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It's that time of year again, SCVO's Scottish Charity Awards are back for 2026! The awards are free to enter and there are multiple award categories to showcase your achievements, including Volunteer of the Year. Get your nominations in now! Who can enter? All types of Scottish voluntary organisations and groups, including registered charities, social enterprises, campaigning groups, community interest companies and people involved in those spaces can apply. Award categories: We have a range of nine award categories celebrating projects and campaigns, individuals, climate action, and more. Please note that applications are limited to one per organisation across all categories. We'd encourage you to contact your colleagues to ensure that only one application is submitted on behalf of your organisation. Closing date: Applications will close at 12 noon on Tuesday 17 March. Every finalist will also be gifted two complimentary tickets to attend our celebratory awards ceremony on Thursday 11 June at the Radisson Blu, Glasgow. Last year, Perth and Kinross boasted shortlisted charities such as Letham4all, Perthshire Women's Aid and YMCA Tayside. Who knows what could be achieved this year!

As it is the International Year of Volunteering for Sustainable Development, we thought we would help you out with new tags for activities and organisations to let you know which Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) you are supporting by volunteering with them! Volunteers can filter for particular SDGs with the search tool. Organisations can add SDGs to new activities and add SDGs to existing activities by clicking 'edit' and scrolling to the bottom of the page. Organisations can also edit their profile to now include SDGs. Don't forget that you can link your Saltire Awards with SDGs aswell. Want to know more about the Sustainable Development Goals? Follow this link: Overcoming the World's Challenges - The Global Goals Visit the Deedmob Knowledge Hub page to help you get started with your SDG's on Be the Change: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as filters 

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

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.

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?

Here at Be the Change we are all about volunteering. We know what makes it great, but how do we convince others? We tell stories! Volunteers telling us about their journey into volunteering and what they get out of it. Staff telling us how they began as a volunteer and then loved it so much they took a job when it came round. Young people, old people, new people, pillars of the community all getting together to Be the Change. All of these stories are what connect us and remind others of the benefits of volunteering. So, how do you 'Be the Change'? Fill in our feedback form now to be in with a chance to win a £30 Amazon Voucher. Closing date 21st of May.

Be the Change is officially a year old! We would like to say a massive thank you to the 80 organisations and nearly 500 users who have registered with us so far. Over 150 volunteering activities have been advertised on our platform and organisations have received over 160 applications directly through the platform. With opportunities from Kinross to Pitlochry, Comrie to Alyth and beyond, our reach is only growing. While opportunities in Communities and Family are the most popular roles, there are also opportunities in areas such as wellbeing, education, poverty reduction, people with disabilities, sport and recreation, animal welfare and nature and sustainability and more! There is something for everyone so make sure to have a look. Help us be the change and reach more potential volunteers in year 2!

Welcome back Be the Changers! I hope you had a wonderful festive season. Looking for a New Year's resolution? Why not try a new volunteering role! This winter, keep warm and make a difference by volunteering through Be the Change Live. Join us for this virtual event where you can explore various volunteer opportunities from the comfort of your own home. Whether you want to give back, learn something new, or meet new people, there's something here for everyone! Tune into five organisations' presentations, learn more about them, their volunteering opportunities and get a chance to chat to the organisations directly through our break out rooms. Join us at Be the Change Live to connect with organisations, find out what roles they have available, and find something that suits you!

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.

One benefit of volunteering is that it offers an opportunity to make an impact without the stress or commitment that comes with employment. To ensure volunteering lives up to these standards, Volunteer Scotland has set out a Volunteer Charter identifying ten key principles for organisations to follow. These principles relate to: Ensuring volunteering is voluntary, not compulsory Covering out-of-pocket expenses to keep volunteering accessible for all Offering training and development opportunities to volunteers Maintaining a clear distinction between paid staff and volunteers Individuals and organisations across sectors with an interest in volunteering are invited to become Charter Champions , signalling their commitment to these values. You can find other advice about volunteering best practices at Third Sector PK .

Millions of people are getting ready to take part in the return of the UK’s biggest ever mass volunteering campaign. Mark your calendars for 7-9 June and see if you can lend a hand for a few hours during the The Big Help Out 2024. The goal of the The Big Help Out is to raise awareness of volunteering throughout the UK and give people the chance to try volunteering in their own communities. This campaign is a great opportunity for people and voluntary organisations to form meaningful connections while taking part in a wider social movement! Volunteer managers can learn how to make the most of this opportunity with resources from Third Sector PK .

What barriers do people face when volunteering, and what are the possible solutions? These are the questions a Volunteer Strategy seeks to answer! TSI (Perth & Kinross) is currently working on the Volunteer Strategy for Perth & Kinross, 2024-2027. A Volunteer Strategy is a plan that benefits volunteer-involving organisations and volunteers in the present and future. It creates a shared understanding of the issues volunteering faces and the priorities and actions needed to effect positive change. We've been working to developing the aims and objectives of a local Volunteer Strategy with input from cross-sector partners and organisations themselves. We are grateful to the employees and volunteers in the voluntary sector who shared their thoughts with us in the consultation stage of this project. We look forward to sharing this Strategy with the wider public in summer 2024. For more information, please visit Third Sector PK or keep up with us on your preferred social media channel.