The voluntary sector is an integral part of the mix needed to renew, sustain and grow Highlands and Islands communities and the economy of the Highlands and Islands, according to a new report commissioned by HIE.

The study 'Volunteering in the Highlands and Islands' also observes that the demand for volunteers is likely to increase as a result of national policy.

John Watt, HIE's director of strengthening communities said: "Our commitment to providing communities with the means to support themselves has already achieved notable success in terms of art and cultural development, land ownership and renewable energies.

"A previous audit carried out by HIE, reported that there were over 8,000 organisations offering 100,000 volunteering opportunities in our communities. The voluntary sector is therefore a significant feature of life in the Highlands and Islands."

The study shows that the Highlands and Islands has a higher level of volunteering than Scotland as a whole. Orkney fares particularly well for helpers, with one in three of those in Orkney between the ages of 16 and 34 volunteering, compared to one in five across Scotland. Females represent a higher proportion of volunteers in the Highlands and Islands, with over a third helping out, compared to a quarter in all of Scotland.

The survey also found that the average age of a volunteer is increasing, with an overwhelming majority (97%) of volunteers over the age of 25.

"We need to communicate the advantages of volunteering to young people and support their experience, because they are crucial to the future of the voluntary sector," said Sarah Barker, manager of Volunteering Highland.

"Millennium Volunteers Awards, Project Scotland and Active Schools are excellent examples of programmes that acknowledge and reward young people for what they can bring to volunteering. They are also successful in targeting young people who might not otherwise get involved. Their contributions are recognised through certificates celebrating the time they give to volunteering and through access to a number of different training courses."

In conjunction with other organisations with an interest in the voluntary sector, HIE is taking forward some of the recommendations in the report.

"Initially this will involve working more intensively with ProjectScotland to help raise its awareness amongst young people in the Highlands and Islands," said Anne MacDonald, HIE's senior policy and projects manager.

"We are aiming to increase the number and range of volunteering opportunities available to them and to support voluntary organisations in the development of policies and procedures for recruiting and retaining volunteers."

Mrs MacDonald added: "We are committed to supporting this important sector, because we recognise that the giving of time and energy through a third party can bring measurable benefits to volunteers, individual beneficiaries and the community at large."

The full report can be downloaded here, right - and will be available longer-term in our research studies web pages