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 (see below).

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 Opportunities –

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY: Make and Mend Assistants Required

Volunteer with our Tuesday Make and Mend groups, an opportunity to create, learn new skills and have some fun

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY: Tartan Shop Assistant Required

Join our wonderful Tartan Social Enterprise Team, in our wee Tartan Shop on Candlemaker Row.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY: IT Support Required

Volunteer with our IT groups, assisting people with their computing skills.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY: Art Assistants Required

Volunteer with our Friday Art groups, an opportunity to create, learn new skills and have fun.

– Volunteer Stories –

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!

Volunteer Stories: Meet Frank

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…

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