Heading into the darker winter evenings, it’s amazing to see Aberdeen’s communities continue to demonstrate strength, kindness and compassion through volunteering. Over the past month, I’ve witnessed inspiring examples of resilience-building and exceptional youth achievement, reminding us how collective effort shapes a more connected city.

As we head into autumn, it feels like the perfect moment to pause and reflect on the volunteering landscape here in Aberdeen. There have been tremendous successes to celebrate, superb milestones to mark, and some challenges that remind us of the values at the core of volunteering.

In late July I had the privilege of joining more than 350 fellow volunteers to support one of the most spectacular events our city has seen in years – the return of the Tall Ships Races to Aberdeen.