People living with cancer tell us they need emotional support to feel less isolated and lonely and sometimes need some help with practical tasks that they are temporarily having trouble with. By choosing to join us as a Buddy volunteer, you’ll be doing something amazing for people in these extraordinary times, so they can continue to feel connected to the world outside. Together, we can be right there for people with cancer. There are two types of buddy volunteer: -Community Buddy: provides face-to-face support in the community or in people’s homes to alleviate loneliness and help with simple practical tasks. and -Telephone Buddy: provides telephone support to alleviate loneliness and social isolation for people living with cancer -What we're looking for: *Good listener and clear communicator *Patient, flexible and reliable *Ability to demonstrate empathy and understanding whilst maintaining boundaries *Good IT skills in order to access required systems and resources *Understand the need to maintain confidentiality -What you can gain from this opportunity: *Meet new people as part of a friendly team that makes a difference *Use and develop your communication and people skills *Have a rewarding experience making a difference to people living with cancer *Receive an induction, relevant training, the support you need to carry out your role, and agreed out-of-pocket expenses (reimbursed within our guidelines) All volunteer help is greatly appreciated and makes a real difference. For further details/to apply please visit: https://volunteering.macmillan.org.uk/opportunities/200-macmillan-telephone-buddy-scotland-2022-09-27 or contact Clare Jamieson, Macmillan Cancer Support Volunteer Services Delivery Lead (North Scotland) at Email: CJamieson@macmillan.org.uk or telephone: 07561 853550.

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.

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 us at email: aberdeen@mcrpathways.org (for volunteering in schools in Aberdeen City) or email: aberdeenshire@mcrpathways.org (for volunteering in schools in Aberdeenshire). Or telephone us on 07709249661.

Volunteers we need you, with you inspiration and motivation to serve as a board member on the Management Board of HALLA (Harlaw Area Lifelong Learning Association). We are a Board of people who run daytime and evening classes at Kaimhill Learning Centre. We have a FB page ( @HALLACommunity) where you can see some of our activities and tutored classes. We meet once a month to discuss new opportunities and management issues, to find new ways of how-to bring people of all ages in the local community into the centre. We have several weekly, social, informal learning groups where Board members can get to know each other and form a friendly working relationship. A volunteer should be passionate, enthusiastic and have a keen interest in community matters. A volunteer does not necessarily require specific skills since we all support each other to develop new skills but if you have specific ones, it would be good to introduce them to the rest of the Board so we can use them to benefit the local community. The Board would appreciate people with knowledge of IT and office procedures but enthusiasm and interest in the community are equally important. This is an amazing opportunity to discover your “hidden talents” !!! You are very welcome to attend a committee meeting and see if this is for you. WE ARE WAITING TO WELCOME YOU TO OUR FRIENDY AND DIVERSE HALLA BOARD !!!!! A fantastic opportunity to help and make a difference for the community. All assistance is greatly appreciated. For further details please contact Giuseppina Caligiuri, HALLA Vice Chair at email Hallaassociation@gmail.com or telephone: 01224 498 164 / 07511377364.

Inchgarth Community Centre provide a fantastic programme of activities for the community with the tremendous help of volunteers. Inchgarth has over 170 sessions of activity per week-serving every age group and section of the community. As a big and vibrant community centre, we offer a large range of activities for all ages and welcome a range of charities at the community centre. We have a great opportunity for people to help as Pool and Snooker Club Volunteer Helpers. We are looking for motivated people to join our Pool and Snooker Club. It is running on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 3pm and volunteers can assist at any or all of these times. In this role, you will play games of pool/snooker with our members, organise games and wee tournaments. You will also engage with the members talking, helping people to get teas and coffees and have fun! All volunteers are greatly appreciated and provided with excellent support. Please contact us to find out more, join our amazing team of volunteers and make a real difference in the community: please email: volunteerinchgarth@gmail.com / Tel: 01224 325191 / Website: https://www.inchgarth.co.uk/volunteer.html

*Home visiting volunteers Every day Home-Start Aberdeen is providing life-changing support to families across the city. Our local community network of trained volunteers helps families with young children when they need us most. Home-Start’s Home Visiting Volunteers work alongside families, offering compassionate and confidential support, tailored to what each family wants and needs. They undergo extensive training and are supported by our expert staff team. Most of our home visiting volunteers have some parenting experience; they understand that family life can be tough sometimes, which is why their support is so valuable to another family. *Our Home Visiting Volunteers: · Visit families weekly in their own homes · Offer friendship, emotional support and practical help and be a regular, reliable presence for families · Reassure families that bringing up children can be challenging and everybody needs help sometimes · Emphasise the positive aspects of family life · Draw on their own experience to help parents develop their skills, improve their confidence and build better lives for their children · Keep children at the centre of the support focusing on their wellbeing and safety and ensuring the best possible outcomes for them *We offer our Home Visiting Volunteers: · Excellent preparation for the role through our Volunteer Preparation training course · Regular and frequent support and supervision meetings, and ongoing help and advice, from a dedicated Volunteer Coordinator · Ongoing training and personal development opportunities · The opportunity to make new friends and build social networks · Involvement in a vital local service which is part of a national and global network Home visiting requires energy, commitment, reliability, creativity and a sense of humour. It can be exciting or challenging but above all it is extremely rewarding and worthwhile. For more information please email: admin@homestartaberdeen.org.uk or telephone: 01224 693 545.

Inchgarth Community Centre provide a fantastic programme of activities for the community with the tremendous help of volunteers. Inchgarth has over 170 sessions of activity per week-serving every age group and section of the community. As a big and vibrant community centre, we offer a large range of activities for all ages and welcome a range of charities at the community centre. We have a great opportunity for people to help as Boccia Group Leader Volunteers at the community centre. Boccia is a seated bowl game for people with additional support needs and/or impaired movement. We are looking for motivated people to help lead the group by organising the games, making sure everyone is playing and sometimes organise wee competitions. All volunteers are greatly appreciated and provided with excellent support. Please contact us to find out more, join our amazing team of volunteers and make a real difference in the community: please email: volunteerinchgarth@gmail.com / Tel: 01224 325191 / Website: https://www.inchgarth.co.uk/volunteer.html

Give the gift of your time and become a volunteer mentor for young people. It could be life changing for you both! Would you like to support a young person on their journey to gaining new skills and experience, becoming more self-confident and achieving their goals? If the answer is yes, we would love to hear from you. Why mentoring? Mentoring is at the heart of what we do here at ProjectScotland and we offer every young person we support, the opportunity to be matched with a volunteer mentor. We are searching for people in and around Aberdeen who are able to offer one hour of their time once a week or fortnight for up to 12 months to help transform the life of someone else. The young people we work with all face different challenges in their lives such as; mental ill health, long term unemployment, low confidence and self esteem, care experienced, limited English communication skills due to being new to this country or disabilities. As a volunteer mentor, you could support your mentee with whatever is important to them. This could be: goal setting; identifying interests and strengths; confidence building; helping to establish a routine; support to explore job, training and further education opportunities; social connections; or just someone consistent to talk to and check in with to see how they are. The support you can offer is invaluable and can be life changing. How does it work? • Following recruitment, we provide training, support to join the Protection of Vulnerable Groups Scheme, ongoing support, access to lots of resources and a wonderful community of mentors across the country to connect with, learn from and build friendships with. • you are matched to one young person and meet with them once a week or fortnight for around one hour • meetings can be face to face or virtual using email/telephone/video chat/WhatsApp. There is also an opportunity to do a mixture of the two which offers a flexible and accessible approach to this volunteering role in addition to the match itself. •matches can last from 3-12 months depending upon the relationship and the needs of the mentee What’s in it for you? • Help transform your mentee’s life • Develop communication and interpersonal skills e.g. coaching, motivating others, adaptability • Gain transferable skills and experience volunteering with disadvantaged people • Participate in regular support and training • Meet new people, connect and have fun! • Learn about yourself and gain a sense of achievement supporting others • Learn more about your community and the challenges that people can face If you are interested in this opportunity please email: asia.wieloch@volunteeringmatters.org.uk We would love to hear from you! More info about ProjectScotland: ProjectScotland (part of the Volunteering Matters Family) works with people (predominantly young people) across the country who are struggling to overcome challenges such as social isolation, mental health issues, low confidence and general uncertainty about their futures. By providing wrap around support and the chance to complete a voluntary placement with a local charity; not only can this enhance confidence and self-belief, but it gives that individual the opportunity to build on their skills and experience and potentially move on to a job, further education or training. Everyone we work with is also offered a volunteer mentor.

*Dementia Café Volunteers* We are looking for friendly, enthusiastic and caring volunteers who can help us at the Living Well Cafés we have at Newhills Church, Bucksburn AB21 9SS, Oldmachar Church, Bridge of Don AB22 8PR, High Church Hilton, Aberdeen AB24 4NQ and Ferryhill Parish Church, Aberdeen AB11 6UD. You will receive ongoing training and support including Dementia Friends Sessions, working in partnership with Alzheimer's Scotland and NHS Grampian to help you understand what dementia is and how it may affect people. This is a great opportunity to help make a real difference and all assistance is greatly appreciated. For more information about volunteering with us please contact Jeanette Abel on 07512 141818 or Linda Rendall on 07927 541029 or email us at cafe@thelivingwellproject.org.uk

Inspire have opportunities for people to assist as Befrienders. Befriender Volunteers allow individuals supported by Inspire to have regular contact with a volunteer who shares their interests and with whom they can carry out activities, such as going for coffee, going to the cinema or even going with them to the football. A befriender is someone who will make a regular commitment to an individual supported by Inspire, to come with them to events or do activities with them, but will also be there to listen and talk with and share experiences. This is a great, enjoyable opportunity where you will make a vital contribution to the work of Inspire and the people we support in the North-east of Scotland and be part of a friendly and supportive team. For more details please contact: Volunteer Co-ordinator tel: 01224 280005 / volunteering@inspiremail.org.uk