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Volunteering in Scotland Is Bouncing Back, But Not for Everyone: 5 Key Takeaways From New Data

In the wake of a global pandemic and a persistent cost-of-living crisis, the strength of our community spirit has never been more important. Volunteering, in all its forms, is the engine of that spirit—a tangible way we support each other and strengthen the fabric of our society. It’s a measure of our collective health and resilience.

That’s why the latest data from the 2024 Scottish Household Survey is so significant. The numbers reveal a powerful and encouraging story of recovery, with formal volunteering rates rebounding in a major way after a period of decline. It’s a welcome sign that Scotland’s vibrant volunteering sector is getting back on its feet.

But alongside this fantastic news, the data also uncovers a more troubling trend. While more people are getting involved, the gaps between who is participating and who is being left behind are actually getting wider. This post will break down the five most impactful takeaways from this new data, exploring both the celebrated recovery and the crucial challenges that lie ahead.

1. Volunteering Is Bouncing Back—Big Time

The headline finding is positive: the formal volunteering rate in Scotland has jumped from a record low of 18% in 2023 to 25% in 2024. This isn't just a small uptick; this increase represents 331,000 more adults giving their time to groups, clubs, and organisations. To put that recovery in perspective, the rate is now just one percentage point below the pre-pandemic level of 26% recorded in 2019, signaling a near-complete return to previous levels of engagement.

2. Young People Are Leading the Charge

While adults aged 16-34 still have a lower participation rate (24%) than those aged 35-59 (the highest at 27%) or those 60 and over (25%), they saw the single biggest year-on-year increase. Their participation jumped by a massive nine percentage points from the previous year. This is a significant finding that counters common narratives about youth disengagement, highlighting instead their renewed and growing involvement in building stronger communities across Scotland.

3. The Troubling Paradox: As Participation Rises, So Does Inequality

Perhaps the most counter-intuitive and concerning finding is that while overall volunteering is up, the inclusion gaps for formal volunteering are widening, not closing. As more people return to volunteering, the disparities between different demographic groups have become more pronounced.

The data reveals a clear and growing divide:

• Disability: The participation gap between non-disabled adults (28%) and disabled adults (18%) has widened from just three percentage points in 2023 to a stark ten-point difference in 2024.

• Deprivation: The gap between adults in the least deprived communities (31%) and those in the most deprived communities (17%) has grown to a 15-percentage point difference.

• Income: The gap between the highest household income bracket (29%) and the lowest (19%) has increased to a ten-percentage point difference.

Volunteer Scotland, in its analysis of the data, highlights the significant human cost of this exclusion:

It is vital that everyone is able to access volunteering and that no one is excluded from the many varied benefits of volunteering – including a wellbeing uplift of up to £1000 per volunteer, per year for those who volunteer weekly with a group or organisation.

4. The Unseen Army of Informal Volunteers Remains a Powerful Force

Beyond formal roles with organisations, a huge amount of voluntary work happens informally between neighbours, friends, and community members. The rate for this informal volunteering has held steady at 36%, which equates to an impressive 1.7 million Scottish adults helping out in their communities.

Crucially, this 'unseen army' operates far more equitably than the formal sector. The gov.scot data shows that rates of informal-only volunteering are virtually the same in the most deprived communities (22%) and the least deprived (23%). This suggests that while the structures of organised volunteering may be creating barriers, the fundamental community impulse to help a neighbour is thriving everywhere. This is the most critical story within the data: inequality is a systemic issue, not a lack of community spirit.

When you combine both formal and informal volunteering, the most impactful statistic emerges: almost half of all Scottish adults (48%) have volunteered in some capacity over the last year. The most common informal activities provide a snapshot of this everyday kindness, including 'keeping in touch with someone at risk of being lonely' (62% of informal volunteers) and 'providing transport' (34%).

5. Where You Live Matters

The data shows a clear geographical trend: volunteering is significantly more common in rural areas than in the rest of Scotland. For formal volunteering, 32% of adults in rural areas participate compared to just 24% in the rest of Scotland. This pattern also holds true for informal volunteering, where 46% of rural residents lend a hand compared to 34% in the rest of Scotland, highlighting the powerful role of community support in less populated areas.

A Call for Inclusive Action

The latest figures paint a dual picture of volunteering in Scotland. On one hand, we are witnessing a welcome and robust recovery, a testament to the resilience of both volunteers and the organisations that support them. The sector is bouncing back with renewed energy, driven in large part by a surge of engagement from younger generations.

On the other hand, this positive trend is shadowed by a growing problem of inequity. The doors to formal volunteering are not equally open to everyone, and the data shows that existing barriers for disabled people, those in deprived areas, and those on lower incomes are becoming even greater. The work must continue to ensure that the profound benefits of volunteering—for both the individual and the community—are truly accessible to all.

As Scotland celebrates this rebound in community spirit, how can we work together to ensure the doors to volunteering are truly open for everyone, regardless of their circumstances?

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