Calling All Volunteering Heroes: Join Our Mission to Brighten Lives! Are you ready to make a difference in the lives of those who have dedicated their lives to serving our country? Erskine Veterans Charity is searching for compassionate and enthusiastic volunteers to be a part of our impactful volunteering family. Join us as we create moments of joy, connection, and companionship for our esteemed residents. Why Volunteer With Us? 🌟 Meaningful Impact: Your time and effort will directly contribute to enhancing the quality of life for our veterans. Whether it is supporting activities, offering practical support or simply sharing stories as a visitor or befriender, you will be making lasting memories. 🌼 Fulfilment: There is nothing quite like the feeling of bringing smiles to the faces of those who have sacrificed so much. Your involvement will add purpose and fulfilment to your own life as well. 🤝 Connection: This is an opportunity to connect with veterans, their families, staff, and other volunteers, share experiences, build on your interpersonal skills and build friendships that transcend generations. Your presence will help combat feelings of loneliness and isolation. 🧠 Stimulating Activities: .Our activities programme is as varied as our residents’ interests are. From group outings to creative projects, your ideas and energy will be welcome, and your involvement will keep their hearts and minds active. Help us create an environment where veterans can thrive physically, mentally, and emotionally. Join Our Team Today! Step forward and be a part of something truly extraordinary. Erskine is ready to welcome you into our family, where your kindness will ripple through the lives of those who deserve it the most. Together, we can create a haven of happiness and camaraderie. Be the light that illuminates their days. Join our volunteers and show our veterans the care and respect they have earned. Your time, compassion, and dedication will make all the difference. Honouring Our Heroes: One Activity at a Time Ready to Make a Difference? Contact Us: 📞 0141 814 4640 📧 volunteering@erskine.org.uk 🌐 www.erskine.org.uk

The Scottish Collegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) is inviting expressions of interest to join one of our multidisciplinary guideline development groups, as someone with lived experience of cardiovascular disease. This opportunity is also available to someone with experience caring for someone with one of these conditions. Recruitment is scheduled to begin over the next few months, and as part of the guideline development group, you will have the opportunity to share your experience and shape the scope and content of a guideline that will be used across NHS Scotland.

Do you own a friendly, outgoing, though not too boisterous dog who loves to have a fuss made of them? Then perhaps, you might like to thank about registering them in our THERAPET visiting service. You heard of it? Let me tell you about it. For some years now it has been recognised, more nd more, that pets are good for us! Indeed it has been scientifically proved that the mere action of stroking a dog, cat, slows down the heartbeat, reduces blood pressure, and makes someone who has already suffered a heart attack much less likely to have another. Through no fault of their own, many people find themselves deprived of the companionship of a much loved dog. It may be they have had to go into sheltered housing, residential care, a long stay hospital etc. The same applies to children and adults who have an additional support need and those suffering from a terminal illness. THERAPETS come in all breeds, cross-breeds, or 57 variety mongrels! They can be small, medium or large. The only vital statistic is a steady and happy temperament. The dogs are approved for temperament and general stability being accepted and are not considered until at least one year old. Volunteer owners must become actual members of CANINE CONCERN SCOTLAND TRUST - mainly so that we can be sure of insurance cover - although happily so far we only know of one, very minor accident, a happy day's tail sweeping a vase from a low table. Volunteers must be willing to make a regular commitment to visit, it need not be very often, once a fortnight, once a month or whenever, but the visits must be regular because the residents and patients look forward to them so much and are disappointed if they suddenly cease. Sometimes small miracles occur - people who have never spoken, turned their faces to the wall in fact - magically come to life at the first appearance of a dog in a ward! This to the surprise and delight of the nursing staff, in many cases the dogs and owners provide some light relief for them too. Sadly, it has to be said that some of the residents or patients the THERAPETS are their only visitors. We like to encourage them to regard the doggy visitors as their very own. There is no charge for this service which is organised and carried out entirely by volunteers. We fund raise in various ways to keep it going. More than anything else, we need MORE VOLUNTEERS! The service has proved so popular that they demand has overtaken the supply. So, if you think this might be for you, or once importantly, for your dog, please do contact us for more detail and perhaps an application form to register your dog.

Fresh Community Wellness is a growing grassroots charity, registered Scottish Charity Number, SC051346. We operate out of Aberdeen city, working within a (S.I.M.D) high neighbourhood to create lasting change and build a legacy for the future. Predominantly in Seaton neighbourhoods and outdoors, we work with volunteers/residents, with a salutogenic approach to community wellness. To help with this we have great opportunities and need people to help out as volunteers for a range of roles including: *Food growing, gardeners, greenspace management, tidy ups volunteers. *Mentors, community engagement, events, entertainers (kids, adults, 55+). *Outdoors games & sports volunteers, building outdoor areas for residents (sheltered housing seating), health. *Artists/ Sculptors to begin on our Street Art & Design projects, and sculptures. *Admin, coordinators, team lead volunteers, advisors & support volunteers. *Drop-in café helpers, advisors, cooking assistants. All are fantastic opportunities to make a real difference for people and communities in Aberdeen. Excellent support and relevant training is provided to all volunteers. For more details about these volunteer roles or other ways you can help support the important work and volunteering at Fresh Community Wellness SCIO, please contact our website www.freshcom.org.uk or email us at chair@freshcom.org.uk or secretary@freshcom.org.uk