Volunteering

When VSA was founded in 1870, it was established by a group of volunteers, and the contribution of volunteers across the organisation remains as essential to us today as it did in 1870.

Slowly over the course of 2021 and aligned with various Government restrictions, our dedicated Mercat Bookshop volunteers had a phased return and the re-opening of our popular bookshop located at Castlegate. Throughout the year, the bookshop had 35 volunteers who undertook approximately 3,840 hours of volunteering.

At Easter Anguston Farm, we were very thankful to individual volunteers, the Rotary, and many staff who volunteered their personal time to help get the farm in a position to start a phased re-opening.

In total, across the year, the farm had 7 individual volunteers and 1 Rotary Group, who approximately undertook 1,190 hours of volunteering across the year.

In preparation for a major event associated with our 150th anniversary, our philanthropy and income generation team were exceptionally grateful to a team of 23 individual volunteers who, in total dedicated 485 hours of their time in the lead up to the event and on the evening of the event.

The impact of the pandemic and rolling associated restrictions proved difficult to re-start our corporate micro-volunteering programme during the year. The vast majority of our strategic corporate partners were also still navigating the pandemic and the impact it continued to have on their individual business operations.

We were delighted that in March 2022, we were in a position to re-launch the corporate volunteering programme to our corporate strategic partners. Our aspirations over 2022/2023 are to fully rebuild this popular community and corporate engagement volunteering programme.

Martin’s Story

Martin Emslie has volunteered at Easter Anguston Farm since 2004, an incredible 18 years. He first started when he retired to help keep him busy.

Over those 18 years, Martin has supported the farm with equipment repairs, working in the farm shop, and generally ensuring everything around the farm is kept working; he is known as the resident “handyman.”

Martin said: “I have appreciated volunteering at Easter Anguston Farm over the years as it helps give me something to do in my spare time, and I really enjoy the work I get to do.

The team here has also always been so nice and supportive. The farm is a fantastic place, and I am proud to be part of it for so long.”