Where can I find opportunities?
We’re currently working behind-the-scenes to develop a dedicated one-stop-shop for history, culture and nature volunteering opportunities in Scotland, so watch this space!
In the meantime, you can find opportunities through local and national volunteering platforms:
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Local volunteer centres: There are Third Sector Interfaces (TSI) in each local authority area in Scotland. They are the connecting link between third sector organisations, such as charities, social enterprises and community groups, and the public. Your TSI will be able to advise you on volunteering opportunities in your area, and many have local online volunteering portals that you can use to search for opportunities.
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Volunteer Scotland: An online volunteering portal that features volunteering opportunities that are available across multiple local authority areas in Scotland.
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GoVo: An online UK-wide volunteering portal with a variety of opportunities.
What sorts of things can I do?
Our members involve volunteers to do a range of different tasks:
Conservation and environmental action
Tasks that involve looking after natural environments and outdoor spaces. For example, maintaining paths or green spaces, helping with habitat restoration or tree planting, supporting wildlife surveys or monitoring, etc.
Visitor experience and public engagement
Tasks that focus on welcoming visitors and helping people enjoy and connect with places and activities. For example, greeting visitors, providing information, leading guided tours, etc.
Learning and education
Tasks that help people learn through activities, events or programmes. For example, supporting school visits, helping run family or community activities, helping deliver learning sessions, etc.
Collections, archives and documentation
Tasks that involve preserving, organising and sharing objects, records or information. For example, digitising documents or photographs, supporting archive organisations, entering data into systems, transcribing oral history, etc.
Communications and digital
Tasks that support how organisations share information and connect with audiences, both online and offline. For example, creating social media content, writing blog posts, taking photos or videos, updating websites, etc.
Events and festivals
Tasks that help plan and deliver events, festivals and public programmes. For example, stewarding attendees or managing crowds, helping performers or speakers, setting up or cleaning up event spaces, helping run activities or stalls, etc.
Operational and administrative
Tasks that support the day-to-day running of an organisation behind-the-scenes. For example, answering emails, helping organise files or systems, supporting general administrative tasks.
Boards and committees
Tasks that involve helping guide and oversee an organisation’s strategy and direction. For example, serving as a trustee, joining an advisory group, helping with decision-making, supporting governance and oversight, bringing professional skills (e.g. finance, legal, HR).
What are some key terms to know when searching for opportunities?
If you’re looking for volunteering opportunities with history, culture and nature organisations, we’ve listed and defined some useful words and phrases you may want to know and use in your search.
Organisations may use different terms, so trying a mix of the below can help you find more roles.
General
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Heritage: Many organisations use the term “heritage” internally to describe organisations, roles or tasks connected to culture, nature and history. You may see this word in volunteer adverts or role descriptions, even though it is less commonly used in everyday language.
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Historic environment: This term is also widely used internally by organisations to refer to historic places such as buildings, monuments, archaeological sites and landscapes shaped by people over time.
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Built environment: This term refers to buildings and structures made by people, including historic buildings, monuments and infrastructure.
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Intangible, living and cultural heritage: These terms refer to traditions, languages, music, folklore, stories and other cultural practices that are not physical but are important to communities.
Activities
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Archaeology: This term relates to the study of people from the past, and trying to understand who they were and how they lived through the evidence they left behind.
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Cataloguing: This term refers to recording information about objects, documents or collections so they can be organised and understood.
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Citizen science: This term refers to when members of the public take part in scientific research, for example by recording wildlife or collecting data.
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Collections: This term refers to groups of objects and artefacts cared for by museums, galleries and historic or cultural organisations.
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Curation: The term refers to the process of selecting, organising and presenting objects and stories for exhibitions and displays, both physical and digital.
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Conservation: This term generally means looking after and protecting places. In the context of the built environment, it refers to maintaining historic buildings, monuments and structures so they are not damaged or lost. In the context of the natural environment, it refers to protecting and caring for habitats and wildlife.
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Engagement and outreach: These terms refer to activities that involve people in events and activities. Engagement is a broad term for involving people and communities, while outreach often focuses on reaching new audiences, such as by encouraging people to visit a place for the first time.
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Fieldwork: This term refers to practical tasks carried out outdoors or on site, such as surveying wildlife, conducting archaeological digs or surveying historic buildings.
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Front of house: This term refers to roles involving welcoming visitors, answering questions or helping out at reception areas.
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Interpretation: This term refers to the process of explaining and sharing information about places, people and objects.
Any other questions about how to get involved?
We'd love to hear from you!