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At AdvoCard, our amazing team of Volunteer Advocacy Workers plays a crucial role in supporting people who live with mental health conditions or challenges related to substance use.

Our volunteers come from all walks of life, bringing with them a wide range of skills and experiences. What unites them is a shared passion for advocacy and a strong belief that everyone deserves to have their voice heard and their rights respected. In return, we offer thorough training, ongoing support, and opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Over the past 25 years, more than 300 dedicated individuals have generously given their time to volunteer with us. Many stay with us for years, while others use the experience and training they gain to move into paid roles. In fact, over a dozen former volunteers have gone on to work with AdvoCard, and many more have found employment in other advocacy organisations across Scotland.

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Training and Getting Started as a Volunteer

All of our volunteer advocacy workers take part in our initial training programme, which is designed to fully prepare you for this important and rewarding role. The training includes 10 sessions and builds on the everyday skills we all use in life—helping you feel confident, informed, and ready to provide high-quality advocacy support.

Volunteering with us is a two-way experience. While you’re making a real difference in people’s lives, you’ll also gain valuable work and life experience, along with opportunities for personal growth and development.

To get involved, you’ll need to have some availability during weekdays (Monday to Friday). We’ll also make sure you’re not out of pocket—all reasonable expenses are reimbursed.

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Ready to Apply? Here’s How:

Download our Volunteer Application Form and Equality & Diversity Monitoring Form, fill them in, and send them back to us. You’ll need to print the application form so you can sign it.

If printing is tricky for you, don’t worry—just get in touch and we’ll be happy to post the forms out to you.

Once we’ve received your forms, we’ll invite you into our office for a short, informal interview. It’s a chance for us to get to know each other better and for you to ask any questions. We’ll send you all the details in advance so you know what to expect.

If you’re happy to go ahead after that and we think it’s a good fit, we’ll ask for two references and check your membership with the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme. Don’t worry—we’ll guide you through the process if you’re not already a member.

Our 10-session training programme for new volunteer advocacy workers runs several times a year. We’ll let you know the next available dates, or you can check our social media for updates. The training is interactive, supportive, and designed to help you feel confident and ready.

Once training is complete, you’re ready to get started! But you won’t be on your own—we’ll continue to offer ongoing support and training to help you grow in your role. We want you to feel confident in your skills and knowledge so you can provide the best possible advocacy for the people we support.

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Still not sure?

Hear from our volunteers on how volunteering with AdvoCard has made a difference to their lives

Gemma – 

I’ve been volunteering with AdvoCard for over a year now. I came across the organisation at a point in my life when I felt lost and uncertain about what was next. Advocacy appealed to me because it stood for something I believed in—challenging injustice and empowering others. In truth, I think I needed a bit of empowerment myself at the time.

From my very first conversation with a kind and encouraging man who invited me to join the training, I felt seen. Although I was nervous about stepping into something new, the training experience was genuinely lovely. I was constantly reassured, made to feel welcome, and reminded that I was capable.

This opportunity has meant so much to me. I’ve not only learnt about advocacy, but I’ve also discovered the power of being part of a kind, caring, and supportive volunteer team. I no longer feel lost—I feel like I’ve found a new sense of purpose, surrounded by people who lift me up.

I honestly couldn’t recommend AdvoCard more highly, especially the dedicated volunteers and staff who make such a meaningful difference every day.

Jo – 

I’ve been volunteering with AdvoCard for 9 months. I had been considering volunteering for many reasons: to gain some experience and further my career, to help others, but mostly life was feeling a bit stagnant. I knew I needed to do something to feel more fulfilled. Having had a strong sense of justice since I was young, I always found myself naturally trying to help and advocate for others, but that didn’t continue into adulthood. Life does get in the way, but I realised my mental health, energy levels and confidence were all suffering because I wasn’t feeling fulfilled. It took me years to commit, but eventually I realised something needed to change. I had a look on Volunteer Edinburgh stumbled across Advocard. I reached out not expecting to hear anything due to my perceived lack of experience but Paul (one of the Volunteer Co-Ordinators) reached out, and his infectious personality meant there was no way I’d say no. As I got to know the rest of the cohort starting with me and all the other team members at Advocard I knew I was in the right place. Everyone was likeminded and working towards a common goal to ensure people could access and understand their rights. 

Volunteering at Advocard has been special. It’s a joy to come in each week and engage with kind, considerate and supportive colleagues. While the issues we sometimes deal with are tough, and the help we offer is limited, there’s no better feeling than knowing you are doing your best to support someone. And despite the fact that I’m squeezing in volunteering around a full-time job, I’m more energetic, engaged and have been instilled with so much purpose. That’s not to say that volunteering hasn’t been challenging. I had difficulty setting boundaries and helping my Advocacy Partners understand the scope of support that advocacy could provide. At times I lacked confidence because it felt like I was failing, but as I learned to better communicate, my relationships improved and Advocacy Partners came away thankful of the support I could provide despite it’s limitations.  

For anyone thinking about volunteering, just do it. If you – like me – are hoping to find community and fulfilment, I cannot recommend it enough. I put it off for far too long, and I hope from reading my story you won’t make the same mistake.  

Jacob – 

My name is Jacob Moody, I’m 28 years old, and am a Volunteer Advocacy Worker with AdvoCard Advocacy, and I’ve been volunteering with AdvoCard since March 2024. I started volunteering with AdvoCard because I believe that advocacy is an important service, as far too often peoples voices are ignored by health and other professionals, and advocacy can be a way to ensure that these voices are heard. I have personal experience of university staff and health professionals using their position of authority over me to silence my voice, and believe that this shouldn’t happen to anyone. During my time volunteering, I have most enjoyed meeting other volunteers, members of staff, and advocacy partners. They bring a smile to my face. It has provided me with the ability to present myself more professionally, and has provided me with skills that I have used to gain employment. I would recommend anyone who cares about ensuring peoples voices are heard when they are being ignored. Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, get out the house, and gain more skills, both for personal development and gaining employment. 

Pete – 

My name is Pete, aged 39. I have been volunteering with AdvoCard as a volunteer advocacy worker for the past 7 months.

After receiving treatment for problematic alcohol and substance use, I decided to make some big changes to my life. I left a busy and stressful role in the hospitality industry, with the aim to become a counsellor. AdvoCard gave me the opportunity to work in a meaningful way with people struggling with problematic substance use and mental health difficulties. It has allowed me to gain important experience in working with others, whilst improving my understanding of a wide range of services and organisations, along with the barriers and challenges that our partners face in their daily lives. AdvoCard has also been amazing with regards to extra training and learning opportunities, offering a wide range of courses and classes. This role has helped build my confidence and skills, working in such an encouraging and supportive environment. A lot of the people who use our service have felt ignored or forgotten by various systems. At AdvoCard I have witnessed the positive impact an empathetic and supportive person can have on an individual who is struggling, empowering them and helping them navigate some of the challenges they are up against.

From day one I have felt welcomed as part of the team, and had the privilege of meeting so many amazing people. I had very little experience to begin with, however the training was excellent and there are always experienced team members to answer questions and offer support.

I would highly recommend volunteering with AdvoCard.

Allan – 

My name is Allan and I am a Volunteer Advocacy Worker. I started my role with AdvoCard around 4 months ago after being unemployed for two and a half years. Being unemployed, contrary to popular belief, is actually really difficult. I lost structure in my life and had forgotten my capabilities. 

Having lived experience of ill mental health I had been looking for a volunteer role in which I could use my experience of engaging with mental health services to benefit others. I found the position through Volunteer Edinburgh and thought it would be a good match. One night I decided to apply and here I am now. 

As someone who has a desire to, and enjoys helping people, I have been finding the advocacy work very fulfilling. Every referral I take on is different and comes with its own challenges and opportunities. Everyone I have worked with has been so grateful to me for the support that I have offered, which makes me feel like a good job has been done.

I now have been in a position to apply for a job in the third-sector, which has been successful and if it wasn’t for AdvoCard this wouldn’t have even seemed like a possibility. Although I am progressing into paid employment, I will continue to do my voluntary work with AdvoCard. I would recommend them to anyone who has been in a similar position to me. They offer so much support and development opportunities and have allowed me to get back to myself again.