Young Volunteers between the ages of 14 - 20 are trained as befrienders before joining them online with Harry (Youth Coordinator). The overall aim is to enhance the young people’s confidence and skills through volunteering, and reducing social isolation for older people as well as increasing usage of technologies, the conversation will be on group video call until face to face can return. The project will train, support and provide supervision for young voluteers to lead on delivering the sessions (with support and supervision from the Project Coordinator) for older people, with those invovled shaping the discussion and activity at each session. At this time the theme of the sessions are split into being very relaxed, organic and over a cuppa (Tuesdays) and a more structured quiz (Wednesdays) It is hoped that in addition to the positive impact the project will have on residents, the befriending will allow volunteers to build confidence and gain valuable social skills under the support and supervision of the project worker.

We are looking for ayone with an interest in enhancing the lives of the people we support to get in touch as although we are a social care company we are seeking both individuals interested in social care and also other individuals who have some other skill set and would like to use this within our services. This could be from playing musical instruments to gardening or taking service users into the community. During this time of covid-19 the main task may include going for service users shopping and delivering it to them or by going to get their prescriptions.

Volunteers are peer mentors to the community residents and both live within our city and farm communities, and manage the day-to-day domestic tasks and decisions within the building, which is their home. Volunteer tasks may include: Accompanying a resident to appointments, Helping a resident to cook a meal for the whole community, Acting as a sounding board for a problem or difficult situation, Offering mature and calm guidance.

Sometimes life is hard and family members need a break. Our fully trained volunteer Host Families host child(ren) for short periods of time to provide rest and respite for both the child(ren) and their family. Becoming a Host Family with Safe Families is an amazing gift to local families in your community who are struggling to manage life for whatever reason. Safe Families works across all of Midlothian, is a UK wide Christian charity and seeks to provide early intervention to the lives of struggling families in order to reduce any statutory service input. We provide full training and support for all our volunteers, who come from all walks of life, and give them the chance to get alongside local people, helping to strengthen their family life by supporting them through a time of crisis. Volunteering opportunities can be flexible around the needs of the family and the volunteer so that they suit both parties. Hosting involves caring for children from a local family in your home overnight for a fixed length of time – either a few nights in a row or on a regular basis, a night at a time.

The Expedition is a big part of the DofE experience, and we are looking for volunteers to support participants in these overnight adventures. We will provide all necessary training where required including national recognised outdoor qualifications. This is a great opportunity to support and encourage young people in achieving their goals and enjoying the local area we live in. For young people to complete their award they will look towards completing their expeditions volunteering support in this area gives them the support to complete their award. Nationally recognised qualifications would be offered to a volunteer.

Please note: Due to current Scottish Government guidance, no face to face element of Scouts will take place. We are only using virtual means to contact volunteers and children. While we might not be meeting in person just now, we are meeting through Zoom and conducting activities. What do volunteers do? Week by week, our volunteers empower thousands of young people to learn new skills, make new friends and stand on their own two feet. They’re our everyday heroes. They shape young people’s lives for the better and find out a whole lot about themselves in the process, too. Today, there are nearly 60,000 young people on waiting lists to join us in the UK. We’re more relevant and more needed than ever, but it’s not always easy to keep up with the demand. That’s where you come in You don’t need to be Bear Grylls to join us. You don’t need to have been a Scout when you were younger. You don’t even need to know how to put up a tent. Our door is open to people of all ages, genders, races, and backgrounds, and we’re only able to change lives because people like you lend a hand. We’re talking about tea makers, tidy-uppers, and skill sharers. We’re talking about minibus drivers and first aiders. We’re talking about students who want to boost their CV, and parents who volunteer so they can spend more time together as a family. Whatever your skillset, lend a hand for as little or as much time as you can spare, and we promise you’ll get more out than you put in. Because whether you’re helping a leader to run an activity in the local town hall, organising a night away, or buttering 120 slices of bread a group of very hungry eleven-year olds - no two Scout meetings are the same. The difference you make, though, is always great. We provide the training. You show up, get stuck in, and make memories for life. As long as you're over 18, you can help out as an adult volunteer in Scouting. There is no upper age limit for adult volunteers. If you are aged between 14 and 18, there is the option of becoming a Young Leader. Sounds fun? Worthwhile? It is. Fill out this form, and we can chat through what’s available: https://scouts-northeastscotland.org.uk/Adults/AdultApplication Benefits: • Access to accredited training, including the Institution of Leadership and Management. • Improved employability and wellbeing • New skills and personal development • Saltire Award / DofE supported • Flexible approach to do volunteering including home-based opportunities. • Supportive Volunteers and Staff • Progression opportunities • Inclusive Organisation About North East Scotland Scout Region | SC017511 As Scouts, we believe in preparing young people with skills for life. We encourage our young people to do more, learn more and be more. Each week, we give over 5000 young people in the North East of Scotland the opportunity to enjoy fun and adventure while developing the skills they need to succeed, now and in the future. We’re talking about teamwork, leadership, and resilience – skills that have helped Scouts become everything from teachers and social workers to astronauts and Olympians. We believe in bringing people together. We celebrate diversity and stand against intolerance, always. We’re part of a worldwide movement, creating stronger communities and inspiring positive futures. By 2023 we will have prepared more young people with skills for life, supported by amazing leaders delivering an inspiring programme. We will be growing, more inclusive, shaped by young people and making a bigger impact in our communities. Find out more about the life changing opportunities: https://scouts-northeastscotland.org.uk/