Get involved
There's a real, meaningful role for you here
Volunteer, donate, or partner with us — because Penicuik's neighbours deserve longer, healthier lives.
Vibrant Health Advocates – Anchor runs because people in Penicuik and Midlothian believe that their neighbours deserve to live longer, healthier lives — and because some of those people give their time, their skills, and their financial support to make that possible. Whether you are a local resident who wants to volunteer as a walk leader, a business that wants to support preventive health work in the community, or someone who simply wants to make a donation that stays local and goes far, there is a genuine, meaningful role for you here.
We train volunteer walk leaders, workshop helpers, and peer mentors throughout the year, and our next intake is always open for expressions of interest. You do not need any health or fitness qualifications — you need warmth, reliability, and some local knowledge of Penicuik's paths.
As a small SCIO, every donation we receive goes directly into programme delivery — equipment, venue hire, training, and the small travel costs that allow our volunteer walk leaders to get to their groups. A gift of any size makes a measurable difference to how many people we can support each year.
We welcome partnerships with local businesses, health organisations, and Midlothian community groups who share our commitment to older people's wellbeing. Whether through employee volunteering, in-kind support, or a formal funding relationship, we are always glad to explore what collaboration might look like.
Our volunteers — former members who give back
The majority of Anchor's volunteer walk leaders were once members themselves. They remember what it felt like to join the first group with a worried heart and uncertain legs. That lived experience is not a nice-to-have — it is central to everything that makes our programme work.
When someone new arrives on a Tuesday morning and tries to slip away unnoticed before the walk starts, it is often a former member who spots them and says: 'I nearly didn't come my first time either.' That single sentence has kept more people in the programme than any leaflet or phone call ever has.
Our next volunteer training intake is open for expressions of interest. Two days of structured training, developed in partnership with Volunteer Midlothian, and then you walk alongside our experienced leaders until you feel confident. We will never push you before you are ready.
Find out more about volunteeringGet in touch to ask anything — joining, referring a loved one, volunteering, or donating. We respond within two working days.
Get in touch today