​Volunteer Edinburgh's event is expected to attract over a thousand potential volunteers to charities, social enterprises, and the public sector

Scotland's biggest celebration of volunteering is set to return to the capital in September.

Volunteer Edinburgh, as well as 50+ voluntary organisations, will highlight the thousands of opportunities that the public has to get involved in charities and community groups on 21st September 2016 at St Paul’s and St Georges Church on York Place.

Entry to Scotland’s leading volunteer recruitment fair is free to the public, and more than a thousand visitors are expected to attend.

Making the choice to give your time and expertise to help others is a positive and meaningful commitment

This year, in addition to representation from a wide-range of organisations looking for volunteers, there will be free special learning zone workshops happening throughout the day.

When visitors need to sit down after taking in all this new information, there’s a café serving delicious food and drink run by Bespoke Organic Events (boe), an Edinburgh based social enterprise.

Paul Wilson, chief officer of Volunteer Edinburgh, said: "Volunteering has many benefits, from helping people build new skills and getting a taste of different working environments to creating new friendships and boosting confidence and wellbeing.

"For those seeking a route into work, volunteering also adds skills to CVs as well as providing valuable work experience and up-to-date references.

"Making the choice to give your time and expertise to help others is a positive and meaningful commitment, with big rewards for the volunteer and the organisation or clients that the volunteer donates their time to. The volunteer recruitment fair is the perfect way to match those who want to make the best use of their time with those who will benefit from their input. It’s also an opportunity to publicise Edinburgh’s vibrant third sector community."