*Help people who feel alone - just a few hours a week from you could make the future brighter for someone experiencing loneliness or social isolation.* Hand of Solace is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation which helps people who may be lonely or at risk of loneliness and social isolation. -What our volunteers do: Loneliness and social isolation affect people of all ages and backgrounds. Being or feeling alone can have a devastating impact on people’s health and wellbeing, as well as on communities, hospitals and other public services. Through just a few hours a week, you could provide a huge help for someone experiencing loneliness or social isolation. -Support for people and volunteering during COVID-19 Pandemic: Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, our befriending service to our older people has now transitioned from face to face to phone/video contact. We now also offer shopping, prescription collection etc. where necessary to the older people. Depression is also a major issue so our befrienders are needing to keep in touch more often than before to ensure their Befriendees are safe and sound and to offer any possible support. -How to get involved: We provide volunteer support to tackle loneliness in the following areas of Aberdeen: - Stoneywood - Seaton - Bucksburn - Northfield - Bridge of Don - Dyce If you would like to volunteer with us, send us an email or give us a ring and we will contact you within a few days to provide further details and discuss how you can get involved. Our email is info@handofsolace.co.uk , or by phoning the contact number- 07378432436.

As an Emergency Response Volunteer, you will help people prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies. Every individual affected will need different support from us and you can be there to help someone when they need it most. Spread the power of kindness with us and help make sure that those who need support get it. Location: Thurso, must be able to reach Thurso Fire station, KW14 8AG within 30 minutes Availability: Service operates 24/7. We are looking for volunteers who are able to sign-up for at least 24 hours duty per month. Driving required: Driving licence preferable but not essential.

As an Emergency Response Volunteer, you will help people prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies. Every individual affected will need different support from us and you can be there to help someone when they need it most. Spread the power of kindness with us and help make sure that those who need support get it. Location:Moray, volunteers must be able to reach Cedarwood Community Centre, Elgin, Moray IV30 6YQ within 30 minutes Availability: Service operates 24/7 . We are looking for volunteers who are able to sign-up for at least 24 hours duty per month. Driving required: Driving licence preferable but not essential. Volunteer must be over the age of 18. Driving license preferred but not essential. Must live within 30 minutes from IV30 6YQ (Elgin)

As an Emergency Response volunteer, you may be providing much needed practical and emotional support to individuals, as part of a team, in support of category 1 and 2 responders and other agencies following an emergency or major incident. In addition, you could provide "behind the scenes" support to the response. You'll be working as part of a team in support of category 1 and 2 responders and other agencies.

Linking Lives UK has been working hard to respond effectively to the impact of Covid-19 particularly among those already affected by social isolation and loneliness on a daily basis. Aberdeen Two’s Company is a local telephone befriending service that connects volunteers with local people (‘Link Friends’) through telephone contact. The aim of our telephone befriending is to help reduce the impact that social isolation by making connections with others. This is especially important at this time of COVID-19 Crisis in the UK. To volunteer and help please complete the following form at https://forms.gle/5LbSKmH7o9Zh5J2n8 or email aberdeentwoscompany@gmail.com All help makes a difference and is greatly appreciated.

The purpose of this group is to assist the support and care of people in the Ferryhill, Garthdee, Holburn, and Ruthireston areas of Aberdeen. Volunteers will help people in self isolation, by keeping in contact by phone or internet or running simple errands. This is being facilitated by local churches (Ferryhill, Ruthrieston West, South Holburn, and St John's Episcopal). It is open for anyone who wants to help their community. To date there are over 300 members. All new help welcome and greatly appreciated. Please contact us via https://www.facebook.com/groups/covid19riverside/ or Email office@ferryhillparishchurch.org / Telephone 01224 213093.

This role provides short term telephone support to individuals in our communities who are at risk of loneliness, and will benefit from this service.

This role involves collecting shopping, medication or other essential supplies for others in our community who will benefit from this help and support.

Our Fraserburgh Food bank provides three-day emergency food parcels for people in crisis, working in partnership with organisations across the community.  Drivers play a fundamental role in the running of the food bank. Applicants must have their own car. Mileage will be covered for undertaking deliveries Key task • Collecting food boxes from Foodbank • Delivering food boxes to people outside of Fraserburgh • Carrying heavy boxes of canned foods and some carrier bags of fresh food • Regular loading and unloading of vehicles • Deliveries can be in Crimond, Strichen, New Pitsligo, Rosehearty etc

Our food banks provide three-day emergency food parcels for people in crisis, working in partnership with organisations across the community.  We are committed to ensuring anybody visiting a food bank is welcomed, valued and treated with dignity.  Volunteers take time to share a warm drink, discuss food requirements, offer a listening ear and, when appropriate, signpost people for further support and help. As a Food bank centre helper you will play a vital role giving direct support to people who use food banks, meeting and greeting people coming into the food bank, packing their food parcels, making them feel comfortable and providing further signposting support where appropriate. In this role you can make a real difference to people’s lives providing vital help and support to those in crisis in your local community. Key task • Welcome clients to the foodbank centre • Receive vouchers, check validity, and prepare food parcels according to the standard packing lists • Make refreshments and tidy up as required during the session • Offer a listening ear and signpost clients, as required, to further support, using information from the signposting folder/leaflets • Offer prayer to clients, when appropriate (if a volunteer is happy to do so) • Work under the guidance of the session leader and report any health & safety or safeguarding concerns to the project manager/session supervisor