This is a chance to design your own volunteering opportunity in conjunction with the Volunteer Co Ordinator. Decide what skills you have to offer and marry them with the jobs that need done.

Engineering, plumbing, elctrician, upholsterer, ticket collect, train driver, guardsmen, painter etc.

With over 200 branches and 18,000 volunteers in UK and ROI, Samaritans is volunteer led. The Selkirk Branch has around 35 Listening Volunteers and some Support Volunteers. Thorough training is given to all trainees, and a commitment of 3 hours per week is required by all Listening Volunteers. All Listening Volunteers support callers via telephone, email and SMS texting, with an average of over 5,000 branch contacts per year. Annual on going training is provided, with additional opportunities to attend national and regional Conferences. No experience is required, but an aptitude to listen is helpful.

Volunteering Matters is a national volunteering charity. We bring people together, through the power of volunteering, to overcome some of society’s most complex issues. One of our most successful projects across the UK is RSVP - the Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme. People who have time on their hands, particularly those who are aged 50+, develop, organise and run a range of activities in their local communities. In Stirlingshire and Clackmannanshire, RSVP runs a Handyperson Project which is led by volunteers. Our team help older people, or people with disabilities, with small and minor maintenance tasks. The tasks we complete for people are varied, normally taking less than 2 hours. Examples include unblocking sinks, putting up shelves, building flatpack furniture, changing lightbulbs, rewiring plugs, replacing smoke alarm batteries, and hanging mirrors, curtains, or blinds. It can be challenging to find a tradesperson willing to do such minor tasks which can be difficult or even dangerous for some people to do these tasks themselves – particularly if they are older, frail, or have a disability. Our service is free although the service user pays for any supplies e.g. washers or lightbulbs etc. Donations are welcomed from those who access it. Tasks included in the role Contact clients to arrange a suitable time for the task Carry out task Record task completion using an on-line report form Accept donations if offered, record and hand in so they can be banked. Volunteers receive full support from the Handyperson team as well as travel expenses and health & safety equipment. The days of the week and hours available are completely flexible and we will work around the volunteer and what spare time they have. If you are interested in volunteering, or you know someone who could do with some help around the house, then please contact us.