Volunteer with us! A great way to make a real difference

Volunteer with GCP

Volunteer with us

We would not be able to provide our support and services to Edinburgh’s most vulnerable, without our fantastic volunteers. Volunteers make a positive contribution to our Members’ lives and ensure the continued success of our community by:

  • supporting our Members’ activities and workshops
  • tasks in the Grassmarket Centre kitchen, furniture workshop or serving Members’ lunches
  • helping Members sign up for activities at our reception
  • helping out at our Open Door Meals on Wednesdays 5pm – 6.30pm
  • leading activities in the capacity of Facilitator Volunteer or Peer Mentor

From two hours a month, the volunteer commitment varies depending on the role. All our volunteers receive ongoing support and have access to free training throughout the year.

REGISTER HERE

We also offer great Corporate Volunteering opportunities too! See our Volunteer Stories and latest opportunities, below. For more information or to discuss your ideas, please contact [email protected]

– Volunteer Stories –

Volunteer Stories: Meet Elsa

You may have already met Elsa. She usually sits on reception on a Wednesday!

Volunteer Stories: Meet Hailey

Hailey is volunteering on our Young Members Programme. ‘As soon as I came here, I knew I would have to come back and volunteer!’

Volunteer Stories: Meet Brooke

Brooke is a volunteer, supporting our Young Members Programme. We love her enthusiasm, fresh perspective and her love of community!

Volunteer Stories: Meet Megan

Meet Megan, she loved her placement at GCP so much, she’s now back with us a volunteer!

Volunteer Stories: Meet Maria

Maria started volunteering with GCP in November. She wasn’t expecting such an inspiring and creative!

Creative partnerships – Getting crafty with Edinburgh Uni

Edinburgh Uni gets crafty with Greyfriars Tartan. GCP is well-known for developing inspiring relationships with like-minded partners!

Our Tartan Team welcomes Maria

Meet Maria from GCP’s Tartan Team, she is one of our newest volunteers and is keen to share her story to inspire others.

Volunteering with GCP

Volunteering plays an essential role in the continued success of GCP. Find out how you can help change lives

A History of Volunteering at GCP

If you ever want to know about the history of volunteering at the GCP, Tommy is your man.

Volunteer Stories: Meet Pauline

Meet volunteer, Pauline, and find out why she’s a great match for GCP!

Volunteer Stories: Meet Maureen

Meet Maureen AKA ‘the Rose Lady’ and one of GCP’s longest serving Volunteers!

Vote Kevin for People’s Choice

Kevin, our Volunteer Manager, has being shortlisted for the SCVO Awards for Employee of the Year. You can VOTE KEVIN too!

Greyfriars Tartan did Tartan Week!

Greyfriars Tartan at Tartan Week – an important opportunity to build on the success of this much-loved brand

Congratulations Janie, our Volunteer Champion 2023

Huge congratulations to Janie, our Tartan Workshop volunteer, winner of the prestigious Social Enterprise Volunteer Champion Award 2023

Our Tartan Team visit the V&A Tartan Exhibition

Where do you take a team of Tartan Workshop volunteers for a treat? The V&A’s spectacular Tartan Exhibition, of course!

Meet JH Campbell, our good friend James

J.H. Campbell is a novelist, writer of short stories. James is also a much-loved volunteer here at GCP.

Let’s talk about Kevin – Our Volunteer Manager

Meet Kevin, our Volunteer Manager. He started here as a volunteer, fell in love with the place, and hasn’t looked back since!

Frank’s GCP story

Meet Frank, inspirational artist, member AND volunteer at The Grassmarket Community Project. We are so lucky to have him with us!

Volunteer Stories: Meet Sophie

Sophie began volunteering with us, after seeing an advert to help support our Friday Art and Craft group. We’re SO glad she did!

Strike it lucky – A Volunteer Night Out

It was a fun evening when 15 GCP volunteers and 5 staff went 10-pin bowling recently. In fact the evening was considered ‘a roaring success’

Volunteer Stories: Meet Liz

Meet Liz, our award-winning volunteer. We asked her more about her life and why she loves volunteering with GCP…

Volunteer Stories: Meet Anne

Anne volunteers with The Grassmarket Community Project choir. She’s brilliant and we really appreciate her support.

Volunteer Stories: Meet Mustapha

Meet Mustapha, he volunteers with the Woodwork Group at The Grassmarket Community Project and he loves it! Find out why…

Volunteer Stories: Meet Michael

Meet Michael, an experienced volunteer who supports the members and team at The Grassmarket Community Project in many ways.

Inspirational women of GCP – meet Anne and Magdala

Meet Anne and Magdala. They are both phenomenal women and sew inspirational…

Volunteer Stories: Meet Dennis

Meet Dennis. A popular face around The Grassmarket Community Project, Dennis is an experienced volunteer with a smile and a story to share

Open Door Meal – ALL Welcome

Every Wednesday, Edinburgh residents are invited to come along for a free meal at The Grassmarket Community Project

VOLUNTEER STORIES: Caelan

Art student Caelan volunteers every week and would come more often if she could

VOLUNTEER STORIES: Martha

History student Martha loves seeing the difference she makes as a volunteer

VOLUNTEER STORIES: Liz

For Liz, volunteering is as much for her as it is for our members

Joining our community

We ask all potential volunteers to become a Member of our community first by completing the registration form.

Facilitator Volunteers usually lead activities due to their particular skills in a certain area. We ask Facilitators to commit to agreed weekly hours for a minimum three months wherever possible.

Peer Mentors carry out a similar role, having developed their skills and talents through membership of the community, and use their own experience to support fellow members on their journey.

Both Facilitator Volunteers and Peer Mentors receive additional “Leading Activities” training and are required to provide two personal references and complete a form to join the “Protection for Vulnerable Groups” (PVG) Scheme (which is free).

For more information or to discuss what you may be able to bring, please contact [email protected]

REGISTER HERE

The National Lottery Community Fund - The Grassmarket Community Project

A BIG THANK YOU

The Grassmarket Community Project relies on the time and commitment of our volunteers. The Volunteer Programme is possible thanks to the generosity of our customers, funders and donors. Our main funder for this area of our work is The Big Lottery Changing Lives programme and we thank them for their essential continued support.

For wider opportunities, including those in the Greyfriars family, see here