*Do you enjoy meeting people? *Are you a good listener? *Advocacy offers a great opportunity to make a real difference to people’s lives. Our volunteers help people to take control over their lives and make their voices heard. All volunteers are fully trained in the skills needed to become an advocate. This is a great opportunity to help make a positive difference. If you think you might be interested please call or email and come in and have a chat to find out more. Please contact Joanne Grant at email joannegrant@advocacy.org.uk or tel 01224 332314 / 01224 332366.

*PLEASE NOTE: We are only looking for volunteers that are a reasonable distance from Aberdeen only* *DUE TO COVID-19 ALL RECRUITMENT AND INDUCTION TRAINING WILL BE COMPLETED ONLINE* -How can you support victims and witnesses of crime? Victims of crime often feel a range of emotions in the aftermath of an offence. It is Victim Support Scotland’s role to provide victims and witnesses of crime emotional and practical support in person, online, and in court. Volunteers are supported by VSS staff who manage the service. -How would you help? Our volunteers provide emotional support, practical help, information and guidance through the criminal justice system. We aim to empower people who have been impacted by crime, to move on with their lives. • Discuss service users’ needs by telephone, webchat, appointments and face-to-face contact, agreeing next steps at the end of each contact • Help service users feel more confident by arranging and conducting court familiarisation visits • Support service users in the court room and other appropriate locations on the day of the trial, liaising with court officials on behalf of the service users. • Feedback and agree follow-up actions with staff members • Provide administrative support in completing the service users journey -What benefits would I get? Volunteering with Victim Support Scotland can be challenging and also extremely rewarding. As a volunteer you will: • Support people when they most need it • Learn new skills and knowledge of the criminal justice sector • Gain access to a range of specialist training courses that are relevant to your volunteering role • Positively contribute to your community as a member of a team actively working to reduce the impact of crime • A chance to give something back • Receive support in your volunteering role to deliver services effectively • All reasonable expenses (e.g. travel) will be reimbursed -What skills and experience do I need? We are looking for committed, reliable and empathetic volunteers who can work with people of all ages, backgrounds and life situations. Although we provide full training and support, knowledge of the criminal justice system and experience of supporting people is beneficial. As a Victim Support Scotland Volunteer you will need: • Effective communication skills • The ability to actively listen to service users and anyone affected by crime • An interest in learning about the criminal justice system and understand the service user’s journey • An awareness of confidentiality obligations and the responsibilities that come with upholding these obligations • Effective time management skills (and working under pressure) • Undertake all relevant training and refresher training • Access to a car or ability to use public transport -What is the time commitment? We know that our volunteers have busy lives, so we agree the time commitment with each individual volunteer. However, we ask for: • a minimum commitment of approximately one day per week, however this may vary depending upon the needs of the service. • a minimum commitment of at least 1 year so that they might get the most out of a volunteering role. -How can I apply? The people we support come from all communities across Scotland, as do our volunteers. We welcome new volunteers from all backgrounds and languages. To ensure we provide the best possible service to people affected by crime, we take all our volunteer applications through our processes which involves: • Joining the Disclosure Scotland PVG scheme (Victim Support Scotland registers volunteers for this and there is no cost either) • Providing two satisfactory references • Completing our three day ‘Introduction to Victim Support Scotland’ training module • Signing and abiding by Victim Support Scotland’s Confidentiality agreement • Commitment to Data Protection • Volunteer Agreement For further information please contact Ewan McPherson at Email: ewan.mcpherson@victimsupportsco.org.uk

WaterAid enables the world's poorest people to gain access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene education. These basic human rights underpin health, education and livelihoods and form the first, essential step in overcoming poverty. We work with local partners who understand local issues and we provide them with skills and support. This empowers them and local communities to set up and manage practical and sustainable projects that meet communities real needs. We also campaign locally and internationally, to change policies and practice, and to ensure water and sanitation's vital role in reducing poverty is recognised. During the current COVID 19 pandemic and for the foreseeable future there will be no face-to-face WaterAid talks. Applicants will be asked to complete the Volunteer Speakers ONLINE training course and will stay at home and comply with COVID19 containment requirements until the crisis is over. However, during the crisis many schools are arranging activities for their students via Microsoft Teams, Skype and other applications to complement students’ home-schooling during COVID19. Our Speaker Network has made our PowerPoint presentations available for teachers to download. If applicants know how to use Microsoft Teams or Skype with slides and would like to deliver webinars to schools and organisations, they should let us know when they apply. Training and excellent support is provided to all volunteers. *People can express interest to volunteer at https://www.wateraid.org/uk/get-involved/volunteering/volunteer-as-a-wateraid-speaker after which they will be sent an application form to complete. *If you have any questions or for more details please email Speakers@wateraid.org .

Volunteering Matters Overview At Volunteering Matters we believe everyone in the UK should have the opportunity to thrive, so we bring people together to overcome some of society’s most complex issues through the power of volunteering. We partner with communities to overcome adversity, tackling social isolation and loneliness, improving health, developing skills and opportunities. And because we’re a national charity, we do this at scale, sharing our expertise and building partnerships to make an even bigger impact. We turn local knowledge and energy into action and progress, building stronger communities and a better future for all. Project Overview Our Volunteers Supporting Families in Edinburgh project offers practical and emotional support to families across the South East and South West localities of Edinburgh, empowering them to face a range of life challenges. We recruit, train and match dedicated, local volunteers to help families every step of the way, spending 1-1 time together on a personalised set of goals chosen by the family, for the family. We can help in many ways, such as improved living standards, budgeting, healthier eating, better school life and behaviour, access to health and wellbeing aid, as well as introducing parents to community resources, to name a few. So far, thousands of families across the UK have benefitted from our service and we are now delighted to extend the programmes reach to families in Edinburgh. Who can volunteer with us? Our volunteers are locally based people with an understanding of the challenges that families are facing. Aged 18+, each volunteer brings different life experiences and skills that they can use to help the family they are matched to, offering support on a weekly basis, usually for 6-9 months at a time that suits everyone. They build a strong relationship based on trust and mutual respect, acting as a friendly face who listens and cares about the family. All volunteers are interviewed, trained to the highest standards and undergo disclosure checks before being matched with a family. What can we offer volunteers? As well as the sense of achievement that comes through supporting a family, our volunteers will have the opportunity to learn and develop new skills, attend social events with other volunteers and enhance their employability. Certificates are provided upon completion of induction training and at the end of the commitment, with project staff happy to provide references for future studies or employment.

We are looking for people who have: · Good communication skills, especially the ability to listen · A responsible outlook and a calm, reasoned approach · Ability to handle challenging situations · Assertiveness, tenacity, and good negotiating skills · An understanding of and commitment to people with disabilities · A non-judgemental and loyal approach to our service users · Agreement with the Policies and Procedures of Advocacy Shetland

The role involves sharing your own experiences of living with Borderline Personality Disorder with groups of participants and helping to facilitate training workshops. You will need good communication skills, lived experience of BPD , and be willing to share personal experiences with people from a variety of different backgrounds. A strong sense of commitment and willingness to travel throughout the Lothians are also important. CAPS /LEARN will provide training and mentoring for this role. Due to Covid 19 CAPS we have had to alter the way we work. Groups and volunteer roles are currently taking place online until we can resume face to face meetings.

CAPS are looking for a friendly and approachable individual to provide information on Advocacy Services in the Lothians. You will help others by signposting them to appropraite services and explain how Independent Advocacy might help. You will be offered the opportunity to promote CAPS Independent advocacy at events throughout the Lothians. You will help to set up and man promotional stalls. To monitor leaflets /resources and inform the volunteer coordinator when resources need to be replaced. CAPS also have a stall at the Information station Walpole Hall. The Information Station is a one stop shop acting as a source of support, information and sign posting. CAPS provides an Information Stall at this weekly event and will provide training and guidance for volunteers. Due to Covid 19 CAPS we have had to alter the way we work. Groups and volunteer roles are currently taking place online until we can resume face to face meetings.

This role involves using your own lived experiences of Personality Disorder in a positive way to raise awareness and campaign for change. The aim of the project is for people who have been given a diagnosis of a personality disorder or had experiences that they feel fit with a personality disorder diagnosis to come together, have a collective voice and create change.The group decides what it wants to do (it is experience-led) and has a CAPS staff member to enable/facilitate its decisions Individuals can get involved in a way which suits them. Activities and achievements of the group so far have included: developing and delivering experience led training; creating films based around experiences of living with a Personality Disorder; organising various awareness events , creating leaflets and resource packs based on peoples’ lived experience, responding to and creating consultations and attending and delivering presentations at conferences. (Collective advocacy is where a group of people who are all facing a common problem and have had similar experiences get together to work on specific issues and have their voices heard. The group as a whole may campaign on an issue that affects them. A collective voice can be stronger than that of an individual, as groups are more difficult to ignore.) Due to Covid 19 CAPS we have had to alter the way we work. Groups and volunteer roles are currently taking place online until we can resume face to face meetings.

Working as part of a collective advocacy team to raise awareness and speak about own experiences of eating disorders. The role involves working with the Collective advocacy development worker to show a collective advoacy film and facilitate a group discussion in various community settings throughout the Lothians including: schools , universities , health etc. As all of the workshops take place during the day the volunteer would need to be available during the day. The role requires someone who is able to relate to other young people and is willing to share personal lived experience of an eating disorder of any kind , in order to educate and raise awareness around eating disorders amongst other young people ; willingness to talk about and share experiences of eating disorders with other young people in group situations in various community settings including : schools , universities ,public events etc. Due to Covid 19 CAPS we have had to alter the way we work. Groups and volunteer roles are currently taking place online until we can resume face to face meetings.

The role is to represent and promote Independent Advocacy in Edinburgh and the Lothians. To attend promotional events, meet and greet people , promoting Independent advocacy services and how this can be of benefit. You need to have a friendly and approachable manner and be able to communicate sensitively with people form a wide variety of backgrounds and occasionally people who may be experiencing distress. To provide information and signposting regarding Independent Advocacy/ CAPS services. To set up and man promotional stalls. To monitor leaflets /resources and inform the volunteer coordinator when resources need to be replaced. Training and mentoring will be provided in this role. Due to Covid 19 CAPS we have had to alter the way we work. Groups and volunteer roles are currently taking place online until we can resume face to face meetings.