Food Train Connects provides a one to one grocery shopping services for older people who are no longer able to manage independently, through age, ill health, frailty or disability. Our Connects Shopping Friends service is a fantastic way to make an impact on the lives of older people in your community. Our aim is to support older people to eat well, age well and live well. Becoming a Food Train Connects Shopping Friend is rewarding and it makes a huge difference to people’s lives. It’s amazing the impact that regular support with grocery shopping can have on someone who is isolated or lonely. If you want to make sure that an older person is able to live well in their own home this is a great opportunity to do so. The Role: • Contact the older person you are matched with on a regular basis, usually weekly, to obtain their shopping list, carry out their shopping and then deliver to their home, putting away if necessary. • Submit brief records, receipts for payment and to report any matters of concern to staff • Keep within the boundaries of the role • To inform Food Train Connects Staff of any accidents, incidents or complaints • To maintain confidentiality • To represent Food Train in a professional manner to our members and the wider community

Food Train is an award winning charity providing services to older people who are no longer able to manage independently, through age, ill health, frailty or disability. The Connects service offers a volunteer matching service for grocery shopping, telephone befriending and meal delivery. Help to combat feelings of loneliness, isolation and malnutrition amongst older people (55+) by becoming a Volunteer Cook. You do not need to be a Jamie or Nigella to get involved – just the ability to prepare an extra portion of your meal once a week, to drop off with an older neighbour and have a light hearted blether with them. The role is fun, flexible and can be done at a time that suits you and your matched member! *The Role: · Paired with an older person to prepare an extra portion of your home cooked meal and deliver it to them at their home. · Have a wee chat, agree times and dates for the next meal and serve up/help put the meal away as required. · To report back to Food Train Connects team and complete all required documentation after each visit. · To report any matters of concern to Food Train staff · To inform Food Train Staff of any accidents, incidents or complaints · To maintain confidentiality · To represent Food Train in a professional manner to customers and the wider community A fantastic opportunity to help make a real difference. All volunteers are greatly appreciated. If you are interested in volunteering with us/for more information please register your interest at https://form.jotform.com/240511960661351 or email: volunteer.connects@thefoodtrain.co.uk Further details are also available on our website at www.foodtrainconnects.org.uk

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.

Volunteering Matters is a national volunteering charity. We are looking for volunteers to join our Handyperson project which runs across Stirlingshire and Clackmannanshire. Our team of volunteers help older people, or people with disabilities, with small and minor maintenance tasks in their own homes. The types of tasks that volunteers complete normally take 1 hour or less. Examples include putting up shelves, building small bits of flatpack furniture, changing lightbulbs, rewiring plugs, replacing smoke alarm batteries, and hanging mirrors, curtains, or blinds. It can be challenging to find a tradesperson willing to do such minor tasks. It can also be difficult or even dangerous for some people to do these tasks by themselves – particularly if they are older, frail, or have a disability. So the support that our volunteers provide is invaluable. Volunteering hours are completely flexible, and we will work around the volunteer and what spare time they have. You can volunteer as little, or as much as you like. Full training, support, and travel costs are provided. Volunteers are normally aged 50+ however this is not essential.