The 3 easiest ways to get started in volunteering are:
Local Volunteer Centres - there are 32 Volunteer Centre’s in Scotland; one for every local authority. By contacting a local Volunteer Centre you can arrange an appointment with an advisor who will discuss with you what you want to get out of your placement and can then help you find an opportunity you will enjoy! To find the contact details for your nearest Volunteer Centre check out the Volunteer Scotland website.
Volunteer Scotland Website – this website contains nearly 10000 voluntary opportunities; looking for over 12000 volunteers. By using the search engine on their website you can look for different opportunities near your postcode.
Young Scot WOW – our ‘What’s on Where’ website is also a great way to find out about voluntary opportunities in your area. Find out what exciting volunteering opportunities are happening near you!
These are not the only ways to become a volunteer! There may be a specific area of voluntary work that you want to get involved in – especially if you’re looking to get experience for a related career. If that’s the case there may be organisations in this field that you could contact about the possibility of a voluntary placement.
You may want to base your volunteering around a particular charity that you have an interest in - in which case it may be best to contact that charity directly to discuss your options for getting involved.
If you are looking on the internet for ways to volunteer then take the time to check that the information is reliable and up-to-date. Try and investigate as much as possible about the individual and organisation before you agree to work with them