Post | March 2026 | Volunteer Stories | 2 min read

Why Volunteer?

Written by

The TSI is delighted to have hosted a student from the University of Dundee, Jay Stuart, who has helped us interview volunteers and their managers asking the question: Why Volunteer?

"I recently was given the opportunity to meet some of our volunteers and volunteer managers and interviewed them on why they chose to volunteer. My interviews took place in two PKAVS facilities. The Walled Garden and the Carers Centre.

Many people choose to give their time to help volunteer for many reasons. Margaret, a volunteer at the Carers Centre, spent her time being a carer for her husband for many years without much knowledge on how to help him. A local nurse introduced her to the free carers programme to get the help they both needed. She gained a lot of knowledge from this time and after her husband passed, she wanted to give back to those who helped her. She has been at the Carers Centre for two years now and absolutely loves spending her time there. She does not feel pressured to come in everyday and is a part of the local choir who have done concerts for different charities. Volunteering has made an incredibly positive difference to her life and advises anyone to volunteer. She urges only a few hours a week still helps the community and mentions the flexibility of the role - "The hours are very flexible so its fine if you have any appointments and cannot make it one week." The Carers Centre is full of lovely and welcoming staff and volunteers showing how only a small amount of your time can help make a difference. If you have any experience in caring, or want to gain some, it would be a wonderful way to get out of the house and help others.

At the Walled Garden, which focuses on mental health, David one of the peer support workers started as a client and become a volunteer for a few years before moving into a paid role. There are many opportunities available, including arts and crafts, health walks, trips, and gardening. There is lots of free training for staff and volunteers. Volunteers are vital in supporting roles for the running of the activities offered to the clients.

Janice is the recovery and development officer at the Walled Garden she oversees volunteer recruitment, management of volunteers and all-around support. There are currently 30 volunteers over two locations who have warmth and empathy and are willing to support the clients and have fun. The staff and Janice are open to feedback given by volunteers and want to make sure everyone is comfortable. People with lived experiences of mental health issues are very understanding of what they are doing at the Walled Garden.

There are many reasons why you should volunteer, if you have experience with what a certain charity is doing, if you want to help the community or any certain group, you should start volunteering! There is a lot going on in the world right now and if you can give a few hours of your time to support a cause then you should give it a go. You can volunteer through many organisations, community groups or your local charity shop. There are many volunteering opportunities available to join now through Be the change."

Jay Stuart.

Collage of photos showing a volunteer appreciation event held in the Walled Garden venue in Perth.

Mental Health and Wellbeing at PKAVS

| Volunteer Stories

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)

three people sitting on a bench with their backs to the camera looking at a beautiful countryside view

Grandmentors with Volunteering Matters

| Volunteer Stories

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)

Findlay

| Volunteer Stories

Meet Findlay Findlay initially went to CATH's charity shop to volunteer as part of the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award and is still volunteering with them over 8 years later! Recently graduating with a degree in Art and Contemporary Practices he's a keen artist, and particularly enjoys works from the Impressionist movement. He has seen an exhibition of one of his favourite painters, Claude Monet, at the National Gallery. As well as being creative, he enjoys a physical game of volleyball and plays for his University team who recently reached the Varsity final. While volunteering for CATH, he enjoys meeting new people, helping others and engaging with the community. Findlay recommends volunteering to everyone as a great way to interact with the community and learn new things. He says "I definitely recommend volunteering, it's not like a job, it's fun and it gets you out the house for a few hours. I enjoy engaging with other people and it's helped develop my social skills over the years." If Findlay's story inspires you to try out volunteering with CATH, visit their Be the Change profile here.

Post | March 2026 | Volunteer Stories | 2 min read

Why Volunteer?

Written by

Jay Stuart

The TSI is delighted to have hosted a student from the University of Dundee, Jay Stuart, who has helped us interview volunteers and their managers asking the question: Why Volunteer?

Jay Stuart.