VOLUNTEERING
The transformed national service, underpinned by efficiencies enabled by the VMS, aims to double participation to 6,000 volunteers, together contributing over one million hours annually. The project is now entering the delivery stage, with HIS piloting the VMS in one board area in May 2025, before rolling out to two further boards. Expected benefits include volunteer self-service through digital engagement to build capacity in NHS Scotland Volunteering teams and robust data collection and impact measurements to assure continued investment in volunteering. The shift from traditional, manual
processes to digital self-service represents a fundamental change for volunteers. Previously, volunteer coordination relied heavily on phone calls, emails, and paper forms, with volunteer managers handling most administrative tasks. “There was very little self-service for the volunteers, which took away a bit of the ownership for them in terms of being able to do things in their own time,” Honeyman explains. The new system promises to transform
this experience. “What I’ve seen so far suggests that volunteers will have more ownership, so they will be able to do things in real time,” says Honeyman. “It just gives them a bit more control over their volunteer involvement – changing their times or days or even switching the role they do more easily.”
Improving inclusivity A crucial goal enabled through the changes is improving inclusivity of roles, expanding engagement across Scotland’s diverse communities to involve a wider range of volunteers. Says Honeyman: “If you’ve got a more volunteer-friendly system that people can use easily, and that can promote the opportunities available more widely, you can potentially reach more communities, age-groups, and demographics.” The programme is backed by the
Scottish Government as part of its commitment to societal development, civic engagement, and sustainable healthcare. The economic value of NHS Scotland volunteering is projected to exceed £18m over five years, reinforcing the social and economic importance of volunteering to the people and communities of Scotland. According to the health secretary, Neil
Gray: “Volunteers have played an important role in the health service for many years, and the Scottish Government recognises and appreciates the contribution they make. “The new Volunteer Management
System will help to make the process of recruiting volunteers more efficient and will help us to create volunteering opportunities that are flexible and responsive to the needs of NHS Scotland. I
IFHE DIGEST 2026
teamwork, and problem-solving, which can further enhance their sense of achievement and personal growth. Fleming agrees: “The young people I’ve
been involved with who want to volunteer or who are maybe thinking of a career in the NHS get to see how the hospital works and meet the professionals to ask questions. So, I get to be an example to these young folk and that’s gratifying for me, because I’ve never really been involved in doing anything like that in my career. “Also, volunteering looks great on a CV
NHS volunteer Fleming McNiven with St John's Hospital Staff Nurse Stacy Brown.
am particularly keen that we make volunteering available to a wider demographic of people, so that more people who would like to volunteer are able to do so.” This vision of expanded flexible
volunteering opportunities is exactly what Healthcare Improvement Scotland is working to deliver through the transformation programme. “Our new programme has the potential
to offer more patients and families the chance to be supported by volunteers in a caring and compassionate way,” says Dawn Fisher at HIS. “It’s a major shift in volunteering, bringing more diverse opportunities and digital ways of engaging. For example, it could mean a student in Aberdeen could volunteer during term time and then continue to volunteer back home in Glasgow during holidays. That could prove to be a real benefit.”
Good for the soul Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s own report on the experience of NHS volunteers, produced last year, found that 98 per cent of volunteers enjoyed and felt good about their contributions and 91 per cent felt able to adjust their level of commitment or change their role. Almost all (99 per cent) of volunteers surveyed felt that they were contributing to something that is important to them – an 8 per cent increase on 2023’s findings. Of course, volunteering is good for the
soul. Volunteers report that it improves their mental health and wellbeing, with notable reductions in stress, depression, and anxiety – benefits that are experienced across all age groups, not just older adults. And for the younger generation, whose mental health has suffered since the pandemic, it provides a tangible sense of achievement, reinforcing self-worth and motivating individuals to set and achieve new goals. Crucially, volunteering fosters social connections, helping to reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness, and volunteers gain valuable new skills, such as communication,
and it’s a tremendous experience of interacting with people of all ages and all abilities. Some kids are very nervous when they come in; their parents or a guidance teacher may have told them to do it and they’re really not sure why they’re there. But when they finish, they are more outgoing and more confident, and quite a few come back to be regular volunteers.” For NHS Lothian, ward helper volunteer
roles remain consistently in high demand. “Volunteers that go in and support our wards at mealtimes and during the afternoon and evenings for patients that don’t have as many visitors make a huge difference to patients and to our staff teams,” explains Honeyman. “For those patients that don’t have family and friends that are able to visit them, somebody to come in and provide them with that bit of comfort, reassurance, company and engagement is really important.” DHI lead consultant Bill Kendall adds:
“This collaborative project represents a transformational shift in NHS Scotland Volunteering to provide more and higher quality opportunities for people to give their time freely to support others, ‘giving back’ to society and improving their well- being. Working together with NHS HIS, the volunteer management community and Scottish Government, we are transforming the service to a new, more scalable and flexible model, showcasing how business and digital change can deliver meaningful change for patients, volunteers and staff, and for our society.” As for Fleming, he says volunteering has been one of the most rewarding and eye-opening things he has ever done. “I see how busy the staff are at times, and I see the quality of the care and compassion that the nurses and doctors show. I’m seeing that human side of the NHS. When I say I’m just a volunteer, they say, ‘No, you really do add value’ and that’s appreciated from my perspective. I really, really enjoy every shift.” The message from NHS leaders is clear.
“We would really encourage people across Scotland, whichever health board area that they might live within, to consider giving volunteering a go,” says Honeyman, “because there are lots of opportunities for them to get involved, using their existing skills and experiences and learning new ones to support our patients.”
81
IFHE
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104
