This piece of research was carried out by the Counselling and Society Research Team at the University of Edinburgh, funded by the ESRC (R000239059).  It examines the contribution of volunteer counsellors to voluntary sector counselling provision in Scotland.

Resources produced from this work include a research summary on Counselling and Society.

Research Summary

This piece of research was undertaken by Deirdre Elrick at the Scottish Council Foundation on behalf of Volunteer Development Scotland.  It examined the vision and reality of volunteering in health, and the aspirations and experience of those involved.

Resources produced from this work include a research summary and a discussion paper on healthy volunteering.

Research Summary

Discussion Paper

This piece of research draws on an omnibus survey of informal volunteering undertaken by NFO System Three Scottish Opinion Survey.

Resources produced from this work include a research summary on informal volunteering.

Research Summary

This article has drawn together some existing research to provide both good practice guidance and a discussion of the issues involved in the recruitment and retention of volunteers.

Research Summary

The research findings presented here are part of a three year ESRC Case studentship entitled 'Space, place and volunteers: the nature, meaning and impact of volunteering in Scotland'. The studentship is based in the Department of Geography at the University of Dundee with Volunteer Development Scotland (VDS) the non-academic partner organisation. The research found that the percentage of the population currently volunteering is higher in rural communities that urban communities. It also found that affluent individuals are more likely to volunteer than less affluent individuals.However, there is no statistically significant relationship between the affluence or deprivation of an area and the percentage of people within it who volunteer. There is a significant spatial variation in the intensity of volunteering.

Research Summary - The Nature of Volunteering

Research Summary - The Impact of Space and Place

Research Summary - Volunteering and Active Citizenship

This piece of qualitative research was carried out as part of VDSs contribution to the Year of the Volunteer 2005.  It examined the reasons why 60% of adults in Scotland felt that they had never been asked to volunteer.  It also tested attitudes to imagery used to promote volunteering.

Resources produced from this work include a research summary and 'top tips' for 'asking' individuals to volunteer.

Research Summary

Top Tips

This is the report of a research project carried out by Volunteer Development Scotland, with funding from Learning Connections, part of the Lifelong Learning Directorate in the Scottish Government in late 2007. It provides a record of the Volunteer Development Scotland (VDS) research team’s findings in terms of the relationship between the outcomes of Volunteer Centres (VCs) and the outcomes of Community Learning and Development (CLD).

Resources produced from this work include a full research report and a research summary.

Research Report

Research Summary

This piece of research was carried out in partnership with BEMIS.  The full research report, entitled 'A Way of Life: Black and Minority Ethnic Communities as Volunteers' was launched in 2004.

Resources produced from this work include a full research report, a research summary and 'top tips' for engaging black and minority ethnic communities as volunteers.

Research Report

Research Summary

Top Tips

Additional resources on Volunteering and Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Communities:

Ethnic Minority Volunteering in Scotland

This piece of research was funded by the Clydesdale Bank and carried out with support from Lead Scotland.  The full research report, entiled 'Volunteering and Disability: Experiences and Perceptions from Disabled People and Organisations' was launched in Disability month of Year of the Volunteer 2005. 

Resources produced from this work include a full research report, a research summary and 'top tips' for engaging disabled people as volunteers.

Research Report

Research Summary  

Top Tips

Additional resources on Volunteering and Disability:

Disabled People and Volunteering

Volunteering and Access Panels

This piece of research draws on an omnibus survey of formal volunteering undertaken by NFO System Three Scottish Opinion Survey.  It also examines the reasons for differences in volunteering levels found in surveys across the UK.

Resources produced from this work include a research summary on volunteering and research methodology.

Research Summary

This piece of research draws on a range of quantitative and qualitative research studies undertaken into young people and volunteering across the UK.

Resources produced from this work include a research summary on young people and volunteering.

Research Summary

Additional resources on Young People and Volunteering:

Young People Speak out on Volunteering

What Young People Want from Volunteering

The research summary presented here draws on the findings of an evaluation carried out by the VDS research team for the Green Team*.  VDS were commissioned to undertake an evaluation to assess whether the environmental opportunities provided by the Green Team change the 'hearts and minds' of young people about environmental issues.

Research Summary

*The Green Team runs one-day and residential opportunities for young people between 14-25 years to participate in environmental activities.  Further information on the Green Team is available at Green Team website