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Volunteer roles
Volunteer roles
You may want to develop new skills and gain experience through your volunteering, or you may simply like to meet new people and do something worthwhile. We don’t have a typical volunteer, and we welcome everyone (aged 18+) who shares our values.
We believe that every volunteer should have clear guidelines about their role and responsibilities. That’s why we provide every volunteer with a Volunteer Role Description which outlines what the role involves, the purpose of the role, and the skills and abilities that are required to carry it out.
Board of Trustees
Digital Image Volunteer (currently no vacancies)
Local Groups - Organising Group Volunteer (roles may include: Convenor, Secretary, Newsletter editor etc)
Science Calendar Promotion & Development Volunteer (currently no vacancies)
Young Humanists Scotland - Volunteer Ambassador
Even if some of our volunteering roles aren’t available at the moment, there are still lots of ways you can get involved and support our work. By joining as a member; supporting our campaigns; participating in our Facebook Groups; and sharing our social media content.
How to apply
You can apply any time throughout the year, but you may need to wait for the next round of training or induction.
There are four stages to applying to volunteer with us:
Complete Volunteer Application Form
Informal chat
Read Volunteer Handbook and agree to our Volunteer Agreement
Complete Volunteer Induction (plus any role-specific training as required)
It is our intention to treat our volunteers fairly and consistently, and that’s why going forward all our prospective volunteers will be asked to complete a Volunteer Application Form, and will be invited for an informal chat to explore their motivations for volunteering. What would you like to get out of your volunteering, and what can you offer?
We also ask all our volunteers to read our Volunteer Handbook and agree to our Volunteer Agreement, this outlines both your rights and responsibilities as a volunteer, or what you can expect of us, and what we expect of you.
Complete our Volunteer Application Form
Complete our Volunteer Agreement
A member of the team will be in touch to arrange a chat with you. If you're offered a role with us, we may ask for one or two references (depending on the role), which can be personal or professional. Your referees can't be members of your family and they must have known you for at least two years. If you have any questions or concerns about references, let us know.
If you are not successful in a particular application we can discuss alternative roles with you or signpost you to Volunteer Scotland for information about other opportunities that may be more suitable.
Once you have been offered a role with us, we'll be in touch to organise your volunteer induction and where required, GDPR training. You may also have some role-specific induction or training to do depending on the role.
Who can volunteer with us?
Who can volunteer with us?
Anyone aged 18 and over, resident in Scotland, who supports our vision and values can volunteer with us, as long as they fulfil the role description and meet the volunteer requirements.
Volunteers with non-EU/EEA passports must ensure their immigration status allows them to volunteer – this is not the charity’s responsibility.
We accept people with refugee status and those with exceptional leave to remain (and their families).
Asylum seekers can volunteer while their claim is being decided and while they are appealing against a decision to refuse them asylum. Unfortunately, if you lose an appeal and asylum is refused, you will no longer be eligible to volunteer with us.
Individuals are allowed to volunteer while claiming state benefits, including means-tested benefits such as universal credit, and employment and support allowance.
Benefits claimants are required to notify their job coach or benefits adviser of their intention to start volunteering.
For current types of visa and related rights to volunteer, please check the UK Government website.
If you’re only in the UK for a short period, bear in mind that the application process can take a few weeks and you'll need to complete the full recruitment process and training before getting a start date.
A criminal conviction does not necessarily stop you from volunteering with us, but we ask all potential volunteers to disclose any unspent criminal convictions before their informal chat.
Do you need to be a member of the Humanist Society Scotland to be a volunteer?
Do you need to be a member of the Humanist Society Scotland to be a volunteer?
No, Volunteering is open to everyone who supports the vision and values of Humanist Society Scotland.
No, Volunteering is open to everyone who supports the vision and values of Humanist Society Scotland.
Where you can volunteer?
Your volunteering will be connected to one of our projects, for example StreetCare in, Glasgow, or local groups in Edinburgh, Fife and Glasgow. We've also developed a number of online roles.
What you can volunteer to do?
We have a range of roles, which vary depending on the project and team capacity. Our volunteer roles are generally flexible and allow you to give as much or as little time as you can.
How much time do you have to give?
How much time do you have to give?
We have a variety of volunteer roles available, ranging three hours a week to 3 hours every quarter. Have a look at our volunteering opportunities to get an idea of the type of roles available.
I work full time. Can I still volunteer?
I work full time. Can I still volunteer?
Yes. We have a wide range of commitments available for volunteers, from Book Group Facilitators to Young Humanist Scotland Ambassadors. Get in-touch to explore which opportunity would best suit you.
Do you need special skills to volunteer?
Do you need special skills to volunteer?
The skills needed to volunteer vary from role to role. More information can be found in each Volunteer Role Description.
If you have specific skills that you feel would benefit us, please get in touch and we'll try to match you to a role.
Training and support
We’re committed to providing volunteers with the training and resources they need.
Your volunteer induction covers everything you will need to know about being part of the organisation and your role, and we encourage you to speak-up if you have any questions.
We assign each volunteer to a named Volunteer Support Person who’ll offer ongoing support and feedback to help you develop while you volunteer with us, and the Community Engagement Manager can be contacted by phone or email at any time. Group support meetings with other volunteers will also be organised.
Expenses
As a volunteer you are able to claim some expenses (such as travel) as part of the authorised activities within your role. Please see our Expenses Policy and discuss this with your Named Volunteer Support Person before incurring any expenses.
Policies
Summaries of our policies can be found in the Volunteer Handbook. You can also access our problem solving procedure here.
Is accommodation offered?
Is accommodation offered?
We are unable to offer accommodation with any of our volunteer roles.
Will volunteering affect my benefits?
Will volunteering affect my benefits?
Volunteering will not affect any benefits you may claim. However, if you have any queries please get in touch with us.
I live overseas and would like to volunteer with the Trust. Is this possible?
Humanist Society Scotland welcomes all prospective volunteers based in Scotland. We ask that all volunteers have a high standard of spoken English and, for office-based positions and some roles, a high standard of written English is also required. Volunteers from outwith the European Union may require a visa to volunteer in the UK. We cannot offer any advice about visas for volunteering in the UK, but please visit the UK Government website for more information. It is also important to note that we cannot provide accommodation, and cannot offer any help towards living expenses.
Benefits of volunteering
We really value and appreciate everyone who volunteers to help us and support our projects. We’re here to support you, and make sure your time volunteering with us is worthwhile and enjoyable.
When you volunteer, you can:
Choose a volunteer opportunity that suits your interests and the time you have available.
Try something new.
Do something meaningful and worthwhile.
Meet new people.
Be part of a supportive community.
Stay connected with other volunteers and supporters by joining our Facebook groups, and participating in our Volunteer Virtual Tea breaks.
Make a difference by sharing your skills, experience, energy and enthusiasm.
Gain new skills and experience.
Learn about teamwork, communication, taking initiative and leadership. These are valuable skills you can use in any workplace or team setting.
Enhance your CV and make stronger job applications. Regular volunteering demonstrates motivation and commitment, which can help you to stand out when you apply for jobs.
Benefit from learning and development opportunities.
Build your confidence.
Stay active and healthy.
Volunteering has been shown to have a positive effect on our mental health and can help with stress, anxiety and depression: XX% of our volunteers feel volunteering improves their wellbeing. Doing things we enjoy can give us a sense of purpose and help us to feel more fulfilled and motivated.
What it’s like to volunteer with us
Our volunteers make a huge difference to all areas of our work, from our trustees providing leadership and governance, to our StreetCare volunteers supporting the homeless, to Volunteer School Visitors raising awareness and understanding of humanism in schools.
Our volunteers recommend us! In our Volunteer Satisfaction Survey 2022, XX% of our volunteers said they would recommend Humanist Society Scotland as a good place to volunteer.
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