Volunteer Visitors help to reduce loneliness and enhance wellbeing for the tenants of Hawthorn Gardens extra-care housing development in Loanhead by leading activities and entertainment for small groups of residents. Volunteers will plan, set up, lead, and tidy up after activities for small groups of residents with the support of on-site staff. Activities could include carpet bowls, crafts, quizzes, board games, musical entertainment, gentle chair exercise and gardening. With each visit they make, volunteers can expect to feel the immediate impact of donating their time as they help to enhance wellbeing for local people in Midlothian. Get in touch to find out about upcoming dates for volunteer training and start your journey today!

Volunteer Visitors help to reduce loneliness and enhance wellbeing for the tenants of Cowan Court extra-care housing development in Penicuik by leading activities and entertainment for small groups of residents. Volunteers will plan, set up, lead, and tidy up after activities for small groups of residents with the support of on-site staff. Activities could include carpet bowls, crafts, quizzes, board games, musical entertainment, gentle chair exercise and gardening. With each visit they make, volunteers can expect to feel the immediate impact of donating their time as they help to enhance wellbeing for local people in Midlothian. Get in touch to find out about upcoming dates for volunteer training and start your journey today!

As a CPR Champion you will support St John Scotland as part of their partnership with Save a Life for Scotland. You will get the opportunity to attend various events within your local area with other St John Scotland CPR Champions and CPR Leads ensuring that participants are equipped to undertake potentially lifesaving bystander CPR according to current policies, regulations and protocol. You will also be trained on demonstrating defibrillator usage to participants. Main tasks are: - Deliver Bystander CPR awareness to various people at different events within your local area - Defibrillator Demonstration (training is provided) If you are interested in volunteering with St John Scotland please visit: https://www.stjohnscotland.org.uk/volunteer/application-form

This is an opportunity for someone who is passionate about community development and working with communities to use their own assets to make a real difference to improving life in the Multiple Sclerosis community? Our ideal candidate will have experience of working with volunteers, although this is not essential. More importantly they will be a great communicator with fantastic organisational skills, who will play a key part in looking after our volunteers, helping them to grow and ensuring our volunteering processes run smoothly and efficiently. They will be self-motivated with a naturally collaborative working style; and thrive working in a small, enthusiastic team making a difference to the MS community. Working with the Volunteer Support Team, the Group Coordinator is responsible for coordinating all aspects of volunteering, delegating work and supporting the effective development and delivery of services in the area. You will help to support and retain volunteers to deliver our services – leading on volunteer recruitment, communication, and stewardship of the Coordinating Team with a commitment to equality and inclusion as well as healthy and safe working practices. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. Applicants must be over 18. A fantastic opportunity to help and make a real difference for people with MS. For more information please contact Lynda Boyce, Volunteer Support Officer at email: lynda.boyce@mssociety.org.uk or tel.: 020 8438 0700.

BECYCLE Workshop SCIO (Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation – charity number: SC053291) is a small, wholly volunteer operated and donations based community bike workshop that provides a free place to access practical help, education, learning and advice for maintaining and repairing bikes. The workshop also provides free bikes to children (u18) and loans out bikes to anyone, with a fully returnable deposit system. It is currently open twice a week (8 hours), every week of the year, no matter the weather. Every person that volunteers at the workshop becomes a bike mechanic first and foremost - no matter how much experience you have just now with bikes or tools. You’ll learn quickly and surprise yourself with the amount you can take onboard - and you’ll be well supported by volunteers with decades of experience at fixing bikes and helping people. Don’t worry though about being the odd one out, none of us get paid and never will. In addition further roles we are looking for specialists in are; - Accountant - Fundraising - Graphic Design - Social Media Manager - Videographer On top of the two in-person sessions (Monday and Wednesday 4-8pm), most volunteers offer their time and expertise in a variety of areas that keep the workshop ticking over, or assist specific functions that align with their background and experience such as driving, photography or social media. We are formed of a group of dozens of volunteers from various backgrounds, ages, life experiences and nationalities. Our greatest strength is the trust we have in each other and encouraging the individual talents of each volunteer, that help make the workshop what it is today. If this sounds like something you would be interested in, pop down to our workshop at 21-23 High Street, Aberdeen, AB24 3EB between 4-8pm any Monday or Wednesday for a chat. Volunteers have also used their time and work at BECYCLE to leverage themselves into new careers, university courses and support job applications. Expect lots of social events, casual group rides, BBQ’s, bonfires, days at the beach, eating together, nights out, meeting lots of new people and getting dangerously addicted to bikes…. For more information please contact Scott Goodall, BECYCLE Workshop Trustee at email: becycleworkshop@gmail.com or telephone: 07743731990.

Join Our Team and Make a Difference! Are you passionate about helping others and eager to make a real impact in your community? We invite you to become a vital part of our food bank team at Old Torry Community Centre in Aberdeen, where your efforts will directly support individuals and families in need. As a volunteer, you'll have the rewarding role of welcoming clients to our food bank centre, receiving and validating vouchers, and preparing essential food parcels. You'll also have the chance to make clients feel at ease by making refreshments and keeping the space tidy. More importantly, you'll offer a listening ear and guide clients to additional resources and services using our comprehensive signposting materials. Your support can bring hope and encouragement to those who need it most. Together, we can create a more compassionate community, one interaction at a time. Volunteer today and be the change you want to see in the world! For more information please email: foodbankvolunteering@tlc.org.uk or telephone 01224 211222.

The Helix Green Team is open to all on Tuesday morning. If you are interested in some outdoor practical conservation volunteering within the Helix Park then this is the group for you. The park's staff enjoy planning, preparing and supervising these sessions with the volunteers. With all hands on dirt, we get so much more done and always see a real benefit to our mornings efforts. Plus we enjoy sharing out the delicious cakes prepared by Jason, the Visitor Centre Chef. Bring your enthusiasm, weather appropriate clothing and wear sturdy shoes. "It has brought me out of my shell as it is something I would not have considered being a part of initially as I felt it was way outside my comfort zone. In conclusion, though to be honest I have loved every minute" John, Helix Green Team Volunteer

Grandmentors is an award-winning, inter-generational mentoring programme, operating in various locations across the UK. We are currently looking for new Volunteer Mentors to join our programme in Midlothian which launched in 2023. It is widely recognised that care-experienced young people are some of the most disadvantaged in society. Many are in care because they have experienced, or are at risk of, neglect and/or abuse. Security and stability are often missing from their lives. We recruit, train and support volunteer mentors (normally but not exclusively aged 50+) who draw on their wealth of professional and personal life experience and skills to support young people (aged 16-26) through life transitions on their pathway to independence. Grandmentors is all about empowering and positive relationships, aligning to “The Promise” that Scotland made to its care experienced population. Young people are listened to, heard, and responded to. They benefit from safe, consistent loving relationships, and access to meaningful support to boost mental & physical wellbeing, resilience, and confidence. Grandmentors facilitate conversations around keeping well, coping strategies, self-care, and self-management. Each young person alongside their Grandmentor co-produces a bespoke support plan and set goals based on their needs. They explore and review the young person’s challenges, and priorities. These range from enhancing mental & physical health and wellbeing, dealing with stress and conflict, support to access sustainable and appropriate housing, career, and education goals, budget planning and more.

As a CPR Champion you will support St John Scotland as part of their partnership with Save a Life for Scotland. You will get the opportunity to attend various events within your local area with other St John Scotland CPR Champions and CPR Leads ensuring that participants are equipped to undertake potentially lifesaving bystander CPR according to current policies, regulations and protocol. You will also be trained on demonstrating defibrillator usage to participants. Main tasks: - Deliver Bystander CPR awareness to various people at different events within your local area - Defibrillator Demonstration (training is provided)

As a CHSS Community Connector you can support CHSS any time or anywhere, giving as much or as little time to the tasks as you wish. As long as you have access to a smartphone, tablet or computer you can get involved to ensure No Life is Half Lived! This is a fully flexible opportunity that can fit around your busy life! As a CHSS Community Connector you can make a real difference to people with our conditions by spreading our message on social media. Volunteering is an excellent way to improve your own mental health and wellbeing, as well as a way to use, learn and develop new skills. No training required