New Term. New Focus. The YouthVIP Youth Volunteering in Schools Resource is packed with practical support to help schools in Scotland make volunteering more accessible and meaningful for young people. Explore the resource at: https://www.youthvip.scot/ YouthLink Scotland

Autumn is almost here and it’s time to take action for Scotland’s wildlife. Volunteering Matters Action Earth grants of £250 are available to help volunteer-led projects in Scotland protect and restore local biodiversity through the winter. Find out more www.volunteeringmatters.org.uk/action-earth

Grandmentors is an amazing project, built on something simple but incredibly powerful: trust, consistency and human connection. It shows what can happen when someone has a consistent person in their corner. Someone who listens and is there for the journey. www.volunteeringmatters.org.uk.

This #InternationalYouthDay, we’re celebrating young people shaping the future of volunteering in Scotland and we’ve got something exciting coming! The revamped YouthVIP website officially launches next Tuesday and we can’t wait for you to see what we’ve been working on. #YouthDay

This International Youth Day, we’re celebrating young people shaping the future of volunteering in Scotland. Visit the YouthVIP website and explore our YouthVIP in Action case studies to hear their stories in their own words: www.youthvip.scot #InternationalYouthDay #YouthDay

Today, on #InternationalYouthDay, we’re celebrating the energy, ideas and leadership of young people. Young people are not just the leaders of tomorrow. They are leading change. #YouthDay #SocialAction #Volunteering

What kind of country and community do you want to live in? The National Conversation is one of the biggest listening exercises in a generation, giving people across the UK the chance to share their views on the future of our communities.Find out more and take part: www.national-conversation.ox.ac.uk

Could you help a family thrive? We're looking for caring, compassionate volunteers to become Family Supporters in Edinburgh and Family Mentors in Southend and Greenwich. Find out more and register your interest at https://volunteeringmatters.org.uk/volunteer-with-us/

A special shout-out to Mike. For the past nine years, Mike has supported Flintshire Befrienders, by lending a hand whenever it has been needed. Here he is cutting the grass at Holway. It is just one example of the many ways he has helped our community. #PowerOfVolunteering

Last week, we were delighted to join St Martin's Centre in Byker, Newcastle, to celebrate an incredible 20 years of supporting local people. It was inspiring to hear the centre's journey, from transforming an old church building into the vibrant community hub it is today.

Our Chief Executive, Amanda Naylor OBE, reflects on the publication of the Growing Up Online report and why meaningful participation matters, especially when difficult policy decisions are made. Read the blog: https://volunteeringmatters.org.uk/listening-matters-even-when-decisions-are-difficult/

A single social media post can change someone's day. It could introduce them to a volunteering opportunity, inspire them to support a local community, or encourage them to take that first step towards making a difference. This #SocialMediaGivingDay, we're asking for a share of one of our posts.

This week, #iWill Ambassadors facilitated a Public Health Hack in Ipswich, bringing together 200 young people to explore public health challenges and develop ideas for change. When we create space for young people to lead, listen and collaborate, we build stronger communities together.

We're delighted to share that Volunteering Matters will continue delivering Volunteer Centre Newcastle until 2029. Looking to volunteer or need support for your organisation? Find out more at www.volunteercentrenewcastle.org.uk.

What a special week for Volunteering Matters. We were delighted to nominate 20 of our incredible volunteers, along with a guest each, to attend the Royal Garden Party at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh. Congratulations to everyone who attended, and thank you for everything you do.

Look at the impact Action Earth is having across Scotland. Last year, our #ActionEarth programme supported 3,609 people through 129 environmental volunteering projects. An incredible 1,559 volunteers (43%) took part for the first time, discovering new ways to connect with nature.

For many care-experienced young people, the move into adulthood can feel uncertain and isolating. In 2025/26, Grandmentors supported 339 care-experienced young people and created 169 new mentoring relationships. Find out more about Grandmentors at www.volunteeringmatters.org.uk/grandmentors

QBE volunteers spent the afternoon at Age UK Leeds Community Hub hosting an afternoon tea for older members of the community. Volunteering doesn't have to be complicated to make a difference. Sometimes, taking the time to sit down, listen and share a smile can mean the world. #CorporateVolunteering

We're proud to celebrate two incredible volunteers who have been awarded MBEs in the King's Birthday Honours - Joe Knowles MBE and Colin Mason MBE. Congratulations to Joe and Colin on this well-deserved recognition and thank you for everything you have done and continue to do. #BirthdayHonours

We're proud to be supporting Pride in Place in Ipswich, helping local people shape the future of Stoke Park & Chantry and Whitehouse. Through community engagement, we'll be supporting residents to help shape investment in their neighbourhoods. https://volunteeringmatters.org.uk/pride-in-place/

Congratulations to Peter who has been named Fostering London Volunteer of the Year! Peter volunteers as a driver, with our Milton Keynes Driver Service, helping a young person in foster care travel to see their family each week. #PowerOfVolunteering

It’s been a week of celebrating the power of volunteering – from #VolunteersWeek and #PowerOfYouthDay to #TheBigLunch and #TheBigHelpOut. As these celebrations draw to a close, our CEO, Amanda Naylor OBE, has a simple message: Thank you. #CommonGround

#VolunteersWeek is always a special time for our Mentoring and Supported Volunteering (MSV) project in Dundee, Scotland. This year, we brought everyone together for a Self-Care and Regulation Workshop, with plenty of coffee, cake and convo. It was our way of saying a big thank you!

Some of our incredible Family Supporters Edinburgh volunteers came together for a lovely lunch in Saughton Park to celebrate Volunteers’ Week and we were delighted to be joined by our trustee, Julie-Anne Jamieson. To every one of our volunteers – thank you #VolunteersWeek #TheBigLunch #TheBigHelpOut

This weekend, communities across the UK are coming together for The Big Lunch and The Big Help Out, celebrating the power of connection, kindness and volunteering. Thank you to everyone giving their time, building connections and making a difference in their communities this weekend. #VolunteersWeek

As part of #VolunteersWeek, it was great to be at the Volunteer Fair in Merthyr Tydfil, meeting local people and sharing information about our Welcome Friends project. A big thank you to everyone who stopped by for a chat. We loved hearing your stories and sharing ways to get involved.

As we celebrate Volunteers' Week, we're delighted to recognise the first-ever RSVP Volunteering Award winners! These awards shine a spotlight on the incredible volunteers and projects that make such a difference in communities across the UK.

Volunteering creates change in every corner of the UK and employee volunteers play an important role in making that happen. Read how employee volunteers are making a difference this #VolunteersWeek: https://volunteeringmatters.org.uk/volunteers-week-employee-volunteering-in-action/

Yesterday, we were delighted to be at Newcastle Cathedral, together with local charities and community organisations looking for new volunteers. Could volunteering be your next step? Explore a range of opportunities on GoVo: https://govo.org/ #VolunteersWeek

This #VolunteersWeek, we'd like to give a huge thank you to The Out of the Blue, Leith for the incredible support they've given our volunteers this year. From the kitchen to the print studio, our young volunteers have had the opportunity to develop new skills and build confidence.