Could you spend time with a child, sharing a hobby or activity on a regular basis? Aberlour works with children and young people who have experienced disadvantage, trauma or have disabilities. We pride ourselves on our child centred focus and strong commitment to the individual development of each child emotionally, socially, physically and intellectually. We work with whole families as well as children on their own. We are recruiting volunteer Befrienders to build relationships with children, young people or families. If you have a genuine interest in in the wellbeing of children and young people and live in the Dundee area we would love to hear from you. What will I be doing? Volunteers can make a make a difference to a child, young person or family’s life by:  Spending regular time with a Befriendee (child, young person or parent)  Spending time sharing in an activity or hobby with Befriendee  Encouraging Befriendee to attend groups and try new activities  Giving Befriendee someone to trust and talk to  Helping to support families who are experiences difficulties and being there for families when difficulties arise By volunteering with Aberlour, you can gain:  A sense of satisfaction in helping young people build their confidence and self esteem to achieve their full potential  Experience of supporting young people to flourish.  Practical experience of working with young people  Have fun!

Could you make a difference to a parent or carers life? Aberlour works with children and young people who have experienced disadvantage, trauma or have disabilities. We pride ourselves on our child centred focus and strong commitment to the individual development of each child emotionally, socially, physically and intellectually. We help parents and carers who are struggling to cope as a result of a variety of issues within the family. We work with whole families as well as children on their own. We are looking for Befrienders to work with parents/carers to provide opportunities for activities and to have someone to speak to. What will I be doing? • Making a difference a parent/carers life • Spending regular time with a parent/carer • Helping support families experiencing difficulties • Supporting them when difficulties arise • Sharing an activity/hobby • Attending activities • Completing a diary after each visit • Attending regular support sessions • Contributing to service assessments through support. What qualities do I need? • To have a non-judgemental attitude and approach to working with parents/carers • To be empathetic • To be able to treat all information in a confidential manner • Be friendly, helpful and understanding • Be enthusiastic, flexible, committed and patient. When will I be needed? • Befrienders will spend a few hours each week with a parent/carer and also attend monthly group activities and attend all Aberlour training • Flexibility • A minimum of 1 year’s commitment is required for this role.

Aberlour Sycamore Highland is one of several children’s houses across Scotland offering a safe and loving place to live for children who have experienced abuse and trauma. Our vision is that our children’s houses will provide a loving home where everyone laughs, learns, grows into the future, and is treasured always. We put the children and young people who live with us at the heart of everything we do. Our approach is therapeutic, allowing young people to take responsibility for their own choices and be important voices in decisions that affect their lives. This approach means we support them to understand and overcome their trauma and go on to live happy lives. The children and young people we look after are active members of their communities, encouraged to participate in local clubs and groups. Volunteers are a very important part of the healing process required to support our children and young people back into the cycle of positive social development. What will I be doing? • Making a difference in a child or young person’s life by spending time with them • Sharing an activity/hobby • Supporting them whilst they take part in an activity/hobby • Supporting them when difficulties arise • Completing a diary after each visit • Attending regular support sessions • Contributing to service assessments through support.

What will I be doing?: Parents of babies who have received care in hospital from the neonatal team can experience perinatal mental health issues and feelings of isolation. 1 in 3 Mums/Mums to be and 1 in 10 Dads/Dads to be are affected by mental health issues in the Perinatal period – during pregnancy and up until their baby’s first birthday. Aberlour supports parents and babies born from 34 weeks gestation onwards who live in the Lothians with their emotional wellbeing, in recognition of the impact a neonatal journey can have for families.  As a volunteer Perinatal befriender, you would be matched with a Mum/ Mum to be, who you will help by spending regular time together on a 1:1 basis, building a trusting relationship and reducing social isolation. Befrienders come from a range of backgrounds and are aged 18 and over – there is no upper age limit to become a befriender! Impact you can make: Feedback from families who have had befriending support tells us a Befriender can be life changing. A befriender can provide emotional support to help build positive relationships between parents and their baby and improve parents’ mental health. Accessing activities in the community, going for a walk, or talking over a cuppa are some of the ways in which a Befriender can make a real difference for parents and their babies. A Mum who used our service recently said, “My befriender is like a wee rainbow coming in to make everything better”. Benefits to you as a volunteer: As a volunteer you will receive high quality training including Perinatal Mental Health and Child Protection. You will also gain practical experience of helping families affected by their experience of neonatal care with ongoing support from our staff team throughout your befriending journey. You will meet a range of new people and be filled with a sense of satisfaction, knowing that you have helped make an unforgettable, positive difference to parents, babies and families.