Our volunteering roles

Location: VSS localities throughout Scotland

Type of role: Ongoing role, all year round; no defined end date. Preferably 1 year or more involvement.

Any restrictions?

You can volunteer in this role if you are between 18 and 85 years of age.

How much time is involved?

We understand that everyone has different schedules, so we aim to be as flexible as possible. Most volunteers offer around eight hours per week, but this can vary depending on your availability and the needs of the service.

To ensure a consistent experience for the people we support, we ask for a minimum involvement of four hours per week, and ideally, at least one year. This helps you get the most from your volunteering experience and ensures stability for those who rely on our services.

We offer flexibility around days and times; volunteers typically support us Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm, but there may also be opportunities to volunteer in the evenings or at weekends, depending on local service demand and your availability. We’ll work with you to find a pattern that fits.

Why do you need me?

Every year, thousands of people in Scotland are affected by crime. Victim Support Scotland is here to help them rebuild their confidence, regain control, and move forward. As a volunteer, you’ll play a vital role in supporting people when they need it most, whether it’s offering a listening ear, helping them prepare for court, or simply being there on the day of their trial. Your time and compassion can make a life-changing difference.

What’s included in the role?

As a volunteer, you’ll provide emotional and practical support to people affected by crime. This may include:

• Speaking with people impacted by crime in person or by phone to understand their needs.
• Helping people feel more confident by arranging and delivering court familiarisation visits.
• Supporting individuals in court on the day of a trial and liaising with court staff on their behalf.
• Giving feedback to staff and agreeing on next steps for each case.
• Completing necessary admin tasks to ensure our support journey is well documented.

You’ll be fully trained and supported to carry out these responsibilities, and you’ll never be alone. You’ll carry out your role alongside experienced staff and fellow volunteers.

Why should I volunteer in this role?

Volunteering with us is both meaningful and rewarding. By giving your time, you’ll:

• Provide vital support to people going through some of the most difficult times in their lives.
• Learn new skills and deepen your understanding of the criminal justice system.
• Access high-quality training and development opportunities.
• Be part of a team that works to reduce the impact of crime in our communities.
• Receive regular support in your role.
• Have all reasonable expenses (like travel) reimbursed.
• Make a real difference, while gaining valuable experience and confidence.

Who will I be volunteering with?

You’ll be joining a passionate and diverse team of volunteers and staff who are committed to helping people affected by crime. We believe in working together, supporting each other, and sharing our strengths to make a real impact. You’ll never be on your own; you’ll always have someone to turn to for help, advice, or just a chat.

Do I need any experience for this role?

You don’t need specific qualifications to volunteer; what matters most is your empathy, reliability, and willingness to learn. That said, some of the qualities we value include:

• Good communication and listening skills
• A compassionate and non-judgmental approach
• A desire to help people from all walks of life
• An interest in the criminal justice system
• An ability to maintain confidentiality
• Flexibility and commitment
• Willingness to use a smartphone and take part in online training – support can be provided

We’ll provide full training to prepare you for your role, so don’t worry if you haven’t done something like this before.

Location: Glasgow

Type of role: Ongoing role, all year round; no defined end date. Preferably 1 year or more involvement.

Any restrictions?

You can volunteer in this role if you are between 18 and 85 years of age.

How much time is involved?

We understand that everyone has different schedules, so we aim to be as flexible as possible. Most volunteers offer around four to eight hours per week, but this can vary depending on your availability and the needs of the service.

Our National Support Centre operates:

• Monday to Friday: 8am-8pm 
• Saturday and Sunday: 10am-4pm

We’ll work with you to find a pattern that fits around your life, while ensuring a consistent experience for the people we support. Ideally, we ask for a minimum commitment of four hours per week and at least one year of involvement, to help you get the most from your volunteering and provide continuity for the people who rely on our support.

Why do you need me?

Every year, thousands of people in Scotland are affected by crime. For many, the first step in rebuilding their lives is reaching out to our helpline or webchat service.

As a National Support Centre volunteer, you’ll be that first point of contact—offering a listening ear, providing information and support, and making sure people feel heard, believed, and cared for. You’ll help people take their first steps towards recovery and connect them to ongoing support from our local teams or specialist services. Your time and empathy can truly change lives.

What’s included in the role?

As a volunteer, you’ll provide emotional and practical support to people affected by crime through our helpline and webchat services. This may include:

• Listening to and supporting people who contact us through our helpline and webchat
• Making initial contact with people referred to us by Police Scotland
• Asking questions to understand people’s needs and concerns
• Offering information about the criminal justice system and their rights
• Linking people to local VSS services and other organisations where needed
• Recording your support on our secure database

You’ll be fully trained and supported to carry out these responsibilities, and you’ll always have guidance from our experienced NSC team.

Why should I volunteer in this role?

Volunteering with us is both meaningful and rewarding. By giving your time, you’ll:

• Be there for people when they most need someone to listen and care
• Gain skills in communication, empathy, and trauma-informed support
• Learn more about the criminal justice system and victims’ rights
• Access high-quality training and development
• Be part of a friendly, supportive team
• Have all reasonable expenses (like travel) reimbursed
• Gain confidence and make a real, lasting difference

Who will I be volunteering with?

You’ll be part of a dedicated and compassionate team of volunteers and staff who care deeply about supporting people affected by crime. You’ll never be alone: we believe in supporting each other, sharing knowledge, and making space for connection and growth.

Do I need any experience for this role?

You don’t need formal qualifications—what matters most is your empathy, reliability, and willingness to learn. Some of the qualities we look for include:

• Strong communication and listening skills
• An empathetic and non-judgmental approach
• Comfort speaking with people over the phone or online
• An interest in helping people from all backgrounds
• A willingness to use digital tools (we’ll provide support if needed)
• An openness to ongoing training and feedback

We’ll provide full training to prepare you for your role, so don’t worry if you haven’t done something like this before.

We’re committed to making volunteering with VSS accessible to everyone.

If you have a disability, health condition, or any other support needs, we’ll do our best to work with you to make volunteering possible and enjoyable.

We can easily make adjustments, both for the role and our application process. We can discuss adjustments after you've filled out the application form, during the interview process, or even give us a call or send an email if you'd like to discuss it before applying.

Just let us know what you need; we’re here to help.

Email: volunteer.recruitment@victimsupportsco.org.uk

Phone number: 0333 034 1078

Yes, to make sure we provide the safest and most effective support to people affected by crime, all volunteers go through our recruitment and welcome process, which includes:

• Completing a volunteer registration form
• An informal interview
• Two reference checks
• A Disclosure Scotland check and membership of the PVG scheme
• An induction session and comprehensive training (around 40 hours over up to 12 weeks)
• Accept our confidentiality, data protection, and volunteer agreements

We’ll guide you through each step of the process and keep things straightforward and supportive.

Ready to make a difference? We’d love to hear from you!

To apply, visit this page and fill out the form: victimsupport.scot/volunteer

Or get in touch with our friendly team at

volunteer.recruitment@victimsupportsco.org.uk / 0333 034 1078

If you’re not quite sure yet and have a few questions, that’s okay too; reach out to us and we’ll be happy to chat.

Together, we can support people to move forward after crime. Your time, your care, and your presence can change lives.

No - you do not need any prior experience or knowledge. Everything you need to know about the criminal justice system will be covered in the volunteer training. We particularly welcome volunteers who are empathetic with great listening skills.

Yes! We have locations across Scotland so you can volunteer in your local area. You can find the full list of our locations here on our 'Find a service' page.

Yes, you can volunteer if you’ve used our services before. The important thing is that you're in the right place in your life to be able to support others who have experienced crime and trauma. It's also important to be self-aware and know when you need to ask for support from your local service or take a break.

No. VSS operates throughout Scotland and you do need to be based here in order to volunteer with us.

We are also not able to support individuals with their visa applications.

Yes. Volunteers will be paid tax-free for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred to allow you to perform your role, including travel in accordance with our Volunteer Travel and Expense Policy.

If you are currently claiming any benefits, volunteering shouldn’t affect your right to claim. Please speak to your benefits adviser before starting to volunteer.

We do not offer student or work experience placements. However, we do recognise that volunteering for our service could offer you some valuable transferrable skills.

Yes, you can return to volunteering. Please get in touch with us at volunteer.recruitment@victimsupportsco.org.uk to look at how long you have been away and what training you might need to undertake. Depending on the length of time you've been away, you may need to go through the recruitment process again.

Whilst not all convictions will debar you from volunteering with Victim Support Scotland, you should declare on your application all unspent convictions including relevant spent convictions.

More information about what is to be disclosed can be found at Legislation.gov.uk

You must tell us of any convictions that arise while volunteering for us.

You can expect a response from us within 7 working days. If you are still waiting to hear back, please get in touch with us at volunteer.recruitment@victimsupportsco.org.uk and we will look into this for you.

VSS volunteers have access to an Assistance Programme. It is a free day-to-day wellbeing and counselling service. It provides support to volunteers 24/7 and 365 days a year.

Volunteers also have access to a Digital Wellbeing Platform and App. It provides a wide range of resources to help you manage your wellbeing; digital gym, fitness and nutrition, Mindfulness, Wellbeing Content, Wellbeing Webinar and shopping discounts!

We are proud to be part of the Room to Reward scheme, recognising and celebrating the amazing contribution of VSS volunteers.

Volunteers will also be able to build on their skills and experience through development training. We provide an accredited Trauma Skills (NES Level 2) training course that volunteers will undertake after their initial training period. This course is CPD accredited and volunteers will obtain CPD hours. This can be great to add to your development profile or CV!