Browse Organisations

Alzheimer Scotland provides a wide range of specialist services for people with dementia and their carers. We offer personalised support services, community activities, information and advice, at every stage of the dementia journey.

ApparelXchange is a Glasgow based social enterprise dedicated to school uniform and school aged childrens' clothes for re-use and recycling.

We work in partnership with schools and communities across Glasgow to develop services that collect, sort, clean, repair, sell and re-distribute school uniform.

We also give FREE clothing parcels to families in need. Parcels given through referal from schools and social work departments.

We’re one of the largest homelessness and care transition organisation in Scotland and we focus on supporting amazing people and families with a lot of complex issues going on in their lives. Our Foundations are Love and Hope and our Mission is To Empower People to Thrive, so we aim to be a Springboard to Success not a Safety Net in Crisis.

What we do, we do with and out of love. We appreciate each person’s own circumstances, their journey and the future they want to make for themselves.

Hope is the thing that helps you keep going; without it we have nothing. 

We raise funds in the UK for the most vulnerable children in Romania and provide specialist hospice care, education, community outreach and respite care for children, their families and carers in Romania through our sister charity Coppi in Dificultate.

We have people who sponsor the children on a monthly bases to help try cover the cost of their care, however we do hold fundraising events throughout the year, ranging from Gala's, to bake sales, fun days and more. Each year we also run our annual shoebox appeal and we have people all over the UK collecting and creating wonderful shoeboxes to gift to the vulnerable families and children in Romania. Most years we are able to give at least 4000 a Christmas shoebox.

This year celebrates the charities 35 year anniversary and we are hoping to expand our supporter and volunteer base.

We recruit and train volunteers so they can get involved by working alongside us on our various projects. It is a great opportunity that develops skills and improves employability.

We create and run projects which address the needs of minority groups. These intiatives help us reach out to the people within the community.

We conduct research into issues which affect people’s access to services, rights, or opportunities, particularly action research with researchers from the community.

Girlguiding Glasgow supports over 2500 young members across the city to grow in confidence, be amibtious, have fun and be a powerful force for good.

Glasgow Film Festival 26 February – 9 March 2024

Launched in 2005, Glasgow Film Festival is now one of the biggest events in the UK with audience numbers in excess of 42,000 and a well-respected programme of World, European and UK premieres. Over our 21 years of operation, we have welcomed a host of guests to the festival, which have included Viggo Mortensen, Richard Gere, Lynne Ramsay, Emily Watson, Jack O’Connell, Simon Pegg, Don Letts, David Tennant, Karen Gillan, Jessie Buckley, Ben Wheatley and many others.

Our approach is 'up close and personal' where audiences and creative industry practitioners get the opportunity to meet filmmakers from around the world. We are passionate about cross sector collaborations and partnerships and our unique ‘pop-up cinema’ events are a model of innovative programming.

Our Industry programme is at the heart of the festival, creating a bustling hub of activity for emerging and developing screen practitioners. This is where we forge connections, share fresh new thinking and nurture diverse filmmakers of tomorrow.

During the festival, the majority of screenings will be held at Glasgow Film Theatre (GFT) on Rose Street, but we like to use many other venues across the city to deliver our screenings and events.

And none of this could happen without you!

We rely on friendly faces to generate a welcoming atmosphere in our venues and at our events and parties. Whether you’re a film buff with free time on your hands, someone keen to gain experience, or are simply looking to get out and meet new people – there are many reasons to get involved.

Every year,  RDA Glasgow Group provides equine therapy to around 400 children and adults with disabilities from across the Greater Glasgow area. We provide 36 hours of riding and carriage driving sessions per week and rely on the help of over 100 volunteers to deliver our service.

Balancing on a horse works core muscles, and the horse’s movement mimics a walking pattern in the muscles of the rider, which provides a highly effective form of physiotherapy. It also offers psychological benefits. This combination of physical and psychological benefits makes equine therapy appropriate for a very wide range of disabilities, from autism and Asperger’s to cerebral palsy, visual or hearing impairments to learning disabilities.

The aim of our classes is to teach to new skills and foster independence by encouraging riders to take charge of their horse. Riding takes place in small classes indoors or outdoors, depending on the weather.  Our activities allow riders to experience the physical, sensory and psychological benefits that riding offers, which in turn helps to increase confidence and self-esteem. The tea bar provides a space for parents and carers to share experiences while riders are in classes.

Glasgow Life is a charity that delivers cultural, sporting and learning activities on behalf of Glasgow City Council. In doing so we aim to make a positive impact on individuals, the communities in which they live and the city as a whole. We deliver a range of services including arts, music, sports, events and festivals, libraries, community development and learning programmes. In addition, we manage 167 buildings including Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum and the Emirates Arena and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.

Glasgow Students' Nightline is a member of the national Nightline Association. This ensures that our Nightline is operating according to best practice as decided on by the Nightline Association, mental health professionals, legal advisors, the Samaritans, and the Helplines Partnership.

One of our services is our Family Support Service which supports families to build on existing strengths and experience as a parent to help overcome challenges they are facing and build resilience to face future challenges. 

We help with - Family routines, Parenting support, Groups to meet other parents and share information

Location: we have volunteering opportunities for students Scotland wide. Our ambition is a future where every person with sight loss has the confidence and support they need to live their lives to the full. We are aiming to reach and support many more individuals over the next few years, from 200,000 people today, to 500,000 by 2023. We are keen to diversify our volunteers, and attract younger volunteers, such as as a student population. Volunteering for Guide Dogs is rewarding and will offer skill development to increase employability and add to your CV.

Head Up! is all about making higher education more accessible for disabled and disadvantaged students through online advice, resources, Q&As, and, significantly, through our mentoring programme. We match disabled students and graduates with GCSE and A Level students who are often isolated in school in order to share the support and solidarity from which we feel we have benefitted from at university. We're looking to recruit mentors who are university students or graduates who have a disability, physical and/or mental health conditions, specific learning difficulties or are neurodivergent (can self-ID!). We ask mentors to offer just an hour of their time per month - through our virtual mentoring sessions, our incredible mentors support young people navigating disability and education, giving them advice, confidence and solidarity.

We are looking for students who would like to work in the arts to volunteer with us to learn about how our innovative charity organisation functions and to build your CV. 

Inclusive Homework Club (IHWC) was founded by a committee in May 2018 and officially registered as a Scottish Charity in June 2020.

IHWC's primary objective is to offer educational support to school aged children with a particular focus on the vulnerable groups of people in Glasgow area and provisions of adult courses. Furthermore, we aim to ensure every child in the club receives individualized learning support to reach their full potential.

IHWC is designed to assist students in not only completing their school assignments but also to provide supplementary educational opportunities after school hours covering subjects like English, Maths, and more.

In addition to supporting children academically, IHWC also helps adult members of its community acquire both language and computer skills, which also facilitates the support of children in education.

Since its establishment, IHWC has significantly expanded its services to benefit its community members. These expansions include holiday sports programs, indoor and outdoor activities tailored for both children and adults, and various other initiatives.

IHWC remains dedicated to fulfilling its mission of enhancing the education of children and adults in line with its stated purpose.

IntoUniversity is an education organisation that provides local learning centres where young people are inspired to achieve. It is a welcoming home-from-home for young people: a safe space to learn, explore and succeed. Each local centre offers an innovative programme that supports young people aged seven and up to realise their ambitions, achieve their academic potential, develop vital skills and gain experience of the world of work.

IntoUniversity has been working at the heart of communities since 2002, and now operates 35 learning centres in 18 UK towns and cities. We have ambitious plans to expand to 41 centres by 2024 and work with thousands more young people in need of our support.
 

Make Do & Grow is a social enterprise based in Glasgow dedicated to supporting families, reducing waste, and promoting sustainable living. We provide affordable clothing, toys, and resources for children while encouraging creativity and environmental responsibility through workshops and community events.

Our name reflects our desire to encourage creating, making and doing as a means to strengthen communities and individual families. To ‘make-do’ is also to manage the best way possible with the resources to hand, reflecting our sustainable reuse ethos.

Our beautiful reuse children’s shop sits half way down Burleigh Street in the centre of Govan, Glasgow. Just two minute’s walk from the bus and tube station, the space is designed to look and feel like a boutique toy shop. The shop is complete with dress-up station, chalkboard wall and comfy story time arm chair. Toys are laid out at child height, so play and chat is positively encouraged.

The warm glow at the rear of the shop is our colourful creative workspace, where fun and engaging arts and crafts await. All craft activities reuse scrap and household items, and allow children to learn new skills while making new friends.

MCR Pathways works in all Glasgow’s secondary schools and in schools in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Edinburgh, North Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire and West Dunbartonshire. The programme supports almost 2,000 young people each week. MCR supports them to find, grow and use their own talents and skills.

Merry-go-round Glasgow is a social enterprise and charity in the Southside. We support local families with high quality, low cost children’s goods, and through inclusive events and workshops. We have a boutique style shop in Strathbungo selling everything baby. We run an events programme, and we work with over 140 agencies across the city to provide free packs of goods to families in need.

Volunteers underpin everything we do at Merry-Go-Round!  We have many varied opportunities including social media, retail and donations volunteer roles.  Please get in touch to find out more!

Move On Scotland work with vulnerable young people and people affected by homelessness to help them unlock their untapped potential. We match volunteer mentors to vulnerable young people to support them to achieve goals and reach their full potential. Mentors and young people meet once a week to work together towards a goal of the young person’s choice. Move On also manage the Glasgow and West of Scotland regional centre of FareShare, which redistributes surplus food to frontline charities and community groups. People can volunteer in the warehouse either individually or in groups.

PAPYRUS exists to reduce the number of young people who take their own lives, by shattering the stigma surrounding suicide and equipping young people and their communities with the skills to recognise and respond to emotional distress. We believe that no young person should have to struggle alone with thoughts of suicide. We work with communities across the UK, engaging them in our mission to prevent suicide in children and young people. We engage them through our resources and training, learning with them and galvanising them to help save young lives. We also press for change to current legislation around suicide prevention on a regional and national level.

Today, we are a leading youth suicide prevention charity in the UK. Our suicide prevention helpline, HOPELINE247, is staffed by trained suicide prevention advisers, who work with young people – and anybody concerned for a young person – to help keep them safe from suicide. HOPELINE247 is a free and confidential call, text and email service, which is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year (weekends and bank holidays included).

We provide a holistic range of services to support all those affected by a life-limiting illness. All our care is free to you, and your family and carers.

Our services aim to support everyone’s physical, emotional, social and spiritual wellbeing. The aim of The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice is to support people to live as well as possible for as long as possible.

We do this by providing Palliative care support and holistic support for patients and their families, carers and friends, during their time with us and beyond. Our team, of doctors, nurses, therapists, counsellors, chaplains, social workers and volunteers, treat patients in their own homes, at other places of care, and in the hospice.

We are committed to being:

•  inclusive and accessible, physically and intellectually
•  environmentally friendly in our use of materials, suppliers, activities and transport
•  supportive of the local economy wherever possible by attracting visitors, employing locally and procuring goods and services locally
•  ethical in the way we provide services, employ staff and engage volunteers by using the Glasgow Living Wage as a minimum and implementing supportive people policies
•  a transparent and accountable organisation
•  a culture where Trustees, staff and volunteers feel valued and everyone has a voice.

Refuweegee have received an amazing response from people and have provided over 2000 community-built, personal welcome packs. They aim to extend Glasgow's friendly welcome through welcome packs, events and various volunteer opportunities. They works with multiple organisations around Scotland to distribute welcome packs to schools and community organisations. 

Refuweegee

(ref-u-wee-gee)

noun - A person who upon arrival in Glasgow is embraced by the people of the city, a person considered to be local.

see also Glaswegian

RSPB Scotland is part of the RSPB, the UK’s largest nature conservation charity. We protect and restore habitats and landscapes, save species, help end the nature and climate emergencies and inspire others to do the same.

Led by science, our work ranges from the transformation of land and sea, to everyday actions that help protect and restore natural environments and save species. We inspire and empower millions of people, forging partnerships that change behaviour to build a world where nature thrives.

We are all connected by the wonder of nature. The health of the natural world is fundamental to the survival of all species and has a right to flourish. Nature is in crisis, by working together we can save it.

Today, we operate over 70 services in communities across Scotland, providing mental health social care support, addictions and employment services, among others. Together with national programme work in See Me, respectme, suicide prevention, and physical activity and sport, these services inform SAMH’s policy and campaign work to influence positive social change.

The 1st ever Scottish Ethnic Minority Talent Summit & Festival (SEMTSF) is happening 28 Oct – 2 Nov, 2024!

This 5-day event aims to improve diversity in Scotland’s workforce by connecting employers, minorities, and organisations. It builds on the success of the Scottish Black Talent Summit. Join the conversation on building a more inclusive future!

What We Do

The current economic system is not working. The global Fair Trade movement works to transform trade in order to achieve justice, equity and sustainability for people and the planet.

Scottish Fair Trade leads Scotland’s campaign for Fair Trade along with the many individuals, communities, groups, businesses and enterprises, organisations and the public sector. Together and with the support of the Scottish Government we want to make trade fair.

Our Vision

A world in which justice, equity and sustainable development are at the heart of trade structures and where Scotland recognises the dignity and rights of producers through a commitment to Fair Trade.

Our Mission

We contribute to building a just, equitable and sustainable world by supporting Scotland to remain a vibrant Fair Trade Nation and working to embed the principles of Fair Trade in all aspects of Scottish society.

We deliver a range of services across Glasgow, Edinburgh (Streetwork) and across Central Scotland. We work with people so that they can resolve their homelessness as quickly as possible. We maintain contact with people – in diverse circumstances – so that we can help them address the underlying reasons for their homelessness and get the support they need.

By working and learning together we can drive impact and change person to person – to transform everyone’s experience of homelessness in Scotland.

We are the constituted coordinating body for all student sport at the University of Strathclyde. The most important factor of the Sports Union is that it is run by students for students. Through a system of democratic committees each member has a voice as to how decisions are made. The Sports President is elected each year from the student body for a one year full time (paid) position and is assisted by the Sports Executive Committee.

We have a clear vision: No student should be held back by their mental health.
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We empower students to build their own mental health toolkit to support themselves and their peers through university life and beyond. We challenge the higher education sector, health sector, and government to make student mental health a priority.  

Together, we’re improving university communities so that every student gets the mental health support they need to reach their goals. 

Volunteers can support the ‘I Bike’ team with outdoor activities for children and young people at schools in Bishopbriggs (5 minutes Subway ride from Queen Street), Kirkintilloch, Lenzie or Lennoxtown.

This would suit people who enjoy being active, and have an enthusiastic mindset about young people and outdoor education.

The activities volunteers can help with could include; teaching children and young people how to cycle or scoot, school playground cycle/scooter skills activities, leading cycle rides or walks, showing people how to look after and repair a cycle, or helping with the maintenance of our bikes that we lend out (training provided).I Bike volunteering is very flexible - volunteers will be provided with an online calendar which shows the upcoming dates for planned activities, so they can decide which ones they'd like to attend.  Activities take place within school hours (between 9am and 3pm) during school term times. There are no activities during school holidays (July-mid August).

The volunteers will be making a positive impact on young people’s confidence and ability to get around in their community, as well as making a significant contribution to their health and wellbeing. Studies have shown that children who cycle to school are more likely to cycle as an adult, so the volunteers will also be helping to make a significant impact on transport emissions and air pollution.

There is a diverse range of work carried out - both on the ground and behind the scenes - to help secure the future of bats in our changing world.

The Bat Conservation Trust supports local bat groups across the UK and nearly 5,000 members. We work with volunteers, scientists, industry and government both locally and nationally on a range of projects. To achieve our vision of a world rich in wildlife where bats and people thrive together, our work focuses on discovering more about bats and how they use the landscape, taking action to protect bats and enhance the landscapes on which they rely, inspiring people about bats and their environment, engaging them in their conservation and strengthen our work by building skills, resources, motivation and understanding.

TCV Scotland offers a wide range of environmental activities in Central Scotland for people from different backgrounds, ages and abilities to help protect and enhance our local greenspaces and biodiversity. At the same time participants learn new skills, improve their physical and mental health, and engage with like-minded people.

We are also committed to providing a diverse range of high-quality learning opportunities for a wide range of participants, we support local communities, and can help you discover your ‘inner scientist’ and that hidden passion for nature.

You can read about TCV Volunteer Policies here.

We fund world-leading research, share the latest information and campaign for everyone's rights. Together we are a community and together we can stop MS.

We understand what life’s like with MS. And we know together we are stronger. We’re researching, writing, campaigning and fighting. Running, walking, caring and talking.

Together, we are strong enough to stop MS.

The No.1 Befriending Agency was formed in September 2016 by a group of professionals who, when working as carers for older adults, frequently experienced that the people they cared for longed for meaningful interaction in addition to the simple mechanical acts of care they received.

Older people are sadly especially vulnerable to feeling lonely, as they often have a very limited number of social interactions in a week, mostly due to mobility issues. In order to tackle this loneliness and isolation, we created a befriending service where trained volunteers visit isolated older people and spend some time with them to have a wee chatter alongside a cup of tea.

Our Vision

Volunteering Matters’ vision is of a society where everyone can participate to build strong and inclusive communities.

Our Mission

Volunteering Matters’ mission is to enable people to take an active role in their communities through volunteering and social action.

Our Values

• Valuing staff and volunteers
• Working as a team
• Being agile
• Being ambitious
• Demonstrating mutual respect

Our ambition

To be a high performing, agile, effective charity responsive to the needs of individuals and communities in the UK and beyond in the 21st Century

Volunteering Matters’ four communities of our work

• Older & retired people
• Young people
• Disabled people
• Families

The Whiteinch Centre recognise that the volunteer’s time and skills are a valuable resource without which the organisation could not offer a comprehensive service to the public. The organisation hopes volunteers find the time spent volunteering a valuable and stimulating experience. This policy alongside other policies and the code of conduct is intended to provide an understanding of the volunteer role in the organisation.

Objectives:

• To offer learning opportunities for local people in Whiteinch and the surrounding areas.
• To enable community involvement through volunteering
• To support local health and wellbeing by providing a range of activities and classes.
• Improve access to affordable nutritious food.
• Support community development

Who Cares? Scotland is Scotland's only national independent membership organisation for Care Experienced people. Our strategic vision is to secure a lifetime of equality, respect and love for Care Experienced people in Scotland. At the heart of our work are the rights of Care Experienced people and the power their voices have to bring about change.

What is WISE Mentoring? 

We offer weekly group mentoring and 1:1 mentoring sessions for children aged 9-11 across primary schools at the end of the school day. We also run drop-in sessions for previous attendees, to further the impact of the mentoring they have received, and family days, which welcome both children enrolled in the mentoring projects and any other families and community members who wish to join.

Why is this important? 

We know that children need to grow up loved, safe and respected to be able to unlock their potential. However, we know that there is a lack of support and enriching activities for many and that there is less and less funding for youth work available. We want to continue responding to this need by providing a safe space and running enriching, educational and supportive projects which will help children develop their self-esteem, to be able to make positive and healthy decisions, and to grow in all aspects of their wellbeing and character

Won Connect is a non-profit social enterprise with the aim of tackling social isolation amongst older and socially isolated individuals in Glasgow. We do this through IT classes which help older people be independent, feel confident, and stay safe online, as well as providing them an opportunity to socialise with peers. We’re also creating a social media platform just for older people to meet new people and reconnect with old friends.

We raise money to support these activities through donations, by providing a digital consulting service to other businesses, charging community centres, care homes and businesses to run the IT classes, and through our ecommerce site.

Woodcraft Folk is an educational movement for children and young people, designed to develop their confidence and activity in society, with the aim of building a world based on equality, friendship, peace and cooperation.

Adult volunteers run groups for children and young people in their local communities. Children and young people influence their local group programme and take part in a range of activities such as camping, co-operative games, hikes, arts and crafts, outdoor adventures, social action, environmental education, global education and discussions on issues important to them.

Our motto is 'Span the world with Friendship'.

Our mission is clear: to prevent children and young people from experiencing gaming and gambling harms through awareness raising, education and research. Prevention of these harms may not always be at the top of the pile of public health priorities; nevertheless, they are an increasingly essential part of protecting young people growing up in a digital world. And we know that prevention is always better than cure.

Supporting young people to thrive is a powerful way to provide reassurance in times of challenge, help build confidence and resilience, and support them to have fun!

Be Informed
We inform young people using young.scot and deliver information using the digital spaces they spend their time in – Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube. 

We also translate essential information and content into Gaelic. In response to the increase of misinformation, we have a quality standard for our information aligned to the European Youth Information Charter. 

Young people are continuously making decisions and choices that significantly impact their futures. That’s why they need access to quality-assured, timely and accessible information. It helps them understand their rights, make informed decisions, connects them with opportunities, and empowers them to be active citizens.

Be Connected
Young people in Scotland are entitled to their free Young Scot National Entitlement Card (Young Scot NEC) that connect them to opportunities and services. Using their Young Scot NEC, young people can maximise their income with in-person and online discounts at local and national outlets in Scotland and across Europe. They can also use their Young Scot NECs for free proof of age, concessionary travel, and lots of local services too. They can also sign up for our exciting Young Scot Rewards.

It’s important to create a level playing field for young people to access the opportunities and services that they are entitled to, regardless of geography, experience and circumstances. This supports their wellbeing and helps them fulfil their potential. 

Be Empowered

Our Young Scot Hive #YSHive volunteering opportunities empower young people to be system changers by sharing power with organisations and tackling society’s toughest challenges. 

Young people join #YSHive to have the chance to create a fairer, more sustainable world for their friends and peers, and future generations. We’ve supported young people to partner with the Scottish Government, Nature Scot, BBC Scotland, Co-op Foundation, Carnegie UK Trust, 5Rights Foundation, and many more. 

Lots of #YSHive volunteers have a passion for an issue that they want to explore. Others come wanting to build their confidence. No matter their motivation, they take part in positive experiences and build skills that support them to be active citizens. Click here to see our latest volunteering opportunities for young people.

Inclusion
Inclusion is at the core of our work – and young people rightly challenge us to be accessible for and relevant to all young people from across Scotland. We are working hard to become an explicitly anti-racist organisation. We are doing this by taking a close look at our organisation and identifying what it is we do that contributes to structural racism – and taking action. This work is taking place alongside the delivery of our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion strategy.