Volunteering can positively impact your life.
It can help you build your confidence, expand your social circle, develop new skills, switch or begin your career, give back to your local community, make a difference and more!
But don't just take our word for it - hear from the volunteers themselves about their roles and what they get out of it.
Potential reasons to volunteer
Thinking about how you want to benefit from volunteering is a good start to finding an opportunity that’s right for you. You may volunteer to:
Care for local places
Make Your Mark connects you with organisations that preserve and celebrate Scotland’s places. You could have the opportunities to volunteer at historic, cultural and natural places like castles, monuments, buildings, parks and nature reserves.
Discover Scotland’s stories
Make Your Mark also connects you with organisations that research and educate people about Scotland’s history, culture and nature. You could have the opportunity to volunteer at archives, museums, galleries and local history societies and in nature.
Make a difference
By giving your time you’re helping the organisation you volunteer for, and you’re also helping the people, communities, animals or environments they represent. What turns that donation into an investment is that you get back far more than you give.
Learn new skills
Volunteering can help you learn new skills, such as public speaking, researching, greeting visitors and more. You can also gain experience in new roles like serving on a board, accessioning collections and leading tours.
Network with staff
If you’re interested in working in the heritage, environmental or cultural sectors, volunteering can be a great way to see what it’s like and talk to staff about their roles.
Meet new people
Volunteering can be a great opportunity to meet a range of different people and make new friends.
Be part of a community
Volunteering can help you feel part of something outside your friends and family.
Gain confidence
Volunteering can help you gain confidence by giving you the chance to try something new in a supportive environment.
Build your CV
The new skills and experiences that you gain while volunteering are great additions to any CV.
Have fun!
Most volunteers have a great time, regardless of why they do it.