10th December 2025
The Gathering 2025 – Book a session now!
The Gathering will take place in-person on 4th and 5th February 2025 at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC). Booking for all sessions are now open, find full programme here. We are hosting/co-hosting the following sessions:
A National Approach to Employer Supported Volunteering
Host: Volunteer Scotland
Date: Tues, 4th Feb (Day 1)
Time: 11am – 12pm
About: An interactive workshop discussing Employer Supported Volunteering (ESV), a national approach to ESV.
Volunteer Scotland are leading the development of a national approach to ESV – Action 42 in Scotland’s Volunteering Action Plan. And we want to hear from you! This workshop is for anyone interested in ESV, whether you are representing a volunteer-involving organisation, a private company, a third sector interface, or ESV broker.
Participate in an active and interactive discussion about the future of ESV in Scotland. We want to hear from you about your hopes, experiences and reflections on ESV to shape a future national approach. We’ll also be sharing what we have learned from an extensive desk review of ESV offers, benefits and quality standards. You’ll hear case studies from different perspectives that spotlight cutting-edge ESV programmes in Scotland. There will also be an opportunity to find out about staying involved in this work going forward as VS will facilitate future sessions.
Equally valued: lived experience and volunteering
Host: Volunteer Scotland & Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland
Date: Wed, 5th Feb (Day 2)
Time: 11am – 12pm
About: In this interactive workshop, hosted jointly by Volunteer Scotland and Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (The ALLIANCE) we will compare best practice in engaging both people with lived experience and volunteers and explore shared learning opportunities. Volunteer management models can offer valuable insights into how individuals sharing their lived experience are recognised and supported. Conversely, with protected groups often underrepresented, what can we learn from lived experience programmes to make volunteering more flexible, inclusive and accessible? Through a collaborative workshop involving volunteers and people with lived experience we aim to share strategies that will promote meaningful participation for all.
Representatives from the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (The ALLIANCE) and Volunteer Scotland will provide a short input detailing best practice in the engagement of both people with lived experience and volunteers. We will then host an interactive panel to further explore accessible and inclusive approaches. Finally, attendees will have the opportunity to interact with their peers and share their own experiences on this topic.