Fife Sports and Leisure Trust has achieved the nationally recognised Investing in Volunteers (IiV) Accreditation, recognising its commitment to providing high-quality volunteering opportunities and support across Fife. 

Investing in Volunteers is the UK quality standard for organisations that involve volunteers in their work. The accreditation demonstrates that Fife Sports and Leisure Trust meets recognised best practice standards in volunteer recruitment, training, support, recognition, and continuous improvement. 

The achievement follows a comprehensive external assessment of the organisation’s volunteering programme, including policies, procedures, volunteer experiences, and organisational commitment. The process involved evidence gathering from across the organisation, engagement with staff and volunteers, and independent assessment through interviews and feedback. 

The accreditation recognises the significant progress made in developing a volunteering programme that creates opportunities for people to gain experience, build confidence, develop skills, and contribute to their local communities. 

Over the last year, the programme has continued to grow and deliver positive outcomes across Fife. Volunteer numbers increased by 73%, while volunteers contributed more than 1,200 hours during 2025/26, supporting a wide range of services including swimming, football, gyms, and community initiatives. 

The programme is also creating pathways into employment, with 31% of volunteers progressing into paid roles following their placement. 

These figures highlight the important role volunteering plays in developing skills, building confidence, and creating pathways into employment, while supporting local communities and services across Fife. 

Emma Walker, Chief Executive Officer at Fife Sports and Leisure Trust, said: “Volunteering plays an important role in helping us create stronger, healthier, and more connected communities across Fife. Over the past few years, we have developed and strengthened our volunteering programme, creating more opportunities for people to get involved, gain valuable experience, and make a positive difference in their local communities. 

This achievement recognises the progress we have made and supports our ambition to be one of Fife’s leading organisations for volunteering, community wellbeing, and opportunities for personal development.” 

Karen Marsh, HR Manager at Fife Sports and Leisure Trust, added: “This achievement reflects the commitment, enthusiasm, and passion of our volunteers, staff, and partners, who have worked together to create a positive and supportive volunteering experience. 

Volunteering brings significant benefits for both individuals and communities. It helps people build confidence, develop new skills, gain valuable experience, and, in many cases, take their next step into employment. We are incredibly proud of the positive impact our volunteers make every day across Fife.” 

The accreditation supports wider organisational priorities around community wellbeing, employability, workforce development, and social impact. It also strengthens Fife Sports and Leisure Trust’s ability to attract new volunteers, build partnerships, and create even more opportunities for people to get involved, develop skills, and make a positive difference in their communities. 

Fife Sports and Leisure Trust would like to thank all volunteers, staff, and partners who contributed to the accreditation process and continue to support volunteering opportunities across Fife. 

To find out more about volunteering opportunities or how to become a volunteer with Fife Sports and Leisure Trust, visit: https://www.fifeleisure.org.uk/about/jobs/volunteering/