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The United Nations General Assembly has proclaimed 2026 the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development. This milestone—achieved through the collaboration of Member States of the General Assembly—offers an opportunity to celebrate volunteers and their contributions on a global stage. "As we look ahead to the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development in 2026, let's acknowledge the vital role of volunteers as change-makers who weave through the fabric of the 2030 Agenda, helping to accelerate action in the second half of our journey. Their commitment shapes a world where sustainable development is not merely a goal but a shared reality we create together,” said Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed. Key Messages Volunteerism is a driving force for sustainable development. The designation of 2026 as the International Volunteer Year underscores the vital role volunteers play in advancing the global goals. By fostering community engagement and collective action, volunteering contributes meaningfully to humanitarian efforts and long-term development. Volunteerism is a powerful enabler of humanitarian action. Volunteers play a vital role in responding to humanitarian emergencies and driving progress toward a more resilient world. Everyone has a role to play in the International Volunteer Year 2026. Governments, UN entities, other regional and international organizations, academia, and civil society and private sector are invited to actively participate in the year by recognizing the value of volunteers, integrating volunteering into policies and plans, ensuring safe and fair volunteering environments, and promoting knowledge-sharing to develop new forms of volunteering. The International Volunteer Year 2026 strengthens the connection between volunteering and global progress. It aims to deepen global understanding of volunteerism through research, information-sharing, and education and to address emerging challenges that new models of volunteering are facing. Valuing volunteers is vital. There is a need to recognize and measure the contribution of all volunteers, whether they’re part of an organization or helping informally. Stay tuned to explore what Member States, United Nations organizations and other stakeholders, including civil society, private sector and academia are going to do to observe IVY 2026 → International Volunteer Year | Knowledge Portal on Volunteerism

Hello Be the Changers! Thank you so much for engaging with our new platform. We'd love to hear from you how you find it so we can improve our service. We want it to work for you! Follow this link to answer a few short questions about your experience. We hope you have a wonderful holiday season, but if you find this time of year hard, please do reach out to someone. Here are some local resources: Tayside Suicide Prevention The Tayside Suicide Prevention website , which can also be downloaded as an app to your mobile phone, provides: Information about suicide How to help Local, Tayside and national support agency contacts Guidance on creating a safety plan . The Neuk - Adult Mental Health Crisis and Suicide Prevention Centre Telephone: 01738 718070 There is a safe and welcoming environment provided for those who are in crisis. This may be due to situational stress that is affecting mental health and wellbeing e.g. relationship breakdown, bereavement, loss of job or coping with lifestyle changes. If you need a safe space, need to talk, or need someone to listen staff are available to listen and care. Further information can be found on the Neuk website. The Lighthouse (Children and Young People Suicide and Self Harm Crisis Service) Telephone: 0800 121 4820 They offer crisis support to anyone who is at risk with their mental health. This includes whose who are at risk of suicide or self-injury or are in emotional distress or crisis. They offer a safe space to talk and be supported. Staff and volunteers are available to offer a welcoming, non-judgemental approach. Family support is available for any parent/brother or sister/ carer etc. of young people accessing the service. Further information can be found on the The Lighthouse website . Here's to a new year full of community, volunteering and new opportunities! All the best, Emily Skilton, Development officer for Volunteering, Third Sector Interface Perth and Kinross.

What is Micro-Volunteering? Micro-volunteering means undertaking small, quick, low commitment actions that benefit a good cause. It might be a task that one person completes from start to finish, or it might be broken down into small parts, where an individual is just one of many people performing the same task to achieve the end result. These tasks can be anywhere from 30 seconds to 30 min to an hour! Micro volunteering doesn't necessarily require any ongoing commitment. Sometimes called home or virtual volunteering, if it's online, it can be done from anywhere, at any time! What does micro-volunteering look like? Micro-volunteering can be digital, but it doesn’t have to be. It can be ad-hoc, for the same charity or for a different cause each time. It can be skilled such as reviewing a draft proposal or practical such as transporting donations. The list is endless! Examples include: Copy editing leaflets. Creating useful connections/networking. Set up a social media account. Create media content. Office-based micro-volunteering opportunities including archiving or data input. Share a post on social media to raise awareness or ask for donations. Sign a petition. Join a bag pack or shake a bucket. Donate supplies or collect donations. Fill out a survey. Translate a document. Donate your skills, such as graphic design. Take part in some citizen science. Litter pick. You can find some great micro-volunteering opportunities from national and international organisations such as Age Scotland , Macmillan, SSPCA and the United Nations Volunteer programme . Watch this video by Walking Scotland: https://youtu.be/EuH6tsQi_qQ?si=QyBa05dTCq4c_kWn For Organisations In order to set up and be successful in recruiting volunteers for micro-volunteering opportunities, organisations still need to consider the full volunteer journey. These steps should help you be successful: Plan – what are the tasks, who will manage process. Advertise – Be the Change, social media, noticeboards. Recruit / Manage – be on top of volunteer enquiries, avoid onerous admin. Task – give clear, simple instructions and be available for questions. Feedback – encourage open and regular feedback from the volunteers. Recognition – letter of thanks, references, opportunities to socialise. What are the Benefits of Micro-volunteering? According to Charity Excellence, Micro-volunteering has numerous benefits. · It enables charities to create volunteering opportunities that engage people in your cause, who may otherwise not have the time. · It can get lots done quickly and efficiently, and can save charities time and money. · With jobs and family commitments, lack of time can be a real barrier to volunteering and this is a simple way to encourage more to volunteer. · Micro-volunteering can be used by any charity and it: · Enables you to increase volunteering capacity and access skills and experience that you might otherwise have been unable to. · Allows you to recruit volunteers from anywhere in the country, not just locally. · Can be used to reach groups who may otherwise be excluded, such as older people or the disabled, if housebound. · Often doesn’t require an application process or training. · Can be a good way to bring people initially on board and then grow their engagement and commitment to play a greater role in your work. https://www.charityexcellence.co.uk/what-is-micro-volunteering/ ; accessed 11/12/2025.