Residents from the Erskine Veterans Charity in Bishopton have been visiting and volunteering at the charity’s Glasgow rescue centre once a week since last July.
Veterans who are unable to travel to the Cardonald site were recently visited by the Scottish SPCA volunteer team, who brought with them three furry guests – Ron, Jeremy and Gary.
For almost a year, residents from the Erskine Veterans Village have been visiting the centre to play and socialise with the dogs and cats, as well as help the team. This has allowed the animals to build up a sense of trust while offering the veterans joy, routine and a form of companionship. This Volunteers’ Week, the Scottish SPCA is celebrating this partnership and the impact that offering a helping hand round the centre has had on both the veterans and animals – and can have on future volunteers.
Craig Berry, Activities Coordinator at Erskine, said: “The veterans who visit the animals on a regular basis benefit immensely from the contact with the cats and dogs. The residents’ faces light up when we arrive and even more so when a kitten or puppy is placed in their arms.
“Many of the residents will have had pets before they came to live in Erskine and these visits fill a gap in their lives. It is really amazing to see. The joy the animals bring to Erskine residents on these visits is immeasurable”.
One resident said: “What a treat to be able to meet these lovely puppies, they enjoyed the cuddles as much as we did!”
It’s very rewarding for the residents, the animals – and for me
Sam Baillie, a Grounds and Maintenance volunteer at the Scottish SPCA, was part of the visit on Thursday 28 May. After retiring, Sam was keen to give back and has been volunteering with the charity since September 2025. He said: “This volunteering has provided residents with a new lease of life and a space to socialise. We’re aiming to continue this initiative long-term as it’s very rewarding for the residents, the animals – and for me.”
Volunteering has never been more important – but numbers across Scotland are falling. According to a report carried out by Volunteer Scotland in 2025, the cost-of-living crisis and mental wellbeing are among factors preventing more people from volunteering. The report highlights that between 2019 and 2023, formal participation rates fell from 26% to 18% – a drop of over 335,000 volunteers.
Research commissioned by Marie Curie, however, has found that nearly half of UK adults are likely to start volunteering in 2026. Scotland’s only animal welfare charity are hoping this is the case as they are looking to recruit around 500 more volunteers – specifically those wanting to help fundraise, with support needed for just two events per year!
A survey carried out across the UK in December 2025 revealed that half of the people who responded feel that lack of time is the biggest barrier to volunteering, with 22% of people stating that they are concerned about the level of commitment needed. That is why the Scottish SPCA has introduced micro-volunteering, which people can participate in from home and dedicate as much time as they would like to the role.
All of our volunteers are superheroes
Lesley Toles, Volunteering Programme Manager at the Scottish SPCA, said: “All of our volunteers are superheroes! No cloaks or lycra suits – they just turn up quietly in their Scottish SPCA t-shirts and get stuck in, whether it’s working directly with the animals, fundraising, promoting our work or helping with practical tasks – all those little jobs done add up to a big boost for the staff, volunteers and of course, ultimately help the animals.”
As a charity, we are dependent on our selfless volunteers to give Scotland’s animals the best chance possible in life. From hands on support for the animals, to taking part in sponsored fundraising activities such as the Glasgow Kiltwalk or the Edinburgh Half-Marathon, our volunteers are an integral part of what we do and we simply couldn’t deliver our mission without them.
The Scottish SPCA has a number of volunteering roles to choose from so find out more on our volunteering webpage and start your journey today.
