Voluntary Action Orkney (VAO)

16/06/2026

Kirkwall BID is looking for volunteers help with the Kings Baton Relay 👇

Kings Baton Volunteer Marshals Wanted! 👑

As Kirkwall BID prepares to host the Kings Baton Relay on Saturday 11th July, we are looking to recruit volunteer marshals to help line the route.

In terms of time commitment it would be 2-3 hours on the afternoon of Saturday 11th July and an event briefing on Wednesday 1st July at 6pm.

Would you like to be part of this exciting event? Then please email [email protected] by Monday 22nd June

12/06/2026

VAO will move out of Anchor Buildings during week commencing 22 June 2026 while plans progress for the new Community Hub 📦

Services continue and we will temporarily be working remotely. Arrangements are in place for meeting space and our phone number and email addresses remain the same 📞📧

Connect Orkney will move to the Life Centre from 1 July 2026 🧡

Orkney Citizens Advice Bureau remains at Anchor Buildings for the time being 📍

More information about the move is on our website - find the link in the comments 👇

11/06/2026

The VAO team will be off on Monday for the bank holiday - we will be back working as normal from 9.00am on Tuesday ⚽🏆

06/06/2026

👏 Ruth and Colin at Tomb of the Eagles ⤵️

Thank you Ruth and Colin!

Not all of our volunteers are meeting and greeting our visitors, we are very privileged to have volunteers that help "behind the scenes".

Ruth, who also is on our front desk welcoming visitors, can be seen here post-stock take (yes we counted all those sugar sachets), and Colin helps with lots of maintenance around the site including the conservation of the archaeology.

Ruth and Colin give incredible support to the site and this is just a snippet of the help they give! Both are on our sub-committee for TotE which is also made up of people volunteering their time to make sure this site grows and thrives.

If you'd like to make a difference and help to grow Scotland's first community owned scheduled monument, please consider volunteering by visiting https://www.vaorkney.org.uk/volunteering/i-want-to-volunteer/volunteering-opportunities/vo104813 or emailing [email protected]

06/06/2026

👏 to the volunteers at Employability Orkney- Restart Orkney ⤵️

💙 Volunteers' Week 💙

This week has been Volunteers' Week, and we couldn't let it pass without saying a massive thank you!

We're thankful for our volunteers — not just for one week a year, but every single day. You're the heart of Employability Orkney.

From our volunteer van drivers and assistants keeping donations flowing, to the creative hands making our shop displays shine, the skilled folks PAT testing our electricals and fixing up our bikes, and the smiley faces welcoming everyone at the counter — you're all fantastic.

This week we wanted to showcase that there are many reasons why folk choose to volunteer at Employability Orkney and that every single volunteer brings something different to our charity.

Employability Orkney runs on community spirit, and you lot are proof that volunteering can be fun, practical, and genuinely joyful. Thank you for everything you do!

A big thank you as well to Erling for helping make some of these volunteer posts this week.

06/06/2026

Have you been inspired by 2026?

You can find an up to date searchable list of local volunteering opportunities on the VAO website 💻

We also regularly post new listings on this page too 📱

Find the link to the website in the comments 👇

05/06/2026

👏 Stephen at Kirkwall BID 👇

As part of Volunteers’ Week, we’d like to say a huge thank you to Stephen, one of our volunteers who joined us through Voluntary Action Orkney (VAO)

Stephen has put in some fantastic shifts at several of our events, bringing enthusiasm, reliability and a willingness to get stuck in. He’s already made a real difference and is raring to go for more!

If you’d like to be like Stephen and get involved in volunteering with us, we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch to find out how you can help support our events and make a difference in the community.

05/06/2026

👏 Darran at Employability Orkney- Restart Orkney ⤵️

💙 Volunteers Week 💙

Darran, a long term volunteer has been with us about 4 years. He was previously employed here and returned. "Its a grand place " he says , "and I like meeting people in general."

He feels that the new part Restart Rummage, is a great looking addition to the charity and enjoys serving in there.

If you think you'd be interested in helping with the Rummage , please contact Restart!

05/06/2026

👏 Wanda at Tomb of the Eagles ⤵️

Hello Wanda!

Next up, here's our fab volunteer Wanda, who always gives such a wonderful sunny warm welcome to our visitors!

We asked Wanda why she volunteers at TotE and why she enjoys it:

"It's really positive place to be, and it's easy to get support from the team. It's also such a fabulous place, we are honouring something that one man and his family started. It's easy to sit on our own at home and get stuck on your ways, but volunteering gets me out of the house and it's great to meet so many people"

If you are looking for something meaningful to add to your weekly schedule, please consider volunteering at Tomb of the Eagles, please visit https://www.vaorkney.org.uk/volunteering/i-want-to-volunteer/volunteering-opportunities/vo104813 or email [email protected]

05/06/2026

Volunteering is just one of the ways that Connect helps their young people to figure out their next steps. Later this month, they will be joined by Liam McArthur to celebrate their volunteering efforts 🎉

One group of Connect volunteers help to maintain Arcadia Park in Kirkwall. They sow seeds, plant bulbs, cutback branches and clear pathways 🌱🍂

Inspired by a park user they also helped to choose bedding flowers with strong scents and colours to be more inclusive 🌸