Are you a parent in Scotland? Do you remember what it was like becoming a first time parent? The Why Not Trust are looking for volunteers to become Peer Mentors, providing support to soon to be or new care-experienced parents. We know it take a village to raise a child, but not everyone has the same support networks around them. We aim to create a judgment and stigma-free community of mentors and mentees where trusting one-to-one relationships can be established. What does a Peer Mentor do? • Chat with your mentee on a regular basis, roughly 4 hours per month • Encourage, empower and champion your mentee • Provide gentle guidance in relation to parenting • Engage with your mentee in a non judgemental, caring and supportive way Some of the many benefits our volunteers can expect: • Become part of a supportive and welcoming community • Get matched with a fellow parent you have something in common with • Meetings that fit your schedule – online or in person • Receive accredited mentor training • Get paid for your travel expenses and other expenses • Improve your own confidence as well as your mentees • Develop your communication and listening skills The Why Not? Trust is working towards doing things differently. If you would like to become a Peer Mentor or would like more information, please email our Peer Mentor Lead, Ashleigh at ashleigh.donaldson@whynottrust.org or call on 07850725799. We look forward to hearing from you!

Do you enjoy making a difference in your community? We are setting up an osteoporosis support group to be based in the community in Galashiels and are looking friendly, welcoming people to help. An amazing opportunity to support and help others in a community setting with the newly formed Galashiels Osteoporosis Support Group. Help individuals to improve their quality of life, whilst helping them learn to live well with this debilitating condition. The (CAMEO) Osteoporosis Support group (Come and meet others with Osteoporosis) will meet up in the community in Galashiels. The group will be welcome to all, but is mainly for people with osteoporosis or those touched by the condition to meet up and be given the opportunity to speak to others in a similar situation. The group is being set up in the community with a local volunteer team, but will have ongoing support and guidance from the Volunteer and Public Engagement team at the ROS. The Galashiels Osteoporosis Support Group will be run in a relaxed fun and informative way. Osteoporosis Support Groups can be another great source of information and can help other people in similar situation by helping to raise awareness about all things Osteoporosis, especially if newly diagnosed. There are lots of ways to get involved, but this could include: • With the Volunteer Lead, helping to plan for and organise upcoming meetings. • Sending and replying to emails, sending meeting invites, writing newsletters and updates. • Help to set up before and clear away after the meeting. • Meet and greet attendees on the day, being a point of support for group attendees, answering questions and helping them in ways that best meets their individual needs. Giving peer support, helping to guide and assist others on their Osteoporosis journey. • Work as part of the team, helping to support the group and the Volunteer Lead, with the support and help of the ROS and the Borders Volunteer Action. • There may be the opportunity to take part in community awareness events and to take on other volunteer role if interested. Times: No minimum commitment, but to help secure the future of the group, a long term commitment would be preferred. We plan for meetings to be held four times a year for two hours.

A Caseworker is someone who carries out work for the Royal Air Force Association on a voluntary basis by gathering information, asking questions and completing necessary forms and by doing so, you will make a real difference. You will also work closely with the Area Welfare Officer to complete each case successfully. What’s in it for you This is an opportunity to play a key role in helping the RAF Association deliver valuable support to members of the RAF community and their families. You will receive ongoing support provided by both the Volunteering and Case working Team. Upon completion of the training course, you will achieve a Level 2 Information and Advice qualification accredited through the AIM Qualification and Assessment Group. Further/refresher training is also available. Frequency & commitment details: 3 days of initial training, with one day refresher training to take place every 3 years. Cases vary in the time that is needed to complete them. Conversations with beneficiaries can take around 1-2 hours and the subsequent forms, reports and follow ups depend on the complexity of the case. The role is subject to a completed application form, interview, reference checks and PVG check prior to attending the training course.

Loneliness affects tens of thousands of people across the RAF community. Whether it’s a veteran struggling to adapt to life after service, or a family member facing difficulties alone, loneliness can be devastating to people’s mental and physical health. The Connections For Life service offers friendship telephone calls to anyone in the RAF community who needs it, and matches caring, friendly volunteers, with those beneficiaries who are experiencing isolation. The RAF community is made up of both veterans and serving personnel, and their respective spouses, partners, widows or widowers. As a volunteer, you can offer a listening ear, help someone regain their confidence, share discussions around their interests and help them reconnect with the wider world. The Connections Volunteer role would involve contacting a beneficiary over the phone on a regular basis. A friendly, 30-minute chat that a volunteer can offer will make all the difference, providing a vital link for someone who is lonely and isolated. What will volunteers be doing? * Providing regular social interaction and support to members of the RAF community via telephone contact * Checking on a beneficiary’s welfare and alerting them to available support if needed * Relaying any concerns to their Connections Coordinator * Regularly submitting an activity log summarising their interactions so we can make sure everyone is receiving the help they need