SCVO (Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations) is currently working with Edinburgh Napier University and SVE to capture information about the assets, skills, knowledge, networks and resources, held by third sector organisations in Stirlingshire, such as community groups, voluntary organisations, charities, social enterprises, co-operatives and individual volunteers. The aim of the project is to map the assets within the third sector and to collect data about how these assets are currently being used to support health and wellbeing in communities. We will also be working with CTSi in Clackmannanshire to enable us to build as full a picture as possible about the contribution made by the third sector across the whole of the Clackmannanshire and Stirling Health and Social Care Partnership area. SVE have opportunities for volunteers who would like to be involved in the Asset Mapping exercise. This would be a great opportunity for people who would like to add to their CV and demonstrate experience in a work environment. Volunteers would have opportunities to develop their telephone research and administrative skills and will be provided with all the necessary training. Volunteers are asked to commit to a minimum of 2 days of volunteering before September. If you are interested in finding out more about this opportunity please contact: Polly Rodger polly@sventerprise.org.uk Joanne Rae at SVE joanne@sventerprise.org.uk Telephone - 01786 430000

Scotlands social security system is being shaped by people with direct experience of the current benefits system, using Experience Panels. Experience Panels involve people with experience of the benefits that are being devolved to the Scottish Government, including: • most ill health and disability benefits including DLA, PIP, Attendance Allowance and Severe Disablement Allowance • Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit • Carers Allowance • Funeral Expenses Payment, Sure Start Maternity Grant, Cold Weather Payments and Winter Fuel Payments • Discretionary Housing Payments • Scottish Welfare Fund People who are acting as a parent/guardian, appointee or power of attorney for someone with experience of any of the above benefits are welcome to register to join the Panels. If you would like to register to become a panel member, you can complete the online registration form. Read more and apply online here https://www.gov.scot/publications/social-security-experience-panels-faqs/ Or call the freephone helpline to register over the phone 0800 029 4974. If you are participating in the Experience Panels it will not affect your benefits. Also, none of the information that you provide in any Experience Panels research will affect your benefits.

As a volunteer you: - play a vital role in our research, since many of our studies rely on collecting data from human participants - can take part in research studies online and in-person at our research facilities - choose which studies you want to get involved in - can withdraw from the research at any time. We email our volunteers with information about our current studies and they decide if they wish to take part.

At Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland we are recruiting up to five fantastic Trustees to lead the charity’s efforts to ensure there is No Life Half Lived in Scotland. Would you be interested in applying? Applications are now open and close 30/8/19. We would love to hear from you. Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland is the country’s largest charity offering care and support to people with chest, heart and stroke conditions. Our network of stroke nurses, rehabilitation support workers, peer support volunteers and researchers help people across Scotland regain their confidence and rebuild their lives. We have an ambitious strategy for the future. We plan to develop new services, increase our reach and significantly increase our income. You could join the team of ambitious and passionate Trustees to make our strategy happen. Be part of a diverse Board full of new ideas. We are recruiting up to five positions and would particularly like to hear from people with one or more of the following areas of knowledge, skills & experience: • Lived experience of our conditions • Business & commercial development • Health & safety • Health & social care • Fundraising • Retail • Legal • Marketing & public relations • Volunteer recruitment & support We welcome applications from everyone. However, after a recent review, we would particularly welcome applications from: • People with lived experience of our conditions • Women • People from Black & Minority Ethnic backgrounds • People under fifty • People with disabilities For more information and to download a recruitment pack, please go to: www.chss.org.uk/becomeatrustee Download your application pack for more details and send your CV with a supporting statement to trustee.recruitment@chss.org.uk by 30th August 2019.

Aberdeen in Recovery (AiR) was granted Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) charitable status in March this year. We are now looking to find talented, passionate and skilled people to fill some vacant seats on our Board of Trustees to help us grow and develop our innovative and solution focused new charity. This is a unique opportunity to help lay the foundations to ensure AiR has a long-term future as a charity with solid processes in place to ensure it meets its mission of: “To be a bridge from ‘dependence’ to ‘independence’ for the individual seeking to recover from problematic substance use and addictive behaviours”. This is such an exciting and invigorating prospect for individuals to get involved and be participant in the tsunami of change which is now gaining momentum and being driven by “Experts by Experience” and the vibrant Lived Experienced Communities which are blossoming, not only locally but are now established as a national phenomena. Since its conception, AiR and its members have worked tirelessly to establish and build collaborative relationships with professional services and third sector support agencies. We have consistently driven the message that individuals who have personal lived/living experience of active substance use, including Family members who have been affected by the addictive behaviours of a loved one, and the Recovery Communities they represent have something valid, essential and extremely beneficial to bring to described Recovery Orientated Systems of Care (ROSC). We can provide existing services and clinical structural systems with resources, skills and capabilities that they, no matter how much effort, time and money they invest, will never be able to offer or provide. So, it gives the greatest of pleasure to see this is now recognised on the highest levels that “Recoverists” can productively contribute to the design, development and delivery of truly person-centred ROSC. This being evidenced by the vision, philosophy and content of the Scottish Governments “Rights, Respect and Recovery” Drug and Alcohol Strategy. We also believe it is reaffirmed by the recent success in being granted funding from the Government’s National Development Fund, with our principle partner Alcohol and Drugs Action (ADA), for our ‘Recovery Peer Pathway’ joint two-year project. This collaborative venture will build on three years of pilot work to further establish and build proactive and productive Developmental Pathways within ADA and their Volunteer network while in synergy with AiR membership for individuals who desire to initiate change in their behaviours and outlook as they progress on their recovery journeys within, and imperatively out-with, statutory and formal support services. We believe that the blue sky thinking behind this project categorically and emphatically fits with the expectations, outcomes and concepts of the above Government policy. So, if you have lived experience, or a stakeholder interest, and a passion for recovery and are willing to give of yourself that another may learn, you will not find a better opportunity to indulge your appetite than from within Aberdeen in Recovery. For more information please contact Dermot Craig, Recovery Community Development Manager at E Mail: dermot@aberdeeninrecovery.org or tel.: 01224 638342 / Mobile: 07751 213108.

Our voluntary group was formed in 2003 with the task of surveying every burial ground in Moray, which also includes part of the old county of Banff. This is a monumental task as there are some 140 burial sites, both public and private to be studied! Volunteers can draw plans of excavated graveyards. To create plans of excavated graveyards illustrating layout of graves and to undertake scale drawings of tombstones where required. Must have attention to detail; training provided.

Volunteer Community Researchers wanted to help improve the lives of people living with dementia in the community of North Stirling and being involved in an innovative community development project.

Aberdeen Climate Action is an organisation run by volunteers passionate about raising awareness of climate change, its causes and encouraging positive action to reduce carbon emissions and create a sustainable lifestyle. We are looking for others to join our organisation and help us with our valuable work in the North East. We organise Climate Week, North East, which is a week of events put on by a collaboration of organisations throughout the city and shire. We need help organising this and our regular climate conversation café’s, and one off events, talks etc. We need people with all sorts of different talents – the most important aspect is the fact that you are willing to muck in and ‘do’. Good support is provided to all new volunteers e.g.: volunteers will have a mentor, who will be on hand to give support, advice and assistance, as needed. If you’re interested just come along to our meetings and you can meet us all and see for yourself. A fantastic opportunity to help and make a real difference. For more details please contact: Alison Stuart (Director and Chair) email: alison@aberdeenclimateaction.org / Tel: 07779279583

The Spey Fishery Board, working in partnership with Scottish Natural Heritage, is working on a 4-year project to remove Invasive Non-Native Species from our waterways. By volunteering you could help us remove plants like Japanese Knotweed, Himalayan Balsam and Giant Hogweed from our waterways or perhaps you could monitor a mink raft in order to help with the management of this marauding mammal. If you have other skills that could help then we want to hear from you too! Volunteers can expect to work alongside project staff and other likeminded people and motivated volunteers may receive training in First Aid, Pesticide Application and Brush cutter use. There will also be the opportunity to pick up bushcraft skills and drink plenty of tea!

“Loneliness is not having anyone to tell that you are lonely” Janet, Silver Liner By volunteering as a Community Engagement Volunteer you will help us raise vital awareness of The Silver Line in your local community by giving talks, presentations and attending events on our behalf. Did you know? In the UK, more than 1 million people aged over 65 say they often or always feels lonely. Through this role you will be helping us support the 1,000s of older people who use our service each week and ensuring we continue to reach out to those most in need. “Just speaking to someone helps me cope a little better…” David, Silver Liner This is a volunteer role that you undertake in your local community. All you need is access to a telephone and the internet. We ask for a commitment of up to a year where possible and the ability to allocate 60 minutes each week to this role. Community Engagement Volunteers need to be proactive in looking for opportunities to promote The Silver Line, be open to attending events we have been invited to go to, and share our enthusiasm and passion for raising awareness of a service which provides such a vital lifeline to so many older people across the country. “I was so surprised to find out how few people knew about The Silver Line. I already talked about The Silver Line to friends and family but now I make sure everyone else in my area knows about it as well! I enjoy the role because I’m passionate about the service and the good that it does but also because the role is so flexible. I’m able to fit into my life – working full time can make volunteering difficult but this has been easy.” Sarah, Community Engagement Volunteer See how The Silver Line makes a big difference search 'The Silver Line' on YouTube.