Current opportunities
Join West Lothian Council as a Volunteer
West Lothian Council warmly welcomes volunteers to join our diverse range of services. We offer a variety of rewarding and engaging volunteering roles, complete with clear role descriptions, paid travel expenses, comprehensive training, and ongoing support.
Advice Shop
If you are interested in volunteering with the Advice Shop or Macmillan @ West Lothian please contact us for more information by email: volunteering@westlothian.gov.uk (opens new window)
DigiPals
This new session has been developed alongside volunteers to support customers navigate their Universal Credit journal. The sessions aim to improve digital understanding and empower customers to develop new skills & learn to navigate their journal independently. If you'd be interested in volunteering in this role or know somebody who would benefit from attending these sessions, please email: volunteering@westlothian.gov.uk (opens new window)
Housing, Customer and Building Services
Volunteer Role: Tenant Participation Volunteer - As a Tenant Participation Volunteer, you'll play a vital role in supporting your local West Lothian community by working alongside council officers during estate walk-abouts, pop-up events, and other tenant engagement activities. This opportunity is open exclusively to current West Lothian Council tenants and offers a meaningful way to influence housing services and connect with neighbours. For more information: Tenant Participation Volunteer (PDF, 169 KB)(opens new window)
If you're new to volunteering and want to learn more about what it involves, overcome any barriers, or build your confidence, we offer Pathways to Volunteering courses every month. These courses are designed to guide and support you towards your volunteering journey and now include the opportunity to gain an SQA Level 3 in Preparing to Volunteer.
Pathways to Volunteering 2026 Poster (PDF, 247 KB)(opens new window)
2026 Course Dates:
Monday 16th & Tuesday 17th March
Monday 20th & Tuesday 21st April
Monday 25th & Tuesday 26th May
Monday 29th & Tuesday 30th June
All sessions take place at Bathgate Partnership Centre
If you would be interested in attending one of these sessions, please email volunteering@westlothian.gov.uk (opens new window)
The Anti-Poverty Service are looking to recruit new members to the Experts by Experience panel who have experience of living with a low income. If you are looking to share your experience and put forward your ideas about how to tackle poverty, please email volunteering@westlothian.gov.uk (opens new window)
West Lothian Council have signed Volunteer Scotland's Volunteer Charter. The Charter sets out the ten key principles which help to underpin good relations within a volunteering environment. Signing this Charter reinforces West Lothian Council's commitment to supporting the foundations for a good volunteer experience and gives WLC the opportunity to express support for the spirit of volunteering while upholding the principles of good volunteer practice.
The 10 key principles are:
1. Any volunteer activity is a freely made choice of the individual
2. Volunteers should receive no financial reward for their time however, out of pocket expenses should be covered
3. Effective structures should be put in place to support, train and develop volunteers
4. Volunteers and paid workers should be able to carry out their duties in safe, secure and healthy environments
5. Volunteers should not carry out duties formerly carried out by paid workers
6. Volunteers should not be used instead of paid workers or undercut their pay and conditions of service
7. Volunteers should not be used to reduce contract costs
8. Volunteers should not be used to bypass minimum wage legislation
9. Volunteers and paid workers should be given the opportunity to contribute to the development and monitoring of volunteering policies and procedures
10. Volunteer roles should be designed and negotiated around the needs and interests of volunteers, involving organisations and wider stakeholders
