Our Granton-based Baby Bank needs your help to sort donations and create vital baby packs for vulnerable families across Edinburgh and the Lothians. We recycle everyone's preloved baby clothes and equipment to provide bespoke baby packs for vulunerable families referred to us by health professionals across the city. We need more help to process and sort the donations and make up baby packs, as the number of referrals we are getting is increasing all the time. We can only process more donations if we have more hands on deck. We’re a very friendly bunch and would so love to hear from you!

Help us to run bumps babies and beyond Westhill. The group meets once a week on a Friday morning. - Set out toys - Create a welcoming and inclusive environment for people attending with their children - Sharing information about other local NCT Support - Update the online system with a new link to pay on a weekly bases You can do this all while having your own children with you, but you do not have to have children to volunteer at the group, support is available from the local branch and the volunteering team at NCT Head office.

Alcohol and Drugs Action (ADA) are seeking volunteers to help at our wonderful garden project based at the Grove Nursery, Just off Hazeldene Road (close to Hazlehead Park and Recycling Centre), AB15 8LD (free parking available or 10 minute walk from nearest bus stop. Any travel costs are reimbursed to volunteers). Your support and contribution as a volunteer can play a vital role in developing other’s personal development, social inclusion and active participation in their local community. • Full volunteer training provided • Access to Trellis therapeutic Gardening course. • Opportunity to network with other local community groups • Participation in annual plant sale • Support marginalised and vulnerable group in their personal growth and development A fantastic opportunity to help and make a real difference. All volunteers are greatly appreciated. For more information please contact: Gavin Wright, Depute Service Manager at email: gwright@alcoholanddrugsaction.org.uk or telephone 01224 577120.

Are you a good listener, non-judgemental and empathetic with an ability to relate to traumatic life experiences that some of the children/young people referred to us may have faced? Befriend a Child is a local charity that provides 1:1 befriending and mentoring services for school aged children and young people. We recruit caring adults who act as role models for school-aged children who face some kind of disadvantage. They spend time together on a 1:1 basis, talking, sharing and having fun. Could that be you? If you are reliable and fun-loving, with a positive disposition and you can commit to sparing a few hours each month, you could make a huge difference in a young person’s life. There are a number of fantastic benefits to becoming a volunteer with Befriend a Child such as: • Access to training and upskilling opportunities • The chance to play an active role in shaping the future of a child or young person • Ongoing support from our expert team • The opportunity to build transferable skills for your future and career • The chance to expand your horizons and try new activities • Being part of an amazing volunteer community All help makes a real difference and is greatly appreciated. For more information/to register your interest please visit https://www.befriendachild.org.uk/Listing/Category/volunteer-with-us and/or email us at volunteer@befriendachild.org.uk

Santa is looking for some enthusiastic, fun-loving volunteer Elves to help him in his workshop in Bon Accord Centre Aberdeen this Christmas. Elves will meet and greet children and their families, check bookings, ensure gifts are ready to be handed out, introduce children to Santa, prepare and take photographs, sell Charlie House merchandise and photo packages, and ensure that the workshop is clean and tidy. There will always to a Chief Elf on hand to keep any mischievous elves in order! This is a busy and fun role where you will be helping to make special Christmas memories for local families. You will also be helping to raise funds for Charlie House. The charity was founded in 2011 with the goal of improving quality of life for babies, children and young people in the North-east of Scotland who have life-limiting or life-threatening conditions and to provide support for their families. A fantastic opportunity to help. All help (and Christmas Elves) makes a real difference and is greatly appreciated. For more details please contact us at E Mail: volunteer@charliehouse.org.uk or telephone: 01224 313333.

Eadha is a conservation charity based in Renfrewshire. We conserve, research, propagate and plant rare native trees and create new community woodlands. We are involved in planting a range of sites in the West of Scotland with trees and wildflowers grown in our nursery. We are looking for volunteers to help us in our tree planting and managements work.

Could you lead the local SSAFA services in your area? You don’t need a military background for this role, but you should be empathic to the needs of the armed forces community, have some experience of managing people and possess good I.T. skills. If this sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you. What is a Branch Chair? There are SSAFA branches throughout the UK and overseas. Each branch has a Chair to oversee all aspects of the branch. Ultimately accountable to the Chair of the Board of Trustees, through the National Chairman your role is to ensure that the branch is running in line with SSAFA’s Royal Charter Rules, Regulations and policies. Also, to ensure that clients and volunteers are safe, all services provided are appropriate and effective and that the branch is financially sound. You will be the public face of SSAFA in your branch area. Why do we need you? We’ve been supporting the Armed Forces community for more than 130 years. Our clients come from all backgrounds and age groups and more people than ever are contacting SSAFA for financial, practical and emotional support. To do this we need local branches and volunteers who can coordinate people, ensure the local population know about SSAFA and keep things running smoothly behind the scenes. When would you be needed and where would you be based? This role is about leadership, coordination and administration. As part of your local branch, you might have access to an office, but many volunteers are based at home. The role requires an ongoing time commitment, usually about 2-3 days per month. In addition, you would need to organise and attend regular meetings throughout the year. What would you be doing? • Providing leadership to the Branch and ensuring that all activities comply with SSAFA regulations both directly, and through the Branch Secretary, other Branch Officers and Divisional Officers. • Providing support and guidance to volunteers in office holder roles, and support with recruitment of volunteers into these positions to ensure the sustainability of the branch • Ensuring the financial integrity of the Branch, including the appointment of Treasurers and a local fundraising programme to meet branch running costs • Ensuring that all data is processed and held in accordance with SSAFA’s data management policies • Monitoring volunteer numbers against the demand for support and working with other volunteers, regional and central office staff to attract and recruit new volunteers as required • Ensuring that all volunteers are recruited, inducted, supported and managed in line with SSAFA policies, such as the Volunteering Policy, Volunteer Code of Conduct, Data Protection Policy, and Safeguarding Policy. • Building relationships with regional and central office staff, local voluntary organisations and, if applicable, SSAFA Service committees, local military establishments, prisons etc. • Overseeing an appropriate programme of awareness raising so that potential clients, volunteers and supporters know how to contact the branch • Providing timely reports and information to SSAFA’s Central Office • Overseeing a programme of meetings including an AGM, branch meetings, committee meetings, training etc. • Supporting any salaried branch staff and ensuring that their line management arrangements are working appropriately • Resolve any complaints that are suitable for local resolution in accordance with SSAFA’s Complaints Policy and procedures, referring upwards any that are not suitable for local resolution

Caseworkers visit clients to work out what type of help they need. Next, they find the right sources of support and arrange for clients to access it. This might be funds for special equipment for someone with a disability, adaptions to a property so an older client can remain at home or funds for a rental deposit. Caseworkers also sign-post clients onto specialist local services for advice on benefits, housing, mental health, debt, finding work etc. The essential part of the role is interacting with clients, so you may be visiting clients or doing this virtually. As part of your local branch you might have access to an office, but many volunteers are based at home. What does this role involve? • Contacting clients and arranging to meet them at a mutually convenient time either face-to-face or remotely • Liaising with clients and completing a form to assess their circumstances • Sign-posting clients onto local services providing specialist advice • Applying on the client’s behalf to military and non-military sources of charitable funding • Arranging for the purchase of goods and services • Keeping in touch with the client so they know how their case is progressing • Keeping in touch with your branch so they know your availability • Keeping up to date with training and SSAFA news so that you are best able to support clients • Being a positive ambassador for SSAFA remembering that anyone you meet could be a potential client, volunteer or fundraiser • Volunteering within the standards and values of SSAFA including observing our policies such as the Volunteering policy and data protection policy (these will be covered in your training and local induction.) What can you gain from this volunteering role? • Support people in your community with a military background • Use your skills, knowledge and life experience to benefit others • Support and friendship from your local SSAFA branch and the wider SSAFA community • Experience, training and skills that you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews • Better physical and mental health – studies show that volunteers live longer and experience lower levels of stress and depression! Minimum Age: 18 Is a criminal record check required? Yes

Are you an enthusiastic team player? Do you enjoy attending events and talking to new people? If so, we’d love to hear from you! You don’t need an Armed Forces background, just a desire to support the serving community. A Fundraising Volunteer is a crucial role in the team, helping the Fundraising Coordinator deliver a range of activities and events to raise awareness of SSAFA and generate funds. You will spend time out and about supporting initiatives such as fayres, street collections, quizzes, raffles and other promotional events. What will you be doing? • Although every SSAFA Committee has different needs, below are the main activities of a Fundraising Volunteer: • Being part of a team supporting at events for example, helping to run a SSAFA stall at an Armed Forces Day event, or selling raffle tickets at a local fayre. • Supporting at organised collections for example, joining others to collect donations at a supermarket, shopping centre, or event. • Distributing promotional materials, posters and flyers across the area. • Supporting the Fundraising Coordinator and others in the team with planning fundraising activities and new ideas.

Could you help to raise vital funds for SSAFA in your local area? You don’t need a military background, just the ability to get on with all kinds of people and some occasional free time. Help us raise vital funds by representing SSAFA at local fundraising events, providing a friendly and approachable service to potential donors. What is a Fundraising volunteer? As part of a local team, our fundraisers represent SSAFA at events, and in public. The role includes helping at fayres, street collections, concerts, quizzes, raffles, sporting events etc. Why do we need you? SSAFA branches rely on regular charitable income to fund all the necessities behind our support for clients. This includes volunteer travel expenses, phone bills, publicity and grants for clients in urgent need. A varied programme of fundraising also keeps the SSAFA profile high in the local community, so everyone knows who we are and how we can help. Key role responsibilities Being part of a team with collection/buckets tins at events, supermarkets, shopping centres, etc. Acting as a marshal at a public event e.g. handing out water to runners, supervising parking etc. Being part of a team running a stall at an event, Armed Forces Day, fayre, county show etc. Helping with putting up posters, building gazebos, serving refreshments, packing/unpacking cars etc. Being a positive ambassador for SSAFA, engaging people of all backgrounds and interests Volunteering within the standards and values of SSAFA including observing our policies such as the Volunteering policy and data protection policy (these will be covered in your training and local induction.) When would you be needed and where would you be based? This role involves being out and about at public events and would suit someone looking to give the occasional day, half day or evening to support SSAFA; when and where would be flexible to suit you. What can you gain from this volunteering role? Use your skills, knowledge and life experience to benefit others Give tangible and practical support to your local branch by raising funds used directly to support clients Support and friendship from your local SSAFA branch and the wider SSAFA community Experience, training, and skills that you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews What are we looking for? Friendly and approachable people Confident people who feel happy to engage with the public, potential clients, volunteers and SSAFA colleagues face-to-face Reliable attitude, keeping in touch the Fundraising Coordinator about your availability Ability to maintain confidentiality and keep information safely Access to public transport or a car to get to events Able to provide two referees: former employers or other people that know you well (other than relatives) Referees We have a few restrictions on who can act as a referee for you and your application: The referee must have know you for at least two years - and you must still be in contact now. The referee cannot be a member of your family. The referee cannot live at the same address as you. Equality, diversity and inclusion We welcome volunteers of all backgrounds, abilities, races, sexual orientations, socio-economic backgrounds, and of all faiths and none. SSAFA are committed to making reasonable adjustments to support disabled volunteers, so they have access to the same opportunities and experiences as non-disabled volunteers.