We are looking for a much needed Food Bank Outreach Volunteer to help our friendly team provide one of our core services to our clients at the Calder Community Flat on Wednesdays 10.30am to 1pm. Please note this role may at times involve heavy lifting so strong arms and a sensible head a must! - Tasks include: Unpack deliveries, Make up food bags, Pack and unpack crates, Interacting with clients, Supporting staff with any associated tasks.

*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

An advocate provides a voice for those who may feel they are being ignored, excluded or treated unfairly. They provide a confidential service, representing the views and choices of the people they work with, empowering them to represent their own interests, providing information not advice, and allowing the person to be in control of their own life. Volunteer advocates promote the person's independence and increase their confidence.

People are reqired to visit police stations to check on welfare of detainees held in custody. The visitors will speak to the people in custody and check that they are being treated fairly and within the law - e.g. they have been offered food and drink, are warm, have they been offered access to a lawyer ect. Visitors are paired up and go together to do visits. Visits are arranged between the two volunteers and we ask that visits are conducted on different days and at different times.

Attend monthly team meetings, help at regular focus groups of adults with LD and/or ASD, provide content for newsletter and distribute, support Advocators to deliver presentations, attend meetings to ensure adulst with LD and/or ASD views are being taken into account, ensure future plans reflect groups' needs, raise awareness of issues that affect adults with LD and/or ASD and create and sustain a safe environment which will encourage adults with LD and/or ASD to discuss issues affecting their lives.

We are seeking to establish at least one Student Ambassador in each British university who is able to represent CARA's activities by setting up a society and campaigning on our behalf. We would require the Student Ambassador to promote academic freedom through organising events to debate issues surrounding the topic, organising fundraising and awareness raising events to support CARA grantees and acting as a point of contact for our charity. The Student Ambassador would write an article or two on CARA in their student newspaper. These would also be published on CARA's website and publicised through our social media. The Student Ambassador would be provided with materials with which to set up a stall at a Freshers' Fair and to assemble a society committee which would be in contact with CARA committees at the other 95 CARA/Scholars at Risk UK University Network member universities.

Self-advocacy Assistants will support a group of self-advocates with learning disabilities and/or Autistic Spectrum Disorder. The group work revolves around the needs of the self-advocates and the topics that are most important to them. Issues and topics may be tackled creatively in a variety of ways depending on the group and the unique skills each volunteer brings. Through discussion and activities self-advocates develop confidence, communication skills and awareness. Self-advocacy assistants and self-advocates contribute equally to discussions; learning to respect each other’s opinions. The groups also take part in social events out in the community, such as dinners or discos. Fun is at the centre of all the work we do at Advocating Together. Volunteers will have the opportunity to attend peer supervision and training sessions throughout the year to discuss progress or problems, and expand their knowledge and skills.

As a volunteer you’ll drive the van and help deliver/collect furniture. Due to Covid-19 restrictions all deliveries and collection are made to and from the front doors of properties we will not be entering any homes. Covid-19 protocols must always be followed, for example, wearing face masks and keeping hands and surfaces clean.

As a volunteer you’ll help sort through donations and ensure that shelves are kept stocked and that ‘use first’ items are displayed. Complete forms for people using the Food bank and if they’re using it regularly ask them if they’d like to speak to someone to get the help they need. Covid-19 protocols must always be followed, for example, wearing face masks and keeping hands and surfaces clean.

As a volunteer you’ll help open up the charity shop, make sure the shop is clean and tidy and that donations are displayed properly. If you volunteer on a Friday, you’ll be accepting and sorting through donations. At the end of the day, you’ll close up the shop and ensure all paperwork is complete. Covid-19 protocols must always be followed, for example, wearing face masks and keeping hands and surfaces clean.