Volunteer Stories - Saffron

Volunteers' Week 2026

My name is Saffron, I'm 25 and I volunteer with Dingwall Museum alongside studying for my Masters degree in Sustainable Energy Solutions at UHI. My undergraduate degree is in Physics, and alongside my studies I also work part time in heritage roles at Urquhart Castle and the Inverness Castle Experience. Heritage is a real passion of mine, although I’m still figuring out whether it will become my long-term career.

I started volunteering while I was looking for work and wanted to gain experience as well as have more social contact. Volunteering gave me the opportunity to build confidence, meet people, and develop practical skills while doing something I genuinely enjoy.

For me, volunteering in heritage is about engaging with something I find really interesting. I’ve always enjoyed local history and heritage, so being able to contribute to a local museum while learning more about the sector has been really rewarding.

One of the things I enjoy most is the freedom to pursue areas that interest me and explore different career avenues through volunteering. I recognise that this is probably quite a unique stage in my life where I have the flexibility to try different opportunities, learn new skills, and see what suits me best.

Volunteering has also helped me build experience and confidence in a supportive environment. It’s been a positive way to connect with people locally and feel part of the community while developing skills that will hopefully help me in my future career.

I would definitely recommend volunteering to other young people. It’s a great way to gain experience, build confidence, and meet people. It’s also nice to give your time to something that benefits the local community.

I’d say just try it. Volunteering has been a really positive experience for me