Local Volunteer Centres
The benefits of volunteering can be enormous. By dedicating your time and abilities, not only are you contributing to your community, you can also gain as much as you give. Volunteering can offer opportunities to meet new people and work on social skills. It can give you the chance to gain career experience through developing and practising both work place and life skills.
Would you like to volunteer but don’t know where to start? If you are interested in becoming a volunteer then there are a few things you might want to consider before you start. Why do you want to volunteer? What do you enjoy doing? How much time am I willing to commit?
Local Volunteer Centres throughout Scotland provide a range of services:
- information, support, guidance and advice to individuals who are either looking to volunteer or already do
- support with searching for and applying to opportunities within your area
- training opportunities and peer support
Volunteer Scotland provides a wealth of information on volunteering opportunities. They also provide a list of local volunteer support organisations.
Volunteering Projects
Can Do is a project ran by Leonard Cheshire offers opportunities for 16 to 35‑year-old disabled people to volunteer in their community. Currently the project is running in Edinburgh, Dumfries and Glasgow.
Tel: 020 7112 1489.
Project Scotland is a charity that partner’s young people aged 16 to 30 with volunteering opportunities through Scotland. They provide information on volunteering opportunities within your area, will arrange a first meeting with a charity and support you through 3 months of volunteering with a mentor.
Tel: 0131 281 7364
Volunteering Matters offer a range of volunteering programmes including specific opportunities for disabled people, older people, young people and families.
Tel: 03300 555283 or email scotinfo@volunteeringmatters.org.uk
Do-it.org is the UK’s national volunteering database. They lists over 1 million volunteering opportunities that are posted by volunteer centres, national/local charities and voluntary groups.
Reach aim to connect charities with skilled volunteers.
Information last updated on 13 March 2024. Please note that information may be subject to change. All information is provided in good faith but Disability Information Scotland does not endorse any product or service referred to within this resource.
If you would like this information guide in another version then please contact us and we will post or email you a copy.
Education, Training and Employment, Holidays & Leisure, Training & Employment:Frequently Asked Questions
Through our helpline we receive enquiries spanning a wide range of different topics. Here is a selection of those most asked:
I am going on holiday, how do I hire a mobility scooter or wheelchair?
Shopmobility have members throughout the UK who rent out wheelchairs and scooters to help people access shopping centres and leisure activities. You can find a list of their members here Find a ShopMobility Centre | ShopMobility UK
In Wales, Northern Ireland and England you may be able to rent a wheelchair from the Red Cross Rent or hire a wheelchair | British Red Cross
The website Mobility Equipment Hire Direct connects you to commercial suppliers in the UK and across the world.
You can search for local providers in Scotland using our Scottish Disability Directory or contact us and one of our information workers can help you search.
Helpline: 0300 323 9961
For further information on hiring equipment away from home check out our Accessible Holidays Information Guide
Education, Training and Employment, Holidays & Leisure, Training & Employment:Search for Local Organisations
Our quick search tool can connect you to over 3000 service providers, suppliers and organisations supporting people across Scotland. To find support near you, simply enter your search term and select your local authority.
Organisation | Description |
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Working Families | Details for scottish office below Mission Our mission is to remove the barriers that people with caring responsibilities face in the workplace. We drive positive change by supporting and advocating for working parents and carers, collaborating with emp… |
Workplace Bullying Information Line (Scotland) | Provides information and resources on workplace bullying |
www.edinburgh.org | Website providing information on holidays, holiday accommodation and tourist information in Edinburgh |
Yellow Card Centre Scotland | Aims: The mission of the Yellow Card Centre Scotland is to enhance and safeguard the public’s health in Scotland by ensuring that the adverse effects of medicines are minimised. To meet this objective they seek to: Raise the profile of adverse drug rea… |
Young Scot InfoLine | Website providing information for young people over the age of 16, on everything from health to money |
Your Options Understood | Y.O.U. provide a range of services including advocacy, staff training, consultancy, SDS Advice and can assist in facilitating a Person Centred Plan for individuals with disabilities and their families |
Your Passport to a Smooth Journey | A guide aimed at making journeys by air as smooth and trouble free as possible |
Your rights to fly – what you need to know | A step by step guide for disabled and less mobile passengers |
yourlocalcinema.com | Website listing subtitled and audio-described cinema screenings |
Youth Cancer Trust | Services provided: Youth Cancer Trust provides free therapeutic wellbeing holidays and secure online support for teenagers and young adults (aged 14 to 30) living with and beyond cancer. The holidays take place in Dorset. |