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 our children and young people, and support the delivery of vital public services.
In 2024, a quarter of Scottish adults (16+) volunteered with a group, club or organisation. However, this crucial part of community life is at risk, as the percentage of adults who volunteer dropped from 31% in 2010 to a record low of 18% in 2023. Without volunteers, Scotland would lose the foundation of its communities.
Volunteer Scotland has chosen to highlight three partners, Girlguiding Scotland, FoodTrain, and RNLI, each of which demonstrates the priceless contribution volunteers make across Scotland.
Girlguiding Scotland is the leading charity for girls and young women in Scotland, supporting 40,000 young members and powered by 9,000 dedicated volunteers.
In 2024, over 240,000 people volunteered with youth or children’s activities outside of school.
Unit leaders are helping girls discover how much they are capable of while making friends for life, growing in confidence and making a positive difference to others.
Without volunteers, who would provide thousands of girls with a safe space to be themselves and develop new skills?
Volunteers with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) support Scotland’s coastal communities. In 2024, RNLI lifeboats from 46 stations around the coast of Scotland launched 1182 times, saving 36 lives. They also provide education on water safety and fundraising to keep this lifesaving service going.
Across Scotland in 2024, over 30,000 people volunteered with organisations providing emergency services, first aid and public safety.
What would Scotland’s communities look like without the vital, lifesaving efforts of these volunteers?
Dieter is one of 88 Food Train volunteers in West Lothian. Having moved to Scotland from South Africa, he was keen to become involved in his local community and chose to volunteer with Food Train so he could share his home cooking with a local older person.
He was paired with Peter, a veteran airborne paratrooper. Now retired, Peter finds joy in painting but relies on outside support because of a visual impairment and other health conditions.
In the two years since they were matched, Dieter and Peter have developed a deep and genuine friendship. During their weekly visits, Peter shares stories from his life, and the two chat about their shared passion for family, always with plenty of laughter. The companionship they’ve built is every bit as important as the nutritious meals Dieter brings.
Across Scotland in 2024, over 74,000 people volunteered with groups aimed at supporting older people.
"He's like one of the family." - Peter
Dieter and Peter’s friendship would never have happened without Food Train. Without volunteers, how many social connections and friendships would our communities lose?
Help us build a nation of volunteers
With your support, we can:
Our 2026 Scottish Parliament Manifesto
Since launching the ‘No Volunteers, No Community’ campaign in December 2025, we’ve been hard at work sharing campaign messages in the Scottish Parliament! We hosted a 3 day exhibition in the Garden Lobby and spoke to 59 MSPs – many of whom pledged to support volunteering in their constituency or region! You can read more about our exhibition here.
In February, we held a joint Parliamentary Reception with SCVO and showcased the campaign and our campaign partners. You can read more about our night in Parliament here.
Thank you to our partners for their contributions to the campaign.
Photo credits: Volunteer Scotland/Andy Jamieson & RNLI/Nathan Williams