Formal figures show the number increases to 25%.
Leading Scottish volunteering bodies are cautiously optimistic that volunteer participation in Scotland is showing early signs of recovery after a period of decline.
After formal volunteer participation dropped to its lowest recorded level of 18% in 2023, the latest Scottish Household Survey results for 2024 show positive changes, with 25% of adults in Scotland volunteering with a group, club or organisation in 2024. This means the number of volunteers in Scotland increased by 331,000 between 2023 and 2024.
These results point to the beginning of recovery for Scotland’s voluntary sector following the Covid-19 pandemic and cost of living crisis, with the formal volunteer participation rate just one-percentage point shy of the rate of 26% in 2019.
Volunteer Scotland are particularly encouraged to see a nine-percentage point increase in formal volunteering among the 16-34 age group.
While Volunteer Scotland welcomes the increase in volunteer participation, they say we must not lose sight of the challenges facing Scotland’s volunteers and voluntary sector.
Analysis of the 2024 Scottish Household Survey data shows us that inclusion and equity of access to formal volunteer opportunities remains a priority for the sector.
While volunteer participation is up across all demographic groups, inclusion gaps are widening not closing.
Similarly, the volunteering participation gap for people living in Scotland’s most deprived communities and least deprived has increased from 12-percentage points to 15-percentage points, despite an increase in both groups.
It is important that everyone is able to access volunteering and is included in the many varied benefits of volunteering – including a wellbeing uplift of up to £1,000 per volunteer, per year for those who volunteer weekly with a group or organisation.
Alan Stevenson, CEO of Volunteer Scotland said: “The latest results indicate that while formal volunteering participation is starting to recover, stimulating volunteering participation and ensuring that volunteering is an inclusive experience, is and will remain our focus.
“As part of our new five-year strategy, we have worked with the Scottish Government to publish our re-focus plan for the national Volunteering Action Plan. It outlines our priorities for volunteer participation and will ensure partnerships and actions will address the challenges and opportunities highlighted within the current volunteering landscape.”
Read Debbie Maltman and Bethany Sikes of Volunteer Scotland analyse the figures here
