News

Catalysts for Change: Understanding the motivations of volunteers in Scotland (new report published) 

Volunteers play a vital role in supporting the work of charities across Scotland. Their contribution, big or small, can make a huge difference to individual lives and the reach and impact of organisations.  

Two of Inspiring Scotland’s programmes would not exist without the support of volunteers: our Specialist Volunteer Network (SVN) connecting professional volunteers with the charities we support, and our intandem mentoring programme which builds the confidence and skills of care-experienced young people.

Given the importance of volunteers to Inspiring Scotland’s vision and mission, we commissioned research to capture the latest insights on volunteering and to help us understand how our programmes, which are dependent on volunteers, may need to evolve and develop. 

Whilst there has been a notable reduction in volunteering rates in recent years due to Covid and the rising cost of living, a sizeable number of people are willing to volunteer to support a cause or community close to them. 

Berny, an intandem volunteer mentor, shared: 

“Being a mentor is so rewarding. I’ve been with my young person for around 16 months now and the time we spend together is special. Seeing his life become more stable and being a part of that is important.” 

This research report outlines what makes people volunteer and how to attract, recruit, and retain volunteers. It considers the characteristics of people who are most likely to volunteer, the key motivations and barriers to volunteering, and critical success factors in a volunteer recruitment campaign. Understanding these can aid in targeted advertising and better matching of volunteer opportunities to those most likely to take them up. 

We are sharing this research publicly in the hope that it is of use to others and as part of our collective effort to continue to support and nurture volunteering in Scotland. 

With thanks to all those who volunteer. We are grateful for your willingness to give your time, energy, and talents. Your support of Scotland’s third sector allows us to continue to fulfil our mission and serve children and families across Scotland every year.

Read the report here.