Help People at Difficult Times Listening volunteers are there for anyone who needs someone, and provide confidential emotional support for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which may lead to suicide. Every seven seconds someone contacts us. Every seven seconds we can help someone turn their life around. As a listening volunteer you get the chance to make a real difference to someone’s future. You can offer support on the phone, email or text. Volunteers typically volunteer a minimum of a 4 hour duty per week, as well as a 4 hour night duty at monthly intervals. There are no qualifications required and you’ll receive full training to prepare you for the kinds of conversations you’ll have. And when you start out, you’ll have a mentor with you, to give you confidence you’re doing the right thing. You can also apply to help with administration or other non-listening support. Let us know how you would like to help.

Clan’s Listening and Support volunteers are the key points of contact for clients accessing our range of free practical services and emotional support at our Wellbeing Centres across the North East, including Moray. Listening & Support Volunteers currently help a wide range of people affected by cancer, including those with a cancer diagnosis, carers, colleagues, family members and friends by offering an impartial, confidential listening ear. Support can be given either in person or on the telephone. Clan is in urgent need of volunteers in Elgin and the surrounding areas of Lossiemouth and Forres. If you are caring, compassionate, an effective listener and available to volunteer for 4 hours at a time (on week days) either weekly, fortnightly or monthly for a minimum of 12 months, we’d love to hear from you! Find out more about how you could make a difference to local people affected by cancer by visiting www.clancancersupport.org, or by calling 01224 647 000 and asking to speak with our Volunteer Manager.

Early Intervention is a neurodivergent safe space for neuro divergent children and their families. A non-judgmental environment where you can be your true authentic self. Managed by volunteers we offer specialist support - Speech and Language therapy, Music Therapy, Pet therapy, and opportunities for children up to 9 years old to socialise with their neurokin whilst empowering them to embrace their identity, we also offer opportunities for semi structured play, arts and crafts and sensory messy play. Looking for friendly volunteers to help us support families at sessions, no experience necessary but would especially love to hear from those with lived experience - neurodivergent adults and or people with a close connection to neurodiversity or ASN for example an autistic family member. Although no experience is necessary, we would love to hear from any practicing/retired or student Speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, play therapists, teachers, or those with experience in social care and early years childcare. Early Intervention is a volunteer-led organisation which has been providing services to neurodivergent children and their families since February 2022. This is an exciting time to get involved with us as we are seeking to develop the services we offer and to look at making the transition to becoming a Scottish Charity. A fantastic opportunity to help and make a real difference. All volunteer assistance is greatly appreciated. For more details please contact Linda Lumsden, Early Intervention Founder/Volunteer at email: info@earlyintervention.org.uk or telephone: 07867 524150.

*Help with soup making and/or serving, supporting and socializing at our fantastic Y Knot Drop- in Lunch Club* You would be joining a team of volunteers, helping to provide a safe, welcoming space where visitors can relax and enjoy a friendly chat and a variety of activities, such as cards, dominoes and occasionaly crafts. Our visitors are people from all walks of life who need support to deal with challenges to their mental health. Volunteers can choose from a variety of options: >9.30am to 2.30pm Making soup, serving, joining in activities or >12noon to 2.30pm Serving, helping to clear up, joining in activities. (Everyone has lunch together) A monthly rota ensures that volunteers can tailor their volunteering times to fit in with other commitments. Some work once a month, others every week or once a fortnight. We would be happy to discuss details with you should you decide to apply-and we're hoping that you will. Preliminary visits would be very welcome. Training and support is also provided and all volunteers are greatly appreciated. Contact us by phone or e-mail at e-mail: maggie.whyte@churchofscotland.org.uk or tel.: 01224 635694 to arrange to “drop in” one Thursday.

Fledgling Arts Collective Central provide a platform both online and offline for those who struggle with mental health, addiction or who feel like they don't quite 'fit',or feel estranged to this world : to express themselves through art as catharsis. We encourage being CathARTic! We are currently recruiting new volunteers to a range of exciting roles to help us in our vital work. Volunteering opportunities include: *Fledgling Wings Moderator *General Senior Manager *Online Co-manager of Outreach *Outreach Manager *Outreach online volunteer position *Treasurer *Volunteer social media promoter *Volunteer website designer. These are fantastic opportunities to help volunteering-all help makes a real difference and is greatly appreciated. For further details please contact: Jewels Johnson at email: jewels-founder-fledgling@outlook.com

FAMS “Help Meet” Project Background To help ease the immense repercussions of COVID-19, FAMS plan to enhance and develop their existing helpline service into FAMS “Help Meet” service. We believe that connection and information will be keys to survival for many. Working with VANL & VASLAN we wish to multiply the numbers of volunteers available to operate this new service, by recruiting interim Listening Ear Volunteers, from their extensive FAMS and Partners will market our “Help Meet” service as an open/friendly/softer approach to connecting with others as well as support, rather than Helpline/hotline. It will benefit any person in distress or feeling vulnerable as a result of COVID-19 crisis, irrespective of age. Although it’s is widely reported that the negative effects of the pandemic could last for two years or more it’s likely that FAMS will be providing this service indefinitely . Aims To support people at their most vulnerable. People are undoubtedly suffering with COVID19 and Lockdown in a myriad of ways. To provide a pivotal role for some of the 1,000’s of people who volunteered their time and service, during the COVID19 crisis, providing them with the opportunity to connect with others needing support. Objectives 1. To provide regular chats and connection with members of FAMS community, also vitally all external communities. Callers can expect the non face-2-face human touch, offering a menu of services including; Lived Experience Peer Support, Befriending, Listening Ear relationship, Counsellors, Signposting. 2. To meet the demand not only for support with mental health and wellbeing issues 3. To help support callers around fear, family relationships, extreme loneliness, lack of connection to people, places and things etc. 4. To provide signposting to other helpful organisations.

EXCITING NEW OPPORTUNITY IN MIDLOTHIAN Grandmentors is an award winning inter-generational mentoring programme, matching volunteer mentors who have a range of life skills and experiences with young people aged 16-24 who have had adverse childhood experiences. Grandmentors has now launched in Midlothian. Our volunteer mentors help young people navigate the transition to independence by guiding them through life skills such as managing finances, accessing employment, education and training, and supporting their health and wellbeing. This opportunity is for volunteers (normally aged 50+) who have life experience and skills to offer. However, if you are younger than 50 and feel you could offer valuable support, please do apply or contact us to discuss further. It is important that you have good people skills, communication skills, patience, and can offer a regular commitment of a few hours per week (weekly or fortnightly). This role requires PVG (Protection of Vulnerable Groups) scheme membership, which will be handled and processed by us. We provide our volunteers with comprehensive training, on-going support, and volunteer expenses.

We are looking for qualified counsellors to take up a volunteering role with Hear Me. Hear Me provide counselling for men, women and children (aged 8 and above) who are survivors of sexual abuse. To help reach more people we are recruiting suitably qualified counsellors. Do you have…? · A postgraduate counselling diploma or equivalent · Minimum 450 hours (post-qualifying) 1-1 experience · Ability to commit 4 hours weekly for a year or more · Ability to travel throughout Angus If you do and would like to know more, leave your contact details using the 'I want to volunteer' button below and we'll be in touch. Watch our volunteer recruitment video on https://vimeo.com/678228300 and find out more about our organisation on our website.

This valued charity based in Thurso offers free support to people and family members experiencing Cancer. Volunteers offer a listening ear and practical, social and emotional support at the Centre on Mondays & Thursdays. Can you offer a couple of hours to help the service continue, training offered.

Rape Crisis Grampian is a fully inclusive service which provides free, confidential support to survivors of rape and sexual violence aged 13 years and over. Survivors are supported by Support Volunteers who provide face to face, email or telephone support. Support Volunteers undertake a comprehensive selection and training process and are registered with the PVG – Protection of Vulnerable Groups scheme. We are looking for individuals who are: *Empathetic, non-judgemental and good listeners *Able to commit to volunteering for at least 12 months and a minimum of three hours per week *Able to maintain confidentiality and anonymity *Open to gaining an understanding about rape and sexual violence and its impacts on individuals. Excellent training and support is provided to all volunteers. Including sixty hours of training. The training is comprehensive and ensures all Volunteers are equipped with the skills necessary to support Survivors. Debriefing is provided after each support session and volunteers are further supported via quarterly group Supervision as an additional means of support. If you would like more information or to apply please contact our Volunteer Coordinator at email: info@rcgrampian.co.uk