@volorganisers.bsky.social
Network of heritage volunteer organisers in Scotland. Part of @MakeYourMarkVol.bsky.social, a campaign to increase the number and diversity of heritage volunteers in Scotland. Join Make Your Mark (it's free!): www.makeyourmark.scot/join
A graphic with a pictogram of a letter with an arrow, symbolising its arrival in an inbox. Next to the pictogram is text that says "News, events and resources for inclusive volunteering."
What’s new in inclusive heritage volunteering?
Our latest e-newsletter covers peer support sessions, International Volunteer Year 2026, rural communities in Scotland, anti-racist practice and standing together against transphobia.
Read now: mailchi.mp/makeyourmark...
A view of Zara Todd delivering the conference keynote. Zara has shoulder length curly hair and uses a wheelchair.
A view of conference attendees sat around a table discussing with each other. on the table are various stick notes, pens and coffee cups.
A view of a panel of volunteers. There are three of them: Douglas is a volunteer at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland. He is an older man with a light skin tone, short gray hair and is smiling. Henry is a volunteer at the Scottish Refugee Council. He is a younger man with a dark skin tone and dark hair, and he is wearing a black beanie. June is a volunteer at the National Galleries of Scotland. She is an older woman with a light skin tone and short gray hair and she is smiling.
A view of the main conference lecture theatre, showing attendees sat down looking at the screen. The screen says "Inclusive Volunteering Conference 2026: Power in Partnership".
We had a fantastic annual conference yesterday at Edinburgh Zoo! 🤩
We welcomed over 200 in-person and online attendees for a day exploring how co-creation and collaboration can transform volunteering across the heritage sector and beyond.
Thanks to all our funders, speakers and attendees!
A graphic with a map of Scotland on it. Text overlayed on the map says "Heritage volunteering in Scotland: Research summary report. Supported by Make Your Mark, Volunteer Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland, National Lottery Heritage Fund." At the top of the graphic is the Our Past, Our Future logo.
New report: Heritage Volunteering in Scotland
Our research with Our Past, Our Future & Volunteer Scotland shows that heritage volunteering brings huge value to individuals & communities, but more needs to be done to support volunteers & organisations.
➡️ www.historicenvironment.scot/archives-and...
A group of people sit in an auditorium and look at a person talking at a podium. Next to the speaker is their assistance dog, as well two co-presenters sat on chairs. On the screen behind them is a slide detailing the speaker's experience of volunteering at the Glasgow 2018 European Championships, including struggles with inflexible transport, not feeling valued as a volunteer and the need to embed inclusion throughout the volunteer process.
⚠️ Almost sold out ⚠️
Final tickets are now on sale for our Inclusive Volunteering Conference 2026!
Join us on 4 February to explore how partnership working can create more equitable and sustainable volunteering opportunities.
Secure your place: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/make-your-...
A view of Make Your Mark conference attendees chatting with each other. In the background, there's a large screen with a digital poster about the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland's Nature Connections programme.
Have you developed inclusive practices, created an innovative volunteer role or supported volunteers in a new way?
Share it with sector leaders and decision-makers by submitting a digital poster highlighting your volunteer programme for display at our conference: makeyourmark.scot/for-organisa...
A group of people sit in an auditorium and face a screen showing digital attendees of the same event.
130+ people have already booked on for our Inclusive Volunteering Conference on 4 Feb!
Join us at Edinburgh Zoo or online for a day about Power in Partnership. Expect inspiring talks, practical workshops, volunteer voices & great connections.
Book your spot: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/make-your-...
Graphic that says "Inclusive volunteering conference 2026" above the Make Your Mark in Volunteering logo. Around the border of the graphic, there are pictograms representing various elements of built, cultural and nature heritage, such as a castle, a quill and a leaf.
Booking open: Make Your Mark Inclusive Volunteering Conference 2026!
Explore the power of collaboration & co-creation in building inclusive volunteer programmes.
Date: 4 February, 10am - 4pm
Location: In-person at Edinburgh Zoo & online
Book your free spot: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/make-your-...
Interested in the ocean but don't know where to start? 💭
🌊 Turning the Tide is our flagship training and skill development programme for young people to kickstart their journey in marine advocacy 🌊
Sign up: bit.ly/ttt26-intro and read more: youthforseas.org/turning-the-...
It's getting closer!
This Tuesday, 2nd December, support Archaeology Scotland (@archscot.bsky.social) to deliver archaeology based educational attainment & employability skills in 2026.
All help is greatly appreciated & will be match-funded via Big Give 🙏
tinyurl.com/y96zpbps
An illustration of a group of people with a range of skin tones and hair colours and lengths holding hands in concentric circles.
New Make Your Mark e-newsletter just dropped!
It’s full of resources for anyone involved in volunteer engagement in Scotland's heritage sector:
✅ Peer support session
✅ 2026 Inclusive Volunteering Conference
✅ Resources on responding to racism and more!
Read now: mailchi.mp/8769ba31bff6...
A graphic of pictograms connected to each other by lines, symbolising a network. The pictograms are people, speech bubbles, and things the represent the heritage sector, like castles, cameras and keys.
Working on a volunteer handbook or thinking about creating one? 🤔
The Volunteer Organisers Network is hosting an online peer support session on 4 December where volunteer organisers from heritage organisations will swap ideas and practical tips.
Book now: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/volunteer-...
💙 Top tips for supporting neurodiversity in your team
💛https://share.google/seZTQB2ahbdpMc31W
🖥️ Join us today to get content like this straight to your inbox: heritagevolunteeringgroup.org.uk/join-us/
#EDIdayFriday #LoVols #HeritageVolunteering25
Graphic of text that says International Volunteer Managers Day. Be bold. Make change. 5 November 5 2025. #IVMDay25.
It’s International Volunteer Managers Day!
Today, we celebrate the people behind the heritage volunteers who make a difference across Scotland’s museums, archives, galleries, green spaces, nature reserves & historic sites.
Thank you for helping people find belonging, purpose and joy!
#IVMDay25
A view of a table with various promotional material on it, including the Make Your Mark in Volunteering campaign manifesto.
New Make Your Mark newsletter just dropped!
Learn the latest in inclusive volunteering, including a save the date for our inclusive volunteering conference, a call out for archive opportunities and new research on the intersection of racial justice and climate action.
➡️ mailchi.mp/a80e6a4e0ce3...
A graphic with icons of people connected by lines, symbolising a network. Besides the graphic is text that says: "Heritage Volunteering Group. Transforming Communities: Changing Lives and Places Through Volunteering. Online conference, November 25-26, 9.30 - 13.30. #HeritageVolunteering25. Proudly sponsored by Investing in Volunteers, www.investinginvolunteers.co.uk.
The Heritage Volunteering 2025 conference is coming up on 25 & 26 November!
It brings together volunteer leaders, heritage professionals & community changemakers. Expect inspiring talks, practical workshops & new ideas for impactful volunteering.
Book now: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/heritage-v...
Meet Donald and Peggy!
As two of Comunn Eachdraidh Nis's volunteers they share their experience of working with the archive and why they enjoy doing it!
Read the full blog: www.scottisharchives.org.uk/community-ar...
People sit around a table chatting. On the table are copies of the Make Your Mark inclusive volunteering toolkit.
Join the University of Strathclyde & Make Your Mark for a free inclusive volunteering workshop!
You’ll gain tools, ideas and connections to help you build volunteer programmes that are equitable, and resilient.
Book now: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/one-size-d...
Thanks to our brilliant volunteers, we’ve collected over 50kg of hazelnuts this year! 🌰
Hazel is a key #rainforest species - one of the first to establish in the west after the last Ice Age, 10,000 years ago.
We're working with @wtscotsocial.bsky.social to boost the availability of native trees
A graphic with text that says "share your experience of supporting older volunteers" alongside a pictogram of a phone with a screen that says "survey".
How do we support older volunteers as they step back from their roles?
@newcastleuni.bsky.social researchers are gathering insights from UK volunteer managers about their experience of supporting older volunteers through this transition.
Take a survey: app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/newcastle/...
Today marks the start of Challenge Poverty Week, an annual event which is delivered and co-ordinated by The Poverty Alliance.
Learn more about it here:
www.povertyalliance.org/cpw/
🗣️ Conference Speaker Spotlight: Ash Hamoud
Want to foster equitable collaboration with #volunteers to create richer, more inclusive cultural engagement? Join Ash as she explores how co-delivery & shared authority can help you out
🎫 25-26 Nov, £30, online buff.ly/OV174Hb
#HeritageVolunteering25
Graphic that says "Scotland's Community Heritage Conversations. Routes to Resilience. 19 November 2025. The Engine Shed." Along the bottom of the graphic are various partner logos: Historic Environment Scotland, Archaeology Scotland, Chartered Institute for Archaeologists, Heritage Network, Scottish Community Tourism, Scottish Civic Trust, Scottish Council on Archives, Scottish Community Heritage Alliance.
How do we keep Scotland’s community heritage strong in challenging times?
Attend Scotland’s Community Heritage Conversations 2025 on 19 November to explore how to build sustainable futures for Scotland’s community heritage.
Learn more & book now: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/scotlands-...
Graphic that says "talking about heritage: engaging volunteers in the conversation" above the Volunteer Organisers Network logo. Around the border of the graphic are various pictograms representing elements of built, cultural and natural heritage.
🗣️ Upcoming event: Talking about heritage
Talking About Heritage is a national conversation inviting people across Scotland to share their perspectives on heritage.
Attend our next event to learn how you can support volunteers to engage in this important work: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/talking-ab...
A group of people with varying skin tones sit at the front of an auditorium facing a crowd. They people at the front are part of a discussion panel, and are engaged in conversation with each other.
📨 Want to stay on top of inclusive volunteering in Scotland’s heritage sector?
The latest Make Your Mark e-newsletter includes:
✅ Save the date for our 2026 conference
✅ Resources on high-quality volunteering & anti-racism
✅ Call for archive volunteer opportunities
mailchi.mp/fda19659cdf6...
A group of people planting trees.
Apply now for Action Earth Grants!
These £250 grants from @volunteeringuk.bsky.social support volunteers to run environmental activities that improve biodiversity in Scotland’s green spaces in built-up areas & population centres.
Learn more & apply now: volunteeringmatters.org.uk/project/acti...
Scottish Household Survey 2024: Formal volunteer participation rate increases to 25%
After hitting its lowest ever level in 2023, formal volunteering is showing early signs of recovery. Read more...
➡️News: volunteerscotland.net/news/scottis...
➡️Blog: www.volunteerscotland.net/news/researc...
Graphic that says "Volunteer advertising workshop" above the Make Your Mark in Volunteering logo. Around the outside of the graphic are various pictograms representing built, cultural and natural heritage.
Is your heritage organisation looking for volunteers?
Join our Volunteer Advertising Workshop on 23 September to:
✅ Learn how to use our volunteer portal
✅ Get tips for inclusive role descriptions
✅ Take part in interactive exercises
Book your free spot: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/volunteer-...
Graphic that says "Heritage Volunteering Group. Transforming communities: changing lives and places through volunteering. Online conference, November 25-26, 9.30 - 13.30. #HeritageVolunteering '25. Proudly sponsored by Investing in Volunteers, www.investinginvounteers.co.uk".
Volunteering has the power to change lives & strengthen communities.
Join the Heritage Volunteering Group Conference on 25 & 26 November for inspiring keynotes, workshops and ideas to help you lead and support volunteers more effectively.
Book now: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/heritage-v...
🤔 This #ThoughtfulThursday we want you to be honest. How long does it take for you to reply to #volunteer enquiries...
karenknight.ca/answer_your_...
#LoVols #HeritageVolunteering25 #VolMngmnt #VolunteerEngagement #Volunteerism #Volunteering #Volunteer #Museums #Heritage
🔐 It's crucial for us, as #LoVols, to act in a strategic capacity if we're to unlock the transformative power of #volunteering
🔗 lorigotliebconsulting.wordpress.com/2025/07/29/t...
#LoVols #HeritageVolunteering25 #VolMngmnt #VolunteerEngagement #Volunteerism #Volunteer #Museums #Heritage
