Our statistics have revealed that 218,000 over 50s in Scotland say they feel lonely all or most of the time. As people get older, it can be harder to maintain social connections. Retirement, bereavement or moving somewhere new can leave people feeling lonely and isolated. That's where you come in! The Age Scotland Community Connecting Service aims to connect older people across Scotland to social groups and clubs in their local community. As a Community Connector you'll help to combat loneliness and social isolation by providing older people companionship and information on social opportunities over the phone. A fantastic opportunity to help and make a real difference. All volunteer assistance is greatly appreciated. For more information please contact Ashley Marr, Age Scotland Friendship Manager at email: ashley.marr@agescotland.org.uk or telephone: 03333232400.

We can all feel lonely and isolated at times and those feelings can be more intense and devastating if you are also facing financial hardship. Aberdeen North and South Foodbanks have come together, with funding from the Trussell Trust, to provide a financial resilience service where individuals who require a food parcel can receive money, debt, and energy advice. Aberdeen Citizen Advice Bureau will provide this advice. This service which will support those struggling with financial hardship will be supported by our Befriending Project. Volunteer befrienders will encourage those referred, to engage with the wider project. Our aim is to ensure that our trained and compassionate volunteers provide a lifeline to people, in the form of friendship and offer a helping hand to enable them to engage with the financial support on offer. If you would like to be a part of this holistic service, please apply to become a Volunteer Befriender. Activities include: • To befriend individuals who have used the food bank and who require financial/energy advice from Citizens Advice Bureau advisors and who would benefit from someone to accompany them to their appointment. • To participate in the TLC Volunteer befriender induction programme, and ad hoc training throughout the year as and when required. • To attend 3 monthly volunteer supervision sessions. • Commit to a regular 1hr 30min befriending session each week. • To establish and maintain appropriate boundaries within the befriending relationship. • To ensure that confidentiality is always upheld and be willing to report any concerns, including safeguarding issues to the project co-ordinator. • To work within a non-discriminatory framework. • TLC are looking for befrienders to ideally commit to the project for at least 12months. *(Note: Volunteer befrienders will not be asked or required to meet any personal care needs.) All help makes a real difference and is greatly appreciated. For further information please email us at volunteer@tlc.org.uk

A young carer is someone up to the age of 18 who provides unpaid help and support to a relative, friend or neighbour who due to illness or disability cannot manage to live independently without the carer’s help. It may involve practical support like cooking, housework, or emotional support. A group volunteer with Aberdeen Young Carers will assist staff members in delivering any planned activities e.g. arts and crafts, baking etc. They will actively participate with the activity, encourage young people to join in and have fun and build up positive relationships with the children and young people by being friendly and non-judgemental. They will also have the opportunity to lead groups if they wish to. At this time we are predominantly looking for volunteers to help at our School Holiday groups in the Summer Holidays in 2023. We are working on a schedule of groups which we would need volunteers for but these groups will have a range of activities! There will also be the opportunity for volunteers to help with our monthly groups, on an ad-hoc basis or at events. Events typically include summer outings, Christmas parties and Young Carers’ festivals. Further opportunities are available to assist in promoting our events e.g. putting up posters and spreading the word, in helping us at groups. Excellent support and relevant training is provided and our volunteers tell us about lots of other benefits of volunteering including; experience of working with children, young people and families; experience for your CV; supporting your local community; meeting new people; increasing self-confidence; feeling like you are making a difference; improving your health and wellbeing; and a chance to contribute to a worthwhile children’s charity. To apply for this role – please visit: https://volunteer.barnardos.org.uk/opportunities/16049-children-s-activity-support-group-helper-aberdeen-young-carers-2020-11-24 or contact Jacqui Hall, Volunteer Coordinator at email jacqui.hall@barnardos.org.uk / telephone: 07783 848410 for any more details.

Aberdeen Blueberry Wellness is a Community Interest Company which exists to work with communities to improve key health and fitness concerns, via education and employment. At Aberdeen Blueberry Wellness (ABW) we are unique in providing both education in fitness as well as employment opportunities to qualified fitness professionals. An administration assistant role with ABW is dynamic and varied role. I can guarantee that you will be excited by the different aspects of the role. Support is required in administrative aspects such as managing student details, assessment documentation for Active IQ, employee invoicing and any other issues which may arise. Good communication skills is essential to liaise with CEO and our accountant regarding all relevant information around employee invoicing, payments, room hire and marketing issues which may arise. We would love to hear form anyone interested in volunteering with us, perhaps you are a student of business management, a retired person with many years of administrative skills that would benefit our new organisation. Or someone who is very well organised, keen to offer your time and interested in ensuring wellness is offers in every community of Aberdeen. As a newly established Community Interest Company and Social Enterprise, ABW would love to have enthusiastic, organised and self motivated people with us on our journey of successfully providing wellness in every local communities of Aberdeen. Experience of computer software, relevant to administration, is desirable but not essential. Good computer skills is essential. If you believe you have these incredible skills and would be able to spare 1-2 hours a week, we would love to hear from you. All help makes a real difference and is greatly appreciated. Please contact Laura Walker, CEO at email: you@blueberrywellness.co.uk or telephone: 07773021851.

Aberdeen Blueberry Wellness (ABW) delivers fitness industry education to local people in local communities. Once qualified as a fitness professionals, ABW will employ the fitness professional to deliver wellness classes, as asked for by the community, to benefit the health of the local community. To assist us succeed in our quest for a healthier, happier community we are asking for volunteers to help us in compiling and successfully submitting funding applications to enable the work and volunteering that we are doing to expand. We are looking for self motivated individuals with expertise in submitting funding applications, to local and national government and other organisations who may advertise funds that we may make applications to. This may suit a retired person who has worked in the third/voluntary sector, in this area previously and understands the requirements of these applications. It may suit a 3rd or 4th year student with knowledge of the third sector field. Or it may suit someone currently employed in this area and wish to support a new Community and Social Enterprise to grow or anyone interested in helping with funding support. You are able to volunteer from home. Your own computer is essential. The time required to devote to this post may vary, depending on the information needed. An application may take anything from 1-3 hours. An estimate of time for this post is 4-8 hours across the month. As a newly established Community Interest Company and Social Enterprise, ABW would love to have enthusiastic, organised and self motivated people with us on our journey of successfully providing wellness in every local communities of Aberdeen. All help makes a real difference and is greatly appreciated. Please contact Laura Walker, CEO at email: you@blueberrywellness.co.uk or telephone: 07773021851.

ADA – Alcohol and drugs Action is an award-winning charity, delivering specialist services to reduce harms and promote recovery of individuals and families affected by alcohol & drugs in the North East of Scotland. If you share our passion for supporting and enabling recovery for people and families affected by substance use, why not join our board to help shape our strategic direction and make sure we focus on what matters. Successful candidates will have the enthusiasm and breadth of experience needed to make a real difference. We welcome applications from candidates who have governance experience and/or expertise at board or senior management level in their field, especially with skills and experience in the following areas: •Finance/financial management •Quality assurance •Fundraising and campaigning •Stewardship of charity assets We also welcome applications from people with lived experience who have been affected by alcohol and drug issues. We embrace diversity and strive to ensure that no one is disadvantaged in terms of their ability to join our organisation on the basis of age, ability (or disability), gender, social class, ethnic origin, religion, marital status or sexual orientation. Time commitment for board members is an average of 6 hours per month for attendance at board and sub group meetings. Meetings are currently taking place via Zoom and therefore applicants do not need to be physically based in the North East of Scotland to be considered. In return we can offer: •Relevant training and development to enhance your knowledge and skills. •Networking opportunities, both internally and externally. •The opportunity to share your wisdom to make a positive impact on your local community Full details, role description and Board Member Information booklet are available at https://alcoholanddrugsaction.peoplehr.net/Pages/JobBoard/Opening.aspx?v=4e0e4a6b-ee30-44a9-9e87-24c30c5a9f43 For further information to apply or if you have any questions or queries, please email recruitment@alcoholanddrugsaction.org.uk or contact 01224 577120 and ask to speak to Fraser Hoggan in the first instance. *Closing date: 31st March 2023 – interviews will be arranged with interested / successful candidates following the closing date.

Springhill Community Garden seeks to provide a space which includes growing opportunities for food and beauty, as well as supporting wildlife. Raised beds are available for individuals to grow food for themselves, as well as communal beds for growing larger crops such as potatoes and beans. Through community links with local schools, youth groups and businesses, the garden seeks to promote a sense of community working together to build something for others. We are looking to create a community of gardeners - no experience necessary. As well as growing your own food, the garden presents an opportunity to develop educational workshops and social events, cultivate wildlife, and engage with other community groups in the area. A fantastic opportunity to help in a wonderful Community Garden. For more information please contact Pamela McEwan, Committee Member at email: springhillcommunity@gardener.com or telephone: 07842 261037.

The RAF Association is a member-led, welfare charity that exists to ensure that all members of the RAF community are supported, when they require it. The caseworker’s role is at the heart of this charity objective and volunteers undertaking this role will be helping us to deliver this support to the RAF community. The role is about supporting and listening to an individual and assessing their needs - this can include anything from helping them to complete a form, applying for funding for a wet-room or new white goods. Caseworkers may also need to gather complex information and ask questions regarding finances and health conditions. You would be required to provide clear and precise information on these topics. A RAF or forces background is not essential, and we welcome applications from all areas of the community.

Our Connections for Life service entails friendship telephone calls from volunteers to beneficiaries within the RAF community who maybe experiencing loneliness, adapting to life after service or just looking for a general chat. As a Connections Volunteer, you will have the support of a dedicated coordinator as your point of contact. What’s in it for you The opportunity to help members of the RAF community to feel less isolated and lonely and the sense of achievement having done this. It can help enhance your communication and listening skills, be very rewarding and you will gain a new meaningful relationship. A RAF or forces background is not essential, and we welcome applications from all areas of the community.

The 2023 Bowls Scotland National Championships take place at the National Centre for Bowling, Ayr, from Sunday 23rd July until Saturday 29th July and we're now looking for volunteers to assist at one of Scotland's largest annual sporting events. Over the week more than 1,500 players and 10,000 spectators will pass through the gates at the home of Scottish Bowls. We have a number of roles required to be carried out and no previous experience is required. These include: General Admission and Ticket Sales Social Media Co-ordinator Live Scoring Assistant Player Registration General Marshal / Stewarding VIP Area Assistant Retail Assistant Media Photographer / Videographer Competition Assistant