Each year Erskine cares for ex-Servicemen and women from all backgrounds. You can help us make a difference to the lives of our country’s Veterans who have sacrificed so much. We are looking for volunteers to assist our activities staff to give our Veterans a stimulating and fun environment and the quality of life they deserve. You can help us to achieve this by offering your time, skillset, energy and support. There are lots of different activities that you can get involved with and you will be matched to the activities that suit you best. Erskine Park is a lovely homely environment where the care is excellent and we have fabulous staff who can support you.

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

At Blackwood we provide care (in care homes), care at home services and tenancies to people with different support needs. We believe that using technology can significantly support independent living and have offered our customers a tablet which is set up with our innovative system CleverCogs©. To support the successful adoption of this programme, we need the help of volunteers to ensure our customers are comfortable using their tablets and make the most of their tech. -What will I be doing as a Digital Buddy?: Digital Buddies will combine befriending with digital literacy, so your role will include: • helping people set up their new devices • using video calls and messaging apps • accessing online learning opportunities • explaining how to stay safe online • helping to problem solve where you don’t know the answer yourself • enjoying a chat with people to find some common interests and build a rapport quickly • helping people to find online resources that match their interests • Support sessions with learners usually take place in person, once or twice a week, so 45-60 minutes is usually enough time to make progress. • Reporting on progress made and encouraging volunteers to provide feedback on sessions This is an opportunity to be more involved with others in your local community - Helping others can also improve your own health & wellbeing! It is also a chance to develop your own skills and competencies with the option to pursue a qualification in digital skills.

Volunteering Matters Overview At Volunteering Matters we believe everyone in the UK should have the opportunity to thrive, so we bring people together to overcome some of society’s most complex issues through the power of volunteering. We partner with communities to overcome adversity, tackling social isolation and loneliness, improving health, developing skills and opportunities. And because we’re a national charity, we do this at scale, sharing our expertise and building partnerships to make an even bigger impact. We turn local knowledge and energy into action and progress, building stronger communities and a better future for all. Project Overview Our Family Supporters in Edinburgh project offers practical and emotional support to families across the city of Edinburgh, empowering them to face a range of life challenges. We recruit, train and match dedicated, local volunteers to help families every step of the way, spending 1-1 time together on a personalised set of goals chosen by the family, for the family. We can help in many ways, such as improved living standards, budgeting, healthier eating, better school life and behaviour, access to health and wellbeing aid, as well as introducing parents to community resources, to name a few. So far, thousands of families across the UK have benefitted from our service and we are now delighted to extend the programmes reach to families in Edinburgh. Who can volunteer with us? Our volunteers are locally based people with an understanding of the challenges that families are facing. Aged 18+, each volunteer brings different life experiences and skills that they can use to help the family they are matched to, offering support on a weekly basis for an hour or so each week, usually for 6-9 months at a time that suits everyone. They build a strong relationship based on trust and mutual respect, acting as a friendly face who listens and cares about the family. All volunteers are interviewed, trained to the highest standards and undergo disclosure checks before being matched with a family. We also encourage and welcome volunteers who have the ability to speak multiple languages join our team! What can we offer volunteers? As well as the sense of achievement that comes through supporting a family, our volunteers will have the opportunity to learn and develop new skills, attend social events with other volunteers and enhance their employability. Certificates are provided upon completion of induction training and at the end of the commitment, with project staff happy to provide references for future studies or employment.