Every year over 3000 enthusiastic volunteers donate their time to projects, properties and events with the National Trust for Scotland. Their dedication and invaluable contribution is a vital part of the organisation’s conservation and preservation work, and goes a long way to helping some of Scotland’s most beautiful and historic sites live on.
We are fortunate to have a vibrant volunteering community spanning the length and breadth of the country; from drystane dyking on Fair Isle to Property Guiding in the Borders, our volunteers help carry out essential and diverse duties.
Volunteering can suit people of all ages who are interested in trying new experiences, meeting new people, learning new skills and seeing new places.
The National Trust for Scotland offers a host of interesting volunteering opportunities.
Why not join one of our local outdoor conservation groups, based in Glasgow, Lothian, Grampian and Tayside?
Our Conservation Volunteers (or CVs) are a diverse group of people who carry out a range of outdoor conservation activities such as footpath maintenance, drystane dyking and woodland management.
Being a Conservation Volunteer is a rewarding, sometimes challenging, and always sociable experience. If you enjoy the outdoors and would like to become part of a nation-wide team of volunteers helping to conserve it, please click here for more information.
The National Trust for Scotland also offers opportunities to become a Property Guide at one of our many properties across Scotland.
This is an excellent way to meet new people from all over the world and see behind the scenes at some fascinating historic buildings and battlefields. The roles vary from property to property; volunteers could be involved in guiding, education programmes, events or recreations, depending on experience and interests.
Many of these historic buildings simply would not be open to the public without the dedication and support of our volunteers, who literally help bring our properties to life!
If you’re interested in helping to contribute to the preservation and promotion of Scotland’s Heritage, and passing on our historic legacy please click here.
The National Trust for Scotland has a team of dedicated Gardening volunteers located at some of our beautiful Garden properties. Each garden is very different and the tasks which volunteers undertake can be hugely varied.
These can include general garden upkeep, specific plant propagation, plant sales and occasional research into the history of the garden and the plants.
There may also be a call to answer questions from the public from time to time and perhaps a chance to give tours of the garden.
Garden volunteering with the National Trust for Scotland is an incredibly rewarding experience for people who love Scotland’s gardens. Please click here to find out more.
Our popular Thistle Camps programme is also a great way to get involved in volunteering and conservation with the National Trust for Scotland.
For periods of up to 2 weeks, volunteers live, breathe and enjoy some of Scotland’s most beautiful scenery and spaces; helping to keep them looking that way for future generations to enjoy as well.
Our working holidays are a fantastic introduction to some of the conservation that goes on all year round at Trust properties and also allows volunteers to meet, and work with, experts in archaeology, gardening, conservation and nature, to name but a few.
2008 is proving to be another very successful year, with vital conservation work planned and underway, and all the camps fully booked.
To find out more about Thistle Camps and to book a space on a waiting list please click here.
Our dedicated volunteers within Central Office are part of the team that helps the National Trust for Scotland carry out its aims and objectives to look after Scotland’s cultural and natural heritage.
Based in Edinburgh’s Charlotte Square, our volunteers can be found helping with administrative tasks, data entry, carrying out occasional research into key developments and answering questions from the public. This is simply a sample of the range of important work carried out by our volunteers.
If you would like to be involved please check our opportunities page. Or Click here to find out more about volunteering with the National Trust for Scotland.
There are a host of other opportunities to help the work of the National Trust for Scotland across the country. From bat monitoring to buggy driving, no stone is left un-turned when it comes to volunteering.
You can find out more about all types of volunteering that may be available by checking our opportunities page. Alternatively, contact us if you would like to discuss possible specialist volunteering options. You can also support the volunteering work done by the National Trust for Scotland by donating.
Whether you’re looking to gain invaluable experience in the heritage sector, develop your interest in history or simply meet MORE>
The National Trust for Scotland. The National Trust for Scotland for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty is a charity registered in Scotland, Charity Number SC 007410 and depends for its support on the subscriptions of its members, donations and legacies. Terms & conditions of use | Increasing text size and site accessibility | Disability Access (PDF) | Site and contents copyright © 2010 the National Trust for Scotland.