Office-based Volunteer Projects

Purpose of the role

ScotWays holds a large number of records relating to access rights and our activities in upholding them, throughout our history. We need volunteers to help with extracting useful information from these records and cataloguing them to make them more accessible. While most of our records are held off-site or in digital format, these projects require work to be completed in the ScotWays office in Edinburgh, with staff supervision and support close at hand. 

The activities that you may be involved in include:

  • Case File Finding Aid project 
    • Reading our digitised Case Files, each of which relates to a local access issue or development, mainly in the 20th century. 
    • Writing an archival description for each Case File, following a standard that you will be trained in, to make it easier for current and future staff members to search and browse these records. 
    • Based at the ScotWays office, on your choice of a morning or afternoon, Monday-Thursday, generally every 1 or 2 weeks. 
  • Signposting Records project 
    • Using our digitised signposting records and a summary spreadsheet alongside our current digital signpost records to identify gaps in our current records. 
    • Validating signpost records using historic records, a variety of maps and online sources, and Google StreetView. 
    • Adding detail to improve the completeness of our records. 
    • Sorting through paper signposting records to prepare them for scanning. 
    • Scanning records and checking the quality of the scans. 
    • Based at the ScotWays office on Fridays, your choice of morning or afternoon, generally every 1 or 2 weeks. 

You will need:

  • A desire to help inform the public about historic paths.
  • A suitable computer and internet connection.
  • Competence with basic IT skills.
  • The ability to read Ordnance Survey maps, including working with grid references.
  • The ability to read and write route descriptions.
  • A basic understanding of public outdoor access rights.

We will provide:

  • Training in all aspects of the role, periodic support and supervision.
  • Access to the software required to undertake your role.
  • Opportunities to take part in other volunteering activities and projects.

If you have some spare time and you’d like to help ScotWays with this role, please get in touch with Neil Birch, the Access Officer responsible for volunteering. He will arrange a chat with you and discuss how volunteering for ScotWays works.