Become an inspection volunteer Our work is improved by involving people who use services and their carers. We have many innovative ways that people can get involved with us and can influence our work.  Our Involvement and equalities charter outlines how we involve people who use care services and informal carers in our work. If you have personal experience of using a service or you have cared for someone close who has used a service there are many ways you can get involved with us. You do not have to have any qualifications. Your personal experience gives you a unique insight. If you would like to find out more or if you would like us to post you an application form - please email us at get.involved@careinspectorate.gov.scot

Caseworkers visit clients to work out what type of help they need. Next, they find the right sources of support and arrange for clients to access it. This might be funds for special equipment for someone with a disability, adaptions to a property so an older client can remain at home or funds for a rental deposit. Caseworkers also sign-post clients onto specialist local services for advice on benefits, housing, mental health, debt, finding work etc. The essential part of the role is interacting with clients, so you may be visiting clients or doing this virtually. As part of your local branch you might have access to an office, but many volunteers are based at home. What does this role involve? • Contacting clients and arranging to meet them at a mutually convenient time either face-to-face or remotely • Liaising with clients and completing a form to assess their circumstances • Sign-posting clients onto local services providing specialist advice • Applying on the client’s behalf to military and non-military sources of charitable funding • Arranging for the purchase of goods and services • Keeping in touch with the client so they know how their case is progressing • Keeping in touch with your branch so they know your availability • Keeping up to date with training and SSAFA news so that you are best able to support clients • Being a positive ambassador for SSAFA remembering that anyone you meet could be a potential client, volunteer or fundraiser • Volunteering within the standards and values of SSAFA including observing our policies such as the Volunteering policy and data protection policy (these will be covered in your training and local induction.) What can you gain from this volunteering role? • Support people in your community with a military background • Use your skills, knowledge and life experience to benefit others • Support and friendship from your local SSAFA branch and the wider SSAFA community • Experience, training and skills that you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews • Better physical and mental health – studies show that volunteers live longer and experience lower levels of stress and depression! Minimum Age: 18 Is a criminal record check required? Yes

Scotland Versus Arthritis is looking for individuals willing to lead short health walks in your area, lead on other physical activities, or facilitate virtual support groups. Full training and on-going support for volunteers will be available. We are also looking for expressions of interest from anyone keen to become an instructor of Tai Chi or Qi Gong for arthritis. The current Covid restrictions have meant that for many the wait for treatment may be a year or more away. Painkilling prescriptions are seldom more than a temporary relief. Support and exercise can however offer a better way to self-manage the daily on-going pain and fatigue. In readiness for the eventual lifting of lockdown we are asking, can you spare an hour or two each month to help? Please contact your local Development Officer, Dr. P. Neville, p.neville@versusarthritis.org or phone 07501 501114 for details.

We are a young democratically run organisation that needs to grow. At the moment we are a small group working at projects that reduce waste and we intend that Aberdeen and Shire become zero waste areas. That is, that everything we use becomes part of a circular economy and is not discarded needlessly to be tipped or burned. Currently, our main projects are :- *Go Green Café *Trash to Treasure *Men's Sheds *Planting Fruit Trees for Community Benefit These worthy projects are undertaken alongside family and work commitments but we need to do more if we are to make inroads to the waste we generate each day. That presents exciting opportunities for volunteers. Our next step then, is for more 'Trustees' to join with us to take on an officer of the board role, or to become an ordinary member and help steer the way forward to a successful reduction of waste to zero. If you’re/for more information then please do get in touch with Brian Allan at email brianaltenscc2@gmail.com or tel.: 07751275757.

We appreciate and value the support given to us at RGA by volunteers. Our volunteers help and support our residents, garden, social enterprise projects and charity to grow and develop. They become part of the community, which is at the heart of River Garden. If you have skills and an enthusiasm to support our work then please do contact us; we would love to hear from you. We have many different areas for you to consider; including working in the garden, in our café and supporting our admin team. If you think that you can be part of our admin team, please get in touch. In the role as Volunteer Administrator you will be required to adopt a person-centred, non-judgemental approach when dealing with members of the community, other professionals, and local charities and organisations. We are looking for volunteers who have good written and oral communication skills and enjoy supporting as part of a collaborative team. This role offers volunteers the opportunity to gain experience in administrative tasks and reception duties within an inclusive charity setting. Some duties might include: - Fundraising - Advertising/PR - Social media - Events management - Photography - General office support

Volunteering Matters are a national volunteering charity. Our project, Getting Together Matters, helps to reduce social isolation amongst older people across the UK. We are looking for Volunteers to take part in Creative Writing Activities, supporting the engagement of older adults across the UK. Many of these people are already recognised as the most vulnerable in society; this could be due to a range of factors, including age or a pre-existing medical condition. Your role will enable people to maintain contact with the outside world, helping them to feel less lonely and improving their general well-being. This activity forms part of our weekly calendar of activities and events to involve older people in meaningful engagement and reduce isolation. Creative Writing is one of a few activities by phone only for those not digitally engaged. Creative writing modules are already in place with poems, themes & ideas ready to spark the imagination. These are sent via post to individuals and the group phone calls are a chance for people to read their work to each other & chat about the theme in general. 6 weeks' worth of modules are available, but an opportunity if people want to continue if the volunteer wishes to carry on with their own themes. Time frame: 6 Weeks minimum commitment of min 1 hour weekly, daytime support Mon- Friday via phone at a regular time slot. Ideally started beginning Feb 2023. Volunteer training (and activity specific training) will take place online. This role includes: 1. Logging on your laptop/ computer to access the link for the phone activity. (the facilitator uses the computer, the recipient uses their phone) 2. Preparing classes in line with the agreed activity and liaising with staff to support smooth delivery (printing/ informing beneficiaries etc.) 3. Communicating with beneficiaries and GTM staff regarding starts/ breaks and class cover. 4. Support the Getting Together Matters Team to reduce loneliness and isolation 5. Keep in touch with the Project Manager. 6. Following Safeguarding / Boundaries as outlined in volunteer training. Key attributes: 1. Good interest & experience in creative writing & helping other people to develop. No qualifications necessary but enthusiasm & interest is key. 2. Access to a computer 3. Basic IT skills essential 4. Good listening and communication skills. 5. Very patient 6. Interest in supporting older people. 7. Empathy and compassion 8. Understanding of confidentiality 9. Socially responsible The role description is intended to include the broad range of responsibilities and requirements of the volunteering post. As our services are changing all the time, there will be regular opportunities for you to change the nature of your volunteering or to support other services in our area to help you have a good experience while you are volunteering with us. Volunteers are the cornerstone of our work with vulnerable people in our local communities, and we are grateful that you are offering your time to help us to make a difference.

Join the Oxfam community As an Online Shop Volunteer you’ll be behind the scenes in our busy shop and learn all about selling donated gems through Oxfam’s unique Online Shop. You can get involved in everything from researching, describing, photographing, to posting. Best of all you’ll be raising vital funds to support people facing poverty around the world. About this role We will give you all the training and support you need so you will develop your skills as part of our Online Shop team. You don’t need to have any experience – we’ve got you covered. You can also get some lunch and travel costs too. Whatever you need, we’re here to help. As an Online Shop Volunteer, you’ll develop transferable skills that boost your confidence: Improve your communication skills as part of a team Put your expertise to good use by focussing on what interests you the most You’ll develop IT experience with ongoing support Selling some of our most unusual and valuable items, you’ll know you’re making a real difference Along with learning all about this role, you can branch out and try other things. Whether it’s about the shop floor or behind the scenes, we will help you to learn as many skills as you want. Volunteering that works for you Volunteering can be very flexible to suit you. So even if your availability or skills don’t match this role, get in touch and we will find something right for you. By volunteering for a few hours a week, you will meet new people and have some fun for a good cause. If you can’t apply online please visit the shop for a paper form or contact us on givetime@oxfam.org.uk Everyone has something to offer At Oxfam we know that everybody can make a real difference. People come to us for all sorts of reasons, from all backgrounds, and we will do what we can to find a role which works for you. You can find out more about volunteering with Oxfam here. What happens next? After you apply the manager will ask you to come in for an initial chat. This is not an interview, just a chance to get an idea of what you'd like to do in the shop. From there you can meet the rest of the volunteer team and get involved with whatever area of the shop takes your interest!

The Volunteer Tutors Organisation is a charity that provides free one to one tuition to children and young people (aged 8-18) to help tackle the attainment gap in Scotland. Right now, there's a waiting list of lots of young people needing support across Scotland. They provide one to one tutoring support for those that need it most. After the pandemic, some of their service moved online and it has been hugely successful and the demand has grown, so they are looking for additional volunteers. They work with young people from diverse backgrounds including those from low income families, care experience, English as an additional language or those faced with perceived barriers to learning. Volunteers are fully supported and trained and are responsible for developing a person-centred tutoring experience online. A key part of this role is relationship building, mentoring, instilling confidence, and empowering young people through education. Volunteers from a range of diverse backgrounds and experiences are welcome. What will I be doing? Working one to one with a young person who requires tutoring support online. Relationship building and mentoring Instilling a growth mind set towards learning Monitoring and recording progress of learning and keeping in contact with your assigned Learning Communities Coordinator. Take part in relevant training. Tutoring in English, Maths and potentially other subjects, dependant on experience. Sourcing and creating engaging ways to support pupils’ skills and learning. Usually, 1 hour per week time commitment for tutoring with some additional time for learning material preparation. What skills do I need? You don't need any formal teaching or mentoring qualifications to become a tutor. The main requisite is good literacy and numeracy skills and you must be fluent in English. All our tutors must be able to provide 2 references and be members of the PVG scheme managed by Disclosure Scotland. VTO will assist with the processing of this and there is no cost to you. Capability, creativity, and enthusiasm to communicate and work with children and young people. Good relationship building skills Ability to support young people with a lack of confidence/ motivation. Ability to be non-judgemental, empathetic, and supportive. What skills and experience will I develop through this role? We want to support our volunteers through their time with us. Satisfaction of giving something back and reducing the attainment gap. Gain teaching, tutoring and youth work experience useful in careers working with young people. Developing new enhanced communication skills. Enhanced personal statement/ CV. Fulfil volunteering requirement of Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme/ Saltire award scheme if eligible. Reference after 6 months.

The Moray Burial Ground Research Group is looking for a volunteer web developer to help them revamp their current website, helping to improve the look and functionality of the current site, and to create a better experience for people wanting to access their work and who are interested in what they do. We are all volunteers, but a small renumeration could be provided for any expenses. etc.,

The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) develop national clinical guidelines for NHS Scotland, and we are looking for people with lived experience of type 1 and 2 diabetes to join multidisciplinary groups to undertake work on our upcoming diabetes guideline. SIGN develops guidelines for health and social care staff in Scotland in order to help professionals, service users, carers, and patients understand scientific evidence so that they can make decisions about a person's care. We aim to help people get the best care available, no matter where they live. We also strive to help improve the quality of healthcare across Scotland.