Less than 850,000 adults in Scotland participated in formal volunteering in 2023.

Scotland’s national centre for volunteering has said it is deeply concerned about the further decline in volunteer participation in Scotland, as highlighted by the latest 2023 Scottish Household Survey results.

Volunteer Scotland shared their alarm after it was revealed less than 850,000 adults in Scotland participated in formal volunteering, with only 18% of Scotland’s adult population volunteering for an organisation or group in 2023. 

This is a 4% point decrease from 2022 and 8% below the pre-pandemic volunteer participation rate of 26% in 2019. 

This means that over a third of a million people (335,340) have stopped volunteering formally in Scotland since before the Covid-19 pandemic, and over 138,000 from 2022 to 2023.

Research published by Volunteer Scotland over the past year has demonstrated the continued impact of the Cost-of-Living crisis on people’s capacity to volunteer. 

Individuals’ capacity to volunteer has diminished, with less time and finance available, and volunteer recruitment continues to be a major issue for third sector organisations.

Volunteers are essential for ensuring Scotland’s communities function and thrive, and this positive impact is under threat due to this severe decline in volunteer participation, the organisation said. 

Alan Stevenson, CEO of Volunteer Scotland said: “We are gravely concerned by these latest results, which show a significant decline in volunteering. Investment in volunteering is needed now more than ever. 

“In the first instance, we call on the Scottish Government to prioritise fair funding for the Third Sector in the upcoming Scottish Budget and to maintain the PVG Fee Waiver for volunteers in qualifying voluntary organisations. 

“Volunteering is in crisis – the time to act is now.”