Neil's Hugs Foundation is a well-established charity in West Lothian and are expanding into the Clackmannanshire area. The group are developing a safe, compassionate and confidential space where support groups can meet for: • Anyone who are experiencing poor mental health • To support people who have lost loved ones to suicide • Families who are supporting a loved one who attempted suicide. The Foundation seeks to provide a safe place to talk and listen and support each other. They aim to reduce loneliness and isolation people with poor mental health experience. Neil's Hugs are developing a one-to-one, 12 week Befriending Service to aid people who are experiencing anxiety and poor mental health to build confidence and skills. Volunteers can help in offering this one-to-one support by becoming Befriender, which will: • Aid in achieving people's desired outcomes • Help people become more active in their local community. Volunteers can help in facilitating groups. Often people find it difficult to talk to people they know, so Neil's Hugs have also established a number of groups. The Support Groups are designed around providing a safe space for people to talk. The groups allow members the space and time while offering a compassionate, listening ear. The Foundation also utilises activities such as art therapy: - Listening Ear Service which is a phone or video service (Zoom) where volunteers support individuals who are experiencing poor mental health by giving them space on a weekly basis to talk. The volunteer’s listen and give support to those who just need someone to talk to. - People who have lost loved ones to suicide can attend a weekly Support Group that provides peer-support for families and friends who have lost a loved one to suicide. This too is a safe place to talk about loved one and to have peers involved in people's grief and loss. - The Gardening Group is among the newest developments at The Foundation. They have now linked in with the Wimpy Park's Garden who have offered an area for volunteers and those grieving to develop into a reflection garden. Volunteers can: If the above roles are not suitable, there are always extra help needed in raising awareness of suicide in communities and raising funds to help keep these vital projects going.

We are looking for volunteers who can provide a strong foundation to help strengthen their communities by helping Care Experienced children and young people engage in activities to build their skills and confidence and to be included, understood, respected, and valued in their communities. The Group Work Support Volunteer role will work alongside our innovative and energetic East Lothian project team, supporting the delivery of the fortnightly East Lothian Champions Board groups. The group allows Care Experienced children and young people to build connections with others and provides a platform for them to raise their views and experiences to promote change. This role will involve interacting with young people aged 12-17 through supporting and leading on a variety of activities e.g. arts/crafts/sports/general youth work at our fortnightly sessions as well as at our National events that happen throughout the year. This role will help build connection and belonging for Care Experienced young people and provide a platform to allow them to influence positive change. Providing transport to young people to and from the fortnightly sessions is a key need for the group.

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.

Home-Start Glasgow North and North Lanarkshire has a great opportunity for people who have experience parenting or working with children and families! Our volunteers provide practical and emotional support to families with children under the age of 5 who are experiencing difficulties. Group support volunteers help out at our family, baby and toddler groups on a weekly or fortnightly basis. They also help out at our holiday programming. As a group support volunteer you will help the group worker to set up group activities and snacks, be a welcoming face to families attending groups and engage with families by playing with babies/toddlers and chatting with parents. We ask Group Support volunteers to commit to: - complete training - attend group as requested by the Group Worker (this may be for 1-2 hrs a week) - support Group Worker with activities for the session - support families to participate in group activities - adhere to Home-Start’s policies and boundaries set out by Group Worker - commit to the duration of a block of group (10 weeks) A Home-Start volunteer should: - Have an interest in supporting families with young children - Have a positive attitude to working with people of any gender, family status, sexual identity, ethnic origin,culture, religion or who may have a disability - Demonstrate a sensitive and caring attitude towards others - Have a non-judgmental attitude - Understand the importance of respecting confidentiality, but be able to decide when disclosure of a confidence is essential to the well-being of a child - Be reliable - Have good communication skills, including an ability to listen - Have a warm and open personality and a sense of humour - Have time and enthusiasm for Home-Start - Be able to work as a member of a team - Be prepared to keep records as requested by the scheme Home-Start Glasgow North was founded in 2001 and expanded in 2017 to include the satellite office in North Lanarkshire. For many years, we've worked across communities to provide support for families with young children who are facing difficulties. We have long-term experience in family support and are established as one of the leading charities working in this field in the community. Our impact within the local communities we serve is far reaching, aiding reduction in solation and loneliness, improving mental health of adults and children, improving educational attainment, building healthy relationships, supporting more nurturing environments and improving the wellbeing of parents with, or at risk of, mental ill health during the perinatal period (during pregnancy and until infant reaches one year old). With our focus on empowerment and resilience, we assist families to become self-reliant, confident and connected. Volunteers are regularly invited to ongoing developmental training opportunities. These run outside of the 1-3 hours of weekly family support or group support. These are often information workshops from services and supports available in the community, as well as courses applicable to the role. In the past these have included workshops and trainings on keeping energy costs low, signposting families to benefits and supports, gender violence, first aid, Book Bug in the home, perinatal mental health and trauma informed parenting. Additional trainings and events are not mandatory but these are a great way for volunteers to catch up with the rest of the Home-Start “family”, so please aim to get involved in them if possible. All volunteers undergo an enhanced criminal records check, at no cost to volunteers. If you're interested, please click the ‘apply’ button below (available when logged in and registered). You will then be contacted by the coordinator by email or phone call. If you have not heard back after 5 working days, the first step is to contact the organisation with the contact details provided. You could also check your junk/spam folder on your emails just in case the response is there. If that doesn’t work out then please feel free to contact Volunteer Glasgow on info@volunteerglasgow.org.