Third Sector
There is a strong tradition of volunteering in the isles, and almost all community and social activity in the rural areas rely on volunteers to make it happen.
Shetland had an estimated 1,000 third sector organisations in 2023, of which 272 were charities registered with OSCR.
The 2022 Scottish Household Survey showed that Shetland has the highest volunteering rate in Scotland, with 75% of the population aged 16 and over, involved in formal and/or informal volunteering - the national average is 46%.
The third sector is important to Shetland, both in social impact and economical benefit. In financial year 2022/23 third sector organisations in Shetland secured more than £14 million in grant funding.