Have you been Bereaved by Suicide? Do you have a desire to help other people who have also been Bereaved by Suicide? Are you comfortable listening to the experiences of others? You could be just the person we are looking for. We have self-help support groups across the UK, where you can meet with other people who have been bereaved by suicide and we want to enroll some new volunteers to set up a group in Aberdeen. Typically, our groups meet once a month and last for around 2 hours. Presently many groups are meeting virtually via Zoom but when regulations allow, they will return to Face to Face. They provide an opportunity to listen, to share, to ask questions and to connect with others. Each local SoBS group is run by a team of 3: the group leader and two group volunteers, all of whom have been bereaved by suicide themselves. Between them, they facilitate the session, get the conversation started, make sure everyone has the opportunity to talk if they want to, and generally look out for people and each other. The team also work together to manage the administration, fundraising and communication for the group, sometimes with the help of additional support volunteers. There is no set structure to a session – people are free to talk and listen as they wish. The topics discussed vary from week to week but often includes people sharing their story, how they are feeling, what has happened since their last group visit, questions about coroners and discussions about common challenges such as flashbacks, supporting children or facing neighbours. Many groups also offer a small resource library and can share information about local sources of support. For further details please contact Phill Abbiss, Volunteer Coordinator (North) at E Mail: phill.abbiss@uksobs.org or tel.: 07535 854 860.

Aberdeen in Recovery (AiR) was granted Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) charitable status in March this year. We are now looking to find talented, passionate and skilled people to fill some vacant seats on our Board of Trustees to help us grow and develop our innovative and solution focused new charity. This is a unique opportunity to help lay the foundations to ensure AiR has a long-term future as a charity with solid processes in place to ensure it meets its mission of: “To be a bridge from ‘dependence’ to ‘independence’ for the individual seeking to recover from problematic substance use and addictive behaviours”. This is such an exciting and invigorating prospect for individuals to get involved and be participant in the tsunami of change which is now gaining momentum and being driven by “Experts by Experience” and the vibrant Lived Experienced Communities which are blossoming, not only locally but are now established as a national phenomena. Since its conception, AiR and its members have worked tirelessly to establish and build collaborative relationships with professional services and third sector support agencies. We have consistently driven the message that individuals who have personal lived/living experience of active substance use, including Family members who have been affected by the addictive behaviours of a loved one, and the Recovery Communities they represent have something valid, essential and extremely beneficial to bring to described Recovery Orientated Systems of Care (ROSC). We can provide existing services and clinical structural systems with resources, skills and capabilities that they, no matter how much effort, time and money they invest, will never be able to offer or provide. So, it gives the greatest of pleasure to see this is now recognised on the highest levels that “Recoverists” can productively contribute to the design, development and delivery of truly person-centred ROSC. This being evidenced by the vision, philosophy and content of the Scottish Governments “Rights, Respect and Recovery” Drug and Alcohol Strategy. We also believe it is reaffirmed by the recent success in being granted funding from the Government’s National Development Fund, with our principle partner Alcohol and Drugs Action (ADA), for our ‘Recovery Peer Pathway’ joint two-year project. This collaborative venture will build on three years of pilot work to further establish and build proactive and productive Developmental Pathways within ADA and their Volunteer network while in synergy with AiR membership for individuals who desire to initiate change in their behaviours and outlook as they progress on their recovery journeys within, and imperatively out-with, statutory and formal support services. We believe that the blue sky thinking behind this project categorically and emphatically fits with the expectations, outcomes and concepts of the above Government policy. So, if you have lived experience, or a stakeholder interest, and a passion for recovery and are willing to give of yourself that another may learn, you will not find a better opportunity to indulge your appetite than from within Aberdeen in Recovery. For more information please contact Dermot Craig, Recovery Community Development Manager at E Mail: dermot@aberdeeninrecovery.org or tel.: 01224 638342 / Mobile: 07751 213108.

Our Men’s Group supports men who are having a rough time and could do with a helping hand. We usually have tea/coffee together and then do some fun activities. These could include: music, debates and discussions, games and organised trips. We are especially looking for people who could share a specific skill or talent they have, or lead an activity, games or discussion. For those who can’t commit longer term, there is the possibility of volunteering for a 4-week block or volunteering on a rota.

Main duties: 1. To provide excellent Customer Service 2. To process sales and take cash and card payments 3. To sort, price and merchandise donations 4. Keeping Shop area clean and tidy 5. Keeping Back Store area clean and tidy 6. To provide information relating to Baby to Teen and its Services 7. To comply with Baby to Teen Policy and procedures 8. To represent Baby to Teen in a professional way

Kirkwall parkrun takes place every Saturday morning, starting at The Peedie Sea at 9.30am. It is an organised run, jog or walk which is free to participate in. Registration is online with participants printing off their personalised barcode which is scanned at the finish line to allow the results to be emailed to the participant. They are in need of volunteers to be marshalls, tail walkers, barcode scanners, handing out finishing tokens and being timekeepers. Both scanning and timekeeping will require use of the parkrun app so a mobile phone will be required.

Four Pillars is a Grampian only based LGBT+ Charity that looks after the community in relation to their mental, emotional, physical and sexual health. As a volunteer you will be at the heart of this unique service that looks to work with individuals on reducing risky sexual behaviour and STI/HIV transmissions whilst protecting the whole person. There are many different roles within Four Pillars and what kind of role you play is entirely up to you and your skills. For more information please contact Deejay Bullock at E Mail: deejay@fourpillarsuk.org or tel.: 01224 211963.

Supporting people to get about in Shetland you could be doing local journeys or somewhere a little bit further. Your support for lonely and isolated people in Shetland will be vital to connect them with their community and improve their lives As Volunteer driver you might take an individual to a community club, a regular appointment, respond to ad-hoc requests for transport or taken someone home after a stay in hospital. Drivers use their own vehicles to provide a friendly journey and support people to and from their home and destination. Your role will involve elements of lone working and building a relationship with those you transport. We also have opportunities available for people with specific skills, so please tell us what your strengths are when we meet.

Responsibilities will include: Ensuring the meetings are effectively organised. Ensuring the effective flow of business between committees. Providing information and data, or obtaining it from others. Ensuring actions are assigned by the committee to appropriate individuals. Upholding the requirements of governing documents; advising the Chair. Knowledge of mental health and substance use desirable.

Community volunteers are needed to provide services that support people in their local area to lead the life they choose.Key tasks are many and varied and will depend on the needs of your local area. However tasks may include volunteering in a local cafe, hub or club, chatting and providing companionship to individuals, offering dementia friendly support, simple everyday practical tasks such as food preparation, assisted shopping, providing transport and/or social outings, helping with care of pets, delivering books and collecting prescriptions. This is ideal if you want a flexible volunteering opportunity to suit your availability, make new friends, develop your skills/experience and contribute to the work of the charity by helping your local community. You’ll need to have a friendly personality with an ability to observe and identify areas of concern. You’ll have good communication and listening skills with a non-judgemental attitude towards an individual’s circumstances and a willingness to ensure confidentiality. Supporting Clients at the daily lunch club in the Isleburgh Hall

We are a Christian based charity and our mission is to help those most in need. Our area covers helping people in financial hardship and/or debt. We work with clients with a variety of issues and have various in house support and work closely with other organisations to get people the best help possible. The Debt Advice service has been running for many years now and we have an ever increasing demand for our services. We are looking for individuals who have a keen interest in the Salvation Army’s work and would be keen to join our team to help and support those going through financial difficulties. If you are reliable, have the ability to keep confidences, able to record information accurately, computer literate and have good listening skills and the ability to empathize with our clients and fully understand the situation they are in and how it affects them and passionate about helping others then we would love to hear from you. We offer full training in the form of I-learn portal or training day, Generalist Advice Training, Debt Advice Service Induction, Client Management System. Your tasks will include interviewing clients to gain a full understanding of their situation, record financial information, complete paperwork, sign post clients, undertake administrative tasks. This is a volunteer role and hours can be discussed and agreed and reasonable expenses will be paid. Due to the level of investment and training we give our volunteers we would ask for an initial commitment of 12 months.