SLCVO Blog 6 February

This week we explore how to get involved in volunteering, what a group needs to consider when changing their governing documents, and take a look at support for village halls including SCVO’s Village & Community Halls Handbook and OSCR's guidance.

This week, the SLCVO team was working at around 50% capacity as Jo‑Anne was off ill for three days. When she was working, Jo‑Anne supported a couple of groups looking to update their governing documents and met with a couple of people interested in volunteering. Michelle continued progressing our membership review and Spring training sessions, as well as starting work with a group seeking a full review of their services and governance. Matt focused his week on checking in with our Befriending volunteers and looking at a new group activity. Next week, the team will be on the road, meeting with trustees and each other to begin shaping our 2026/27 annual work plan. Part of this will include a review of our services and we’ll soon be inviting members and groups to take part in that process.

Get Involved with Volunteering

Across Skye and Lochalsh, people volunteer for all sorts of reasons. For some, it’s about finding a sense of purpose or feeling more connected to their community. Others want to make a real difference, support a cause they care about, learn new skills, or simply meet new people. volunteering also drive essential services and helps shape the social fabric of our communities.

Many charities and community groups simply couldn’t operate without volunteers. From serving as a director of a development trust to supporting a befriending service, helping in the village tidy-up, or joining the parent council, volunteers play vital roles at every level. The range of opportunities available is wide and varied—just like the people who choose to get involved.

When you first start looking into volunteering, it helps to think about the type of role that would suit you best. Regular volunteering is ideal if you want to make a consistent commitment — this could include roles like becoming a volunteer adviser with Citizens Advice, taking on a befriending position, or coaching in local sports programmes. If your time is limited, short‑term or project‑based volunteering can be a great option. These opportunities are perfect for people who want to try something new without making a long‑term commitment. There’s also skills‑based volunteering, where you can use your professional experience to support charities and community groups. Whether your background is in finance, IT, marketing, or governance, many organisations rely on specialist skills to help them grow and improve.

Once you’ve decided how much time you can give, there are plenty of places to look for volunteering opportunities, from local community organisations to national platforms designed to connect volunteers with the roles that suit them best.

The Highland Volunteering Academy connects people with opportunities, training and youth programmes,  they run a volunteer skills bank as well as a volunteer council

For more information visit  👉 https://www.highlandtsi.org.uk/volunteer-academy

For volunteer opportunities visit https://www.highlandtsi.org.uk/volunteering-opportunities

Volunteer Scotland offers an online platform where you can search for up‑to‑date volunteering roles tailored to your interests, skills, location, and availability. The site features a wide range of opportunities from organisations across Scotland, regularly updated with roles of all kinds—from local community groups to national charities.

To seae for opportunities vust : https://www.volunteerscotland.net/volunteer

If you’re looking for a more local overview of groups seeking volunteers, you can get in touch with the SLCVO team at info@slcvo.org.uk . We’re happy to arrange a chat, talk you through the organisations currently looking for support, and help connect you with the right local groups.

A Simple Guide to Changing Your Governing Document in Scotland

Over time, most charities and community organisations find they need to update their governing document. This could be to modernise outdated rules, remove barriers to participation, or simply reflect how the organisation now operates. If your group is registered with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR), with Companies House, or with both, there are clear steps you must follow to make any changes properly.

Before making any amendments, it’s essential to check what your current document—whether it's a constitution or Articles of Association—says about how changes should be made. This may include rules about who can vote, how much notice must be given, and whether changes need approval at a general meeting.

Understand Whether OSCR Consent Is Required

OSCR separates changes to a charity’s governing document into two main categories. Some changes require prior consent from OSCR —submitted at least 42 days before approval—including amendments to a charity’s purposes, its name and its legal form, Other types of amendments, such as updates to internal rules, do not need consent, but charities must still notify OSCR within three months of adopting the change [oscr.org.uk]

If You Are a Company, Follow Companies House Rules

Companies House requires that any changes to the Articles of Association—your organisation’s governing document—are approved by the members and recorded through a special resolution. After passing the resolution, you must send the resolution itself, and a copy of the amended Articles  to Companies House within 15 days. [gov.uk]

Most changes to a governing document need to be approved by a membership vote. This normally takes place at an AGM or an Extraordinary/General Meeting. You must:

• Give the required notice as stated in your governing document

• Share the exact wording of any proposed changes in advance

• Ensure the meeting is properly run and minuted

Changing a governing document may feel daunting, but the process is straightforward when you follow the correct steps. SLCVO can  support you through this process, contact infor@slcvo.org.uk to arrange a meeting.

Support for Village Halls

Village halls across Skye and Lochalsh sit at the very heart of community life. They are the places where people come together—hosting cultural events, sports sessions, ceilidhs, community meetings, practical services like local markets or barbers, and everything in between. These halls are run entirely by volunteer committees, and keeping them going takes countless hours of dedication, effort, and commitment.

To support hall committees, OSCR and the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) offer comprehensive online guidance to help with governance, structure, and the day‑to‑day management of community halls.

OSCR’s Village Halls Guidance provides a clear summary of the governance issues that village hall charities often face and explains the options available to trustees. It outlines how many halls are structured—often under older Deeds of Trust—and highlights the challenges this can create when documents become outdated or limit trustees’ powers. The guidance is divided into three parts: understanding the background and legal structures of village halls, the process of becoming a company or SCIO, and how to modernise a governing document. It also encourages trustees to seek professional advice where needed and signposts support from local TSIs and national organisations. Overall, it offers a practical starting point for any village hall charity reviewing its structure or considering updates to its governing document. https://www.oscr.org.uk/managing-a-charity/responsibilities-of-scios-and-other-legal-forms/village-halls-guidance/

SCVO’s Village & Community Halls Handbook is a useful resource for anyone involved in running or supporting a community hall.  the handbook is  designed for: trustees, committee members, volunteers, staff, and users who simply want to understand how their hall works.

The content is wide‑ranging, covering everything from governance and legal structures to digital skills, sustainability, and funding. The Facilities Management page provides practical guidance for anyone responsible for running, maintaining, and ensuring the safety of a village or community hall. It outlines key responsibilities involved in keeping a hall safe, accessible, and compliant, covering topics such as health and safety, fire safety, statutory checks, insurance, and accessibility requirements. https://scvo.scot/support/village-community-halls

SLCVO can also support hall committees with their governance, planning, funding, and development. If you’d like to find out more, you can email info@slcvo.org.uk.