Category: Volunteer Midlothian

Midlothian Volunteer Awards 2025

Ellis on 9 June, 2025

On Thursday 29 May 2025, volunteers from across Midlothian arrived at Newbattle Abbey College for our annual Midlothian Volunteer Awards Ceremony. We’re thrilled to celebrate all the amazing efforts of volunteers each year.

This celebration is a part of Volunteer’s Week, a national initiative where we appreciate volunteers across Scotland. It provides a great opportunity to highlight some of the fabulous volunteering projects that exist in Midlothian.

Photographs

Special thank you to Kris Soul Photography for the wonderful photos.

View All Photos

Programme

View the award winners & nominees in our 2025 programme. There are a limited number of printed copies available to pick up from MCA’s office.

Midlothian Volunteer Awards 2025 Programme by Zoe Innes

Mascot Campaign

Last year, instead of introducing a new mascot, we brought back all our previous mascots to celebrate with everyone. This year, we are excited to continue the tradition by introducing a brand-new mascot — a lovely bear! With the recent merger of Volunteer Midlothian and Midlothian Voluntary Action, and our new name, we thought the bear deserved a new name too.

We hosted a Name the Bear competition taking place over Volunteers’ Week, and are excited to announce the winning name for our mascot: Middie!

Chosen for its fun and friendly feel, Middie is a perfect fit for a bear representing the heart of Midlothian. It’s short, memorable, and captures the local spirit we’ve seen throughout the mascot’s journey. Congratulations to the winner of our Name the Bear competition — we’ll be in touch with you soon to arrange your prize, the bear for you to keep!

A huge thank you to all our sponsors for getting involved and taking fantastic photos with the bear.

Thank You

The Midlothian Volunteer Awards couldn’t take place each year without the support from our sponsors. Thank you!

Capital City Partnership

David Wilson Homes

EDF Energy

Midlothian Council

Midlothian Health & Social Care Partnership

Newbattle Abbey College

Scottish Fire & Rescue Service

Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA)

Well Done You Ltd

Follow us on social media to keep up-to-date on all our events:

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Why Volunteering Matters – In the Words of Midlothian’s Volunteers

Ellis on 6 June, 2025

This Volunteers’ Week, we are excited to share findings from our first-ever Midlothian-wide Volunteer Satisfaction Survey. This survey was created to better understand the impacts of volunteering on volunteers themselves, to enhance volunteer support and help organisations better demonstrate their impact.

This year is our first iteration of the survey, and as such was only shared for a limited time with a hand full of Volunteer Involving Organisations (VIOs). We were please to receive 68 responses from volunteers across Midlothian, sharing their reflections on how volunteering has shaped their wellbeing, skills, confidence, and connection to their community. The responses paint a powerful picture:

  • 99% said volunteering helped them achieve their goals
  • 98% said volunteering has helped them make a difference in others’ lives.
  • 93% of weekly volunteers feel more connected to their community

“Life-changing. Astounded by the skill of the staff and other partners to provide inclusive opportunities. Proud to be a part of my project and I feel my contribution is well valued.”

Many spoke about the joy of feeling useful, learning new things, and making real connections across generations. These insights help shine a light on the often-unseen personal benefits of volunteering—and why creating good volunteer experiences matters.

“Volunteering has been a really positive experience for me mentally, physically, and socially.”

We plan to build on these insights by running the survey every year and opening it up to even more volunteers and organisations. Thank you to everyone who took part—and to the volunteers who continue to support our communities to thrive.

Read more insights from the survey:

Midlothian Volunteer Satisfaction Survey – 2025 InsightsDownload

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Nominations open for the Midlothian Volunteer Awards!

Ellis on 27 February, 2025

We are pleased to announce that nominations are officially open for the Midlothian Volunteer Awards, an event specially designed to honour the volunteers that help our community. We are excited to shine a spotlight on the dedicated and hard-working individuals that work hard to uplift the communities in Midlothian. Volunteers play a vital role in improving the well-being of our community and now it is time to recognise their fantastic contributions.

Submit your nomination here before Thursday 27 March!

Winners at the 2024 Award Ceremony.

This year’s awards ceremony will be a memorable occasion, celebrating the people that go above and beyond, making a positive impact. The awards provide a platform to acknowledge their hard work and dedication. We encourage everyone to take this opportunity to nominate those who have made a significant difference through volunteering. Whether they’ve given their time to charities, environmental initiatives or have supported those in need.

This year the awards will be introducing a new category, Volunteer Leader. This category is being reintroduced in 2025 to recognise the enormous efforts of team leads, project coordinators and managers who ensure continuity of business and delivery of services to local communities and vulnerable groups. This award is a small thank you for being innovative, persuasive, brave and visionary; for leading and inspiring people whose motivation is not a salary but sense of purpose and kindness.

Volunteers’ efforts leave a lasting impression on Midlothian, building a stronger and more compassionate society. We want to thank all volunteers and look forward to sharing their inspiring stories at the awards ceremony.

The deadline for nominations is approaching fast and will close on the Thursday 27 March. So don’t miss out on the chance to spotlight someone who deserves to be recognised. Help us give back to those who have given so much to our community.

Authored by Zoe Innes.

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Plans Scrapped for Volunteer PVG Fees – Free Membership Continues

Ellis on 3 February, 2025

Midlothian TSI are delighted to confirm that free Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme membership for Qualifying Voluntary Organisation (QVO) volunteers will continue.

This announcement follows Disclosure Scotland’s consultation over PVG fees last year. We would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who contributed to the consultation, and in doing so, influencing this decision. There was a great national response and consistent messaging from across the third sector.

As well as continuing the fee waiver for QVOs, fees for the new Level 1 and Level 2 disclosures will remain at their equivalent levels in 2025. Further details of the announcement can be found on Disclosure Scotland’s website.

The Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 will begin implementation on April 1 2025, with the first key change being that PVG membership for those in Regulated Roles will become mandatory.

Keep informed of all the upcoming changes by attending information sessions regularly delivered by both Volunteer Scotland and Disclosure Scotland.

Read our previous blog post summarising the changes here, or download the PDF version below.

PVG Changes HandoutDownload

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Changes to the PVG Scheme: Are You Prepared?

Ellis on 22 November, 2024

Disclosure Scotland will be implementing the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 from April 1 2025 onwards. This includes making changes to Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme memberships. Below we have highlighted some of the key changes to be aware of and what you need to do to prepare. You can read a full summary of the changes on Disclosure Scotland’s website.

From April 1 2025:

Regulated Roles: Current ‘Regulated Work’ will become ‘Regulated Roles.’ If you’re in a Regulated Role, you legally need to become a member of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme.

New Responsibilities: Both the organisation and the individual are now responsible for ensuring PVG membership if in a Regulated Role. This means if your organisation mistakenly says you don’t need a PVG when you actually do, both parties could face legal consequences.

New Roles Added: Some roles that weren’t previously covered by the PVG scheme, like football agents, talent scouts, and certain hospice positions, now require it.

What You Need To Do:

Check if You’re Doing or Providing a Regulated Role: Identify if your role or your staff/ volunteers’ roles are classed as Regulated Roles.

Get PVG Membership if Required: If your role qualifies, make sure you join the PVG scheme before April 1 2025.

Stay Updated: Check out Disclosure Scotland’s website at www.disclosure.gov.scot for full details of the upcoming changes.

If you are unsure about the changes or have any questions, contact Volunteer Scotland Disclosure Services (VSDS):

Phone: 0178 684 9777

Email: ku.gr1751084865o.dna1751084865ltocs1751084865reetn1751084865ulov@1751084865serus1751084865olcsi1751084865d1751084865

Website: www.volunteerscotland.net/disclosure-services

Download the leaflet version of this page:

PVG Changes HandoutDownload

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Pond Rescue! Volunteers Renew the Community Garden

Ellis on 16 August, 2024

Our community garden at Dalkeith Country Park had a very welcome visit from the Scottish Government’s Infrastructure Division. The team arrived as part of a corporate volunteering day, just in time to help us repair our leaky pond!

They worked together to empty the pond and reline it, even rescuing three frogs and some tadpoles along the way.

On top of restoring the pond, the volunteers took on the task of painting our boundary fence. Despite the hot weather, they worked tirelessly and made a huge difference in a single day.

We are incredibly grateful to the team for their time and effort. Without their support we wouldn’t have been able to accomplish such a big job so efficiently!

Thank you for helping us create a beautiful space for both our community and local wildlife.

Click here to learn more about our Transform project and community garden.

Ready, Teddy, Go! Success for Young Volunteers’ Event

Ellis on 5 August, 2024

After two weeks of planning and learning about event management, young people from across Midlothian came together to host a Teddy Bears Picnic for local children and their families. The event took place on Friday 2 August 2024 in Dalkeith Country Park Community Garden, and was facilitated by Volunteer Midlothian. We had 80 parents/ carers and children in attendance. The volunteers designed a famous bears treasure hunt and there was a pop up café serving refreshments and snacks. Children had the opportunity to meet the bear and guess his name, the children were so excited they could bearly contain themselves!

Young volunteers welcoming guests to the ‘Teddy Bear’s Picnic’ event.

Carey Douglas, Youth Coordinator at Volunteer Midlothian said:

“The young people were full of enthusiasm and energy from the get go.  They became a team very quickly and worked hard to plan and host the event which was a roaring success, I am very proud of them all for their commitment and hard work.”

When asked about the volunteering experience, one volunteer said:

“I enjoyed organising the event and deciding what to include.  I enjoyed working as a team and meeting new people.  I enjoyed welcoming the children on the day and seeing all the smiley faces.  Its been great everyone has been very supportive.”

A member of the public who came along to the event said:

“This is the third event I have been to in the garden it is such a safe space there is always someone on the gate so you can let the kids enjoy their treasure hunt, I had a cuppa.  It is such a great event well done to the young volunteers for organising it.  I will be back again next year!”

A young guest at the event said:

“It was Pawsome!”

The event was the culmination of two weeks of hard work from the young volunteers, who met weekly to plan the event as part of Volunteer Midlothian’s Summer Youth Programme, ‘Event Volunteers’.  The young volunteers took part in team working activities, they learned about poster design principals, marketing, customer service, planning and communication.  With the latter in mind young people also helped at our conversation café funded by UK Shared Prosperity fund.  The café is dedicated to helping learners in Midlothian enhance their English speaking abilities. 

The young volunteers will all now receive Saltire Awards as recognition for organising and hosting this unbearably special event!

Thank you to everyone who came along and supported our volunteers! Learn more about our Transform project for young people here.

Article by Carey Douglas, Volunteer Midlothian.

Panda-monium at the Midlothian Volunteer Awards 2024!

Ellis on 14 June, 2024

On Thursday 6 June, volunteers across Midlothian arrived at Newbattle Abbey College for our annual Midlothian Volunteer Awards. The night was a blast and we want to thank everyone who attended. It is a joy to celebrate the hardworking volunteers in Midlothian each year. We hope you all had as much fun as we did!

Photographs

Thank you to our wonderful photographer, Kris Soul Photography, for capturing the evening.

Click the button below to see photos from the awards ceremony:

View Photos

Programme

You can see the winners and nominations from the night in our awards programme:

2024 ProgrammeDownload

Mascot Campaign

In 2024, our mascot campaign is a little different. Each year we usually have a student placement who works with us to organise a competition and campaign with a brand new mascot. This year, we didn’t have a student placement but we couldn’t bear to have Volunteers’ Week without a mascot! We brought back mascots from previous years; Bramble the Bear, Pretzel the Panda, and Ringo the Rhino to keep the tradition going. Take a look at our campaign video down below.

We hope these mascots will find someone to look after them next year!

A BIG thank you to our generous sponsors:

EDF Energy

Scottish Qualifications Authority

Well Done You Ltd

Esk Valley Rotary Club

Midlothian Council

Newbattle Abbey College

Scottish Fire & Rescue Service

Midlothian Health and Social Care Partnership

We can’t wait to see you all again for next year’s ceremony!

Scottish Government proposes charges for volunteers’ PVGs. 

Ellis on 3 May, 2024

What’s Happening? 

Disclosure Scotland has opened a proposal to introduce fees for volunteering. They plan to remove the current fee waiver and apply a  fee of £28 for volunteers to join the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme membership (this is a 60% reduction on the proposed standard fee of £70). If implemented, this will have a huge impact on volunteers and volunteer involving organisations. 

Disclosure Scotland are also making changes to the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020. As part of this, the PVG membership scheme will become a legal requirement for those in ‘Regulated Roles’, this could mean that even more people will need to be signed up to the PVG scheme, thus more people will be affected by the fee proposal. 

Our Stance 

  • We believe volunteering should be free for everyone. Volunteers give their time and effort to help others and asking them to pay to do so is insulting.  
  • At a time when we are in a volunteer crisis and volunteer numbers are steadily falling, this only puts up more barriers to volunteering. Many organisations rely on volunteers to do important work, and adding fees will make it harder for them to recruit volunteers. 
  • The implementation of this fee goes against core values and meaning of volunteering. The Volunteer Charter from Volunteer Scotland mentions, “No one should be prevented from volunteering due to their income.”. 

What You Can Do 

Now is your chance to speak up. We are conducting our own survey to examine the impact  implementing fees for PVGs could have on volunteers and volunteer involving organisations: 

MTSI PVG Fee Survey

ALSO, we strongly encourage you to submit your views to the VSDS online consultation. They will use this feedback to decide whether to go forward with these fee structures. Your responses are crucial. 

Submit your views now before the consultation closes on Tuesday 28 May. 

Disclosure Scotland Consultation

You do not need to answer every question, however we urge you to answer the ‘discount for volunteers’ section. The two questions are as follows: 

Question 6 – Do you agree with the proposal to move to a fee discount structure for volunteers in QVOs? 

[Yes / no / don’t know] 

Question 7 – What information do you think we need to consider when proposing moving to a fee discount for volunteers in QVOs? 

[Free text] 

We think Question 6 is ambiguous and could be interpreted in different ways. We recommend you do not to answer this question, and instead write your full response under Question 7. 

Spread the Word 

Share this information with your colleagues, friends, and anyone else who might be interested. Together, we can make sure volunteering stays accessible for everyone. 

To learn more about changes to the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020, visit www.disclosure.gov.scot/changes. 

Boogie & Arlene Want You… To Nominate For The Midlothian Volunteer Awards 2024!

Ellis on 12 March, 2024

NOMINATIONS CLOSE NEXT WEEK for the 2024 Midlothian Volunteer Awards! 🎉

The Midlothian Volunteer Awards take place each year, and are all about celebrating the amazing efforts of volunteers in Midlothian. This celebration is a part of Volunteers’ Week, where we appreciate people’s kindness across the whole of Scotland. It is a great opportunity to promote some of the fabulous volunteering projects that exist in Midlothian.

Please ensure you read the FAQs here before you submit.

A big thank you to Boogie & Arlene from Forth One for helping us get the message out!

DownloadNomination Example and Photo Guidelines

Submit Your Nomination

If you have any questions, email volunteering@MCA.scot

Nominations Open for the 2024 Midlothian Volunteer Awards!

Ellis on 29 February, 2024

Nominations are now open for the 2024 Midlothian Volunteer Awards! 

The Midlothian Volunteer Awards take place each year, and are all about celebrating the amazing efforts of volunteers in Midlothian. This celebration is a part of a national initiative, where we appreciate people’s kindness across the whole of Scotland. It is a great opportunity to promote some of the fabulous volunteering projects that exist in Midlothian.

Please ensure you read the FAQs here before you submit.

Nominations will close on March 22nd, so submit them soon.

DownloadNomination Example and Photo Guidelines

Submit Your Nomination

If you have any questions, email volunteering@MCA.scot

Leap into the New Year with our 2024 Volunteer Recruitment Fair!

Ellis on 6 February, 2024

Volunteer Midlothian is thrilled to announce the return of their Volunteer Recruitment Fair! Following the success of last year’s event, 2024’s fair promises to be even more engaging and impactful. The event will take place on Thursday 29 February, from 10am to 2:30pm, at the St John’s and Kings Park Church in Dalkeith. It guarantees to be an unmissable opportunity for aspiring volunteers. 

It’s not too late to make volunteering your New Year resolution 

As this leap year grants us an extra day, Volunteer Midlothian urges everyone to harness this extra time to leap into action and consider the benefits of volunteering. 

  1. Personal Growth: Engaging in volunteering encourages you to step out of your comfort zone, fostering personal development, and have fun in the process! 
  1. Community Connection: Volunteering brings people together, nurturing a sense of belonging and unity within communities. It can help you create strong bonds and make friends from all walks of life. It is a great way to gain confidence and social skills by meeting new people. 
  1. Mental and Physical Well-being: Research consistently shows that volunteering can positively impact mental health by reducing stress and enhancing overall well-being. It also encourages an active lifestyle, benefiting your physical health too! 
  1. Professional Development: Volunteering is a prime source for gaining hands-on experience, honing existing skills, and broadening your professional network. It can significantly boost your CV or applications to further education. 
  1. Making a Meaningful Impact: The opportunity to contribute to causes you care about is one of the most compelling reasons to volunteer. It’s a chance to effect positive change and feel good about how you spend your time. 

What opportunities are there? 

Whether it’s mentoring, environmental work, or community outreach, there’s a place for everyone to make an impact. At the Volunteer Recruitment Fair, there will be a variety of organisations with information stalls displaying a range of volunteering opportunities. 

Some participating organisations include Equal Futures, Forth Rivers Trust, VoiceAbility, NHS, Girlguiding Midlothian, and many more! 

Join Us! 

Whether you’re a seasoned volunteer looking for your next venture or an aspiring volunteer with no clue where to start, mark your calendar for Thursday 29 February, from 10am to 2:30pm. Spend your extra day of this leap year making positive change!  

Take the leap, make a change, and kick start your volunteer journey this year. 

Discovering the Kelpies with our Conversation Café

Ellis on 4 October, 2023

At our beloved Conversation Café, the world comes alive through the magic of words. Every Tuesday and Thursday morning we gather together to discuss travels, explore geography, share cultural traditions, and immerse ourselves in local customs.

This week, on the 2nd of October, a spirited group of learners embarked on an adventure to The Kelpies and Falkirk Wheel. The Kelpies beckoned us with their mythical charm, pulling us away from our usual gathering spot at The Salon. We also had a chance to take a closer look at the magnificent piece of engineering at the Falkirk Wheel, whilst sipping tea and keeping the conversation going.

What awaited us was a day of pure delight, where laughter became our common language.

On the journey, we introduced ‘travel bingo’ to keep the conversation flowing and played ‘spot the beetle’. Was it the elusive Volkswagen Beetle or a creature of the insect world?

The best part is that the adventure doesn’t end here. Our learners are already planning another exciting day trip in the coming year. Let’s see where our conversations take us next…

A special thanks to our generous funders, UK Shared Prosperity Fund, for covering all expenses. And, of course to Lothian Community Transport Service (LCTS) for ensuring our safe and comfortable travel.

Drop in from 10am-11.30am on a Tuesday or Thursday at the Conversation Café to be a part of our journeys of discovery, connection and laughter.

See more of our adventures on our social media pages: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter.

Article by Magda Clark, Volunteer Midlothian.

Transforming Young People’s lives – Funding Boost  

Sarah Bain on 6 September, 2023

We are delighted to announce further development of our Transform project for young volunteers, thanks to funding awarded from Tyne & Esk Rural Communities Development Fund. 

This funding will enable continuation of our successful Intergenerational Activity sessions at Heinsberg House in Penicuik, the introduction of a new session at Cowan Court, and further support for our Garden volunteers at Dalkeith Community Garden until February 2024. 

Transform is a fully supported and supervised volunteering project for young people 15-24 years old, where our Youth Support Coordinators help young people gain confidence, skills, experience and a reference through volunteering as part of a small group. 

The Intergenerational Activity sessions involve young volunteers delivering a range of games and social activities for older people living in Sheltered Housing.  The sessions breakdown intergenerational misconceptions, reduce loneliness and social isolation, and strengthen respect and community cohesion. 

Within our Community garden in Dalkeith Country park young volunteers learn practical skills and develop experience as well as a sense of belonging and team spirit, all whilst creating a peaceful, attractive greenspace for the wider community.

By developing this range of both hard and soft skills, the project prepares young people for positive progression in their lives.

This funding allows us to engage more young people in volunteering, supporting them to develop skills and experience whilst having a positive impact on their local communities overall.

To find out more or to get involved as a volunteer, contact our Operations & Development Manager Karen Downie – ku.gr1751084865o.nai1751084865htold1751084865imree1751084865tnulo1751084865v@ner1751084865ak1751084865, or visit our Transform page.

Funded by Scottish Ministers in conjunction with the Tyne & Esk Local Action Group

Midlothian Volunteer Awards 2023

Ellis on 9 June, 2023

The Midlothian Volunteer Awards are all about celebrating the amazing efforts of volunteers in Midlothian.

The awards take place every year during Volunteers’ Week and are a great opportunity to promote some of the fabulous volunteering projects that exist in Midlothian.

Video created by Ellis Paterson.

Thank you to our wonderful photographer, Kris Soul Photography, for capturing the evening.

Programme

You can see the winners and nominations from the night in our awards programme:

Mascot Campaign

Our student placement, Julianne, organised our Volunteer’s Week mascot competition this year. She produced this great video that shows our mascot on his journey to the Midlothian Volunteer Awards 2023.

For the competition, we took name suggestions for our mascot from local schools and the winner was chosen by vote at the awards ceremony. The winner was the name ‘Ringo’, suggested by a child at Woodburn After School Club, who received £100, their own cuddly toy rhino and a winner’s certificate.

Video created by Julianne Nixon.

Chief Officer’s Speech

A Message from Forth One’s Boogie & Arlene

Thank You to Our Sponsors

EDF Energy

Scottish Qualifications Authority

Midlothian Council CLLE

Esk Valley Rotary Club

Police Scotland

Newbattle Abbey College

Scottish Fire & Rescue Service

Midlothian HSCP

Well Done You Ltd