Positive Help

Charity registered in Scotland SC008382

Positive Help offers practical help to people affected by HIV and/or Hepatitis C in Edinburgh and the Lothians. The four core services are delivered by a team of trained volunteers. The services provided include: Befriending for children and young people; Home Support (cleaning, de-cluttering, painting, DIY, gardening, and other domestic tasks); a free Transport service, which helps people to get to and from medical appointments as well as support groups or local supermarkets; and Study Buddies, a homework mentoring service for children.


Current opportunities

Our volunteer drivers provide service users with lifts to hospital or GP appointments so that they can access vital medical care and treatment. They also help service users get to supermarkets and some other welfare appointments, as well as collecting and delivering prescriptions. Drivers quickly get to know service users and build up a rapport with them, making it a really sociable and rewarding role. Volunteers can use their own car or we can arrange a hire car.

The Home Support service supports people affected by HIV and/or Hepatitis C to take care of their homes. When illness, mobility or side-effects of medication makes housework too difficult we can offer the support that enables people to feel more comfortable with their environment. You will work with the client to achieve goals that they have set by assisting them with cleaning and decluttering, as well as one-off tasks such as gardening or DIY (dependent on volunteers’ skills).

The Supportive Shopping Service offers assistance with shopping to people who are living with HIV and/or Hepatitis C. Our clients often struggle to manage to get their shopping independently due to poor physical/mental health, limited mobility, social anxiety or literacy issues. This service allows people to choose their own shopping and have some social time and chat with a trusted person. Being able to shop for food and have regular social interactions are important parts of staying well and independent. You’d be helping service users maintain their independence and be supporting their nutrition - a core part of staying healthy while on treatment.

As a befriender you will build a meaningful and supportive relationship with a child, or a young person (ages 5-18) affected by HIV and/or Hepatitis C. One of our volunteers has commented on how rewarding it is to befriend a child: “Ben is a loving friendly little boy with masses of energy and a real curiosity... I feel very lucky that he is part of my life :-)” Befriending outings are about 3-5 hours long and take place every other weekend - you can choose the day and time that suits you best. During the Befriending outings you and the child you will be matched with will go on different adventures and fun activities of your choice, such as going to the movies or kayaking.
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