Celebrating the transformative power of volunteering at People Know How—and the enduring legacy of mutual growth, community impact, and shared purpose.
Volunteering has always been a cornerstone of People Know How’s (PKH) work, approach and ethos. As we prepare to wind up the charity, I was pleased to be able to present at the recent Scottish Parliament Cross Party Group on Volunteering, chaired by Foysol Choudhury MSP, where I reflected on the role and impact of volunteers at PKH.
Since 2013, hundreds of volunteers have contributed to the work of PKH, and in turn, benefitted from their involvement. Our approach was grounded in our “People Pledge” that aimed to ensure that volunteers got as much from volunteering as PKH did and the people we supported.
Over the years, volunteers shared the many ways in which they had grown personally:
- A sense of purpose and fulfilment – Helping others was deeply rewarding and improved overall life satisfaction.
- Better mental health – Volunteering reduced stress, anxiety, and depression by fostering social connections and a sense of achievement.
- Increased confidence and self-esteem – Giving back to the community helped people feel valued and capable.
- A broader perspective – Engaging with diverse communities expanded their understanding of social issues.
Volunteers also spoke about professional development, highlighting how volunteering had helped them:
- Build new skills – From leadership to teamwork and communication.
- Network with others – Creating connections that led to new opportunities.
- Enhance their CV and career prospects – Employers recognise the value of volunteering, seeing it as a mark of initiative, commitment, and social responsibility.
Our volunteers came from all walks of life and at every life stage—from school pupils gaining work experience to retirees staying active and connected. Many spoke about the powerful social impact of volunteering:
- Stronger communities – Volunteers contribute to real and lasting positive change.
- New friendships – Meaningful relationships formed through shared purpose.
- Inspiration for others – Volunteers often sparked others to give back too.
These lived experiences echoed the recent findings from research conducted by Volunteer Scotland, and State of Life, presented at the Cross Party Group, which quantified the social value of volunteering in Scotland at £1,000 per person.
(Read the full report: The Social Value of Volunteering in Scotland – Technical Report)
One year before our closure, we proudly launched our new Strategic Plan for Volunteers, Interns and Placement Students (VIPs). Our strategy went beyond simply filling roles; it created pathways for personal and professional development, offering structured training, mentorship, and meaningful experiences.
We imagined a sustainable model where VIPs could grow by just as much as they gave, or more. With two dedicated staff supporting this work, we aligned our efforts with the Scottish Government Volunteering for All - National Framework and the Volunteering Action Plan, in the expectation that future funding and resources would support the third sector in fully implementing these ambitions.
Over the years, we provided a wide range of volunteering opportunities, including:
- Helming and crewing the All Aboard canal boat
- Befriending children transitioning from primary to secondary school
- Facilitating youth groups
- Helping people develop digital skills and confidence
- Refurbishing and delivering digital devices
- Conducting community consultations as Citizen Researchers
- Fundraising
- Serving as trustees and board members
- …and much more
We’ve learned a lot along the way. Some key messages we’d like to share as part of our legacy:
- Volunteers must gain as much as they give
- Supporting volunteers properly takes time and resources
- Volunteers are not free or cheap labour
- They bring a wealth of skills, passion, and potential
As we draw our work to a close, we’re actively working to share our approach and learning around volunteering. This will include a videocast bringing together former volunteers, staff and representatives from academia, the public sector and the business world, to:
- thank and celebrate all the people who ever volunteered with People Know How
- to share and explore the People Know How approach to volunteering rooted in the pledge that volunteering is mutually beneficial ensuring that people gain as much from volunteering as the organisation does.
- to promote and encourage volunteers and organisations to embrace volunteering and get involved, especially ensuring that volunteers are well supported.
Further reading: