The Saltire Awards

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.

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

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.