Volunteering makes a huge contribution to NHS Scotland. It improves the experience of patients accessing health services, it frees up staff capacity and it can improve the health and wellbeing of volunteers themselves. We exist to drive forward the volunteering agenda in NHS Scotland through effective leadership, governance, consultancy and expert advice for volunteering across NHS Scotland.

Through our work, the quality, effectiveness and impact of volunteering on both NHS Scotland and on volunteers themselves will be evidenced through robust gathering of data, evaluation, impact assessment and a commitment to continuous improvement and learning.

We will contribute to the development of volunteering in Scotland through collaboration and partnership working, fostering cross-sector relationships to achieve our common goals.

Volunteering improves the health and experience of recipients of care. It also has a beneficial impact on the volunteers themselves, as described in our case studies.

Executive and Strategic Leads for Volunteering

From 2008 to 2019 NHS boards were required to nominate a Strategic Lead for Volunteering (CEL 10 2008).  Since August 2019, the Scottish Government has required boards to identify a Strategic Lead and an Executive Lead for Volunteering, which will strengthen local governance arrangements for volunteering.