Category: Volunteering

Calling All Midlothian Volunteers – We Want to Hear from You!

Ellis on 8 April, 2026

Midlothian’s Annual Volunteer Satisfaction Survey is now open, and we are inviting organisations to share it with their volunteers. By taking part, your volunteers help us build a fuller and more accurate picture of the volunteering experience across Midlothian. 

Midlothian Volunteer Satisfaction Survey

Survey responses are anonymous. Each volunteer involving organisation will receive its own set of results, offering valuable insights that can support reporting, strengthen funding applications, guide service development, and enhance volunteer engagement.

All you need to do is share the survey link with your volunteers and encourage them to take part. It is open to everyone, takes only a few minutes, and will remain open until Monday 4 May 2026.

Every response helps shape volunteer support across Midlothian, and we will share the findings with you during Volunteers’ Week in June 2026.

This survey is carried out every year as part of our ongoing approach to strengthen the collective evaluation and impact measurement of volunteering activities in Midlothian. The aim is to understand the impacts of volunteering on volunteers, to enhance volunteer support, and help organisations better demonstrate their impact. You can find our insights from last year’s survey here.

If you would like to complete this survey in an alternative format, email us at info@mca.scot

Nominations Now Open for Midlothian Volunteer Awards 2026!

Ellis on 17 March, 2026

We are thrilled to announce that the nominations for the Midlothian Volunteer Awards 2026 are officially open! 

This annual event is an opportunity for us to celebrate and acknowledge the incredible contributions and achievements of our dedicated volunteers. Volunteers play a significant role in boosting the welfare of our community, and Volunteers’ Week is the perfect opportunity to celebrate them.

This year’s awards ceremony will be an unforgettable moment, celebrating the individuals who go the extra mile to make lasting and positive impacts within their community. We strongly encourage everyone to take the opportunity to nominate a volunteer they know who has made considerable impacts throughout their volunteering journey.

This year we are introducing a new award category, Uniformed Volunteer. This award wishes to acknowledge and thank all the volunteers who contribute to our community through uniformed organisations like Scouts, Youth Police Volunteers, Cadets, and many more.  

We have also introduced the Dedicated Service to the Community award, combining the Service to the Community and Dedicated Service to Volunteering categories. This award wishes to acknowledge all the volunteers who contribute towards significant services, organisations and causes within their local community and is a thank you to those who donate their time to make our community the best it can be.  

We value our volunteers and the profound effects their hard work leaves on Midlothian and those living in the area. We would like to thank all volunteers for their amazing work and commitments to the community, and we are eager to share their empowering stories at our awards ceremony this year.  

Nominations are due to close on Monday 20th April 2026, so if you would like the opportunity to highlight someone who deserves to be acknowledged for their efforts, send in your nomination soon and help us honour those who go above and beyond for our community.  

Read our FAQs on the Midlothian Volunteer Awards page before submitting your nomination.

Nominations for the Midlothian Volunteer Awards 2026 are now open!

2026 Nomination Form

Deadline for nominations: Monday 20 April 2026.

Midlothian Volunteer Recruitment Fair Returns for 2026

Ellis on 26 January, 2026

The start of the new year is the perfect time to make a positive change, and volunteering is a great way to do just that. The 2026 Midlothian Volunteer Recruitment Fair is the ideal event to explore what’s out there and take the first step.

The fair will take place on Thursday 26 February, from 10am to 2.30pm, at St John’s & King’s Park Church in Dalkeith. This annual event is organised by Midlothian Community Action (MCA) to promote volunteering and encourage conversations between local volunteer-involving organisations and people who want to get involved.

Volunteering can help people build skills and experience, boost their CV, and gain confidence. It’s also a great way to meet new people and feel part of the community. Young volunteers can work towards the Saltire Award, the Scottish Government’s recognition scheme for volunteers aged 12-25.

A variety of organisations from across Midlothian will be attending the event, including:

Marie Curie, VOCAL, Penicuik Storehouse, Gig Buddies with Thera Trust, Midlothian Sport & Leisure Wellbeing Team, St Joseph’s Services, Fostering Compassion, Salvation Army, Dalkeith Citizens Advice Bureau, Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland (CHSS), and Midlothian Sure Start – with more expected to join.

MCA’s Volunteer Support Officer, Sarah Bain, said about the fair, “There’s a volunteering opportunity for everyone, and this event helps people find the one that’s right for them. Every year, I’m inspired by how many step forward to make a difference”.

The fair is open to everyone and there’s no need to book. Drop-in anytime between 10am-2.30pm on Thursday 26 February at St John’s & Kings Park Church, Dalkeith, EH22 1HJ.

Download the poster below to help us spread the word!

Recruitment Fair Poster 2026Download

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Midlothian Needs Friends: Saving Lives with Befriending

Ellis on 4 November, 2025

A simple conversation can save a life – and this Befriending Week, we’re celebrating the volunteers who make those life-changing connections possible across Midlothian.

Befriending Week is an annual campaign during the first week of November to celebrate befriending, highlighting the positive impact it has on individuals and communities.

Demand for befriending services is at an all time high, with the Befriending Network’s 2025 Befriending Sector Insight Report highlighting the vital need for and importance of volunteer befrienders:

  • 72% of member organisations report increased demand for befriending services. 
  • Over 7,400 people are currently waiting to be matched with a befriender. 
  • 21,024 volunteer befrienders deliver more than 1.6 million hours of support annually. 

Midlothian’s Connect Befriending Project

We at Connect Befriending, support volunteers to create meaningful connections that brighten older peoples’ days. We provide ongoing training, opportunities for learning, and one-on-one support so our befrienders can feel confident and enjoy the connection they create.

This week we want to say a massive thank you to all the people and organisations that have made this project possible, especially our fantastic volunteer befrienders. Our Connect Befriending Project Coordinator, Sam Dyce, explains,

“We know how incredibly impactful a befriender can be for isolated older people. It’s a real privilege to provide a service that not only helps people get the enjoyment of meeting new people, but where we can help volunteers develop as they support their community.”

Befriending is not only beneficial to our service users but also had huge positive impacts on our volunteers themselves. We asked one of our Connect Befriending volunteers, Martin, to share his experience:

“I enjoy it because you can see a real difference in people lives. A positive difference. People can feel isolated, and 2-3 hours may not seem like a lot of time but to some people this can be something of a highlight in the week. Especially if they are largely confined to their home. This is the main benefit I think as a befriender I provide.

But also, of course, we provide some respite for the main carer. These people have a very difficult job and even a few hours here and there can let them go out or do things they need to do. Personally, I find it a real privilege that people we visit let you into their lives, sharing their family and life story with you. And I would really recommend it to anyone thinking of volunteering.”

A little connection goes a long way. Become a volunteer befriender today.

Celebrating Uniformed Volunteers with Police Scotland

Ellis on 29 September, 2025

As we mark one year since the launch of the Volunteering For All national campaign, we’re thrilled to share some exciting developments in Midlothian’s volunteering landscape.

We were recently joined at our office by Midlothian’s Local Area Commander from Police Scotland, Chief Inspector Kirsty McArthur-Kerr, for a special interview hosted by Black Diamond FM. The conversation touched on the importance of volunteering, community connections, and the launch of our new ‘Uniformed Volunteer’ Award category. You can listen to the full interview here:

Introducing the ‘Uniformed Volunteer’ Award

In partnership with Police Scotland and with support from the Midlothian Provost in their role as Volunteering Champion, we’re proud to announce a brand-new category for the Midlothian Volunteer Awards: Uniformed Volunteer Award.

This award will celebrate individuals who volunteer as part of a uniformed organisation—recognising their dedication, exemplary conduct, and role as positive ambassadors in our communities. Eligible groups include Scouts, Girl Guides, Youth Police Volunteers, Cadets, Royal Archers, Boys and Girls Brigade, St John Ambulance, Coastguard, and many more.

Welcoming Back Police Scotland

We’re delighted to welcome Police Scotland back as a sponsor of the Midlothian Volunteer Awards, joining a fantastic group of sponsors and supporters who help make this annual celebration possible. Our sponsors include:

  • Midlothian Council
  • Health and Social Care Partnership
  • SQA
  • EDF
  • Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
  • David Wilson Homes

And our supporters:

  • Midlothian Provost – Volunteer Champion
  • Midlothian Lord Lieutenant

Their continued support helps us shine a light on the incredible contributions of volunteers across Midlothian.

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