Refocussing on Participation

Priorities for increasing volunteer participation

Volunteer Scotland (VS) leads the Sector’s engagement with the Volunteering Action Plan (VAP) on behalf of the Scottish Government’s Third Sector Unit (SG TSU).

As part of their new five-year strategy, VS published this re-focus plan in September 2025 to outline their priorities for refocusing VAP actions related to volunteer participation. The plan will ensure partnerships and actions will address the challenges and opportunities highlighted within the current volunteering landscape. 

VAP was launched during the global pandemic as a 10-year living plan, designed to be flexible to respond to societal challenges. The action plan therefore initially pivoted to respond to the cost-of-living crisis. The aftermath triggered a decline in formal volunteer participation and it is now showing signs of optimistic recovery. We are now re-focusing VAP engagement to support continued growth in participation and will lead four priority actions:

Advocate to Scotland’s leaders to embed volunteering in policy and highlight its community impact.*

Bring a broad range of decision makers around the table to commit to partnerships and actions that will invest in volunteering.

Provide volunteer management support designed for a changing landscape.

Promote volunteering and its many benefits across Scotland.

Activities and timeline

Priority Action: Advocate to Scotland’s leaders to embed volunteering in policy and highlight its community impact.*

  • Activity 1.1: Promote the Volunteer Scotland Policy Manifesto
  • Detail: Policy areas co-agreed with the Volunteering Action Plan Policy Champions Network – these will be in our manifesto.
  • Timeline: Publishing w/c 6th October
  • Activity 1.2: Deliver VS election campaign ‘no volunteers, no community’
  • Detail: Exhibition stand at Scottish Parliament to raise awareness with Elected Members and Parliamentary staff that without volunteers, communities will not thrive.
  • Timeline: 1st - 4th Dec 2025
  • Activity 1.3: ‘No volunteers, No community’ event at Scottish Parliament in partnership with SCVO.
  • Detail: Promotion of manifesto points.
  • Timeline: 13th Jan 2026
  • Activity 1.4: Invite Scottish Government officials to engage in round tables and events outlined in priority action two and three.
  • Detail: Work with SG TSU to deliver engagement plan.
  • Timeline: Ongoing

* Civil servants must remain politically impartial and avoid any activity that could compromise their neutrality. This includes restrictions on participation in political activities.

Priority Action: Bring a broad range of decision makers around the table to commit to partnerships and actions that will invest in volunteering.

  • Activity 2.1: Assess relevance of VAP Action Groups and re-prioritise activities and outputs that focus on solutions to support continued growth.
  • Detail: Lead assessment sessions with VAP Governance Group, VAP MEL group and all Action Groups.
  • Timeline: By end of December 2025
  • Activity 2.2: Lead a sequence of round tables that will progress the following:
  1. Agree where to invest in the development of supported volunteering projects across Scotland to help people with additional barriers, including those with physical and mental health issues and new Scots, to access and sustain meaningful volunteering. Focus will be on national partnerships and outputs that can impact volunteer participation by collaborating and investing in programmes that introduce people to volunteering e.g. Social Prescribing, Employee Supported Volunteering, Employability Programmes, Community Health & Recovery Programmes, Social Impact Pledges. Delivery will follow on from VS’s current national partnership work to lead the development of a National Framework for Employee Supported Volunteering which aims to increase the awareness, understanding and participation in ESV.
  2. Identify data, assets, programmes or initiatives that can enhance the content of VS’s new Knowledge Gateway.
  3. Inform a high-level response plan to address youth volunteer engagement.
  • Detail: The following stakeholders will be invited to take part in round tables:
  • Third Sector leaders and funders
  • TSI network
  • VS Members and Stakeholders
  • Scottish Volunteering Forum
  • Investing in Volunteers achievers
  • Youth Intermediary organisations and young people
  • Existing & future volunteers to prioritise outcomes
  • Timeline Lead round tables between October 2025 and February 2026
  • Activity 2.3: Publish VAP round table report.
  • Detail: Share accountability plan and VS forward work plan.
  • Timeline: March 2026
  • Complete: View report here

Priority Action: Provide volunteer management support designed for a changing landscape.

  • Activity 3.1: VS are creating a Knowledge Gateway that will support Scotland's community of volunteer organisers by creating an open space to access and share sector-wide knowledge and expertise in one place. It will include:
  • Practical guidance, advice and tools.
  • Investing in Volunteers and The Volunteer Charter.
  • A new consultancy, training and research service.
  • A new volunteer organisers community membership.
  • Support for conferences, events and workshops.
  • Guidance, advice and tools provided by trusted suppliers.
  • Detail: Currently under design.
  • Timeline: Launched by the end of March 2026
  • Activity 3.2: Interactive VAP learning events series that focusing on education relating to increasing participation. More events will be added and the series is open to partners to provide additional events. Series begins online and culminates in a hybrid conference in Stirling.
  • Detail: Understanding the Trustee Journey with Brodies LLP and Changing the Chemistry.
  • Timeline: Trustees Week 3rd - 7th November
  • Detail: Understanding and adapting to the evolving nature and participation patterns of formal volunteering with Rob Jackson.
  • Timeline: 24th November
  • Detail: Inclusion in volunteering event with National Inclusion in Volunteering Group.
  • Timeline: TBC
  • Detail: National Framework for Employer Supported Volunteering (ESV) event & Framework launch event.
  • Timeline: February 10/11th at The Gathering (TBC) & end March 2026 for launch
  • Detail: National VAP Conference.
  • Timeline: 10th November 2026, Engine Shed, Stirling

Priority Action: Promote volunteering and its many benefits across Scotland.

  • Activity 4.1:The National Volunteer Recruitment Campaign launched in late 2024. VS will appoint a PR & Campaigns expert to help elevate the campaign into its next phase.
  • Detail:
  • Co-create an elevation plan between VS, SG TSU and sector stakeholders.
  • Consolidate partnerships with VIOs to promote themes of volunteering, focusing on the stories and wellbeing benefits of engaged volunteers.
  • Refresh the marketing and communications plan.
  • Identify and secure sponsorship and/or funding for media partners such as STV, BBC Scotland, Radio Broadcasters and Social Media Influencers.
  • Timeline: Elevation plan by January 2026.

Key outcomes and milestones checklist

During Q1 VS worked with SG TSU to ensure VS strategic priorities map to VAP, focusing on volunteer participation and supporting volunteering practitioners (paid or unpaid) to adapt to the changing landscape of volunteering.

During Q2 VS will work with SG TSU and the VAP Governance Group (GG) to agree actions that support the success and promotion of the re-focus.

During Q2 VS participated in a round table with Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Shirley Anne Somerville MSP that discussed the future of volunteering. VS will lead a series of follow-on round tables with Third Sector Leaders, TSI’s, VS members, volunteers and a range of stakeholders to identify partnerships and outcomes that will invest in volunteering.

By the end of Q3 VS will have worked with SG TSU and existing VAP Action Group members to assess group relevance and re-prioritise activities to support continued growth.

During Q3 VS will launch an event series focusing on increasing participation, culminating in a national conference.

By the end of March, publish round table report, actions and accountability plan.

VAP conference in November 2026