Stronger communities, stronger you.

New to volunteering? Don't know where to start? The University of Leeds has joined forces with over 30 local organisations to develop an online course for volunteers – which is now available absolutely free. Essential Skills for Volunteers is an open access course aimed at existing volunteers and anyone who may be considering volunteering but doesn’t know where to start. Learners who complete the course will receive two digital badges - Volunteer Explorer and Volunteer Skills Builder. Essential Skills for Volunteers will cover four key topics: Confidence building Teamwork and communication Safeguarding (developed with support from NSPCC and Childline) Equity, Diversity and Inclusion The course takes just two and a half hours to complete and can be done in multiple sittings.

Did you know that you can now sign up to the Saltire Awards from the age of 11? The Saltire Awards are the Scottish Government's way of celebrating, recognising and rewarding the commitment, contribution and achievements of young volunteers in Scotland, aged between 11 and 25. Young people gain nationally recognised certificates, signed by Scottish Government Ministers, for the different amounts of volunteering they do. Once you have a My Saltire Account it is really easy to keep track of all your volunteering activity by logging your hours. You’ll then be ready to apply for a Saltire Award certificate and start gaining recognition for the great things you are doing! Did you know? By registering with the Saltire Awards you also can also earn up to 3,000 Young Scot Reward Points with each Saltire Award you achieve You can link your volunteering activities to the Sustainable Development Goals You can retrospectively log hours from up to two years before you signed up. If you keep your email address up to date in your My Saltire account, it can continue to be accessed by you in the future. Sign up today! Saltire Awards – Celebrating youth volunteering in Scotland

Shine a Light on Local Volunteers To celebrate the International Year of Volunteering for Sustainable Development , Third Sector Interface Perth & Kinross is proud to launch our first ever Volunteering in Perth & Kinross Awards – the VIPKs We know just how vital volunteers are to our communities, and these awards are all about recognising the incredible people who give their time, energy and passion to make a difference locally. Know a VIPK? Nominate them today Do you know someone who goes above and beyond through volunteering? This is a great opportunity to recognise their contribution. How to nominate Step 1: Complete the nomination form . Step 2: Record a short video (up to 2 minutes) explaining why you are nominating them Step 3: Email your video to info@thirdsectorpk.org.uk Closing date for nominations: 30 April 2026 If you are having technical issues whilst submitting your video, send us an email! Award Categories Nominations will be shortlisted across eight categories, with winners selected by an independent panel for each: Youth Volunteer Environmental Volunteer Group Volunteers (Non ESV) ESV Volunteer(s) Long Standing Volunteer Innovative Volunteer Volunteer Manager Board Member / Trustee Awards Ceremony Winners will be invited to attend our awards ceremony, where their achievements will be celebrated. Date: [To be confirmed] Location: [To be confirmed] Time: [To be confirmed] Each winner will receive 2 free tickets , with additional tickets available to purchase. Questions? Head over to our handy FAQs .