Erskine veterans benefit from Scottish SPCA volunteering

Residents from the Erskine Veterans Village have been volunteering weekly at the Scottish SPCA’s Glasgow centre in Cardonald since last July.

The partnership, which supports both residents and rescue animals, is part of a wider effort to encourage more people to volunteer during Volunteers’ Week.

Craig Berry, activities co-ordinator 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."

The partnership has seen veterans play and socialise with cats and dogs, helping to build trust with the animals while enjoying companionship, routine, and a sense of purpose.

For those unable to travel to the Cardonald centre, the Scottish SPCA team recently visited Erskine and brought along three furry guests – Ron, Jeremy, and Gary – for residents to meet and enjoy.

One resident said: "What a treat to be able to meet these lovely puppies, they enjoyed the cuddles as much as we did!"

Sam Baillie, a grounds and maintenance volunteer with the Scottish SPCA, was part of the visit.

Eager to give back after retiring, Sam 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."

The Scottish SPCA is using Volunteers’ Week to raise awareness about the importance of volunteering while highlighting a national decline in volunteer numbers.

A 2025 report from Volunteer Scotland found that formal volunteering rates dropped from 26 per cent in 2019 to 18 per cent in 2023, representing a loss of more than 335,000 volunteers across the country.

Barriers to volunteering include the cost-of-living crisis and concerns about mental wellbeing.

Despite the decline, research commissioned by Marie Curie suggests that nearly half of UK adults are likely to begin volunteering in 2026 – a figure the Scottish SPCA hopes will translate into new recruits.

The charity is seeking around 500 additional volunteers, particularly for fundraising roles, and notes that just two events per year would make a significant difference.

A UK-wide survey conducted in December 2025 showed that lack of time is the biggest barrier to volunteering, with half of respondents citing it as their main concern.

A further 22% said they were worried about the level of commitment required.

In response, the Scottish SPCA has introduced micro-volunteering opportunities that can be completed from home and allow people to give as much or as little time as they wish.

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."

More information about volunteering roles with the Scottish SPCA is available on the charity’s website.