Disclosure Act update – Disclosure Scotland
Latest news and updates on the Disclosure (Scotland) Act from Disclosure Scotland.
Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 update – Five-Year PVG Membership
From 1 April 2026, new PVG scheme memberships will last five years from the date of joining.
Existing members who submit a PVG application after this date will automatically move to a five-year membership, replacing lifetime membership.
Help shape the future of employer-supported volunteering!
Employer-supported volunteering (ESV) brings people, employers and voluntary organisations together to make a positive difference in communities across Scotland. To help shape a new national framework for ESV, Volunteer Scotland are inviting people and organisations involved in ESV to share their experiences.
Volunteer Scotland Statement: Scottish Government Budget 2026
Tuesday’s Scottish Government Budget brought with it mixed news for volunteers and for the wider third sector. Cabinet Secretary for Finance & Local Government Shona Robison announced a number of specific budget allocations for third sector partners which are welcome, however the bigger picture of third sector funding remains largely unchanged ahead of the 2026 election.
2026: The International Volunteer Year!
Happy new year everyone! As you welcomed in 2026, did you know we were entering the International Volunteer Year? We have a big year ahead of us for volunteering!
Happy Holidays from Volunteer Scotland
Thank you for the difference you’ve made to volunteering in 2025, and for your unerring support of our work and vision to ‘create a nation of volunteers, strengthening Scotland’s communities’.
No Volunteers, No Community: Our week in Parliament
The Volunteer Scotland team were in the Scottish Parliament this week to launch our brand new policy campaign: No Volunteers, No Community. Over three days we spoke to 59 Members of Scottish Parliament about the important role that volunteers play in Scottish communities.
No Volunteers, No Community: The People Power Behind Scotland’s Future
The time gifted by volunteers is crucial for Scotland’s communities. They provide companionship to people who are isolated or lonely, act against climate change, enrich the lives of children and young people, and support the delivery of vital public services.
Five-year Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme (Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 update)
Regulations laid in the Scottish Parliament confirm that the five-year PVG scheme membership will come into force on 1 April 2026.
Volunteer Scotland Statement: UK Government Budget 2025
Wednesday’s UK Government Autumn Statement brought mixed news for Scottish volunteers and the broader third sector. Although most policies directly relating to volunteering are devolved to the Scottish Government, the decisions announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves will have significant implications for Scottish funding.
Fresh perspectives on volunteering: Why we analysed the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health and Wellbeing Survey 2022/23
We have recently completed our second analysis of volunteering data from the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) Health and Wellbeing Survey. This survey includes a key question on volunteering:
“Thinking back over the last 12 months, have you given up any time to help any clubs, charities, campaigns or organisations in an unpaid capacity?”
How volunteering can include people with sight loss
As volunteering participation in Scotland begins to recover after the pandemic, this is the time to make sure that recovery doesn’t leave anyone behind. RNIB’s latest research, part of our Voice of the Customer programme, explores the experiences and motivations of blind and partially sighted volunteers and non-volunteers.
Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 update – Five-Year PVG Membership
As you will be aware, the majority of the provisions in the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 were put into action on April 1, 2025. Looking ahead, starting from April 1, 2026, individuals joining the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme will automatically be enrolled in a five-year membership tailored to their specific regulated role, replacing the previous lifetime membership model.
Launch of Volunteer Scotland’s 2026 Scottish Parliament Election Manifesto
Volunteer Scotland is delighted to publish our 2026 Scottish Parliament Manifesto: Creating a Nation of Volunteers.
The time gifted by volunteers is vital for the resilience and strength of Scotland’s communities. Last year, 48% of Scottish adults volunteered in some capacity. Volunteers support a range of vital activities across Scotland every single day – without them, Scotland’s communities would struggle to thrive.
VS Event: Understanding and Preparing for the Trustee Journey
Are you thinking about becoming a trustee? Already serving on a board and looking to deepen your understanding? Or are you part of an organisation trying to recruit and support trustees?
Join us during Trustees Week 2025 for this interactive online session, exploring the Trustee Journey.
What if everyone stopped volunteering? – (UK Report)
The ‘What if Everyone Stops Volunteering?’ Report, from not-for-profit social enterprise Works4U, explores in detail the UK social and economic impact of no volunteers. As well as Works4U’s own analysis, the report includes 33 independent contributions from expert stakeholders at local, regional, national and specialist levels, bringing together a broad picture of the challenges and consequences that could unfold.
Early signs of recovery in volunteering participation in Scotland
Volunteer Scotland is cautiously optimistic that volunteer participation in Scotland is showing early signs of recovery after a period of decline. After formal volunteer participation (that is volunteering with a group, club or organisation at least once a year) dropped to its lowest recorded level of 18% in 2023, the latest Scottish Household Survey results for 2024 show positive changes, with 25% of adults in Scotland formally volunteering.
Scottish Household Survey 2024: Formal volunteer participation rate increases to 25%
Volunteer Scotland is cautiously optimistic that volunteer participation in Scotland is showing early signs of recovery after a period of decline.