News
2026 International Year of Volunteering for Sustainable Development
The United Nations General Assembly has proclaimed 2026 the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development. This milestone—achieved through the collaboration of Member States of the General Assembly—offers an opportunity to celebrate volunteers and their contributions on a global stage.
"As we look ahead to the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development in 2026, let's acknowledge the vital role of volunteers as change-makers who weave through the fabric of the 2030 Agenda, helping to accelerate action in the second half of our journey. Their commitment shapes a world where sustainable development is not merely a goal but a shared reality we create together,” said Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed.
Key Messages
Volunteerism is a driving force for sustainable development. The designation of 2026 as the International Volunteer Year underscores the vital role volunteers play in advancing the global goals. By fostering community engagement and collective action, volunteering contributes meaningfully to humanitarian efforts and long-term development.
Volunteerism is a powerful enabler of humanitarian action. Volunteers play a vital role in responding to humanitarian emergencies and driving progress toward a more resilient world.
Everyone has a role to play in the International Volunteer Year 2026. Governments, UN entities, other regional and international organizations, academia, and civil society and private sector are invited to actively participate in the year by recognizing the value of volunteers, integrating volunteering into policies and plans, ensuring safe and fair volunteering environments, and promoting knowledge-sharing to develop new forms of volunteering.
The International Volunteer Year 2026 strengthens the connection between volunteering and global progress. It aims to deepen global understanding of volunteerism through research, information-sharing, and education and to address emerging challenges that new models of volunteering are facing.
Valuing volunteers is vital. There is a need to recognize and measure the contribution of all volunteers, whether they’re part of an organization or helping informally.
Stay tuned to explore what Member States, United Nations organizations and other stakeholders, including civil society, private sector and academia are going to do to observe IVY 2026 → International Volunteer Year | Knowledge Portal on Volunteerism
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Happy Holidays!
Hello Be the Changers!
Thank you so much for engaging with our new platform. We'd love to hear from you how you find it so we can improve our service. We want it to work for you! Follow this link to answer a few short questions about your experience.
We hope you have a wonderful holiday season, but if you find this time of year hard, please do reach out to someone.
Here are some local resources:
Tayside Suicide Prevention
The Tayside Suicide Prevention website , which can also be downloaded as an app to your mobile phone, provides:
Information about suicide
How to help
Local, Tayside and national support agency contacts
Guidance on creating a safety plan .
The Neuk - Adult Mental Health Crisis and Suicide Prevention Centre
Telephone: 01738 718070
There is a safe and welcoming environment provided for those who are in crisis. This may be due to situational stress that is affecting mental health and wellbeing e.g. relationship breakdown, bereavement, loss of job or coping with lifestyle changes. If you need a safe space, need to talk, or need someone to listen staff are available to listen and care. Further information can be found on the Neuk website.
The Lighthouse (Children and Young People Suicide and Self Harm Crisis Service)
Telephone: 0800 121 4820
They offer crisis support to anyone who is at risk with their mental health. This includes whose who are at risk of suicide or self-injury or are in emotional distress or crisis. They offer a safe space to talk and be supported. Staff and volunteers are available to offer a welcoming, non-judgemental approach. Family support is available for any parent/brother or sister/ carer etc. of young people accessing the service. Further information can be found on the The Lighthouse website .
Here's to a new year full of community, volunteering and new opportunities!
All the best,
Emily Skilton,
Development officer for Volunteering,
Third Sector Interface Perth and Kinross.
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New Feature!
Group applications: one contact person for an entire group
We at the TSI facilitate employer supported volunteering and one of the recurring obstacles is that there are often one or two pioneers within a company, but it is difficult to activate all employees. With the help of group applications, we can facilitate the pioneers. We bring the right people into contact with each other, while all applications and their impact are registered!
A group application is several applications made in one go which is created by one "group representative". The group representative becomes the point of contact for all communication and notifications regarding the applications and their status. In this way, we keep the contact between the organisation and the group central and the rest of the group doesn't have to do anything.
This feature was developed with employer supported volunteering in mind, but can of course be used for any situation!
How do you make a group application?
Use the 'Group application' button on the activity page to start the process. A pop-up will appear.
Select (if you are an administrator of multiple organisations) the organisation on whose behalf you want to apply. You can only select members of that organisation.
Select which members you want to register on whose behalf by typing their name. You can also choose to add all members first (via the link below the text field) and then deselect the members you do not want to register one by one.
If a person has already registered, you can no longer select this person.
Group applications are never placed on a waiting list. If there is not enough capacity for the entire group, the error message "There is not enough capacity for your group" will appear. In this case, contact the organisation directly to discuss the options.
Click on 'Proceed to the application form'.
Fill in the question or the questionnaire. The answers you give apply to each person you're applying for.
Click on 'Proceed to confirmation'.
Please read all points carefully so that you understand the consequences.
Click on 'Create group application'.
And that's it, now it is up to the organisation to get in touch with you.
Important things to note:
Any organisation admin or moderator can make an application on behalf of people who are members of that same organisation, but it is not possible to add members of sub-groups or teams. You can only add members of your own organisation(s).
Someone who is an administrator at multiple organisations can choose on behalf of which organisation they are applying.
All communication goes through the group representative, including any status changes, and that the individual members do not receive any communication about this. As a group representative, you are responsible for communicating with the members you have registered and must therefore ensure that everyone is in the right place on time.
To find out more information, follow this link How do group applications work?
See moreFor Volunteers
Micro-Volunteering
What is Micro-Volunteering?
Micro-volunteering means undertaking small, quick, low commitment actions that benefit a good cause. It might be a task that one person completes from start to finish, or it might be broken down into small parts, where an individual is just one of many people performing the same task to achieve the end result. These tasks can be anywhere from 30 seconds to 30 min to an hour! Micro volunteering doesn't necessarily require any ongoing commitment. Sometimes called home or virtual volunteering, if it's online, it can be done from anywhere, at any time!
What does micro-volunteering look like?
Micro-volunteering can be digital, but it doesn’t have to be. It can be ad-hoc, for the same charity or for a different cause each time. It can be skilled such as reviewing a draft proposal or practical such as transporting donations. The list is endless!
Examples include:
Copy editing leaflets.
Creating useful connections/networking.
Set up a social media account.
Create media content.
Office-based micro-volunteering opportunities including archiving or data input.
Share a post on social media to raise awareness or ask for donations.
Sign a petition.
Join a bag pack or shake a bucket.
Donate supplies or collect donations.
Fill out a survey.
Translate a document.
Donate your skills, such as graphic design.
Take part in some citizen science.
Litter pick.
You can find some great micro-volunteering opportunities from national and international organisations such as Age Scotland , Macmillan, SSPCA and the United Nations Volunteer programme .
Watch this video by Walking Scotland:
https://youtu.be/EuH6tsQi_qQ?si=QyBa05dTCq4c_kWn
For Organisations
In order to set up and be successful in recruiting volunteers for micro-volunteering opportunities, organisations still need to consider the full volunteer journey. These steps should help you be successful:
Plan – what are the tasks, who will manage process.
Advertise – Be the Change, social media, noticeboards.
Recruit / Manage – be on top of volunteer enquiries, avoid onerous admin.
Task – give clear, simple instructions and be available for questions.
Feedback – encourage open and regular feedback from the volunteers.
Recognition – letter of thanks, references, opportunities to socialise.
What are the Benefits of Micro-volunteering?
According to Charity Excellence, Micro-volunteering has numerous benefits.
· It enables charities to create volunteering opportunities that engage people in your cause, who may otherwise not have the time.
· It can get lots done quickly and efficiently, and can save charities time and money.
· With jobs and family commitments, lack of time can be a real barrier to volunteering and this is a simple way to encourage more to volunteer.
· Micro-volunteering can be used by any charity and it:
· Enables you to increase volunteering capacity and access skills and experience that you might otherwise have been unable to.
· Allows you to recruit volunteers from anywhere in the country, not just locally.
· Can be used to reach groups who may otherwise be excluded, such as older people or the disabled, if housebound.
· Often doesn’t require an application process or training.
· Can be a good way to bring people initially on board and then grow their engagement and commitment to play a greater role in your work.
https://www.charityexcellence.co.uk/what-is-micro-volunteering/ ; accessed 11/12/2025.
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What is a Trustee?
Charity trustees play a very important role in making sure that the charity is run well. They are volunteers who strategically oversee the management, governance and administration of the organisation.
Trustees ensure their charity has a clear strategy, and that its work and goals are in line with its vision and mission. A trustee's role in a charity is to make sure that all decisions put the needs of the service users/beneficiaries first and that they don't move away from the organisation's constitutional goals.
Trustees safeguard the charity’s assets – both physical assets, including property, and intangible ones, such as its reputation. They make sure that the charity is run sustainably and in line with legal requirements.
Trustees are not typically involved in the day-to-day operations of a charity. Instead, they delegate these responsibilities to staff, led by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Trustees act as a ‘critical friend’ to the CEO—offering support while also providing constructive challenge to ensure effective leadership. However, in smaller charities with limited staff, trustees may also take on more direct, operational responsibilities.
Check out these open Trustee roles:
CILPK Trustee Vacancy for Centre for Inclusive Living Perth & Kinross | Be the Change (Perth & Kinross)
Duke of Edinburgh P&K We are looking for a New Trustee with Financial Background | Be the Change (Perth & Kinross)
Swansacre Playgroup Charity Trustee - Committee Secretary | Be the Change (Perth & Kinross)
Strathmore Community Hub Trustee | Be the Change (Perth & Kinross)
CATH Volunteer Trustee | Be the Change (Perth & Kinross)
For further information on being a trustee, visit:
Become a trustee | Reach Volunteering
Roles & responsibilities - SCVO
GovernanceWiki
OSCR | Guidance and good practice for charity trustees
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What is Employer Supported Volunteering?
Employer Supported Volunteering (ESV) is a term used to describe when businesses and organisations support the people that work for them to volunteer in various ways. Where you work, this might be called corporate volunteering, employee volunteering, workplace volunteering or something else! Not only are there different names for it, there are many ways to do it. You might do it as a team building experience or as part of your learning journey, you might get time off work to take part and you might even get paid for some of that time. This could be in the form of a day litter picking, a regular trustee position or a few weeks pro bono support - there are endless ways to volunteer.
Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of employers offering support for employees to volunteer in Scotland has increased to over half of all employers. It provides many benefits to the employer and to you, the employee, such as mental wellbeing and skill development. For the organisation who hosts these volunteers they gain the opportunity to meet and engage with new volunteers who may continue to support them in different ways. This is particularly valuable when the ESV is based on a longer-term relationship and when there is a skills based volunteering aspect.
Does your work have an employee volunteering policy?
To find out more, check out these websites: Employer-supported volunteering | NCVO and Employer Supported Volunteering | Go Volunteer Glos or email us at info@thirdsectorpk.org.uk.
See moreFor Organisations
#PowerOfYouth Charter
The #IWill movement in Scotland aims to encourage and empower more young people to take action, make a difference and influence change within their communities, the environment and broader society through activities such as volunteering, fundraising, mentoring, campaigning and activism.
#IWill partners are working together across Scotland to deliver a cross-sector approach that will transform the role and perception of young people in society. We are calling on organisations to come forward and support the young people of today make a difference for the world of tomorrow!
There are plenty of opportunities to get involved in the #IWill Movement in Scotland beyond and support more young people to take action, make a difference & influence change!
Since 2013 over 1000 organisations across the UK pledged to think about what they can do to involve young people in social action. On top of that there are over 350 young #IWill Ambassadors across the UK, promoting and celebrating the voices of young people!
But there is still more that needs to be done to grow the Movement and we need you to join us to help continue to grow the #PowerOfYouth!
Find out more on how to get involved and start spreading the word about the #PowerOfYouth and Join the Movement! Youth Action: UK Youth Charity Empowering 10-25 Year Olds
What is the Charter?
The #PowerOfYouth Charter provides a framework for your organisation to empower more young people to take action, make a difference and influence change.
Organisations are encouraged to commit to five key principles:
1. Prioritise empowering young people to volunteer and take social action
2. Open up your decision-making structures
3. Work in partnership
4. Evidence the benefits of youth social action
5. Recognise and celebrate young people
Find out more about the charter here ! Sign up for the #PowerOfYouth Charter here !
How can you get involved?
1. Sign up to the Charter Sign up through a senior leader from your organisation such as the Chief Executive or Chair. Ideally you will have endorsement for the Charter from your Board. Your organisation will outline specific actions it will take to deliver on the Charter commitments.
2. Shout about it. Publicise your adoption of the Charter through your communication channels.
3. Follow through. Your organisation will hold itself accountable to young people and track its development by sharing your progress towards the Charter commitments annually with #IWill Scotland partners, ambassadors and your networks.
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PVG Changes
As of 1 April 2025, significant changes to the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme came into effect across Scotland. Here are some key resources to help keep you informed about what’s needed from your organisation and ensure you’re meeting the current legal requirements.
What is Changing?
The Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme is becoming a legal requirement as part of the implementation of the Disclosure Act 2020. This legislation is here to safeguard children and vulnerable adults and prevent unsuitable individuals from holding regulated roles.
This means that from today, all individuals in regulated roles are required to be members of the PVG scheme. There is a three-month grace period, but after 1 July it will be a criminal offense for:
Individuals to carry out a regulated role if they are not a member of the PVG scheme
Organisations to offer a regulated role to an individual who is not a member of the PVG scheme
For further information about these changes, here is a summary from Disclosure Scotland .
What is a Regulated Role?
Regulated roles can be both paid and volunteering positions. This category includes people working directly with both children and vulnerable adults and others who hold a position of responsibility, such as charity trustees and Board Members.
This helpful guidance from Volunteer Scotland can help you determine whether your Board members, Committee members and trustees need to be members of the PVG scheme.
Volunteer Scotland are also offering information sessions to help you get accustomed to these changes.
How Will This Affect the Third Sector?
These changes are complex, and third sector organisations may feel some confusion about what is required of them. We’re here to help make sense of these changes and ensure you are compliant by 1 July.
We’ll be keeping abreast of the latest guidance and sharing resources to help you navigate the new PVG scheme. We’re also here to support if you have any individual questions or concerns.
Please let us know what you think of these changes. As the Third Sector Interface for Perth & Kinross, we are here to help organisations boost their resilience and navigate the fast-moving landscape of our sector.
Additional Resources
PVG scheme – Regulated roles guidance – mygov.scot
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The first-ever volunteering strategy for Perth and Kinross
We are so excited to share the Perth and Kinross Volunteering Strategy 2024-2027.
In the words of our Chief Officer, Melanie Devlin: ‘We feel truly proud to have been able to co-create this document and now work to drive forward its vision for our communities. While this work has been guided by national outcomes and trends, volunteer-involving organisations will see that our pledge to improve volunteering for all across the region is based on your perspectives and in response to the local needs you have identified. Our vision is to deliver this strategy collaboratively and in partnership across all sectors. As the Third Sector Interface for Perth and Kinross, we are especially interested in empowering voluntary organisations to embrace and implement the goals of this strategy.’
Read the strategy by following the link below, and please be in touch to discuss how we can work together to drive forward this vision of volunteering in Perth and Kinross.
See moreVolunteer Stories
Eva's Story - From Volunteer to Volunteer Coordinator
"Being a volunteer coordinator is a very rewarding job. I didn’t know such a role existed until I joined OATS volunteering programme." - Eva Kupska, Volunteer Coordinator, OATS.
Hi! My name is Eva and I am the Outdoor Access Volunteer Coordinator for the Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland, also known as OATS. This is the story of how I went from volunteering to finding my dream job as a volunteer coordinator for OATS.
I have always enjoyed being outdoors, and there have been times I’ve considered a career that would allow me to spend time in the hills, but other things got in the way. It was a very long and twisty path to get here!
When I moved to the UK in 2005, I worked in a horse yard and thought that was going to be my job forever. I loved horses. However, I ended up working in restaurants and coffee shops, moving from place to place. After settling down in Perthshire, I decided to join Outdoor Instructor Trainee programme. Unfortunately, a car accident cancelled my plans. It took 6 months to recover, and I was told that I should refrain from strenuous physical activity and find a sedentary job.
That terrified me, and I did the exact opposite; I started exercising and got fit, aiming to walk up the hills again. At the same time, I started studying a Visual Communication Bachelor's Degree. My thoughts were: “Being a graphic designer or illustrator is probably the only sedentary job I could stand”. All my free time was spent outside, on a bike, running, walking, camping … I then got a chance to get Mountain Bike Leader qualifications. Suddenly, I was leading guided rides and again considering a career as an Outdoor Instructor. But after finishing my degree, I got comfortable working at a local coffee roastery. It was an enjoyable job, I was quite good at it, the team was great, so why leave?
Some years later, I was out running in the Angus Glens and when descending from one of the hills I came across a group repairing the path. They turned out to be volunteers from Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland (OATS). Even though I had previously done some mountain bike trail building, I had never given many thoughts to the mountain footpaths.
That day, when I got home, I went straight onto the OATS website and signed up for a volunteering day. They used to run on Sundays and Mondays. I only had free weekends, so I went along on Sundays whenever I could. Shona, the Activity Projects Manager at the time, chatted to me about the way she started her career in environmental sector and thanks to the way the internet works, everything ‘environmental’ was popping out as soon as I was online.
Taking up volunteering was hugely beneficial to build up experience and I was helping a good cause at the same time. I found a part-time long distance learning course at SRUC - Wildlife and Conservation Management. It was manageable while having a full-time job. First, I approached it as something I wanted to learn for myself, but soon I felt like there were more meaningful jobs I could do than roasting coffee (Apologies to all coffee addicts!).
Suddenly, the OATS volunteering programme changed and it no longer ran on Sundays. I started to take time off work to be able to continue; I realised I would probably have to do a lot of different volunteering activities to gain practical skills and experiences before I could even think of applying for a conservation-type job.
This led me to get a job as a postie in rural Perthshire, to have more time for studying and to be closer to the outdoors. Maybe a risky move, but the current work was far too comfortable, and I think I needed a “shock to the system” to really take a career change seriously.
Soon after, I found out that Shona was leaving her post. I jumped at the possibility to fill in the position, but the job role that came up required much more experience than I had. I applied anyway but, understandably, was not successful. A few months later, OATS got in touch to say the Volunteer Coordinator position had opened up. Again, I wasn’t successful the first time around, but then a phone call came to say the role was mine if I was still interested!
Career change is not an easy process but if there is something you are passionate about, it is worth it. Being a volunteer coordinator is a very rewarding job. I didn’t know such a role existed until I joined OATS volunteering programme. The combination of organizing volunteering days, being outdoors with like-minded people, conservation work and promoting responsible outdoor access is the perfect fit for me!
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Mental Health and Wellbeing at PKAVS
Volunteering with the Mental Health and Wellbeing service at The Walled Garden and Wisecraft involves supporting clients in their chosen activities. Like their clients, volunteers are allocated sessions that fit with any other commitments they might have and they are free to choose which activity is of most interest to them. There is no obligation to be skilled in any of their activity areas just to have a passion for learning and supporting people.
Activities run on a daily basis during the week and are broken into 2.5 hr sessions. They encourage volunteers to attend the same session/s each week to help with continuity of care and building meaningful relationships with staff and clients, however there is of course flexibility depending on each individual circumstance.
Their volunteers are from all walks of life, young and old and may have lived experience of mental health difficulties but are at a point in their own recovery where they are able to support others.
They often have students volunteering who find that the service and setting is beneficial for enhancing their studies. Most commonly Psychology but also Counselling and Health and Nutrition type courses.
Aime is a young person who volunteered with them in their Creative Wellbeing activities while she studied Psychology at Stirling University and they knew her from a previous volunteering placement she did with them. Janice from the Walled Garden says 'It’s been great to see her again and see how she has developed personally and be able to offer her the opportunity to use volunteering to aid her studies and experience.'
Aime says:
“ As a psychology student who has lived experience of ill mental health, I have been able to use this to my advantage at the walled garden to act as a role model to the clients in order to show people that recovery is possible. I have been able to not only develop my confidence massively but gain experience of how psychological theory can be applied in practical aspects of work. I have gained lots of experience while volunteering here and it has been a pleasure to have the opportunity to come back. As a short-lived volunteer in 2017 I see lots of amazing improvements within the garden, and I have enjoyed getting to know the clients which has been my best memory of 2023. As an individual who has overcame their own mental health battles it is nice and encouraging to see that within Perth there is a safe environment for individuals to enhance their wellbeing through activities such as that of art. I enjoy seeing improvements within the clients such as that of improved self-esteem and confidence as it is always nice to know people are on the right track to recovery and a better wellbeing !”
To find out about current opportunities check out the Walled Garden and Wisecraft's Be the Change page: PKAVS Walled Garden & Wisecraft | Be the Change (Perth & Kinross)
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Grandmentors with Volunteering Matters
Grandmentors is an award-winning, inter-generational mentoring project for care experienced young people. The project operates in 15+ locations across the UK and launched for the first time in Perth and Kinross in 2022. They recruit, train and support volunteer mentors (normally but not exclusively aged 50+) who draw on their wealth of professional and personal life experience and skills to support young people (aged 16-25) through life transitions on their pathway to independence.
This is a story about the impact being a Grandmentor can have on a young person:
Adrian first met Matthew in May 2023. At 16, Matthew was living in long-term foster care, unsure of his future but unhappy with his current situation. Despite this uncertainty, he had shown leadership potential as a senior member of a local Officer Cadet company, guiding younger cadets. His main interests were gaming and his foster family’s dogs, but he had little engagement beyond that.
Having decided to leave school, Matthew had enrolled in a Business Administration course at a local college. Adrian encouraged him to make the most of his studies, but the course failed to inspire him. By March 2024, Matthew lost his place and was asked to leave his foster home. Social services arranged safe shared accommodation, but his future remained uncertain.
At this stage, Adrian and Matthew had built enough trust for honest conversations. “You need to take control of your life,” Adrian urged, encouraging Matthew to take ownership of his choices. These discussions, though challenging, gradually shifted Matthew’s outlook.
By September, there was a noticeable change. He had chosen a Game Development course, secured temporary work, and was learning programming in preparation. His newfound confidence was evident, and their mentoring relationship evolved into open, constructive discussions.
Adrian says: “Mentoring is a relationship somewhere between supportive friend, coach, champion and critic. At times you may be called on to be all four at once! Key is to first build trust. Coaching them to see their potential and all the world has to offer is hard, but be patient. When you see them start to achieve, then it all becomes so worthwhile."
Could you be the next Grandmentor?
Find out more and register your interest here: Volunteering Matters | Be the Change (Perth & Kinross)
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