Policy Publications

Browse our most recent consultation responses and our briefings for key decision-makers. Please get in touch to discuss an issue you think needs addressed.

Latest Publications

A Joint Statement on Prevention

Volunteer Scotland has joined with partner organisations to issue a joint statement on prevention in the context of Public Service Reform. Volunteers and voluntary organisations must be prioritised and their role in prevention properly recognised.

Bridging the Participation Gap Roundtable Report

Between November 2025 and March 2026, Volunteer Scotland delivered nine ‘Bridging the Participation Gap’ roundtables, engaging 180 volunteers, practitioners and enablers. The series identified seven cross-cutting themes, actions and recommendations, informing Volunteer Scotland’s future work across its five core programmes. Findings reflect strong stakeholder engagement and underpin forthcoming organisational priorities.

Earned Settlement: Consultation Response

Volunteer Scotland has developed an extended briefing in response to the UK Government's 'Earned Settlement' Consultation, which proposes reforms to the immigration system. As volunteering is one of the new factors included in the new system, we have engaged with the Policy Champions Network to reach an organisational viewpoint, and have sent this briefing to the Home Office for consideration.

Category Search

Note: Policy publications are sorted by date in each of the categories.

General Policy Briefings

Volunteering Briefing for MSPs

May 2026
Volunteer Scotland has compiled a general Policy Briefing for the 129 MSPs that were elected to the Scottish Parliament in May 2026. The briefing has been shared with Members at the start of the new session of Parliament, with the aim of collaborating with MSPs from all political parties for the benefit of Scottish volunteers.

Bridging the Participation Gap Roundtable Report

May 2026
Between November 2025 and March 2026, Volunteer Scotland delivered nine ‘Bridging the Participation Gap’ roundtables, engaging 180 volunteers, practitioners and enablers. The series identified seven cross-cutting themes, actions and recommendations, informing Volunteer Scotland’s future work across its five core programmes. Findings reflect strong stakeholder engagement and underpin forthcoming organisational priorities.

Earned Settlement: Consultation Response

February 2026
Volunteer Scotland has developed an extended briefing in response to the UK Government's 'Earned Settlement' Consultation, which proposes reforms to the immigration system. As volunteering is one of the new factors included in the new system, we have engaged with the Policy Champions Network to reach an organisational viewpoint, and have sent this briefing to the Home Office for consideration.

Scotland Office

February 2025
This briefing for the UK Government's Scotland Office provides clarity around what is meant by 'volunteering', shares an overview of the volunteering landscape in Scotland and provides a series of recommendations for the Government to promote volunteering.

Scottish Labour Policy Forum

January 2025
This submission to Scottish Labour's Policy Forum details key policy priorities we would hope to see reflected in Scottish labour's manifesto for the 2026 to reflect the important contribution of volunteers and to broaden access to volunteering.

Scottish Budget Briefing

November 2024
In this briefing, sent to MSPs ahead of the Scottish Budget, we share information about the volunteering landscape and several recommendations for MSPs to consider in their scrutiny of the budget.

Volunteering and Equalities Briefing

September 2024
This briefing was written to inform the Minister for Equalities about the contribution of volunteering to her policy portfolio. It covers a range of topics, including addressing inequality, supporting refugees and asylum seekers and tackling social isolation and loneliness.

Volunteer Scotland Briefing Programme for Government 2024

September 2024
This briefing responds to Scotland's Programme for Government, providing contextual information and recommendations to support the implementation of the priorities identified.

Volunteering in Education and Skills Briefing

This briefing explores the contribution of volunteering to Scotland’s Education and Skills landscape, and provides a number of policy recommendations for maximising the impact of volunteering. It was written for the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills as well as other important policy stakeholders in this sector.

Briefing for new MPs

July 2024
This briefing for MPs elected in 2024 details the vital contribution of volunteers to Scotland's communities, and proves some recommendations for how they can promote volunteering in Westminster.

Decline in formal volunteering

January 2024
This briefing for MSPs summarises the key findings about volunteering from the 2022 Scottish Household Survey results, including the worrying decline in formal volunteering. It then explores the circumstances behind the findings and the implications for policymakers.

Introducing Scotland’s Voluntary Sector: A Guide for Councillors

August 2023
This guide, written by the Third Sector Interface Network, SCVO, Volunteer Scotland and Social Enterprise Scotland, provides an introduction to the voluntary sector and volunteering for councillors and other local decision-makers.

Programme for Government 2023

July 2023
This briefing has been drafted with feedback from the Policy Champions Network to inform the development of Scotland's Programme for Government 2023-24

Spring Statement: Joint Briefing

March 2023
In this joint briefing with SCVO, we share key priorties for the UK Government to safeguard the the voluntary sector and volunteering in Scotland ahead of the Spring Budget statement on the 15th March 2023.

Open Letter to next FM to prioritise volunteering

March 2023
In this open letter to the three SNP leadership candidates, we reflect on the vital role of volunteering in achieving key Scottish Government priorties. We ask each candidate to prioritise volunteering if they are successful in becoming the SNP leader and our next First Minister.

Spring Statement: Joint Briefing

March 2023
In this joint briefing with SCVO, we share key priorties for the UK Government to safeguard the the voluntary sector and volunteering in Scotland ahead of the Spring Budget statement on the 15th March 2023.

Letter to Shona Robison MSP: cost of living crisis and volunteering

November 2022
This letter was sent to Shona Robison MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Communities, Social Security and Equalities, on 30th November 2022. It was written jointly with members of the Cost of Living and Volunteering Task Group to share our concerns about the impact of the cost of living crisis on volunteers and volunteering. It also details several key asks for the Scottish Government to help address our concerns.

Cost of living crisis: SCVO and Volunteer Scotland briefing for MPs

November 2022
This briefing was shared with MPs from Scottish constituencies ahead of a face to face briefing at Westminster on the 30th November 2022. The purpose of the joint briefing is to share our concerns about the impact of the cost of living crisis on volunteering and the voluntary sector, and to ask for their support in influencing the UK government on several key issues which would help to mitigate the impact.

Education, Skills and Employability

Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working

June 2025
This response to the UK Government's consultation on the 'Pathways to Work' Green Paper, to reform health and disability benefits and employment support, reflects on the important role volunteering can play people with a disability or long-term health condition and recommend steps for promoting volunteering to benefit claimants.

Universal Credit Review response

April 2025
This response to a request from the DWP for evidence to inform a review of Universal Credit explores the barriers to volunteering present in current Universal Credit arrangements, and recommends steps for promoting volunteering to Universal Credit claimants.

Proposed Youth Work (Scotland) Bill

February 2025
In our response to this proposed member's Bill on Youth Work, we agree that youth work is vital for the development of young people, but detail concerns at the potential impact of the proposals on volunteers in youth work and in wider community learning and development activity.

Community Learning and Development

March 2024
This response explores the contribution of volunteers and volunteering to community learning and development, and provides a range of recommendations for ensuring that the future of CLD is sustainable and is aligned with other government ambitions around the wider reform of the Scottish skills landscape and the further devolution of power to communities.

Volunteer Scotland and YouthLink Scotland Joint Briefing - Young People and Volunteering

June 2023
This joint briefing with YouthLink Scotland explores the policy implications of our recent Young People in Scotland research. It also provides a range of recommendations for MSPs and policy-makers to increase youth participation in volunteering.

Addressing Child Poverty through Parental Employment

April 2023
Our response to this Bill reflects on the benefits of volunteering for parents looking to move into employment. It also highlights some of the key barriers to participation on volunteering for parents, and provides some tangible recommendations for addressing these.

Disabled Employment Gap Inquiry

February 2023
In this response, we explore the benefits of volunteering for disabled people, including supporting them with skills and attributes for employment. We also look at the significant barriers to volunteering for disabled people, meaning that they are often unable to realise the benefits of participation.

Skills Delivery Landscape - Call for Evidence

December 2022
In this response, we look at the vital role of volunteers in Scotland's skills development landscape. We explore the role of volunteers in supporting upskilling activity, including for young people and marginalised groups. We also discuss the personal development benefits of volunteering for participants, and reflect on the potential role of Skills Development Scotland for promoting volunteering as a development activity.

National Discussion on Education

December 2022
Our response to the National Discussion on Education, we explore the role of volunteers and volunteering in Scotland’s education system. We look at the many ways adult volunteers support the educational experience of children and young people, particularly those from marginalised groups, and the significant benefits of volunteer participation for children and young people. We then detail a range of asks, including that volunteering should become a core part of the curriculum.

Pandemic Labour Market

September 2022
This response to the consultation on the impact of the pandemic on the Scottish labour market focuses on the role of volunteering in improving employability outcomes for participants. It also explores the significant contribution of volunteers to Scotland’s economy, and that participation in volunteering should be celebrated in its own right.

Nature and Climate

Draft Climate Change Plan

January 2026
Volunteer Scotland has responded to the Scottish Government's consultation on the draft Climate Change Plan. We call for the plan to acknowledge that volunteers are essential for meeting Scotland's net zero targets, and to outline investment to support voluntary climate action.

Flood Resilience Strategy

August 2024
In our response to this consultation, we cautiously welcome the proposed focus on creating flood resilient places in the new flood resilience strategy. However, we also stress that this cannot shift responsibility onto volunteers in local communities without meaningful engagement, support and sustainable resource.

Tackling the Nature Emergency: Consultation on Scotland’s Strategic Framework for Biodiversity

December 2023
This response explores the contribution of volunteers to the protection of Scotland's biodiversity, and provides a number of recommendations for inclusion in Scotland's Biodiversity Strategic Framework.

Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill

September 2023
This response explores the role of volunteers in supporting the development of a circular economy, particularly through roles incorporating citizen science and community education, and provides recommendations for how this should be reflected in the Circular Economy Bill.

National Parks

June 2022
In response to the Scottish Government’s Dialogue on the future of National Parks in Scotland, we propose that inclusive participation of volunteers should be central to deciding on the location and infrastructure for new National Parks. We explore the vital role of volunteers for protecting and maintaining National Parks, and the dual benefits of volunteering and spending time in the natural environment.

Community Volunteering

Grassroots Engagement under the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015

August 2025
This briefing looks at the experience of volunteers under the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 and makes recommendations for the Scottish Government, Local Authorities and intermediary bodies. Note, this was developed as part of a placement-based dissertation project with the University of Edinburgh.

Independent Commission on Community Cohesion

March 2025
This submission to the Independent Commission on Community and Cohesion reflects on the vital role of volunteers in supporting community connection and resilience. It also provides recommendations for addressing the decline in volunteer participation.

Rural Delivery Plan

March 2025
Our response to the Scottish Government's consultation on the draft Rural Delivery Plan advocates for the vital role of volunteers in many aspects of rural life to be better reflected in strategic objectives and Key Performance Indicators.

Democracy Matters

February 2024
This response explores the role of volunteers in local decision-making and community empowerment activity. It also details the cynicism that many community volunteers feel around efforts to transfer power into the hands of local communities, particularly in the context of local authority budget cuts, and proves recommendations for addressing this.

Local Living and 20 Minute Neighbourhoods

July 2023
This response looks to ensure that the contribution of volunteers for driving change, and that the requirement for adequate resource to support meaningful community engagement, is reflected in guidance for local living and 20 minute neighbourhoods.

Community Wealth Building

May 2023
In this response, we showcase the important contribution of volunteers to the Scottish Government's plans around Community Wealth Building, and advocate for volunteering to be better represented in associated legislation and guidance. We also highlight some potential challenges with the approach, including language, resource and third sector capacity.

Health and Wellbeing

A Joint Statement on Prevention

September 2026
Volunteer Scotland has joined with partner organisations to issue a joint statement on prevention in the context of Public Service Reform. Volunteers and voluntary organisations must be prioritised and their role in prevention properly recognised.

Wellbeing and Sustainable Development Bill

February 2024
This response makes the case for definitions of 'wellbeing' and 'sustainable development' that reflect the impact of and on wider communities. It also recommends that any new wellbeing and sustainable development legislation needs to prioritise volunteer wellbeing, and that a Future Generations Commissioner should protect our future volunteering infrastructure.

Health and Care Staffing Guidance

September 2023
This response questions the decision to make this guidance applicable to volunteers in care settings, but not health settings and explores the wider implications of this. It also looks at what the guidance might mean for the National Care Service workforce.

Health, Social Care and Sport

August 2023
This response highlights the importance of dedicated spending on volunteer-led services and volunteering in health and social care budgets, particularly given the government's ambitions around a creation of a National Care Service.

Proposed Wellbeing and Sustainable Development (Scotland) Bill

March 2023
In our response to this proposed Bill, we share our broad support but detail our concern that the scope of the Bill is too broad. From our experience advocating around volunteering, 'Wellbeing' touches on too many policy areas for this Bill to realistically succeed.

A national conversation to inform a new Dementia Strategy

December 2022
In our response to the Scottish Government’s national conversation informing a new Dementia Strategy, we share the vital role of volunteers in supporting people with dementia. We also highlight the benefits of participation in volunteering for the health and wellbeing of people living with dementia and their carers. We ask that the role of volunteering is acknowledged in a new Dementia Strategy to ensure that this activity is able to access the resource it needs.

Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy

September 2022
In this response to the Scottish Government’s consultation on a new Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy, we answer specific questions which allow us to reinforce the intersectional wellbeing benefits of participating in volunteering, and the vital role of volunteers – both informal and formal - in addressing mental health and wellbeing. We also explore barriers to volunteering, and the significant challenges facing the voluntary sector at present, which could impact on mental health and wellbeing ambitions.

National Care Service

September 2022
In our response to the Scottish Government’s consultation on the National Care Service (Scotland) Bill, we highlight some of our concerns about the Bill, particularly the lack of recognition that volunteers are a key part of the care workforce. We also reflect that more detail is required about how the voluntary sector will be meaningfully engaged in decision-making structures. We also reinforce the need to ensure that the principles of the Volunteer Charter are enshrined in the Bill, thus ensuring that volunteers are not engaged in roles that replace paid staff.

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2023-24

August 2022
This response to the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee’s call for evidence regarding pre-budget scrutiny focuses on the fact that volunteers form a key part of the ‘workforce’ delivering services related to health and social care – both in statutory and community settings. It also reinforces that participation in volunteering has demonstrable health and wellbeing benefits.

Suicide Prevention Strategy

August 2022
In our response to the Scottish Government consultation regarding a new Suicide Prevention Strategy, we frame our answers to the relevant questions in a way that reinforces the the vital role of volunteers in supporting suicide prevention work currently. We also reinforce the fact that volunteers in roles supporting individuals at increased risk of suicidal ideation require regular support and tailored training. We also call for the strategy to ensure that meaningful engagement with the voluntary sector is prioritised.

Health and Social Care Strategy for Older People

June 2022
In our response to the Scottish Government’s consultation on a new Health and Social Care Strategy for Older People, we shine a light on the vital role of volunteers in the delivery of health and social care services for the older generation. Volunteer-led services are often person-centred and empower people to stay in their homes and communities for longer. Volunteers also support clinical care settings and provide dignity in palliative care. We then reinforce the health and wellbeing benefits of participating in volunteering. Our asks relate to adequate resource/infrastructure, standards for volunteering, appropriate volunteering roles and social prescribing.

Sport, Culture and Historic Environment

Culture in Communities

April 2023
This response explores the vital role of volunteers in community-based arts and culture. It also details the challenges facing community-based culture organisations, and their volunteers, at present and gives some recommendations for addressing these in Scotland's Culture Strategy.

Inquiry into female participation in sport and physical activity

December 2022
This response to the inquiry from the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee details how volunteers have an important role in promoting the participation of women and girls in sport and physical activity. In particular, volunteers in community-based sport provide vital opportunities for women and girls to get involved and this has a significant bearing on female participation in elite sport given that many elite athletes start their careers in community-based sports clubs.

Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2023-24 Funding for Culture

August 2022
This response to the pre-budget scrutiny consultation looking specifically at funding for culture, we explore the role of volunteering in supporting Scotland’s culture sector. We look at the many challenges that culture has faced in the past two years, and continues to face as a result of the cost of living crisis. We ask that the role of volunteering in culture is better represented in policy, and funding, for culture.

Infrastructure and Finance

Making Work Pay: call for evidence on unpaid internships

October 2025
This is a response to the UK Government's call for evidence on unpaid internships and internships paid below the National Minimum Wage. We share evidence on volunteering as part of the UK Government's commitment to ban unpaid internships, and highlight the Volunteer Charter in relation to reimbursement for volunteers.

Civil Society Covenant

December 2024
In this response to the UK Government's proposed Civil Society Covenant, we welcome the commitment to strengthen relations with civil society and flag some common barriers the Covenant should address. We also highlight the central role of volunteers in civil society, and the need to better consider the needs of civil society organisations in devolved nations.

Children's Hearings Redesign

October 2024
Our response to this consultation provides some important contextual information regarding the current volunteering landscape which should inform @scotgov decisions made about the future redesign of the Children's Hearings Service.

Budget scrutiny 2025-26 - Third sector funding principles

August 2024
This response to the Social Justice and Social Security Committee's consultation on third sector funding explores the importance of sustainable and fair funding for volunteer engagement. It also makes a series of recommendations reflecting SCVO's calls for Fair Funding, and the need to align funding decisions with the Volunteer Charter.

Review of Charity Regulation

July 2024
Our response to this consultation shares our support for a wider review of charity regulation. We discuss the need to review the responsibilities of trustees to ensure that charity regulation is fit for purpose into the future and to encourage greater trustee diversity.

Inquiry into proposed National Outcomes

June 2024
This response welcomes the proposed changes to the National Outcomes and recommends the introduction of several new indicators reflecting the important contribution of volunteers and volunteering. It also provides some recommendations for ensuring that the National Outcomes are conducive to joined up policymaking.

Education, Children and Young People Committee

November 2023
This briefing to the Education, Children and Young People Committee provides some further reflection and clarification on the future role of volunteers in the Children's Hearing System.

National Outcomes Review 2023

June 2023
Our response to this review of the National Outcomes reflects on the importance of volunteering across a range of outcomes, but particularly the one related to Communities, and calls for volunteer participation rates to be included as an indicator for this outcome.

Scottish Government decision making 2023

February 2023
This inquiry provides an opportunity for us to reflect on our experiences of Scottish Government decision-making, and make suggestions for more meaningful, accessible and transparent engagement with the voluntary sector when making decisions in the future.

Charity Law

February 2023
This response reflects on the proposed changes detailed in the Charities (Regulation and Administration) (Scotland) Bill from the perspective of trustees, as volunteers. Whilst we largely welcome the proposed changes, we have provided some suggestions to further improve trustee diversity.

DCMS Project on Satellite Account for Civil Society

January 2023
Our response addresses the case for volunteering evidence as part of a new satellite account. It also discusses associated methodological issues. Additional questions in the Labour Force Survey would provide a GB wide evidence base which would facilitate benchmarking.

Volunteer Scotland’s response to the Deputy First Minister’s Budget Statement

December 2022
Our response to the Scottish Government's budget announcement highlights the importance of financial support for volunteering, especially during the cost of living crisis. Volunteer involving organisations and volunteers have a critical role to play in helping to address the adverse financial, health and wellbeing and societal impacts. Without adequate support these lifeline services will be compromised.

Pre-Budget Scrutiny Finance and Public Administration

August 2022
This pre-budget scrutiny response, for the Finance and Public Administration committee, reinforces the need to consider volunteering when drafting or scrutinising budget decisions. It explores the role of volunteering in delivering health and social care priorities, and in responding to the cost of living crisis. It also reinforces the importance of ensuring that volunteers do not replace paid roles when looking at public service efficiencies.

Covid - 19 Recovery

September 2022
In our response to the pre-budget scrutiny consultation from the Covid -19 Revery Committee, we highlight the significant role of volunteers in supporting Scotland’s recovery. It also highlights the role of volunteers in responding to more recent challenges, such as the war in Ukraine and the cost of living crisis. We link the contribution of volunteers to Scotland’s ambition to become a Wellbeing Economy and ask that the upcoming budget prioritises resources to support volunteering.

Scottish Census

August 2022
This short response to the CEEAC Committee Inquiry into Scotland’s Census asks that volunteering is better reflected in the census in future. In particular, it requests that a question about participation in volunteering is added, alongside the current question related to paid work. It also asks that volunteer management and the voluntary sector are better reflected in questions related to job titles and types of work.

Inclusive Volunteering

Fit Note Reform: Call for Evidence

July 2024
In our response to this call for views, we reflect on the experiences of individuals who are in receipt of benefits and wish to volunteer in the current system. We also provide several recommendations for ensuring that any reform of the Fit Note process does not inadvertently create barriers to volunteering.

ECYP Committee Briefing: Disclosure Fees and Discounting Consultation

May 2024
This briefing for the Education, Children and Young People Committee provides a summary of our concerns regarding the proposal to replace the fee waiver for volunteers in QVOs with a fee discount. It also provides a recommendation for escalating these concerns to the Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise.

Disclosure Fees and Discounting Consultation Response

May 2024
In our response to this consultation, we share key evidence from our stakeholders regarding the potential detrimental impact of the proposal to replace the PVG fee waiver for volunteers in QVOs with a fee discount. We explore the potential impact on volunteers, volunteer involving organisations and protected groups across Scotland.

The Gift of Age: Older People, Faith Communities, and Volunteering

November 2023
This joint briefing with Faith in Older People explores the policy implications of their 'The Gift of Age' research, which looks at volunteer participation of older people as part of a faith community.

Work Capability Assessment: activities and descriptors

October 2023
In our response to this consultation, we highlight the benefits of volunteering for those subject to Work Capability Assessments, reflect on the perceived barriers presented by current assessment criteria, and provide recommendations for ensuring that proposed changes do not perpetuate existing challenges.

Human Rights Bill

October 2023
This response builds on feedback from the Policy Champions Network and details how volunteers contribute to the protection of human rights. It also explores the potential need to protect the right to volunteer as part of cultural life in Scotland, and as a key way to promote positive health and wellbeing.

National Outcomes 2022

April 2022
This response to the Finance and Public Administration Committee’s inquiry into the National Performance Framework National Outcomes shares the extent to which the National Outcomes shape our work. They look at the link between the National Outcomes and the Volunteering for All framework, and the Volunteering Action Plan.

Disability Commissioner

August 2022
This response to Jeremy Balfour MSP’s consultation about the need for a Disability Commissioner focuses on the health and wellbeing benefits of volunteering, particularly for people with disabilities. It also highlights the significant barriers to volunteering for people with disabilities, and that addressing such barriers is vital for the success of Scotland’s Volunteering Action Plan. Finally, it reinforces the need for dedicated resource to support inclusive volunteering, particularly when many organisations are facing significant financial strain.

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