The Celebrate Aberdeen Parade is back this year and GEF- Gathimba Edwards Foundation are honoured to be organising Mel's Union Street Mile as part of the special day on Saturday 27th August 2022, between 9am-11.30am. Over 1,000 runners have raced through Aberdeen’s most famous street since the race started and it sets the stage for the fantastic Celebrate Aberdeen Parade which brings the strong sense of community and all that’s good about Aberdeen to the fore. The parade is only made possible thanks to volunteers who help with tasks such as the entry stations, directing runners on the course route, taking photos, and if you are a Personal Trainer there is also an opportunity to help our Mascot Leah the Lion do a warm up with the kids before the first two races. A fantastic, enjoyable opportunity to assist and be part of a major event in Aberdeen. All help makes a real difference and is greatly appreciated. For more information please contact Kayleigh Paterson-Donald, Charity Development Executive at email kayleigh@gathimbaedwardsfoundation.org or telephone: 01224 531084.

The Aberdeen Mela – One World Day is a cultural event celebrating and promoting the diversity of culture and community within the local area of Aberdeen and the North East of Scotland as well as across the country. Alongside the festivities and cultural exchange, the festival also looks to promote a greater awareness of global development issues to motivate and inspire people to act for a more equal world and demonstrate opportunities for people to get more involved. The festival will run on 21st August from 12noon to 7pm at Westburn Park in Aberdeen. There will be different stages presenting acts as diverse as Bhangra dancers and international choirs to Asian singers and traditional Scottish musicians. As well as general family and children’s activities there will also be a wide range of ethnic and Scottish catering facilities, stalls for crafts, clothes and information. We are currently recruiting volunteers to help at the Aberdeen MELA. All help makes a difference and is greatly appreciated. It is also the opportunity to be part of a great, major event in Aberdeen. Come be part of the fun! For further information please contact Ahashan Habib, CEO at email: a.habib@abmc.org.uk or telephone: 07588529412.

Everyone can feel lonely and isolated at times, especially if experiencing hardship. In response to the effects of loneliness and isolation on peoples wellbeing (physical, emotional, social and mental health), that the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated, TLC have responded to this need and further developed our befriending service to combat the loneliness and isolation felt by many in our city. Our service is provided to anyone aged 18 years and over in Aberdeen who is experiencing or at risk of loneliness or isolation. Your help as a volunteer would therefore make a real difference. Our expertly trained and compassionate volunteers not only provide a lifeline to people, in the form of friendship, but also a helping hand to reconnect to the community, bringing joy and passion back into people’s lives. If you would like to be a beacon of hope to someone in need, please do apply to join our fantastic team of volunteers. For further information please email us at recruitment@tlc.org.uk

NEEDS - North East Eating Disorder Support (Scotland) is looking for volunteer facilitators, 1 evening per month, for our monthly support group meeting for those who are suffering from an eating disorder, as well as for our carers who are supporting someone with an eating disorder, either in person or from a distance (e.g., a family member at university or living elsewhere). Have you suffered from an eating disorder and been fully recovered for at least 2 years, or have you had experience of caring for a family member or friend who has suffered from an eating disorder and who is now fully recovered or who is still suffering from an eating disorder having had it for several years? If the answer is yes, are you someone who can and is willing to support others in this journey, who can always observe confidentiality, be empathetic, kind, and non-judgemental, be a good listener, be sensitive to those who are not yet able to share, and who can demonstrate the value of self-care. Volunteers should be aware that their social media profiles may be examined to ensure that these are compatible with the aims of our charity. Meetings are held on the 1st Monday of each month 7.30-9.00pm at The Macrobin Centre, Royal Cornhill, Hospital. All help makes a real difference and is greatly appreciated. For further information please contact Irene Kerr, Charity Administrator at email: gram.needsadmin@nhs.scot or telephone: 07789888345.

Can you be a good listener? Could you help someone explore what they are going through? The Community Listening Service helps people (re)discover hope and inner strength in times of “illness, change and loss”. Community Listening Service Listeners do not offer counselling, but they offer the person a space to talk, to tell their story in their own time, for their own wellbeing, with the knowledge that the listener is there to listen. Volunteers can play a vital role supporting the work of the Department of Spiritual Care within NHS Grampian/CLS. Listening to people’s concerns can help them feel less isolated and anxious while helping them feel more hopeful and valued in a confidential and non-judgemental way. There is no requirement for volunteers or service users to be a member of a faith or belief group, just be able to provide a service that has patients at the heart, where they can feel safe, seen and heard, allowing them the space to reflect on their own personal situations. A fantastic opportunity help. All help makes a real difference and is greatly appreciated. For further details please contact us at email gram.listening@nhs.scot or telephone: 07584 217 192 or 01224 553316.

A young carer is someone up to the age of 18 who provides unpaid help and support to a relative, friend or neighbour who due to illness or disability cannot manage to live independently without the carer’s help. It may involve practical support like cooking, housework, or emotional support. Aberdeen Young Carers are looking for volunteers to spend some quality time with a child or young person between the ages of 5-18 on a regular basis, getting to know them, and building up a positive relationship by being reliable and non-judgemental when listening to them. A befriender volunteer will support the young person to enjoy activities and experiences within the Aberdeen community therefore reducing isolation, and promoting self-esteem and confidence. This is a flexible opportunity and you can commit to meeting with a child or young person for a few hours on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis depending on what time you have available. This would take place out with school hours, predominately over evenings or weekends. To be a befriender volunteer we ask for a minimum time commitment of six months, so that the child or young person has some consistency. To apply, please visit: https://volunteer.barnardos.org.uk/opportunities/16050-befriender-aberdeen-young-carers-2020-11-24 or contact Jacqui Hall, Volunteer Coordinator at email: jacqui.hall@barnardos.org.uk / telephone: 07783 848410.

We have a fantastic opportunity for people to volunteer with the PATH - Prejudice and Solidarity Archived Through History Project as a Community Researcher. You will help research and share local history in Aberdeen with a focus on minority ethnic groups’ perceptions and experience of equality, social justice, solidarity, and prejudice. You will guide the project research questions and influence the direction of the project through your participation in various group discussions and workshops. The principal volunteering activities will be to: • investigate physical and digital archives in Aberdeen, newspapers, museums collections and other sources to find information on the history of prejudice and solidarity in Aberdeen. • record, document and transcribe interviews with members of minority ethnic groups. • reach out to your community and find relevant historical events and testimonies to record Through volunteering as a Community Researcher you will also: • gain experience and skills related to heritage research. • help diversify archives in Aberdeen and surrounding areas by sharing minority ethnic groups’ history. • learn how to conduct interviews sensitively following ethical principles. • have access to funded opportunities for further training and development in relation to local heritage and history. • relevant training and excellent support is provided to all volunteers. A tremendous opportunity to assist with an exciting project. All help makes a real difference and is greatly appreciated. For more information please contact Louise Henrard (PATH Project Co-ordinator) at email: lhenrard@grec.co.uk

Re-engage is a charity which supports a network of volunteers to run monthly tea parties for isolated people over the age of 75. The charity hold afternoon tea parties on a Sunday once a month . You would pick up elderly guest(s) and take them to tea party and stay to enjoy 2 hours of tea , cake and chat . You can be a regular or reserve driver . Regular would be every month , reserve as and when needed . You get dates of parties well in advance . We have a fantastic team of volunteers in Aberdeen and have exciting opportunities for new people to join us. If you feel this is something you may like to help with please get in touch with John Gall, Area Organiser at email: j.gall@sky.com or telephone: 07885885838.

We have opportunities to join our brilliant team of volunteers to help us at our offices at 33-35 Carnie Drive, Aberdeen, AB25 3AN (has free parking/good public transport access). We have opportunities for you to assist in any tasks you can ranging from assisting with reception duties, person our phone in the office, support initial and general enquiries and be a friendly, supportive voice and face to those who call and attend at our office. Whatever amount of time you can provide is massively welcomed. Excellent support and relevant training is provided to all volunteers and all help makes a real difference and is greatly appreciated. If you think this may suit you, please get in touch, give us a call on 01224 277900 or email claire.crichton@a-nd.org.uk

Have you been Bereaved by Suicide? Do you have a desire to help other people who have also been Bereaved by Suicide? Are you comfortable listening to the experiences of others? You could be just the person we are looking for. We have self-help support groups across the UK, where you can meet with other people who have been bereaved by suicide and we want to enroll some new volunteers to set up a group in Aberdeen. Typically, our groups meet once a month and last for around 2 hours. Presently many groups are meeting virtually via Zoom but when regulations allow, they will return to Face to Face. They provide an opportunity to listen, to share, to ask questions and to connect with others. Each local SoBS group is run by a team of 3: the group leader and two group volunteers, all of whom have been bereaved by suicide themselves. Between them, they facilitate the session, get the conversation started, make sure everyone has the opportunity to talk if they want to, and generally look out for people and each other. The team also work together to manage the administration, fundraising and communication for the group, sometimes with the help of additional support volunteers. There is no set structure to a session – people are free to talk and listen as they wish. The topics discussed vary from week to week but often includes people sharing their story, how they are feeling, what has happened since their last group visit, questions about coroners and discussions about common challenges such as flashbacks, supporting children or facing neighbours. Many groups also offer a small resource library and can share information about local sources of support. For further details please contact Phill Abbiss, Volunteer Coordinator (North) at E Mail: phill.abbiss@uksobs.org or tel.: 07535 854 860.