Publications

Volunteering is the ‘golden thread’ running through our communities.

To find out more about volunteer participation in Scotland, please click the links below: 

• Who contributes the most to Scottish volunteering?

  New analysis of formal and informal volunteering hours across key demographic groups in Scotland.

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• OSCR Charity Survey 2016 – 2020

  We’ve been analysing OSCR’s Charity Surveys to provide new insights on volunteering in the charity sector, with a particular focus on volunteer engagement and recruitment.

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• Scottish Household Survey: Cross-Sectional Analysis

  Volunteer Scotland analysed the Scottish Household Survey to explore the relationship between volunteering and a range of social indicators.
  
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• Volunteering for All: National Framework - Literature Review

  We’ve provided support to the University of Stirling as they’ve carried out a systematic review of the research literature on volunteering to support the development of the Volunteering Outcomes Framework by the Scottish Government. This review has a broad remit: including evidence on volunteer characteristics; motivations; activities; benefits; outcomes; barriers; and policies in other countries. It also considers research quality, and identifies areas where there are knowledge gaps.
  
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• Volunteering Trends in Scotland – A Changing Landscape? (2007 - 2018)

  To better understand the volunteering landscape in Scotland, we have completed a time series analysis of the Scottish Household Survey (SHS) from 2007 – 2018.
  
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• UK Volunteering Participation Rates

  We’ve carried out a review of participation rates for formal volunteering across the UK.
  
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• Informal Volunteering in Deprived Urban Scotland

  We’ve explored the concept of informal volunteering in deprived urban areas.
  
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• Volunteering Trends in Scotland – A Changing Landscape? (2007 - 2013)

  To better understand the volunteering landscape in Scotland, we’ve brought together a collection of survey evidence.
  
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• Volunteering Participation in Scotland

  We’ve worked in partnership with the University of Stirling to better understand the differences in volunteer participation across urban/rural areas and socio-economic characteristics.
  
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• Volunteering and Public Service Reform in Rural Scotland

  We’ve worked in partnership with Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) to explore volunteering in rural areas and what this might mean for the reform of public services in Scotland.
  
  Download PDF - Research Briefing
  
  

  Download PDF - Full Report

• Volunteering in Scottish Charities 2013

  We’ve carried out a survey to better understand volunteering in local charities.
  
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• Volunteering in Scotland Survey 2011

  We’ve carried out a national omnibus survey of adults in Scotland to fill in some of the gaps in the national picture of volunteering.
  
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Scotland’s young people have a crucial role to play in volunteering – now and in the future.

We’ve been exploring young people’s involvement and interest in volunteering. To find out more please click the links below:

• Young People and Volunteering in Scotland 2019

  We carried out a survey of young people (aged 11-18) in 2019 to explore their involvement and interest in volunteering
  
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• Youth Volunteering and Inclusion

  Volunteer Scotland’s conference in Sept 2018 - “Creating a more inclusive future for youth volunteering” - generated valuable insights on this important issue. Click this link for the presentations, workshop findings and links to other relevant publications.
  
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• Youth Volunteering in Deprived Areas

  James Davis is a PhD student at the University of Strathclyde who has been studying youth volunteering in some of the most deprived areas of Glasgow.
  
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• Young People and Volunteering in Scotland 2016

  We carried out a survey of young people (aged 11-18) in 2016 to explore their involvement and interest in volunteering.
  
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• Young People and Volunteering in Scotland 2014

  We carried out a survey of young people (aged 11-18) in 2014 to explore their involvement and interest in volunteering.
  
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• Being Young in Scotland 2010

  We carried out a survey of young people (aged 11-25) in 2010 to explore their involvement and interest in volunteering.
  
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Volunteering is at the heart of a pro-active, healthy, fair and progressive society.

We want volunteering to be a rewarding experience that can be enjoyed by everyone in Scotland, regardless of their background, identity or personal circumstances. To find out more about how we’re trying to make volunteering as inclusive as possible, please click the links below: 

• Youth Volunteering and Inclusion

  Volunteer Scotland’s conference in Sept 2018 - “Creating a more inclusive future for youth volunteering” - generated valuable insights on this important issue. Click this link for the presentations, workshop findings and links to other relevant publications.
  
  View here

• Inclusion in Volunteering

  We’ve leading work to encourage greater inclusion in volunteering. In 2017, we formed a national strategic group for inclusion in volunteering.
  
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• The Benefits of Inclusive Volunteering

  With input from the Third Sector Research Forum, we’ve carried out a “call for evidence” to try and better understand the benefits of inclusive volunteering.
  
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• Volunteering and Disability

  We’re carried out research into the experiences and perceptions of volunteering from disabled people and organisations.
  
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Volunteering makes an incredible contribution to improving our nation’s health and wellbeing.

To find out more about our work in health and wellbeing please click the links below: 

• NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health and Wellbeing Survey 2017/2018: Cross-Sectional Analysis

  Volunteer Scotland analysed the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Adult Health and Wellbeing Survey to explore the relationship between volunteering and a range of social indicators in a number of geographies across the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area.
  
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• The Contribution of Volunteering to Scotland’s Health & Wellbeing

  We’ve evidenced the health and wellbeing impact of volunteering in Scotland and the challenges, opportunities and priorities: 2020 – 2040.
  
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• The Effect of Volunteering on Health & Wellbeing

  We’ve worked with the University of Stirling’s Business Consulting Group to investigate the relationship between volunteering, health and wellbeing and how this has changed over time.
  
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• Volunteering, Health & Wellbeing

  We’ve undertaken a critical appraisal of evidence to understand the contribution of volunteering to volunteers’ health and wellbeing.
  
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• ASUME - Volunteering in Dementia

  We’ve worked in partnership with the University of Stirling, The Abbeyfield Society and the Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC) to explore the role of volunteers in dementia care. This research revealed how we Attract, Sustain, and Understand volunteers and considers what Motivates them, within the different volunteer Environments.
  
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• Volunteering and Wellbeing

  We’ve explored the case for including a volunteering indicator in the Scotland Performs National Performance Framework to act as a proxy measure for community engagement and social cohesion in Scotland.
  
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• Volunteering on Prescription

  We’ve worked with GPs to create a better understanding of the role GP Practices can play in signposting patients to volunteering as a form of local preventative care.
  
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• VEnable

  We’ve worked in partnership with NHS Tayside to identify the key needs and gaps in support for older people where volunteers can potentially play a vital role.
  
  

  Download PDF: Summary Report
  

  Download PDF: Desk Review
  

  Download PDF: Good Practice Examples

Volunteers play an important role in protecting, preserving and promoting the historic and natural environment in Scotland.

To find out more about our work in this area please click the links below:

• Volunteering in the Historic Environment 2016

  We’ve carried out a study of volunteering across the historic environment sector on behalf of Historic Environment Scotland
  
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• Volunteering and the Historic Environment 2008

  We've carried out a study of volunteering across the historic environment sector on behalf of the Historic Environment Advisory Council for Scotland. 
  
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