West Lothian
volunteering opportunities
Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland
We currently have around 40 shops/ community hubs across Scotland. Our shops and hubs help us raise funds so we can provide our services to the people who need us. Every one of our stores relies on a team of volunteers to help run it and support our staff. Quite simply, we cannot provide our services or raise funds without the amazing support of our volunteers. The time, support and the work they do is vital to us and the people we help. By helping out in one of our stores, you can make a difference to people and their families in Scotland who are isolated, scared or anxious about their condition.
Linlithgow Heritage Trust - Linlithgow Museum
We are looking for enthusiastic & friendly volunteers to assist us in delivering our reminiscence programme. This is an exciting time to join our reminiscence volunteer team as we restart our reminiscence activities following lockdown. Activities include sing-a-long sessions, outreach, and onsite object handling sessions.
Reminiscence sessions are a chance for people to get together and use museum objects, songs, and photographs from our collection to unlock and share memories. They are also an opportunity to meet new friends, share stories and enjoy a chat over a cup of tea or coffee.
Reminiscence volunteers play a crucial part in developing and delivering a range of reminiscence activities. They will be encouraged to source topic material by exploring our collection, assist with developing the sessions and engaging the group. If you enjoy working with older people or want experience in a museum then this could be the role for you. Training in delivering reminiscence sessions will be provided to all volunteers.
The role would involve:
• Reminiscence training
• Developing sessions and supporting materials
• Delivering reminiscence sessions on and off site
We are looking individuals who have/are:
• Good people skills
• Good communication and listening skills
• Willing to work unsupervised but will ask for help if needed
• Willing to play an active role in sessions
• An interest in history, stories and/or museums
• An interest in learning new skills and working as a team
We are also looking for a lead reminiscence volunteer who will assist with arranging sessions and general admin.
What we can offer:
Opportunities to gain practical experience and training in reminiscence. Provide references and advice.
DEBRA UK (Scotland office)
Aim
Be part of a dedicated team carrying out a wide and varied range of tasks to help make our shops a success whilst helping to raise vital funds to help support people living with the painful genetic skin condition EB.
The role will involve
• Operating the till
• Giving excellent customer service
• Sorting donated stock
• Keeping the shop clean and tidy
• Visual merchandising
Various shifts available Monday to Sunday, 3-4 hours per week
Cyrenians
Join our horticulturalist in tasks across the farm:
• Weeding, digging, grass cutting, strimming, compost turning, planting
Barnardo's Scotland
Our amazing team of vibrant & diverse volunteers helps us run over 700 shops. Our stores sell lots of great donated & new goods to help raise vital funds to make a real difference to disadvantaged children, young people and families across the UK.
Our retail stores are the face of our charity on the high-street and in local communities. We have loads of amazing stock donated to us every week, and this all needs to be sorted, tagged and put on the shop-floor for sale!
Making sure our shops look fantastic is another task you can get involved with. You may also be required to help out on the till too, but we will show you how that works during your time volunteering with us. We value the contribution of everyone who supports Barnardo’s.
You will be a friendly face of Barnardo’s by volunteering in one of our shops. It would be great if you could volunteer one shift a week (or even more if you want) but we’re always happy to be flexible to work around your availability.
Why we want you:
Our amazing team of vibrant & diverse volunteers helps us run over 700 stores. Our stores sell lots of great donated and new goods to help raise vital funds to make a real difference to disadvantaged children, young people and families across the UK.
What you will be doing:
Work on the till processing sales and returns
Prepare stock, including sorting, steaming and pricing
Create stylish window displays
Replenish stock on the shop floor
Stock-take and other administrative tasks
The skills you need:
Friendly and helpful
Happy to be part of an amazing team of staff and volunteers
Enthusiastic about the work of Barnardo’s
Flexible and willing to do a variety of the shop tasks
What's in it for you:
Have fun and meet new people
Develop skills for your CV including confidence, teamwork and problem solving
Make a difference to the lives of children, young people and their families
Learning and development opportunities through our Volunteer Academy which includes access to Level 2 Qualifications and other accredited courses
Full training and experience of working in retail as a volunteer
Other information:
Minimum age 14
Shop based
Location: 35 North Bridge Street, Bathgate, West Lothian, EH48 4PL, United Kingdom
Disclaimer
We look to recruit a diverse range of volunteers. If your skills don't fit the above, please do not let this put you off as we are able to be flexible with most of our roles. If you are unable to apply online through the link on this page, please visit your local store for a paper application form or contact the Barnardo's Volunteering Team on volunteering@barnardos.org.uk
Linlithgow Heritage Trust - Linlithgow Museum
Linlithgow Museum needs you! Become a Welcome Host at our volunteer run five-star visitor attraction. Volunteering with us is a chance to be part of this fantastic wee museum and bring local history to life for visitors.
We are looking for enthusiastic & friendly volunteers to support our volunteer run museum. We have reopened and are looking for volunteers who can regularly give us three hours of their time a week to be Welcome Hosts. This role is incredibly important to the museum as the Welcome Host is the first person that visitors meet and can reassure visitors that they can safely visit the museum in a Covid secure manner. You’ll learn about the museum, meet new people, learn new skills and support your local small independent museum.
Volunteers do not need any experience as we will provide full training and a mentor who will offer support and advice.
The role would involve:
• Welcoming visitors and answering questions
• Opening/Closing the museum
• Operating the retail Space
• Collecting visitor information for Test and Trace purposes
• Cleaning the museum public areas.
We are looking individuals who have:
• Good people skills
• Good listening skills
• Willing to accept and follow instruction and ask if in doubt
• Have an interest in Linlithgow's history
British Red Cross
We are looking for Volunteer Drivers to help people in Livingston get a wheelchair. If you have a few hours spare per week, you could help someone in Livingston to access a wheelchair.
Email us at volunteerrecruitment@redcross.org.uk to find out more or visit us at https://www.redcross.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer
to see our volunteer opportunities in your area.
Linlithgow Heritage Trust - Linlithgow Museum
We are looking for enthusiastic & friendly volunteers to support our volunteer run museum. We are looking for creative volunteers to help with our schools programme.
This role is vital to the museum as School Activities Volunteers support the museum online and on-site activities aimed at schools. Volunteers will help create and deliver school activities. This includes onsite and virtual school workshops, teacher-led resources, and loan boxes.
You’ll learn about the museum, meet new people, learn new skills and support our small independent museum. Volunteers will be supported by a mentor who will provide support and advice.
The role would involve:
• Creating school workshops and resources for teachers and pupils for use onsite and online
• Delivering workshops/activities in the museum and remotely.
• Assisting participants in taking part
• Researching topics for workshops and resources
We are looking for individuals who have:
• Good people skills
• Good listening skills
• Happy to work independently and as part of a team
• Have an interest in Linlithgow's history and or museums
• Interest in delivering activities aimed at schools
What we can offer:
Opportunities to gain new skills, experiences and meet new people. Provide references and plenty of tea and coffee!
To Apply:
Please complete our website contact form or email Julia Branch, Communities Co-ordinator at julia@linlithgowmuseum.org for more information.
West Calder Community HUB
Collect food donations from shops in Livingston and Whitburn, return to West Calder Community HUB.
West Calder Community HUB
Tend planters at West Calder Community HUB. Water, deadhead plants, keep tidy.
In summer twice a week, for about an hour, in winter less often. Flexible times to suit volunteer.
HCL (Handicabs West Lothian)
Handicabs Lothian (HcL) are looking for new Trustees to join our Board, we are particularly interested in volunteers with relevant experience in Community/PSV Transport legislation, Human Resources and Business Development. As a Trustee you will serve on our Board and help us support the Governance and management of the charity to deliver our new 5-year strategy. HcL provides travel solutions for people across the Lothian’s who have limited mobility. We provide much more than door-to-door transport through our fleet of vehicles and trained drivers, but a door-through-door service, assisting passengers, as needed, at the start and end of their journeys. Our funds come from the four Lothian Councils; fares income; donations; Transport Scotland; and local and national Funders and Trusts. We appreciate all of their support and throughout COVID-19, we have continued to deliver services adapting our support to the current circumstances.
Almond Valley Heritage Trust
The Board of Almond Valley Heritage Trust is responsible for the strategic direction of our charity. It sets and monitors policy, and provides oversight of operations and activities that are implemented by our professional team. Board members (Trustees) bring a diverse range of interests and experiences to the Board, represent a fair balance of views and perspectives, and are able to draw on many skills and strategic insights. We’re always happy to hear from individuals with appropriate interests and experiences who may be interested in joining the Board, and at present have a special interest in recruiting Board members who have insight into legal matters, or have experience in financial management. The minimum commitment sought is attendance and contribution to Board meetings that are held six times a year, normally on a Wednesday evening.
West Calder Community HUB
Help staff put donations on shelves and generally help when busy.
Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland
As part of our team of volunteers, you will provide support for both our shop teams and warehouse team. You will volunteer alongside the warehouse team to help prepare and send out orders to our shops, colleagues across the organisation, and our online customers.
We currently have around 40 shops across Scotland. Our shops help us raise funds so we can provide our services to the people who need us. Every one of our shops relies on a team of volunteers to help run it and support our staff. Quite simply, we cannot provide our services or raise funds without the amazing support of our volunteers. The time, support, and the work they do is vital to us and the people we help. By helping in one of our shops or in our warehouse, you can make a difference to people and their families in Scotland who are isolated, scared, or anxious about their condition.
Cyrenians
The Linburn Walled Garden is being re-developed as part of our Live Life partnership, to become a safe space for growing and wellbeing activities for Veterans, their families and the wider community.
Be part of a small team focussed on regenerating growth in our walled garden
• Weeding, digging, planting, hoeing
• Barrowing compost about the site
Volunteering opportunities advertised
across
West Lothian:
104
The Board of Almond Valley Heritage Trust is responsible for the strategic direction of our charity. It sets and monitors policy, and provides oversight of operations and activities that are implemented by our professional team. Board members (Trustees) bring a diverse range of interests and experiences to the Board, represent a fair balance of views and perspectives, and are able to draw on many skills and strategic insights. We’re always happy to hear from individuals with appropriate interests and experiences who may be interested in joining the Board, and at present have a special interest in recruiting Board members who have insight into legal matters, or have experience in financial management. The minimum commitment sought is attendance and contribution to Board meetings that are held six times a year, normally on a Wednesday evening.
Last updated 2 days ago
Our Virtual Home Assessors play a vital role in delivery of our service by interviewing potential volunteer pet foster carers to assess their house, home situation and the fosterer.
All of our home assessments are currently carried out either by telephone interview only (for cats,birds and small animals) or by video call (Zoom/WhatsApp) for dogs.
You can choose to be involved in one or both of the methods available.
You will be contacted by the Home Assessment Coordinator when a new applicant becomes available.
Main tasks include; contacting the potential fosterer by telephone/email/text to arrange a suitable date and time for the home assessment to take place. Once confirmed to carry out the assessment by either telephone or video.
A home assessment form will be provided to you for completion during the call which covers the criterias required by PFSS for the potential fosterer to be accepted. Once completed this form is then to be uploaded onto our database via our website volunteer team page.
Last updated 3 days ago
We are looking for volunteers who would like to send regular letters to a CHAS referred child or sibling. You will send a letter to a child/young person either once or twice a month (this is dependant on whether you get a reply or not) for at least a year.
What activities will I be involved in?
Writing letters to children
Quarterly catch up sessions for letter writing volunteers
You will manage or access sensitive and confidential medical and personal information regarding the children and families accessing our services
What skills and abilities will I need to have?
Ability to write a letter to a child or young person using appropriate and child friendly language
Good written communication skills
An ability to represent CHAS enthusiastically and appropriately
Adhere to rules around GDPR and a strong understanding of confidentiality
Shared values with the organisation: respect, care, honesty, accountability
How much time should I offer?
1 hour a month
What ongoing learning/support/guidance will I receive?
It’s important to us that you feel happy, safe and confident in your role. As a CHAS volunteer you will be invited to complete a short core learning package that is tailored to your role.
We are always developing new opportunities for volunteers to learn and offer a range of options for volunteers.
What are the benefits to me?
Learning new skills
Getting more involved and making a real difference to the families of children with a life-shortening condition.
Adding to your CV
Meeting new people
Having fun!
What are the benefits to the children and families supported by CHAS?
Writing letters to siblings and children/young people who use CHAS will mean they will receive something in the post just for them. This is a great way to help spread joy.
What else should I know?
This role is for those aged 16+ and requires a basic disclosure certificate.
We will pay your out of pocket expenses in line with the CHAS volunteer expenses policy.
CHAS is committed to providing a quality volunteering experience to all volunteers free from discrimination and prejudice. This will ensure that CHAS is an equal, diverse, and inclusive organisation while improving the quality of care we provide to help us reach more families and children, and maximise a wide variety of knowledge, experience and expertise.
We welcome volunteer applications from those who are refugees, asylum seekers, benefit claimants and those with a disability. We can provide more information on if you are allowed to volunteer and what adjustments we can put in place to ensure your volunteering experience is a positive one.
What’s the next step?
If you’re interested in the role you can apply online at https://www.chas.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer/volunteer-application-form or if you have any questions please contact the Volunteering Team at volunteering@chas.org.uk or 01577 866065.
Last updated 3 days ago
Befriending is a fantastic and rewarding way to make a real difference to the life of someone else. Apart from the personal satisfaction of helping someone, it is also an opportunity to enhance your own life experience and build new skills.
Befrienders MUST have held a full driving licence for at least 2 years and have the use of a smoke free car.
A minimum commitment of 1 year is needed to ensure these goals can be met.
Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a life limiting condition that currently affects around 1200 people in Scotland. The Butterfly Trust aspires to improving the quality of life for people affected by Cystic Fibrosis by providing support, promoting people's rights and helping them to live independently.
Our befrienders offer one to one face-to-face support to a young person aged 8 to 18, who has Cystic Fibrosis. Young people living with this condition have a demanding daily treatment regime at home and sometimes experience limitations that can affect their confidence and ability to cope with the challenges of everyday living. They may also be socially isolated because of their condition.
A befriender will meet with the young person for around 3 hours every 1 to 2 weeks, away from the home environment, to build a trusting one to one relationship. A session might simply be an opportunity to chat, eg over a snack or coffee, or may involve a specific activity such as sport or creative/arts. This will allow the young person space and a suitable environment to explore their feelings, discuss their fears, develop life skills and grow in the areas where they may be struggling.
Desirable qualities required include good listening skills, patience and an adaptable attitude.
Training and support is provided; and expenses reimbursed.
After applying you will be asked to complete an application form and to meet with us for a short informal interview. Befrienders will then attend an induction event (expenses paid) and the trust will acquire PVG clearance on their behalf, before being paired up with an appropriate client in the Glasgow area, within a reasonable distance from your home.
Last updated 3 days ago
We are Citizens of Cyber, our mission is to bring together cyber-specialists and connect individuals and professional bodies, to support and assist in cyber-education and the development of safer online practices, aimed at people of all ages and knowledge levels.
We wish to use our professional network to keep up to date with the activities of hackers and online scammers and produce resources for use by schools, groups, and individuals, whether online, offline, or through face-to-face sessions.
We want cyber-users to know how to protect themselves and others online, whilst being confident and making the best of their online interactions, and still remain within the confines of the law while doing so. In addition, we aim to ensure that support is available for anyone affected by negative interactions online and to help anyone who finds themselves in cyber-related difficulties.
Our volunteers are at the heart of what we do and it is important for us to ensure we provide the best working environment possible. Volunteers work remotely during hours they set, our team focuses on ensuring clear deliverables are identified and agreed to allow volunteers to manage their own time.
Meetings with the whole team will be held regularly to make sure everyone knows each other and work together.
Role includes but is not limited too:
Provide advice and guidance on equality and diversity issues;
Actively promote equality and diversity within Citizens of Cyber and the wider community;
Raise awareness of diversity issues both within schools/at events and within Citizens of Cyber;
Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of anti-discriminatory legislation;
Develop systems for reporting any incidents of discrimination and where required, respond to
complaints and provide further information on options for complainants;
Present reports and recommendations for how best to comply with equality legislation;
Responsible for ensuring the practices of Citizens of Cyber follow legal requirements by translating equality legislation in to practice;
Assist web teams in ensuring website is fully accessible; and Report back to the CEO and Board on a regular basis.
Last updated 4 days ago
We are Citizens of Cyber, our mission is to bring together cyber-specialists and connect individuals and professional bodies, to support and assist in cyber-education and the development of safer online practices, aimed at people of all ages and knowledge levels.
We wish to use our professional network to keep up to date with the activities of hackers and online scammers and produce resources for use by schools, groups, and individuals, whether online, offline, or through face-to-face sessions.
We want cyber-users to know how to protect themselves and others online, whilst being confident and making the best of their online interactions, and still remain within the confines of the law while doing so. In addition, we aim to ensure that support is available for anyone affected by negative interactions online and to help anyone who finds themselves in cyber-related difficulties.
Our volunteers are at the heart of what we do and it is important for us to ensure we provide the best working environment possible. Volunteers work remotely during hours they set, our team focuses on ensuring clear deliverables are identified and agreed to allow volunteers to manage their own time.
Meetings with the whole team will be held regularly to make sure everyone knows each other and work together.
Role includes but is not limited too:
Identify areas/resources from Citizens of Cyber which require further research/development;
Identify potential sources of funding and prepare funding applications;
Identify new audiences which would benefit from the resources offered by Citizens of Cyber;
Assist in the production of materials to aid in reaching out to new audiences for Citizens of Cyber;
Validate information/materials produced by Citizens of Cyber for accuracy and reliability through the use of multiple trustworthy sources;
Research and advise Citizens of Cyber volunteers on trustworthy sources of information;
Advise Citizens of Cyber volunteers on how to identify trustworthy information and how to best validate information used in their roles;
You will be speaking/teaching/ working with young children and vulnerable adults as a volunteer of Citizens of Cyber.
Last updated 4 days ago
Become an inspection volunteer
Our work is improved by involving people who use services and their carers. We have many innovative ways that people can get involved with us and can influence our work.
Our Involvement and equalities charter outlines how we involve people who use care services and informal carers in our work.
If you have personal experience of using a service or you have cared for someone close who has used a service there are many ways you can get involved with us. You do not have to have any qualifications. Your personal experience gives you a unique insight.
If you would like to find out more or if you would like us to post you an application form - please email us at get.involved@careinspectorate.gov.scot
Last updated 8 days ago
Caseworkers visit clients to work 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.
The essential part of the role is interacting with clients, so you may be visiting clients or doing this virtually. 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!
Minimum Age: 18
Is a criminal record check required? Yes
Last updated 9 days ago
We are Alex, The Leukodystrophy Charity (Alex TLC).
Alex TLC is a trusted and experienced organisation offering support and information for all those affected by leukodystrophies. These are a group of often terminal, rare neurodegenerative conditions, affecting people of all ages and backgrounds, most notably children. Established in 2004, we are recognised by the NHS and global stakeholders as the "go to" organisation for those affected by these devastating conditions in the UK.
Like many other small charities, we have grown organically from an informal support group to a thriving organisation supporting over a thousand individuals affected by leukodystrophy worldwide. Our charitable work is supported by our chain of five charity shops across south east London.
With scant resources we are currently unable to employ dedicated small grant fundraising staff and are looking to the voluntary sector for assistance. Although existing staff manage grant applications as best they can, we have identified this area as a key weakness.
Could you spare a few hours a week to help us?
ABOUT THE ROLE
We are looking for volunteers, preferably with experience of grant fundraising (although this it not essential), to:
research potential grant making trusts for relevance to our specific objectives
send applications using existing templates
update our systems with details of applications
This is a wonderful opportunity to develop your existing skills within a unique arena, learn about the difficulties facing those with rare disease, and give vital and tangible support to sufferers of genetic leukodystrophy.
We need help to give hope and support to people affected by genetic leukodystrophy – could you be that help?
Alex TLC is committed to promoting diversity.
Last updated 9 days ago
Quarriers Shared Lives and Family Placement Service provides people with a disability the opportunity to stay in the homes of approved carers and their families. Each placement provides accommodation, care, and support, enabling the person we support to be part of the life and activities of the carer and their family.
Purpose Of The Role
This is a fantastic opportunity to spend some time each week supporting a young person in the community to engage with different activities. You will be helping him to achieve a better quality of life by learning and development of new skills.
Your support will provide the young person with the opportunity to plan, organise and attend various activities that are meaningful and give him purpose. This could involve helping to choose clubs to attend, going to the gym, or taking part in other activities the young person may wish to do. Your support will provide the young person with the the opportunity to develop his own skills and give something back to the community.
Main Tasks Include
* The young person enjoys a range of activities and having a volunteer befriender will encourage him to try new things.
* Going with the young person to community events, cinema, sports activities including football, swimming, and ten pin bowling. There is scope to assist him with finding and sourcing activities that are stimulating and assist with hir learning and development such as employment, volunteering and learning opportunities.
* The young person requires support while out in the community. For example, he will need support to keep him safe and ensure his emotional needs are met. The volunteer will also need to get to know the young person well and become attuned to his own personal needs.
Last updated 10 days ago