We are seeking energetic individuals who wish to make a difference in the local communities by proactively engaging with a variety of community groups to seek out their views and opinions and are passionate about being a voice for people who live in the communities that we serve. If this sounds like you, we are looking to appoint four new members to the Ferries Community Board, Clyde and Hebrides.

We’re looking for volunteers to operate our national helpline, supporting individuals over the phone. You’ll provide support for people who have received a digital device as part of Connecting Scotland, supporting the most vulnerable to get online. Queries range from enquiries about the programme, to basic support with turning on or using a device. We call these volunteers Digital Champions. This role is done remotely at the moment due to COVID-19 but there is possibility to work from our Edinburgh office in the future. The role is open to the whole of Scotland. The role tasks include: covering a minimum of one weekly 2-hour helpline shift, providing responses to enquiries and basic digital support to callers, logging any calls that require follow-up , supporting our staff in obtaining monitoring details from callers.

Join Victim Support Scotland in a volunteering role like no other! As we recover from the Coronavirus pandemic, we are on the lookout for talented and committed people to help victims, witnesses and their families to move forward after a crime. Victims of crime often feel a range of emotions such as anxiety, confusion and anger, while witnesses may feel confused, anxious and overwhelmed by the court system. As a support volunteer, you will provide help and support in both local communities and within the court environment, ensuring people receive the high-quality support and care they need. You will: • Discuss service users’ needs by telephone, face-to-face visits or other means, agreeing next steps at the end of each contact • Help witnesses feel more confident at court by arranging and conducting court familiarisation visits • Support service users in the court room and other appropriate locations on the day of a trial, liaising with court officials on behalf of service users • Give feedback and agree follow-up actions with staff members • Provide administrative support in completing service users’ journeys This is a great opportunity to: • Learn new skills and gain experience of working within the criminal justice sector • Gain access to a range of in-depth training courses that are relevant to your volunteering role, resulting in accreditation • Positively affect your community as a member of a team actively working to reduce the impact of crime For a full role description, visit: victimsupport.scot/volunteer

Could you coordinate local SSAFA services in your area? You don’t need a military background, just basic I.T and admin skills, the ability to get on with people and good written and spoken English. If so we’d love to hear from you. What is a Branch Secretary? There are SSAFA branches throughout the UK and overseas. These are divided into local areas that we call divisions. Each branch has a secretary to organise day-to-day activities. This is a key role involving administration and coordinating people. As the first point of contact for SSAFA in the area you will play a crucial part in promoting SSAFA locally, organising local events and ensuring the smooth running of SSAFA across the divisions in your branch. Why do we need you? We’ve been supporting the Armed Forces community for more than 130 years. Our clients come from all backgrounds and age groups and the number of people contacting us for help rises each year. In recognition of their service to the Nation we aim to provide financial, practical and emotional support when it’s needed most. To do this we need local branches and volunteers who can match clients to volunteers and keep things running smoothly behind the scenes. When would you be needed and where would you be based? This role is about coordination and administration. As part of your local branch you might have access to an office, but many volunteers are based at home. The role would suit someone looking to offer a regular time commitment each week. You would also need to organise and attend a number of regular meetings each year. What would you be doing? • Managing the branch office (if applicable) and providing support to all volunteers, especially new ones • Work with the branch Chairperson, treasurer and others to ensure smooth running of the branch • Accepting referrals and coordinating SSAFA caseworkers, visitors and helpers accordingly • Oversee all SSAFA casework across the branch ensuring clients get support that is effective and timely • Monitor volunteer numbers against the demand for support and recruit new volunteers as needed • Working with the local training officer to ensure all volunteers are kept up to date with the training and information they need • Build relationships with regional and central office staff to ensure an effective flow of information • Maintaining accurate records of volunteers and cases, submit accurate data to Central Office • Providing administration for an annual programme of meetings including an AGM, recording and implementing decisions • Being a positive ambassador for SSAFA remembering that anyone you meet could be a potential client, volunteer or fundraiser • Volunteering within the standards and values of SSAFA including observing our policies such as the Volunteering policy and data protection policy (these will be covered in your training and local induction.) What can you gain from this volunteering role? • Gain experience of holding a key local role with oversight of all SSAFA activity in the local area • Use your skills, knowledge and life experience to benefit others • Support and friendship from your local SSAFA branch and the wider SSAFA community • Experience, training and skills that you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews • Better physical and mental health – studies show that volunteers live longer and experience lower levels of stress and depression! What are we looking for? • Friendly and approachable people of any age (18+) with some experience of coordinating people and admin • Good written and spoken English • ability to be respectful and non-judgemental with clients, their family, other agencies and SSAFA colleagues • ability to send and receive emails – you will receive your own SSAFA email address • ability to coordinate a team of people volunteering • willingness to use our on-line case management system (this is covered in the training course) • ability to keep within boundaries of the role with regards to reporting any safety concerns etc • reliable attitude, contact clients and volunteers promptly, keep appointments etc. • ability to maintain confidentiality and keep information safely • ability to provide two referees: former employers or other people that know you well To apply visit us on line at https://www.ssafa.org.uk/volunteer-ssafa fill in our short application form to let us know you’re interested.

Would you like to support people who have served in the Armed Forces? You don’t need a military background, just the ability to listen, some basic I.T skills and good written and spoken English. If so, this could be the role for you. What is a caseworker? Caseworkers work with clients to figure out what type of help they need. Next, they find the right sources of support and arrange for clients to access it. This might be funds for special equipment for someone with a disability, adaptions to a property so an older client can remain at home or funds for a rental deposit. Caseworkers also sign-post clients onto specialist local services for advice on benefits, housing, mental health, debt, finding work etc. Why do we need you? Volunteer Caseworkers are the lifeblood of SSAFA, supporting a growing number of people in need of financial, practical and emotional support. Clients come from all backgrounds and age groups and may have served in WW2 or in a more recent conflict like Iraq or Afghanistan. Our trained volunteers listen without judgement to assess and provide tailored support to help people navigate life in and beyond military service. We need you to join your local SSAFA team to help us achieve this. When would you be needed and where would you be based? The essential part of the role is interacting with clients, so you may be visiting clients or doing this virtually. You may need access to a vehicle or another way to travel to meet clients at home or in a care home setting. As part of your local branch you might have access to an office, but many volunteers are based at home. What does this role involve? • Contacting clients and arranging to meet them at a mutually convenient time either face-to-face or remotely • Liaising with clients and completing a form to assess their circumstances • Sign-posting clients onto local services providing specialist advice • Applying on the client’s behalf to military and non-military sources of charitable funding • Arranging for the purchase of goods and services • Keeping in touch with the client so they know how their case is progressing • Keeping in touch with your branch so they know your availability • Keeping up to date with training and SSAFA news so that you are best able to support clients • Being a positive ambassador for SSAFA remembering that anyone you meet could be a potential client, volunteer or fundraiser • Volunteering within the standards and values of SSAFA including observing our policies such as the Volunteering policy and data protection policy (these will be covered in your training and local induction.) What can you gain from this volunteering role? • Support people in your community with a military background • Use your skills, knowledge and life experience to benefit others • Support and friendship from your local SSAFA branch and the wider SSAFA community • Experience, training and skills that you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews • Better physical and mental health – studies show that volunteers live longer and experience lower levels of stress and depression! What skills or experience do you need? • Good listening and communication skills including written and spoken English • Ability to be respectful and non-judgemental with clients, their family, other agencies and SSAFA colleagues • Ability to send and receive emails – you will receive your own SSAFA email address • Ability to make enquires on behalf of clients by phone, email, letter or by filling in forms • Willingness to use our on-line case management system (this is covered in the caseworker training course) • Ability to keep within boundaries of the role with regards to friendship or giving advice • Reliable attitude, contact clients promptly, keep appointments, update the branch regarding your availability • Ability to maintain confidentiality and keep information safely • Able to provide two referees: former employers or other people that know you well (other than relatives) To apply please visit us on line at https://www.ssafa.org.uk/volunteer-ssafa, put your postcode in and fill out the very short application form, alternatively call our friendly central Volunteer Team on 0800 032 5612.

If you are . . . The Compassionate Friends (TCF) is a charitable organisation of bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents dedicated to the support and care of other similarly bereaved family members who have suffered the death of a child or children of any age and from any cause. Many people who have suffered the loss of a child feel a bond with others in the same situation and wish to extend the hand of friendship. We offer support, both directly to bereaved families, and indirectly by fostering understanding and good practice amongst professionals concerned with child death and by increasing public awareness. Our National Helpline provides support and information to bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents, and professionals working with families, every day of the year. If you would like to volunteer with us by donating just a few hours per month, answering calls from your own home, we would love to have you as part of our wonderful Helpline Team – helping us to continue providing a professional, helpful, warm and caring response to callers. We ask that helpline members have lost a child of 1 month old up to an adult child. We ask too that you commit to at least 3 helpline sessions per month (each session is 3 hours long with additional time required for admin follow up). at least three years past your own bereavement have or would be willing to join TCF as a donating member have been supported by TCF in some way, either via the Helpline or a local or group support contact, have attended a supportive weekend or participated in the online Forum or Facebook groups emotionally resilient so you can support others an empathic, compassionate listener, committed to helping others non-judgmental, respectful of others’ attitudes and beliefs trustworthy and reliable computer literate and with excellent writing skills . . . then we would love to hear from you. We offer training and support to anyone selected.

The Compassionate Friends (TCF) is a charitable organisation of bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents dedicated to the support and care of other similarly bereaved family members who have suffered the death of a child or children of any age and from any cause. Many people who have suffered the loss of a child feel a bond with others in the same situation and wish to extend the hand of friendship. Local Support Volunteers befriend and support other bereaved parents in their local area. You will be using your own experience and ways of coping to be alongside another bereaved parent through offering empathy, understanding, reassurance and hope. Your support will be offered via telephone, email or face-to-face meetings. Bereaved parents may be referred to you by our national helpline, through word of mouth or because you have publicised your support locally. You will be supporting newly bereaved parents in the first months of their loss as well as parents who are longer bereaved. The parents you will be supporting will have lost a child aged between 1 month old up to an adult child. Their loss may be through any circumstances. Some parents may only require support for a short period of time, others will need your support for longer. Where appropriate, you may put parents in your area (often with similar bereavement experiences) in touch with one another so that they can support each other and develop friendships. You may also work closely with your local volunteer group facilitator (if there is a group nearby) to encourage parents to access this group support too, where appropriate. For this volunteer support role, we ask that you have been bereaved for at least three years. This is a general guideline and may vary from volunteer to volunteer have or are willing to join TCF as a donating member have been supported by TCF in some way, either via the Helpline or a local or group support contact, have attended a supportive weekend or participated in the online Forum or Facebook groups attend a Group Facilitation Information and Training Day or other training, where relevant, read the Volunteer Handbook, and make every effort to attend any on-going Information and Development Days abide by TCF’s aims and objectives, policies, procedures and code of conduct

The Compassionate Friends (TCF) is a charitable organisation of bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents dedicated to the support and care of other similarly bereaved family members who have suffered the death of a child or children of any age and from any cause. Many people who have suffered the loss of a child feel a bond with others in the same situation and wish to extend the hand of friendship. We offer support, both directly to bereaved families, and indirectly by fostering understanding and good practice amongst professionals concerned with child death and by increasing public awareness. A support group facilitator runs (often with one or more other facilitators) a monthly support group meeting for bereaved parents, siblings and/or grandparents. Support group facilitators create a caring, safe and supportive atmosphere that encourages group members to share their grief and experiences. A support group facilitator will do more listening than talking and will be resilient and comfortable listening to the experiences and feelings of others. We offer all support group facilitators an Information and Training Day which equips you with the information and skills to run group meetings, as well as guidance in applying one’s own experience to support others. The facilitator also has the support of our regional coordinators and TCF office staff. The group facilitator role is a very rewarding one, and epitomises the best of peer support. In supporting others, we also support ourselves. We are looking for bereaved parents who are at least 3 years on from their own bereavement and who are feeling more ‘resilient’ around their loss. As a local group facilitator, you will be using your own experience and ways of coping to support other bereaved parents. Some of the qualities that make a good support group facilitator are: good listening and communication skills; high level of empathy; non-judgemental approach; confident and able to hold your own in group situations; respectful of others’ beliefs and opinions; consistent and dependable; resilient around your own loss; able to maintain confidentiality at all times at least three years past your own bereavement have or would be willing to join TCF as a donating member have been supported by TCF in some way, either via the Helpline or a local or group support contact, have attended a supportive weekend or participated in the online Forum or Facebook groups

Volunteer Role Description Volunteer Gardener in Tagsa Community Gardens We hope that the volunteer role in Tagsa Community Gardens at East Camp is pleasant, enjoyable, flexible, and, above all, fulfilling for the individual in question. Whilst the volunteering experience does not involve formal training, we hope that volunteers will enjoy ‘learning by doing’ and through working alongside the Community Gardeners who are always happy to share their knowledge. Volunteer Activities and Duties: Plant care: Watering, weeding, mulching, turning in beds, crop rotation, planting out, seed sowing, pricking out seedlings, potting on, propagation (seed, and vegetative), caning, composting. Site care: Sharing a pride in our tidy and welcoming garden areas, by helping to keep it this way, including clearing rubbish and debris, rinsing and storing pots, trays, boxes etc. Harvesting: With crop availability changing throughout the season(s), we are glad of any help to fill fruit / veg boxes, on demand, and by request, which generally involves a lot of running around from one bed to the next, finding the freshest ingredients for the beneficiary, and requires an awareness of what is growing where. This can be in excess of 20 varieties, 40+ beds, and a basic knowledge of each product, in the awareness of when it is best picked, as well as the preference of the consumer. Maintenance: Much like ‘site care’, there is always an abundance of ‘wee jobs’ waiting on our To Do list. To keep on top of all tasks, we provide a daily list, prioritised depending on conditions of plants, weather etc, which we would appreciate any volunteer to follow. In the provision of a daily tasks list, we hope this allows for flexibility and choice for the individual assisting us. For example, if a volunteer prefers, for whatever reason, to avoid ‘heavy’ tasks, there will always be lighter duties to choose from on the list - especially as our regular gardeners particularly enjoy the heavy jobs! General role recap: In short, we wish for any voluntary assistance in Tagsa Community Gardens to be an enjoyable experience, be it fun, relaxing, stimulating, peaceful, inspiring, or simply restful. We are grateful for any efforts made to assist in the teamwork to keep these garden areas as inviting and welcoming as possible for our wider communities, respectful of other growers and members of the public, with a mutual appreciation of a busy garden. Welcome, and thank you!

Looking for volunteers to help run the Community charity shop.