Youth Panel Volunteer Do you care about your local wildlife and want to inspire others to take action? We’re looking for young people aged 16-25 from across the Species on the Edge project areas to join our Leading Edge Youth Panel. With your creativity and innovative voice, you’ll work alongside the wider Species on the Edge team to drive forward our engagement work across the programme. Why we want your help? Species on the Edge is a partnership of NatureScot and seven conservation charities dedicated to improving the future of 37 of the rarest and most threatened species on Scotland’s coasts and islands. We know we can’t do this alone, and people are the heart of this programme. We want to include everyone in the fight to save nature and we need the knowledge, experiences, and innovation that the youth voice can bring. How can you help us? You’ll meet the other panel members through virtual online meetings, with a chance to join a spring residential. You’ll be supported in the development of your own local projects to help more young people to connect to nature. The skills we need: • An interest in Scotland wildlife. • Good listening and communication skills. • Commitment to support the needs of diverse communities and a commitment to equality of opportunity. • Willingness to learn new skills. • Commitment to join at least 4 virtual meetings a year and a spring residential, dates to be planned with the panel members. • Commitment to planning your own connection to nature project, with budget and staff support from the Species on the Edge team. What will you gain from this experience? This role offers a fantastic opportunity to develop your volunteering in the conservation sector. This role offers you: • Chance to meet new people and learn from people’s expertise within the conservation sector. • Opportunity to develop your own project to support other young people to connect with nature. • Opportunities for training to support your personal development. The programme will cover all travel, accommodation and reasonable expenses associated with the Leading Edge Youth Panel. The programme seeks to remove barriers to participation, and you are encouraged to inform us of any additional requirements when you apply.

An exciting opportunity to join the Under the Trees team, working in the great and beautiful outdoors whilst gaining valuable experience working with young children and young adults. You will potentially be working in all weathers and in all seasons - we can provide waterproofs! Under the Trees runs fun and educational sessions for school children in the Falkirk and Stirling areas, as well as a programme of public events for all ages, backgrounds and abilities. Events run all year round. As a Volunteer Education Assistant, there will be opportunities for you to do a range of the following: - Assist with Educational Sessions for school groups, including term-time forest schools. - Assist with sessions for the general public, including a monthly nature club for ages 0-13. - Assist with holiday play sessions and family events. - Plan and lead in activities. - Maintain resources effectively. - Keep session areas safe and tidy. - Desk-based activities in planning, creating materials and administration.

REAP is currently looking for 2 or 3 volunteers to help support upcoming gardening sessions at their Maryhill Therapeutic Garden in Elgin. Working alongside the REAP team, volunteers will help participants get involved in gardening activities, helping people to build their skills, confidence, and wellbeing. Therapeutic gardening is the use of garden space to improve and build resilience in mental health; to increase physical activity; develop social skills and encourage a healthier diet. REAP’s aim is to help participants improve their mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing through gardening and socialising in a beautiful, peaceful environment. Sessions are returning soon on February 11th and will run on a weekly basis on Tuesday afternoons 2-5pm or Friday mornings 10-12:30pm. Volunteers can help people take part in various gardening activities such as sowing seeds, learning about composting and harvesting vegetables to take home. There’s also a chance to socialise during the tea breaks! Volunteers will also be supported in their development by being offered training relevant to the project. If you are a friendly, patient person, able to engage with a wide variety of people, and can volunteer outside in a practical way, have an interest in gardening ( food growing or ornamental 😊 ), or even have skills that could help build a new garden bench!) please do get in touch with REAP, who will be very happy to tell you more about how to get involved. Tel 01542 888070

Cultivate your Community! Cultivate Aberdeen has a clear vision to create kind, confident, and connected communities through the power of food growing and various gardening sessions/activities that people can assist with (sowing, weeding, diy). For more information and details of how you can get involved as a volunteer with Cultivate Aberdeen/help at our forthcoming gardening sessions please visit https://www.facebook.com/cultivateABDN and https://www.cultivateaberdeen.co.uk/get-involved/volunteer/ or email us at: info@cultivateaberdeen.co.uk All help makes a real difference and is greatly appreciated.