at Edinburgh Airport in late March 2022. Our volunteers were there for two years, offering a welcome and assistance, directing people and escorting people to dedicated transport to the official welcome hub.

The infrastructure that underpins CTV was also successfully used following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. During the Vigil at St Giles Cathedral we were able to deploy 200 volunteers across 300 shifts over the 31 hours of the vigil (0800 Monday 12th to 1500 Tuesday 13th) providing information and support to the public queuing for the vigil. A total of 1130 hours of volunteering!

Supporting Digital practice and Digital access in volunteering Digital Volunteering19

Much of this work is being driven nationally. However, local initiatives such as volunteerwiki.org.uk show how digital solutions can deliver real value, flexibility, and better outcomes.

The success of VolunteerWiki led to the launch of governancewiki.org.uk, offering accessible guidance and best practice on organisational governance.

Volunteer Edinburgh’s secure AI tool https://app.avie.online/ supports members with:

Creating opportunity adverts and volunteer agreements (free to anyone)
Generating policies and organisational documents
Accessing advanced guidance tools for best practice

Delivery of local and regional community events Awareness and Perception of Volunteering20

Volunteer Edinburgh helps deliver local and regional community events that celebrate and strengthen volunteering across the city.

We build on national celebrations such as Volunteers’ Week, while also creating locally driven events that:

Showcase the impact of volunteering in Edinburgh’s communities
Celebrate and thank local volunteers for their contributions
Connect people, organisations, and communities through shared experiences

A highlight of our events calendar is the Inspiring Volunteer Awards. Each year, these awards recognise and celebrate the incredible achievements of volunteers from across Edinburgh. It includes

Individual Awards
Team Awards
Special Recognition Awards
the Ian McInnes Award for Inclusive volunteering
the Lord Provost’s Paul Bennett Volunteer Manager Award and
the Lord Provost’s Inspiring Volunteer of the Year.

The winners of the Lord Provost’s Paul Bennett Volunteer Manager of the Year award and the Lord Provost’s Inspiring Volunteer of the year award are recorded on Honour Boards in Edinburgh City Chambers.

The event shines a spotlight on individuals and groups whose dedication makes a real difference, inspiring others to get involved.

By combining national recognition, local celebrations, and the Inspiring Volunteer Awards, Volunteer Edinburgh ensures that volunteering is celebrated in a way that is both meaningful and motivating for our communities.

Establish a common understanding of inclusive volunteering Awareness and Perception of Volunteering22

Since the 1980s Volunteer Edinburgh’s Health and Wellbeing service has successfully supported thousands of people to improve their mental health, confidence, and social connections through volunteering.

By working in partnership with health professionals, the service helps individuals find meaningful volunteer opportunities tailored to their needs and abilities. The results are clear:

Improved mental and physical wellbeing
Increased confidence and self-esteem
Stronger social connections and reduced isolation
Positive pathways into further opportunities, training, or employment

This service demonstrates the power of volunteering as a tool for better health, recovery, and inclusion, making a lasting difference for individuals and communities across Edinburgh.

Volunteer Edinburgh, together with the Equality and Rights Network (EaRN), works to establish a common understanding of inclusive volunteering across the city.

Through practical support, we promote inclusive volunteering practices that:

Ensure opportunities are accessible to everyone, regardless of background or ability
Help organisations embed equality, diversity, and inclusion in their volunteer programmes
Raise awareness of the benefits of inclusive volunteering for individuals, communities, and society

By building a shared approach to inclusive volunteering in Scotland, we aim to create a culture where everyone feels welcome, valued, and empowered to contribute.

‘Tell your story’ platform Awareness and Perception of Volunteering23

Helping Volunteers Share Their Stories

Our myvolunteering.org.uk website gives volunteers the tools to tell their own story and showcase the difference they make. The platform is designed to:

Capture personal experiences – volunteers can reflect on what they do, why they do it, and the impact it has on themselves and others.
Build a digital volunteering record – creating a personal portfolio that tracks skills, achievements, and contributions over time.
Give volunteers a voice – stories can be shared with organisations, communities, and peers, helping to inspire others to get involved.
Support recognition and progression – volunteers can use their stories and digital records to demonstrate experience for education, training, or employment opportunities.

By making it easy for volunteers to document and share their journey, MyVolunteering.org.uk empowers people to celebrate their contribution while inspiring others to join Edinburgh’s vibrant volunteering community.

With the correct investment there is the opportunity to take this platform to a national level

Encourage people to consider volunteering Awareness and Perception of Volunteering25

Volunteer Edinburgh makes it easy to find the perfect volunteering opportunity. Our website features a wide range of roles across the city, with simple filters so you can search by type of work, area of interest, availability, and more. You’ll also find plenty of guidance and resources to help you get started.

For people who prefer to speak to someone in person, we have a drop-in service at our Leith Walk office, where our friendly advisors can provide one-to-one support.

Through our Gateway Project, we bring the volunteer centre directly into local communities across Edinburgh, making volunteering more accessible to local neighbourhoods.

We also run guided walks from our Leith Walk office. These walks showcase the many opportunities in the surrounding area and give the the chance to learn what’s possible, while receiving expert advice from our experienced team.

Leverage community ‘assets’Awareness and Perception of Volunteering26

The Volunteering Action Plan (VAP) is a ten-year strategy designed to strengthen, support, and grow volunteering in Scotland and across Edinburgh communities. While many national volunteering actions are still in progress, a number of local volunteering initiatives also require further development to reach their full potential.

We are committed to keeping this page updated. As the Volunteering Action Plan in Edinburgh and beyond continues to progress, you’ll find the latest news, achievements, and opportunities for involvement right here.

Scaling up models of successful community-volunteer engagement Awareness and Perception of Volunteering27

Stimulate volunteer pathways Awareness and Perception of Volunteering28

Help communities to help themselvesAwareness and Perception of Volunteering29

Support Voluntrepreneurs Awareness and Perception of Volunteering30

Volunteering Opportunities Volunteering Opportunities31

At Volunteer Edinburgh, we are continually improving our website to make it easier for:

Organisations to advertise their volunteering opportunities.
Volunteers to quickly find the roles that suit their skills, interests, and availability.

Our experienced advisors are always on hand to provide tailored advice and support—whether you’re looking for the right volunteer role or need help promoting opportunities within your organisation.

Tools for Volunteer Involving Organisations

If you’re a Volunteer Involving Organisation (VIO) and a member of Volunteer Edinburgh, you also gain access to our secure AI tool: AVIE Online. This powerful resource can help you:

Create opportunity adverts and volunteer agreements (free for everyone).
Generate policies and organisational documents.
Access advanced guidance and best practice tools to strengthen your volunteering programme.

Bridge expertise Relationship Building34

Tackle transitions for volunteers Relationship Building36

Volunteering and WellbeingValuing Volunteering39

Build knowledge, skills and capacity in inclusive volunteeringVolunteer Experience and training43

Knowledge hub to recognise and celebrate volunteering Volunteer Experience and training44

Plan Actions and Progress

Our Vision for Edinburgh

Volunteer Edinburgh's vision for volunteering is clear and completely aligns with the aspirations of VAP. We want Edinburgh to be the premier city for volunteering in the UK. A city where the positive impact of volunteering is universally valued and respected, and where everyone, regardless of their background or situation has the opportunity to contribute as active citizens and volunteers.

vision 1

More people in Edinburgh volunteer and/or are involved in their community.

vision 2

The diverse communities of Edinburgh are reflected in volunteering.

vision 3

Good quality volunteering experiences are provided by organisations.

vision 4

Volunteering and active citizenship in all its forms is supported and encouraged by local and national policy.

Understanding volunteering

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Defining Volunteering strategy

To continue developing volunteering effectively, we must share a clear understanding of what we mean by volunteering.

Volunteering is a powerful tool. It:

Improves personal well-being
Builds social capital
Strengthens communities
Supports personal and professional development

But for volunteering to thrive, its core principles must be clearly defined, understood, and upheld.

Core Principles of Volunteering strategy

For volunteering to be safe, positive, and meaningful, we must honour the following principles:

Freedom of Choice
Volunteering must always be voluntary. People should be free to choose whether and how they give their time whether through informal acts of citizenship or formal volunteering roles.
No Exploitation
Volunteering must never take advantage of the volunteer. Their time and contribution must be respected.
No Replacement of Paid Staff
Volunteers must not be used to replace paid roles. Their contributions are unique and should complement, not substitute, professional work.

By following these principles, we ensure volunteering remains a force for good in Edinburgh.

Volunteers A Vital Asset to Our City strategy

Tens of thousands of people volunteer their time and skills across Edinburgh every year. Their efforts:

Support our third sector
Strengthen public services
Improve life across our communities

Without them, many essential services and initiatives simply wouldn’t exist. Volunteers are a precious resource and they must be valued, celebrated, and supported through positive, mutually beneficial engagement.

What Counts as Volunteering? strategy

Formal Volunteering

Formal volunteering happens within a structured setting. This is usually a voluntary organisation, social enterprise, or public sector body. It is:

Unpaid
Voluntary by choice
Part-time
Regular or one-off

Informal Volunteering / Active Citizenship

This includes everyday acts of kindness and community support like helping neighbours, mutual aid, or grassroots organising. It's often spontaneous and cause-driven.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, informal volunteering surged as communities came together in extraordinary ways.

People engaged in this type of support may not see themselves as 'volunteers' and that’s okay. We recognise this as active citizenship, an equally important part of the volunteering landscape.

Other Types of Volunteering strategy

Volunteering takes many forms, including:

Event support and fundraising
Festival and cultural volunteering
Micro-volunteering (quick, remote, task-based opportunities)
Full-time voluntary service, such as international volunteering

When Is It Not Volunteering? strategy

If someone is compelled to do an activity whether by benefit requirements, school mandates, or other pressures, it is not true volunteering.

Similarly, while volunteering is a great way to gain skills and experience, it’s important not to confuse it with:

Unpaid internships
Work experience placements

These are distinct categories with different rules, expectations, and ethical considerations. Blurring the lines can undermine the integrity of genuine volunteering.

Why This Definition Matters strategy

Clear definitions protect the integrity of volunteering. They help ensure that:

Volunteers are respected and supported
Organisations uphold ethical standards
The value of unpaid, voluntary effort remains clear and appreciated

Let’s continue to build a volunteering culture in Edinburgh that is inclusive, empowering, and grounded in mutual respect.

Non-hierarchical Spectrum of Participation

volunteer spectrum

hover over the different sections of the
participation spectrum for more detail

swipe horizontally to view the sections
and select a column for more detail

one to one

Informal Helping
Caring
Neighbouring
Mutual Aid
Helping Out

informal

group

Direct Action
Civic Action
Local Action
Social Movement Activity
Direct Neighbourhood
Protests
Shared Experiences

community action/social participation

Time Banks
Resident’s
Committees
Community
Centres
Mutual Aid Groups

informal or formal

formal

Formal Volunteering
National Charities
Statutory Organisations

formal

What This Means for Edinburgh

Edinburgh is aligning its local volunteering efforts with the wider goals of the VAP, while reflecting the city’s unique challenges and challenges and strengths.

Edinburgh is...
A growing city Edinburgh is expanding in size and diversity.
A wealthy city Economic success is evident, but not evenly distributed.
A city of contrasts Despite its prosperity, many communities face persistent poverty and inequality.
Public services under pressure Health and social care systems are stretched, and community support is more vital than ever.

Volunteering is not a cure-all but it is a powerful force for good. It promotes:
Social cohesion and community connectedness
Health and wellbeing of the people who volunteer and the people they help
A sense of meaningful purpose and inclusion

Volunteering changes lives. It empowers individuals, strengthens communities, and makes Edinburgh a better, fairer city for everyone.

Family Befriender	Connections Volunteer Mentor	Adult Supportive Transport Driver	Activity Buddy	Lothians Perinatal Befriender
Are you someone who believes in the power of listening and connection? Join us as a Family Befriender at Home Link Family Support, where your support can make a world of difference to families with young children.	Our volunteer mentors are matched with young people who have completed either our Choices or Chances programmes with a positive destination. Main activities will include meeting with your mentee regularly for up to 12 months. Developing an action plan to help them sustain their positive destination. Support your mentee in figuring out what goals they want to work on next. Offer support and advice to your mentee as they navigate the next chapter of young adulthood.	The Supportive Transport Service is a key part of what we offer. It provides transportation to individuals living with or affected by HIV and/or Hepatitis C, helping them meet medical, social care, and daily needs. This might include transport to medical appointments, community activities, or essential errands like grocery shopping. Many Service Users face barriers to traveling independently due to factors such as limited mobility, social anxiety, or financial constraints. In addition to transportation, our drivers often provide a supportive presence by listening or helping individuals reflect on information shared during appointments.	The role of the Activity Buddy is to provide practical support and reduce isolation. The people we work with can find it hard to attend appointments and leisure activities due to poor physical/mental health, limited mobility, social anxiety or literacy issues. When illness, mobility, or side-effects of medication make housework or going out difficult, we offer support to make the home environment more comfortable. Volunteers play a vital part in improving service users’ physical health, mental well-being and quality of life through supportive relationships, community connection, creating pathways for personal growth and collaborative goal setting.	Parents of babies who have received care in hospital from the neonatal team can experience perinatal mental health issues and feelings of isolation.A befriender can provide emotional support to help build positive relationships between parents and their baby and improve parents’ mental health. Accessing activities in the community, going for a walk, or talking over a cuppa are some of the ways in which a Befriender can make a real difference for parents and their babies.
https://www.volunteeredinburgh.org.uk/volunteer/find-opportunities/online-support-pre-school-children-and-families-15161/		https://www.volunteeredinburgh.org.uk/volunteer/find-opportunities/supportive-driver-volunteer-1/	https://www.volunteeredinburgh.org.uk/volunteer/find-opportunities/home-support-service-1/	https://www.volunteeredinburgh.org.uk/volunteer/find-opportunities/lothians-perinatal-befriender-16432/

Link to Single Entry	Name	Summary
	Mojtaba (Moji) SedaghatKerdar	Web designer and SEO specialist in Musselburgh. Website builds, updates, local search and social media. WordPress, Wix, Squarespace and other platforms.
	Lauren Gilmour	Jill of all trades former journalist with experience across PR, communications, marketing, social media, photography and volunteer recruitment.
	Alastair Dunn	Able to help with outdoor or indoor tidying and clearance on an occasional basis (as not always in Edinburgh).
	Stewart Dee	Experienced Civil Service Manager looking to use my management and governance experience as a Board Trustee.
	Declan Chambers	IT professional offering tech, data and Infrastructure support, plus teaching and creative skills. Available Mon-Sun, 10am-8pm.
	Sam Clark	Experienced administrative professional offering organisational, data and records management support to charities needing reliable, detail focused help.
	Alastair Logan	Self taught Python and AI developer offering NLP, data, cloud and automation skills to help charities solve problems and work more efficiently.
	Stephanie Alcazar	Available Tuesdays–Wednesdays to support with social media management and training, as well as deliver illustration workshops.
	Jake Whittet	Edinburgh Microsoft 365 security specialist offering free cyber security assessments. Plain English reports, no jargon.
	Samantha Towers	Hello, I'm an experienced joiner, plasterer and painter.
	Thomas Quiroga	Helping charities use AI and low-cost technology to automate admin, improve processes, save time and focus more on supporting their communities.
	Scott Croucher	I’m an experienced chef with over 4 years experience.
	Joshua Stokes	Experienced professional in Data Protection, Records Management and all things considered Information Governance.
	Douglas McEachan	Well-travelled retiree can offer friendly and informal scenic travel slide shows.
	Sophie Jones	Karate coach with 10 years of experience and looking to inspire other people to become karateka (karate kids).
	Declan Gates	French Tutoring
	Valerii Kostikov	Experienced gynaecologist-oncologist (18+ years). Kind, reliable, compassionate and patient-focused. Keen to support people and gain UK healthcare experience.
	Sarah Cleary	Do you have a regular need for someone to sort jigsaw puzzles, bits and bobs (for example sewing beads) that need tidied or organised and sorted by size?
	Dr Donald Glass	Retired University Lecturer offering volunteering time to support visitor experiences at one of Edinburgh's museums.
	ABDUALSME	Experienced barber- qualified for three years.
	BILL KEIL	anything considered
	IAN JACKSON	Team of 10 people available for one day volunteering opportunity. Flexible on what this would entail.
	Izunna Agupusi	I am an Embedded AI Engineer with Raygonal Ltd, Edinburgh, holding an MSc in Artificial Intelligence. I specialise in embedded systems, early career in IT
	Laura McGlennon	As a qualified Yoga & MeditationTeacher I can offer classes teaching children, teenagers and adults. Available Monday to Friday mornings and afternoon
	Rapinder	Pianist, classically trained to above average level.
	Aoife	Passionate volunteer supporting community projects through event help, outreach, and content creation to promote inclusion and positive change.
	Nicole Carter	Qualified Nutrition Adviser who specialises in Eating Well For Good Mental Health free sessions.
	Reuben Nishan Christmas	An engineering degree holder offering to help with STEM tutoring. Also, looking to help out in any capacity related to food/cooking/baking.
	ola amroush	I recently graduated with a degree in Business Management from Edinburgh Napier University. I’ve found it challenging to secure a role in my field
	Brandon Williams	With 35+ years of operational expertise and a passion for helping others, I offer reliable, organised support to make a tangible, positive impact.
Link to Single Entry	Name	Summary

Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri
9.30 to 13.00	9.30 to 13.00	9.30 to 13.00	9.30 to 13.00	9.30 to 13.00
closed 13.00 to 14.00
14.00 to 17.00	14.00 to 17.00	14.00 to 17.00	14.00 to 17.00	14.00 to 16.00

Volunteering in Edinburgh: Building on a Legacy, Shaping the Future

A National Vision: Scotland’s Volunteering Action Plan

Tools for Volunteer Involving Organisations

Plan Actions and Progress

Our Vision for Edinburgh

Understanding volunteering

Non-hierarchical Spectrum of Participation

volunteer spectrum

hover over the different sections of theparticipation spectrum for more detail

swipe horizontally to view the sectionsand select a column for more detail

one to one

informal

group

community action/social participation

informal or formal

formal

formal

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If you have any questions about this widget dashboard, please contact us by email here. © 2026 Volunteer Edinburgh, all rights reserved. Volunteer Edinburgh is a Company Limited by Guarantee. Registered in Scotland No. SC202631. Registered Scottish Charity No. SC029681.

hover over the different sections of the
participation spectrum for more detail

swipe horizontally to view the sections
and select a column for more detail

Data protection: We'll only send you newsletters you sign up for and won't pass your details onto any third parties.
If you would like to find out more about how we keep your information safe please refer to our privacy notice.