Have you ever wanted to volunteer all to do within the concept of Football? Well look no further! Street Soccer Scotland is currently looking for volunteers to join their team. No two days the same, working alongside our players developing them personally and mentally. The role includes working with coaches and players pitch side, monitoring games, inputting data, building relationships with partner organisations. We work with all ages from 10 years old all the way to past retirement . We currently run in Aberdeen: Walking Football, Kids 10-13 Year olds, Street 45 (Women's Programme) and Adult Sessions. Opportunities are available Monday to Friday - Please get in touch with Peter Wood, Programme Co-ordinator at email: peter@streetsoccerscotland.org or telephone: 07487603708, if you would like to know more.

The State Hospital is keen to identify opportunities to enhance service delivery, taking advantage of opportunities available via external funding where appropriate. Given the current financial constraints, the Hospital is experiencing significant financial challenges in relation to enhancing patient experience, where costs would be incurred out with the core service delivery budget. Opportunities have been identified across a range of services within the Hospital, particularly in relation to the range of patient activities available, and work streams supporting the Supporting Healthy Choices initiative. The role will require the volunteer to engage with patients, carers, staff and other volunteers, supported by the Person Centred Improvement team. Additionally, the volunteer will be asked to contribute to reports and, on occasion, attend a number of internal meetings, including the Person Centred Improvement Steering Group, and Patient Partnership Group. The Hospital works collaboratively with Forensic Network partners and other supporting organisations e.g. Health Improvement Scotland: Community Engagement, Volunteer Scotland, the volunteer may also be asked to contribute to presentations and attend external events which promote and share best practice.

Positive Changes (Scotland) CIC-Community Interest Company / Grace Chocolates is a social enterprise supporting women with convictions as they journey towards new beginnings. Our RISE Mentoring Programme inspires, supports and empowers women through a meaningful mentoring relationship whilst working towards their goals and actions set at the beginning of the programme. Mentors receive CPD accredited training, which means that while you are making a meaningful difference to a woman’s life, you will also be furthering your own skills that can be used across different aspects of your life and job. There are also preparation sessions for mentees to ensure that they get the most out of the experience from the outset. Regular support meetings with the mentor coordinator will ensure that everyone is getting the most out of the programme. We are sure that there are amazing potential mentors in our communities across Scotland, and We particularly welcome women with lived experience of the criminal justice system who have made positive changes in their lives and are keen to share the benefits of their experience with others. People living with addictions are welcome to apply but we ask that you have not used for a minimum of 2 years and actively managing any addictions. We would love to hear from anyone who: - Can dedicate the time to support and empower women by committing to mentoring for a minimum of 1 year - Wants to further their own skills and have access to training whilst helping make a difference - Is available for training online on various dates throughout March and April, and can commit to an online training course in your own time - Has the qualities to support women in a range of circumstances. You don't need experience, but you will need to be a good listener, be positive, encouraging and be able to help people set goals and action plans. Here are some quotes from those who have taken part in the programme previously: - Mentee, 2022 - "Every single goal I made, I smashed it and my mentor helped me achieve these!" - Current Mentor - "Ultimately, you have no idea how inspiring and amazing your mentee will be for you, as you work together on their goals. I value the experience of mentoring because these women deserve the time and positive relationship that mentoring brings." The programme is funded by Impact Funding Partners and the Scottish Government. A fantastic opportunity to help. All volunteers make a real positive difference and are greatly appreciated. For further details please contact: Elizabeth McGowan, Mentoring Programme Support Co-Ordinator at email: elizabeth@gracechocolates.co.uk or telephone: 07309719209.

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.