The Community Connectors service will operate throughout the Scottish Borders to provide a service to people who have a Personal Alarm but do not have local friends or family who can respond to them if they need assistance at home. The service relies on volunteers from the local community to attend alarm calls through an informal relationship with the alarm client. When an alarm call in made it is received by trained Operators in the Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC). Wherever possible the Operators try to resolve the call by providing an appropriate telephone based response. Where it is not possible to resolve the call over the phone, they will contact Community Connector volunteers to check on and reassure the caller by attending to them at home. Sometimes, alarms may be set off by accident. In this case the volunteer will be on hand to provide reassurance and to reset the alarm. Volunteers are required from local communities across the Scottish Borders. Volunteers will be required to: • attend alarm calls, providing reassurance to service users • Provide any help as necessary where able to safely do so • report back to necessary professionals (e.g. Alarm receiving Centre or emergency services)

This is an opportunity to directly inform and collaborate with agencies working to reduce suicide in Aberdeen. Community Planning Aberdeen* is working to improve mental wellbeing and has a project focused on raising awareness of how we can all make a difference to reducing suicide. Improving mental wellbeing is a priority within the North, South and Central Locality plans and our communities through their Plans have identified ideas that could help reduce suicide and improve mental wellbeing. We now need COMMUNITY CONNECTORS to help make sure the development of this project and the ideas for improvement continue to be informed by and are linked back to our communities. As a Community Connector you will be the “connection” between the reducing suicide project and your community. You will be supported to provide updates to your Locality Engagement Group (LEG) or Priority Neighbourhood Partnership (PNP) meeting. For more information about the role of a Community Connector and the support that we will offer, please visit https://communityplanningaberdeen.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Community-Connector.pdf We anticipate that a Community Connector will commit around 3 hours per month at times flexible to suit each Community Connector. Excellent support and relevant training is provided to all volunteers. Includes: •An induction from your aligned Locality Lead, Communities Team, or associated organisation •Training opportunities to support you in this role • Support from your aligned Locality Lead, Communities Team, or associated Organisation as identified at induction • Support from a Project Team (made up of partners from across the Community Planning Partnership) A fantastic opportunity to help and make a difference for the community. All help is greatly appreciated. For further details please email: LocalityPlanning@aberdeencity.gov.uk *(Community Planning Aberdeen is the name for your local partnership of public, private and third sector organisations and communities all working together to improve people’s lives across Aberdeen City. We are delivering an ambitious local outcome improvement plan to deliver our vision for Aberdeen - A place where all people can prosper).

As part of the RAF Association, our Connections Volunteers offer the vital connection and support our beneficiaries need. In this role, you will make a real difference by helping support a lonely individual via regular telephone calls. Our Connections for Life service entails friendship telephone calls from volunteers to beneficiaries within the RAF community who maybe experiencing loneliness, adapting to life after service or just looking for a general chat. We will provide you with all the necessary training so you can rest assured that you will have all the skills you need. As a Connections Volunteer, you will have the support of a dedicated coordinator as your point of contact. A RAF or forces background is not essential, and we welcome applications from all areas of the community. A fantastic opportunity to help and make a real difference. All help is greatly appreciated. For further details please contact Craig Anderson, RAF Association Connections Administrator at email: volunteers@rafa.org.uk or telephone: 0800 018 2361.

Having a conversation can have such a positive impact. That’s why we offer a Friendship Service which listens, provides friendship and offers support. We can talk about all sorts, from current interests, hobbies, personal and professional goals, top tier biscuits, time travel – the list is endless! The role of a Friendship Caller Volunteer is to provide friendship, companionship and a listening ear to people who are 50 and over and would benefit from a weekly chat. We are looking for volunteers who can volunteer 2-3 hours of their time on the same day each week. Excellent support and relevant training is provided to all volunteers. Including: *Full training on call-handling and our systems will be available to ensure you’re confident taking your first call! *In addition, on-going training, support and Age Scotland In-House training will be made available to volunteers. *If you enjoy a blether over the phone and commit to 2 hours per week on the same day, for 6 months we’d love to hear from you! All help makes a difference and is greatly appreciated. For further details please contact Ashley Marr or Sheona Dorrian, Age Scotland Friendship Service Co-Ordinators at E Mail: ashley.marr@agescotland.org.uk