Volunteering Impact Report 2026

Overview

Our first Volunteering Impact Report brings together data, research, and volunteer experiences to provide a comprehensive picture of volunteering across HES in relation to the wider heritage sector and trends in volunteering in Scotland. 

Going beyond participation figures alone, the report explores the social, cultural, and organisational impact of volunteering on individuals, communities, and Scotland’s historic environment. 

This report also highlights HES’s role as the lead public body for the historic environment in supporting volunteering in the heritage sector through community engagement, partnerships, and our Grants programme, while establishing a baseline to inform future volunteer development, inclusion, and sector-wide collaboration.