Have you been Bereaved by Suicide? Do you have a desire to help other people who have also been Bereaved by Suicide? Are you comfortable listening to the experiences of others? You could be just the person we are looking for. We have self-help support groups across the UK, where you can meet with other people who have been bereaved by suicide and we want to enroll some new volunteers to set up a group in Aberdeen. Typically, our groups meet once a month and last for around 2 hours. Presently many groups are meeting virtually via Zoom but when regulations allow, they will return to Face to Face. They provide an opportunity to listen, to share, to ask questions and to connect with others. Each local SoBS group is run by a team of 3: the group leader and two group volunteers, all of whom have been bereaved by suicide themselves. Between them, they facilitate the session, get the conversation started, make sure everyone has the opportunity to talk if they want to, and generally look out for people and each other. The team also work together to manage the administration, fundraising and communication for the group, sometimes with the help of additional support volunteers. There is no set structure to a session – people are free to talk and listen as they wish. The topics discussed vary from week to week but often includes people sharing their story, how they are feeling, what has happened since their last group visit, questions about coroners and discussions about common challenges such as flashbacks, supporting children or facing neighbours. Many groups also offer a small resource library and can share information about local sources of support. For further details please contact Phill Abbiss, Volunteer Coordinator (North) at E Mail: phill.abbiss@uksobs.org or tel.: 07535 854 860.

The Comradeship Circles service aims to reduce loneliness by offering older members of the ex-service community the opportunity to enjoy regular group camaraderie by telephone. A Comradeship Circle will host typically six people on the same day and time each week to chat about a range of topics and interests over the phone. A Technical Support Volunteer or Supervisor will be on hand to connect everyone and ensure the call runs smoothly. We are looking for facilitator volunteers who will join the group phone calls, which last up to an hour, helping to facilitate discussion, developing resources to enrich Circles in response to member's interests. Currently this role is home-based and access to either a landline or mobile is required. • Main tasks include - Welcoming members to the circle and to facilitate group discussions and ensuring all members have a chance to participate. Creating and developing engaging resources in response to circle participant’s interests. • Reporting any concerns or issues with the circles to Supervisor. 1-2 hours per week at the same time each week (with some flexibility for cover) over a 6 month minimum period. For more information please contact Caroline McDonald, Comradeship Circles Coordinator at email: caroline.mcdonald@agescotland.org.uk or tel.: 0131 378 7206.

Being a Community Facilitator is all about delivering a variety of lifesaving first aid skills in community engagement workshops and projects, within local communities, and primary and secondary schools. A lot of these projects involve talking about and demonstrating the basics of first aid to community groups that can include children, young people, and vulnerable adults. An example of events you could be delivering a first aid talk and demo to, are primary and secondary schools, small university groups, local community groups, charities, summer fairs, shopping centres. Some of the skills you could be teaching include how to provide CPR and apply a defib, different bandages and how to use them, and basic information on various health conditions. Not only that but all the training needed, is provided by us at no cost to you! A fantastic opportunity to help. All volunteers make a real difference and are greatly appreciated. For more information please contact Daniel Handy, Community Engagement Admin at email community@firstaid.org.uk or telephone 0141 332 4031.

Can you help promote services to local people in your community? Can you help at events and awareness raising sessions? You could help improve access to services in your community. This role is ideal for people who already have a connection to their community or would like to build one. The Service Team Volunteer role supports in the delivery of advocacy and other services by: • Helping clients understand about advocacy • Attending events and awareness raising activities • Networking and promoting our services and organisation • Signposting to other services • Building professional relationships and partnership working • Supporting our community engagement programmes in your local area Volunteering with VoiceAbility is ideal for people who have or want experience in human rights, health, care and wellbeing - but we care more about your values and empathy than your level of experience. Volunteer, Ben’s priorities changed after a serious illness: “I wanted to give something back. It’s really rewarding as you get to use your knowledge and skills for a really good purpose.” You’ll develop skills in communication and confidentiality, add experience and knowledge to your CV, and know you’re making a genuine difference to people’s lives. As a volunteer you’ll receive full training, support from the volunteer team and your local advocates, and paid expenses. *Perks and Benefits - Reference after 6 months of volunteering. - Robust training programme - The opportunity to make a positive difference to people with care and support needs. - The opportunity to learn new skills, meet new people and gain experience in your chosen volunteering role/s - The opportunity to help us develop our volunteering work - Additional learning & training opportunities *Skills You'll Need Volunteering with VoiceAbility is ideal for people who have or want experience in human rights, health, care and wellbeing - but we care more about your values and empathy than your level of experience. Some beneficial skills and qualities to have are: • Good communication skills – written and verbal • A basic level of IT literacy – email, docs • Accuracy and attention to detail • Ability to manage own time and prioritise workload • Ability to work independently & as part of a team • A commitment to the aims and ethos of VoiceAbility *Travel Information The role is a hybrid role, as we have no main "office base". People volunteer in and around their local area, and must be able to travel by themselves. Volunteers also meet clients in person to offer face-to-face support if needed. This would be across your specific geographic area of Aberdeen and you will travel locally and attend networking events to promote the service (approved travel expenses are reimbursed to volunteers). For more information/to apply please complete the form at https://voiceability.current-vacancies.com/Jobs/Advert/3336374?cid=1938&t=Volunteer-for-VoiceAbility-across-Scotland or contact Karen Murphy, Volunteer Coordinator at email: karen.murphy@voiceability.org or telephone: 07585 969 716. Further details are also available at https://www.voiceability.org/jobs/volunteering