Fellowships Open
There are two types of Fellowships: open and focused. Open Fellowships allow any learning focus that meets the overarching intent, while focused Fellowships require your proposal to align with a predefined focus while still delivering the overarching intent.
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The General Intent:
Fellowships aims to gather insights and learning from outside the Highland region to enhance local volunteer practices. The programme encourages innovation to address declining volunteer participation and challenges within the sector. This means that Applicants must demonstrate how their proposed learning activities will advance volunteer practices and promote meaningful change within Highland by applying learning gained from outside of the Region.
Current Open Fellowships:
Open Fellowships can be directed by the Fellow, however, the Volunteer Academy will always be interested in areas that focus on:
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Youth Volunteering
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Employee Sponsored Volunteering
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Volunteering at retirement or later in life
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Digital solutions and options for volunteering
Other focus areas are welcome but applicants should ensure the need and objectives in their application is well outlined and considered.
Details
Fellowship Grant
Deadline
Up to £1,000
Open Fellowship
Monday 16th February 2026
Current Focused Fellowships:
Focused Fellowship applications must include a proposal that links specifically to the purpose of the focus given for the Fellowship. In most circumstances this will still allow for a broad interpretation within the focus and general intent, care must be given to ensure the application fits within both.
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Ordinarily, the organisation that an applicant connects with will be actively involved in the focal theme, however, this is not a requirement.
Details
Fellowship Grant
Deadline
Up to £2,000
Focused Fellowship, Young People:
Applications are invited for a Fellowship focused on how volunteering with young people can be strengthened and supported. Young people are vital volunteers in many communities throughout Highland therefore it is important that this is sustained and progressed further.
Monday 16th February 2026
Focused Fellowship, Befriending:
Applications are invited for a Fellowship focused on how befriending throughout the Highlands can be supported and strengthened. Befriending is a common and important way of combatting loneliness but also relies significantly on volunteers.
Up to £1,000
Monday 16th February 2026