About Us


“Volunteering is the giving of time and energy through a third party, which can bring measurable benefits to the volunteer, individual beneficiaries, groups and organisation, communities, the environment and society at large.  It is a choice undertaken of one’s own free will, and not motivated primarily for financial gain or for a wage or salary.”

Scottish Executive Volunteering Strategy - 2004


Volunteering Highland is a registered charity (Charity Number 023261) and a company limited by guarantee (Company Number 154920). 

In 1991 Volunteering Highland was set up as a project of the Inverness Council for Voluntary Service.  Then, in 1994, we received our own independent funding and became an organisation in our own right.

We are a network of Volunteer Centres across the Highlands of Scotland with our main office situated in the City of Inverness.  From each of our six Area Offices we deliver our core services throughout Inverness-shire, Ross-shire, Caithness, Lochaber, Nairn, and Badenoch and Strathspey.

Working across the voluntary, public and private sectors, we aim to raise the profile of volunteering as a powerful force for change in people’s lives.

We offer a volunteer recruitment service to appropriate organisations and provide information and advice to prospective volunteers.  


We promote good practice in volunteering through…

  • our consultancy services, networking, one-to-one support, advice, information and training
  • our identification of wider policy issues as they affect volunteering, and our address and response to these
  • our sustained commitment to the development and promotion of a volunteering policy in Local Government, Health Boards and NHS Trusts
  • our promotion of equal opportunities in organisations who work with volunteers
  • our striving to develop voluntary opportunities for individuals who may require extra support.


We promote and support volunteering locally and nationally…

  • by being an active participant in local and national networks
  • by developing, monitoring and evaluating strategies and methods for disseminating information about volunteering
  • by actively promoting ourselves as the natural resource for the ‘volunteering sector’ in Highland
  • by acting as a reference point for volunteering interests in Highland
  • by making use of local media and events to publicise volunteering


We develop wider opportunities for volunteering…

  • through continuing to develop the concept of employee volunteering in the Highlands.
  • through the Millennium Volunteer Project, promoting volunteering to young people and encouraging organisations to provide innovative and supportive placements for young people.
  • through being proactive in the development of new opportunities and projects involving volunteers.