Blackwood Homes and Care was founded in 1972 by Dr Margaret Blackwood MBE, a campaigner for the rights and independence of disabled people. We deliver our vision of helping people live their life to the full in the pioneering spirit of Dr Blackwood by providing high quality housing, care and support for disabled people of all ages, with over 1500 homes across all 29 mainland local authorities in Scotland. -What will I be doing as a Digital Buddy?: Can you help our customers feel less isolated by supporting them to use technology to connect with the wider world? We are looking for people who are confident with basic IT skills and have the patience to share your skills with people who are new and uncertain when using technology. You also need to enjoy making casual conversation and building familiar relationships. Customers are perhaps unsure how to connect to the internet, charge their device, video call a friend or do shopping online. Helping someone make a video call for the first time to family they’ve not seen due to the pandemic really makes a difference to their quality of life along with their mood and mental wellbeing. At Blackwood we believe that using technology can significantly improve the lives of our customers. We provide care (in care homes), care at home services and tenancies to people with different support needs. Our customers have been offered a tablet which is set up with our innovative system CleverCogs. The role out of this is delivered by our Digital Skills Coaches but people continue to need support with basic IT issues to gain skills and confidence. Some customers don’t like to ask for more help, so knowing there is a wider network of buddies that can provide digital support will be very beneficial. This is where your time will be invaluable! Due to COVID-19 this role will start remotely, providing help over the phone or a video call. As restrictions ease, you will be able to visit customers in their home. Hopefully getting to meet some of the people you’ve helped remotely. -What will you get from volunteering?: • Supporting your local community to join the digital age and providing them with the autonomy to run their own lives online • The opportunity to be involved in key unforgettable digital-learning moments, such as their first video call with a much-missed family member • By providing a friendly face and conversation, you are helping to eradicate social isolation for many • Satisfaction that you’ve made a difference to the lives of Blackwood Customers. • Be involved in our innovative initiatives • Build on trouble-shooting and problem-solving skills • Awareness and knowledge of differing accessibility and communication needs, and how to meet those needs • Evidence of IT, communication and disability accessibility knowledge and skills for your CV • Induction to Blackwood • Training on the likely issues that you’ll help with to ensure you’re confident undertaking your role. • Support throughout your volunteering. Staff will be available should you need assistance and we’ll have a regular catch up. -What do I do next?: Please get in touch with the Volunteering Development Co-ordinator, Zoe MacGregor to find out more. Contact Zoe at email: volunteering@blackwoodgroup.org.uk or tel.: 07976 573745. Or look at the website https://www.blackwoodgroup.org.uk/volunteer for more opportunities and complete the on-line expression of interest form. You will be contacted to arrange an informal discussion to find out more and talk about what you would like to do. You can also follow Blackwood Homes and Care on social media to hear about what’s going on.

Mearns FM is continually on the look out for some fresh new voluntary talent. What do you get? Some real hands on experience of working in a professional environment. You’ll be taught the art of radio presentation. You’ll see every aspect of how a radio station is operated. We’ll also help you get a foot into the industry, and you’ll get the opportunity to be a part of a hardworking and committed team of volunteers. Further permanent or temporary studios could be established anywhere in K & M with internet access if volunteers in that location wish to organise one. No previous Broadcasting experience is required and training is provided. We transmit programmes made by other community organisations. They must however meet Ofcom guidelines.

Mearns FM is continually on the look out for some fresh new voluntary talent. We are looking for someone with skills, knowledge and experience to provide technical support for radio transmission. What do you get? Some real hands on experience of working in a professional environment. You’ll see every aspect of how a radio station is operated. We’ll also help you get a foot into the industry, and you’ll get the opportunity to be a part of a hardworking and committed team of volunteers. Further permanent or temporary studios could be established anywhere in K & M with internet access if volunteers in that location wish to organise one. No previous Broadcasting experience is required and training is provided. We transmit programmes made by other community organisations. They must however meet Ofcom guidelines.

Mearns FM is continually on the look out for some fresh new voluntary talent. What do you get? Some real hands on experience of working in a professional environment. You’ll be taught the art of radio presentation. You’ll see every aspect of how a radio station is operated. We’ll also help you get a foot into the industry, and you’ll get the opportunity to be a part of a hardworking and committed team of volunteers. The whole variety of tasks involved in running a totally volunteer based Community Radio Station with established studios in Stonehaven and Portlethen. Further permanent or temporary studios could be established anywhere in K & M with internet access if volunteers in that location wish to organise one. No previous Broadcasting experience is required and training is provided. We transmit programmes made by other community organisations. They must however meet Ofcom guidelines.

Mearns FM is continually on the look out for some fresh new voluntary talent. . What do you get? Some real hands on experience of working in a professional environment. You’ll see every aspect of how a radio station is operated. We’ll also help you get a foot into the industry, and you’ll get the opportunity to be a part of a hardworking and committed team of volunteers. Further permanent or temporary studios could be established anywhere in K & M with internet access if volunteers in that location wish to organise one. No previous Broadcasting experience is required and training is provided. We transmit programmes made by other community organisations. They must however meet Ofcom guidelines.

The project coordinator will facilitate the digital skills clubs, providing equipment, learning materials and refreshments. Volunteers will come along and help learners, either one-to-one or in small groups, on a range of topics, depending on what learners would like to cover using resources provided by the coordinator.

The Volunteer Club Leader will run the group by helping learners, either one-to-one or in small groups, on a range of topics, depending on what learners would like to cover using resources provided by the coordinator and with the help of other volunteers.

Volunteers will visit housebound learners within their own homes for one hour per week to provide tuition on the computer. Tuition will last for 8 weeks and will generally cover basic digital skills such as using internet and email, online shopping & social media, but can be flexible dependent on what the learner would like to cover.

Ability Net is an award winning charity looking for volunteers to support older peoplee and people with disabilities with their tech at home. A an ITCanHelp volunteer you can help unleash the power of technology to ensure that older people and those with a disability are not excluded from the digital world.

Support older people in the Scottish Borders to get digitally connected to friends, family & the wider world. We would like to pair up all the older people who are involved with a digital buddy. We are looking for people who can spare a little time to help an older person practise, give them a little encouragement and be there if they need a little help remembering how to do something going at the pace that they feel works for them. You don 't need to be an expert just know your way around the internet, shopping online, downloading Apps etc... We will provide you and the person you are supporting step by step photo instructions for whatever the task is that the person would like to learn how to do. Initially the support will be either by telephone or outdoors. In time as the restrictions ease and guidance allows these may move to be indoor in cafes and potentially other indoor settings but this will be dependent on how both yourself as the volunteer and the person you are supporting feel about this.