Young Volunteers between the ages of 15-24 will join Paula, (Youth Coordinator) in delivering games and social activities in sheltered housing. The overall aim is to enhance the young people’s confidence and skills through volunteering and reduce social isolation for older people. The project will train, support and provide supervision for young volunteers to lead on delivering the sessions (with support and supervision from the Youth Coordinator) for older people, with those involved shaping the discussion and activity at each session. It is hoped that in addition to the positive impact the project will have on residents, the befriending will allow volunteers to build confidence and gain valuable social skills under the support and supervision of the Youth Coordinator.

Over The Wall is a charity for children and young people with health challenges and disabilities to discover a world of mischief and magic. We provide a safe place to step outside of comfort zones, establish friendships and build confidence through meaningful and exciting activities. We run residentials in England and Scotland, as well as virtual activity camps for families in the UK to join from their own homes. We need volunteers each year to help run our programmes. There are a variety of roles to suit each volunteer’s skills and strengths. You can join us at our residentials as a teammate, clinical volunteer, activity leader or as media crew. Or, if you want to help from the comfort of home, you can join Camp in the Cloud as an online facilitator. Volunteers are a huge part of the heart and soul of Over The Wall. You play a leading role in providing the magical, transforming experience we give our campers and their families. Not only this, but you’ll have fun yourself! You’ll have chance to develop your own skills, make friends and create memories that last. It’s not just our campers that Over The Wall has a lasting impact on! To find dates and locations, visit otw.org.uk, where you can start your volunteering journey today.

Hanover is one of Scotland’s largest registered social landlords specialising in services for older people. We manage more than 5,000 properties and provide a range of other services including telecare community alarm monitoring and housing with care. We work closely with our customers to help people live independent, secure and fulfilling lives. The Volunteer Befriender helps residents who feel isolated or unable to get out very easily on their own by giving time on a one to one basis to help a person maintain social contact, provide companionship and reduce loneliness and social isolation. Volunteer befrienders build a positive relationship with an individual and visit them on a regular basis in their own flat. This could mean spending some time with a person for an hour or two every week/fortnight, we also encourage getting out and about for a coffee or short walk. Generally, befrienders are there to chat and get to know someone, have fun. Support the person to continue with existing interests, whilst encouraging them to embark on new activities. Volunteer duties:  Organising visits / trips out on a regular basis.  Support residents with their interests  Encourage residents to embark on new activities  Be a friend and have fun Volunteering is one of the most rewarding things you can do We know that volunteering has many benefits for individuals who volunteer, the organisations to which they contribute and society as a whole. Loneliness has a profound impact on quality of life with serious implications for physical and mental health. We believe that every older person should have opportunities to make and maintain friends and connections so they can keep healthy and well balanced and enjoy life as much as possible – we believe that no-one should have no-one. Hanover (Scotland) wishes to assist our residents tackle social isolation as we believe that good physical and mental health, quality of life and the ability to live independently are closely linked. The many positives outcomes of volunteering mean that volunteering truly is social inclusion in action. Volunteers will: - Gain confidence: Volunteering can help you gain confidence by giving you the chance to try something new and build a real sense of achievement. - Make a difference: Volunteering can have a real and valuable effect on people, communities and society in general. - Meet people: Volunteering can help you meet different kinds of people and make new friends. - Be part of a community: Volunteering can help you feel part of something outside your friends and family. - Have fun: Most volunteers have a great time, regardless of why they do it.

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.