At the Health Services Research Unit (HSRU), University of Aberdeen, we're passionate about making our research both useful and easy to understand. We strive for excellence in everything we do, and a big part of that is including patients and the public in our work from the very beginning. We believe this helps us focus on research questions that really matter to people like you. Right now, we're looking to welcome three new members into our group. The primary purpose of this group is to share their perspective on what we do here at the research unit. Your viewpoint is invaluable to us! We get together roughly six times a year. Usually, we meet face-to-face, but occasionally we meet online if that's easier for everyone. Apart from these meetings, we ask the group for help with special tasks from time to time, like checking over our written materials to make sure they're easy for everyday people to understand. You may also have chances to join in on specific studies as part of the team. You'll get to hang out with a friendly group of people, have engaging chats, and meet our diverse team made up of different kinds of experts. And don't worry, we'll cover any costs you might have for helping us out and we'll also give you a little thank-you payment for your time at the end of the year. To join our group, here's what you need: • You should be interested in health services research. In other words, you're curious about how we can improve healthcare. • You should live in the Grampian area. • You should be able to travel to Aberdeen for our meetings. • You should be able to use emails. But that's not all. We're especially keen to include people who haven't always had the same advantages as everyone else. Maybe you've had a tough time because of health problems, disability, race, gender, financial struggles, or more. Or maybe you support someone who's had these experiences. Reach out to Dr Magda Rzewuska-Díaz if you're interested! You can email her at hsru-ppie@abdn.ac.uk or give her a call at 01224 438148. She'd be more than happy to chat with you and answer any questions you might have. This is a great opportunity, and we can't wait to hear from you!

Join us to shape how Scottish Government’s policy around High Fat, Sugar or Salt (HFSS) food and drink is regulated in Scotland at one of our online consultation sessions. Event Information: 🎂 For anyone aged 11-25 (inclusive) years old 📅 Tuesday 14th May for 11-18 year olds. 5-8pm on Zoom with breaks 📅 Thursday 16th May for 19-25 year olds. 5-8pm on Zoom with breaks 🗺️ You can be living anywhere in Scotland 🎁 Receive 200 Young Scot Reward Points for taking part. Don’t have free membership with Young Scot yet? Sign up and access exclusive rewards and discounts at young.scot/membership! 📝Record your participation as volunteer hours with Saltire Awards About this opportunity The Scottish Government are running a consultation about people making healthier food and drink choices. The consultation will look at restricting promotions in shops on food and drink that is high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS). Young Scot are working with Scottish Government to help young people have their say in this consultation. We want to hear your opinions about restricting promotions on less healthy food and drink in shops. The purpose of the workshops is to explore your personal shopping habits and we’ll will look at how and why you are shopping for food, for example at lunch time at school, college and work. We will be asking you questions like: • Where do you shop? Supermarket, convenience store, out of home (especially during school, college, working day), or online? • Do you know of any food promotions that save you money? What types? • How likely are you to plan ahead or shop on impulse? Are you influenced by location promotions? Would food promotion restrictions affect you in your community? You don’t need any experience to apply but it would be great if you had an interest in the topic above, and wanting to ensure the voices of young people are heard in this policy. We would love to hear from anyone interested in getting involved, but are particularly keen to hear from young people that feel confident in representing any of the communities below, including, but not limited to: • LGBTQI+ • Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority • Young Carer • Gypsy/Traveller • Care Experience • Disability • Refugee or Asylum Seeker • Living in a Rural Area

By choosing to volunteer with Western Isles Citizen Advice Service you'll be giving something truly valuable back to your community. As a charity, our volunteers are essential to allow us to deliver the important work we do. What's involved? There are a broad range of volunteering roles available within Western Isles CAS, so you can use your skills, knowledge and experience where it matters most from adviser roles to behind the scenes support we will let you choose were you think you'll make the greatest impact. What are the benefits? Volunteering is a fantastic way to stay active and involved in the local community. As a new member we will instantly make you feel at home. Let's not forget the feel good factor too! Giving people the information and advice they need to turn their lives around is very rewarding. As well as making a difference you can also learn valuable skills . 42% of our volunteers go on to further education or employment. As an adviser you will be part of the wider network and will have access to ongoing training and development. If you would like to volunteer with us or find out more we would love to hear from you!

Aberdeen in Recovery (AiR) was granted Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) charitable status in March this year. We are now looking to find talented, passionate and skilled people to fill some vacant seats on our Board of Trustees to help us grow and develop our innovative and solution focused new charity. This is a unique opportunity to help lay the foundations to ensure AiR has a long-term future as a charity with solid processes in place to ensure it meets its mission of: “To be a bridge from ‘dependence’ to ‘independence’ for the individual seeking to recover from problematic substance use and addictive behaviours”. This is such an exciting and invigorating prospect for individuals to get involved and be participant in the tsunami of change which is now gaining momentum and being driven by “Experts by Experience” and the vibrant Lived Experienced Communities which are blossoming, not only locally but are now established as a national phenomena. Since its conception, AiR and its members have worked tirelessly to establish and build collaborative relationships with professional services and third sector support agencies. We have consistently driven the message that individuals who have personal lived/living experience of active substance use, including Family members who have been affected by the addictive behaviours of a loved one, and the Recovery Communities they represent have something valid, essential and extremely beneficial to bring to described Recovery Orientated Systems of Care (ROSC). We can provide existing services and clinical structural systems with resources, skills and capabilities that they, no matter how much effort, time and money they invest, will never be able to offer or provide. So, it gives the greatest of pleasure to see this is now recognised on the highest levels that “Recoverists” can productively contribute to the design, development and delivery of truly person-centred ROSC. This being evidenced by the vision, philosophy and content of the Scottish Governments “Rights, Respect and Recovery” Drug and Alcohol Strategy. We also believe it is reaffirmed by the recent success in being granted funding from the Government’s National Development Fund, with our principle partner Alcohol and Drugs Action (ADA), for our ‘Recovery Peer Pathway’ joint two-year project. This collaborative venture will build on three years of pilot work to further establish and build proactive and productive Developmental Pathways within ADA and their Volunteer network while in synergy with AiR membership for individuals who desire to initiate change in their behaviours and outlook as they progress on their recovery journeys within, and imperatively out-with, statutory and formal support services. We believe that the blue sky thinking behind this project categorically and emphatically fits with the expectations, outcomes and concepts of the above Government policy. So, if you have lived experience, or a stakeholder interest, and a passion for recovery and are willing to give of yourself that another may learn, you will not find a better opportunity to indulge your appetite than from within Aberdeen in Recovery. For more information please contact Dermot Craig, Recovery Community Development Manager at E Mail: dermot@aberdeeninrecovery.org or tel.: 01224 638342 / Mobile: 07751 213108.