Project Scotland supports young people across Scotland to reach their potential through tailored support, mentoring & the opportunity to experience the benefits of a volunteering placement. They are looking for volunteers to commit to spending 1 hours a week for a minimum of 6 months, mentoring the young people that Project Scotland works with.

Street Friends Helping the Homeless Aberdeen is working towards a brighter future for homeless people, vulnerable and people in poverty in Aberdeen. Here at Street Friends, we know that sometimes all it takes to change the world is a little support. Volunteering is one of the best ways to help. People can assist volunteering in a range of ways such as checking, sorting and packing food donations, helping cook meals for homeless people, assisting with admin. tasks, as a volunteer driver collecting food donations for our stalls, as one of our outreach volunteers at our Aberdeen city centre stalls distributing food to people who are homeless, chatting, initial befriending, checking people are okay and signposting people to other support services that may be required. Whichever way you wish to help us you will be providing much needed support for homeless and vulnerable people in Aberdeen. All help makes a real difference and is greatly appreciated. All volunteers are provided with relevant training, guidance and ongoing support. If you want to help or for more details please contact us at email: admin@streetfriendshelpingthehomeless.com or visit our website at https://www.streetfriendshelpingthehomeless.com and https://www.streetfriendshelpingthehomeless.com/initial-volunteers-registration

MCR Pathways has been partnering with schools since 2007 so we know just how amazing the young people of Scotland are. However, sometimes due to situations out of their control, young people face challenges that make it more difficult for them to succeed. That’s why providing the simple support of a mentor is so important and has been proven to make a life-changing difference. This is where you can help... MCR recruits and trains volunteer mentors who are matched with a young person that shares similar interests, hobbies or career aspirations. Mentors meet with their young person at their school for just one hour per week and the difference this makes is transformational. The mentoring relationship is unique as young people establish a friendship with someone who’s there, just for them and is not a teacher, parent, guardian or counsellor. The impact on their life is huge. Recent ScotCen research shows 81.6% of mentored care-experienced pupils left school for college, university or a job, compared with 56.3% of those young people not being mentored. We are hoping to help even more young people in the area reach their potential and are looking for over 150 mentors from Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire In Aberdeen St Machar Academy has been part of the programme since August 2018 and, in 2020 was joined by Northfield, Hazlehead, Dyce, Harlaw and Lochside Academies. Aberdeenshire schools participating in the programme are Banff, Fraserburgh, Inverurie, Peterhead and The Gordons Schools Huntly The only qualification you need to be a mentor is the desire to help. All young people are different and have different needs, so it’s important that our mentors come from all walks of life. Volunteer mentors are asked to commit just one hour a week for a minimum of one year and will be fully trained and PVG checked before being matched with a young person from an Aberdeen or Aberdeenshire school. The building of the relationship with a young person is facilitated by our fantastic MCR Pathways Coordinators who are based in each school and work with our young people on a daily basis. We’re asking you to #BeTheBridge between a young person’s talent and life possibilities. For only one hour per week, you can change a life. This year, why not do something to make a difference that lasts a lifetime. Register online at https://mcrpathways.org/become-a-mentor/ For any further details please contact Heidi Bisset, Programme and Schools Manager- Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire at email: mentor.services@mcrpathways.org or tel: 07587104597

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 one-to-one 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. We also have ad-hoc volunteering roles available. This would take place out with school hours, predominately over evenings or weekends. To be a one-to-one 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 email jacqui.hall@barnardos.org.uk for any more details.

Everyone can feel lonely and isolated at times, especially if experiencing hardship. This year, in response to the crippling effects of loneliness and isolation on peoples physical, emotional and mental health, that the pandemic has only exacerbated, TLC are setting up a befriending service to combat loneliness and isolation in Aberdeen. Our aim is that our expertly trained and compassionate volunteers will 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. Due to Covid-19 government restrictions, the project will run differently than usual with the use of video conferencing or by phone, however, once restrictions are eased and it is safe to meet in person, befriending sessions will operate face-to-face in people’s homes or in the community. If you would like to be a beacon of hope for someone in need, please apply to become a TLC Befriender. For further information please contact Jonny Astill, Development Manager at EMail: jonny@tlc.org.uk

Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland is Scotland’s health charity supporting people and their families across Scotland with chest, heart and stroke conditions. We want to make sure life living with a chest or heart condition or after a stroke is a life lived to the full. To help in this we are currently seeking people to volunteer with us as Rehabilitation Support Volunteers. As a Rehabilitation Support Volunteer you will support people who have had a stroke to develop autonomy and confidence in self-management, enabling them to fully engage with their community and activities of their choice. The service is delivered to provide specified person centred support for those with a communication difficulty and/or to support a specific physical or everyday task. The role includes: • providing specified support for the service user, this will be dependent upon their individual goal(s). • supporting with specific physical and/or everyday activities. • supporting with specific use of communication strategies. This may involve either one-to-one or small group support or a combination of both. To undertake your role you will be required to undertake membership of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Adults) Scheme in Scotland (PVG) (there is no cost for this for volunteers). Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland will provide all necessary training, provide excellent ongoing support to all volunteers and all authorised out of pocket expenses will be reimbursed. For more details please contact us at volunteering@chss.org.uk or visit our website at https://www.chss.org.uk/volunteer-with-chss

*Time to spare? Time to listen?* *Do you want to do something inspiring and different?* *Become a Listening Ear volunteer with Grampian Opportunities* Grampian Opportunities is looking for volunteers for its Listening Ear project which aims to maintain and improve participant wellbeing through regular social contact with a matched listening ear volunteer. A fantastic opportunity to help and make a real difference. Excellent support and relevant training is provided to all volunteers. For more information please contact Lynn Esslemont, Co-ordinator at E Mail: info@grampianopportunities.org.uk or tel.: Tel No: 01467 629675.

Talkable offers a talkline to anyone suffering from panic or anxiety. We noticed some of the users were too anxious to call at first so we decided to open up a messenger service over Facebook so they can ease into phoning. The message line role would require you to provide the listening service over Facebook. You would be required to talk to people to put them at ease and offer to call them over Facebook. You would also be encouraging people to schedule a call in with the phone line or just encourage them to use the phone line themselves but if they are too anxious you would just continue to talk to them over messenger . An excellent opportunity to help in our vital work. All help makes a difference and is greatly appreciated. For more information please contact Chelsea Birkett at E Mail: info@talkable.online or tel: 07999 453655.

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. Excellent training and support is provided and all our volunteer roles adhere to COVID-19 safety guidelines and restrictions. For more information/to register your interest please visit https://www.befriendachild.org.uk/get-involved/befriending/ and/or email us at volunteer@befriendachild.org.uk

Talkable offers a talkline to anyone suffering from panic or anxiety. We currently have a range of ways that you can help as a volunteer and as we continue to grow and provide ever more vital support to people. Opportunities to join our team of volunteers include: *Call Handler Volunteers. *Message Line Volunteers. *Legal Advisor Volunteer(s). *Mental Health Consultant Volunteer(s). *Policy and Procedure Advisor Volunteers. Excellent support and any relevant training is provided to all volunteers. There will also be an Area Manager to oversee everything and volunteers will be a part of a group of others who all help and support one another. There are flexible times available to assist. All help makes a difference and is greatly appreciated. For more information about any of these volunteer roles or any other ways you wish to help us as a volunteer please contact Chelsea Birkett at E Mail: info@talkable.online or tel: 07999 453655.