Help your community

By helping your community, you can:

• make it safer and better prepared for emergencies

• learn skills and meet new people

• support people in your local area

You could:

• volunteer with local services – for example food banks, charities or climate action groups

• get involved in community groups – for example your community council or neighbourhood watch

• become a volunteer emergency responder

• help family, friends and neighbours during an emergency

Find volunteering roles

Check for local volunteering roles on the Volunteer Scotland website.

Get involved in your local community council

A community council represents the views and interests of local people by:

• speaking up on their behalf to local government and public services

• discussing local issues – for example  planning, services or safety

• bringing people, skills and resources together to support local projects

• helping plan for, prepare for and respond to emergencies

Contact your local community council to get involved in their work.

Find your local community council on the Community Council website.

Join a neighbourhood watch group

A neighbourhood watch is a group of people who work together in their local area to:

• reduce crime and improve safety

• build community resilience

They do this by:

• bringing local people together to discuss issues and concerns

• reporting suspicious activity or safety concerns to the police

• sharing advice on crime prevention

Find your local neighbourhood watch on the Neighbourhood Watch Scotland website.

You can also check how to start a new group on the Neighbourhood Watch Scotland website.

Become a volunteer emergency responder

You can volunteer with organisations that respond to emergencies, such as:

• British Red Cross

• St Andrew’s First Aid

• Scottish Mountain Rescue

These roles can involve:

• giving practical, medical or emotional support during emergencies

• helping with search and rescue

• helping with transport

• fundraising

Emergency services

You can also volunteer with the emergency services. They have opportunities for voluntary, reserve and on-call work.

You could become a:

• Community First Responder with Scottish Ambulance Services

• Retained Fire Fighter with Scottish Fire and Rescue Service

• Special Constable with Police Scotland

• Volunteer Rescue Officer with His Majesty's Coastguard

These roles can lead to a career in the emergency services.

Help family, friends and neighbours during an emergency

You can offer practical support by:

• helping others prepare for and stay safe during severe weather

• checking in on people who may need help during a power cut or severe weather

•  finding and sharing reliable information  to keep others informed