A fantastic opportunity to join our exciting lock keeping project and experience the 'canal magic' for yourself. As a member of our enthusiastic team of volunteers you will be working in the unique setting of the Forth and Clyde Canal and around famous landmarks such as the Falkirk Wheel and The Kelpies. Working with our volunteer lock keeping team based at Lock 16 in Camelon, the role will involve assisting with boat movements on the Forth and Clyde Canal between Lock 3 at the Kelpies and Lock 20 near Banknock. Go Forth and Clyde assists with every boat movement between these locks 7 days per week during the lock keeping season, so there is ample opportunity to get involved. V Volunteers can use their own bicycles to travel between the locks, but Go Forth and Clyde also provides bicycles for volunteers to use whilst on lock keeping duty. The required tools, life jackets and hi-vis clothing are also provided.

Shetland Triathlon Club require marshalls for their junior and senior events, as well as timekeepers and lane counters. No experience is necessary, as duties will be explained on the day. Marshallling means that you will direct competitors to the correct route and ensure that all competitors are accounted for at the correct turning points / finish line etc. You will never be asked to stop or direct traffic. You could also help with lane counting at the swimming part of the events, or time keep using a stop watch too.

Event Makers Co. are a group of four final year RGU students who are fundraising for Erskine Veterans Charity. We are putting on a large makers market and workshop event and require a few volunteers to help the day run more smoothly! It is a pop-up event that aims to raise as much money as possible for Erskine, and raise awareness of the charity and their Forres Activity Centre project, which will support the large number of Veterans across the North East. The North East has a large number of Veterans, and the new activity centre will provide life-changing, and likely life-saving, support for our Veterans. Their existing activity centre in the Erskine's Veterans Village (near Paisley) has proven this. Erskine have been supporting our Veterans since 1916, and support over 1,000 Veterans across Scotland every year. Roles include: - Refreshment stand - Fundraising stand - Car parking attendants / giving directions - General assistants (floating) - Wearing the Erskine mascot costume! Similar events have attracted a few hundred people in the past. We're also happy to provide verification of volunteering hours if required for personal development, CV and so on. We are so grateful for any help in ensuring this event runs smoothly and helps us raise as much as we can for Erskine Veterans! We are fully backed by Erskine and RGU to host the event.

Guide Dog UK are looking for short stay host families to host a guide dog [in training] for up to 10 weeks. The guide dogs will be receiving regular/daily training from the Guide Dog UK trainer in Caithness . Your role will be to keep the dog in your home and follow simple training guidelines while the dog is receiving its official training. Our trainer will pick up and drop off the dog from your home four days a week. For the remaining three days, including the weekend, the dog will stay with you all day. Guide Dogs provide exceptional training and encouragement throughout your volunteering journey and will pay all pre-agreed expenses.

Are you interested in wildlife and would you like to get involved in practical work on our Culbin Sands reserve? We are looking for new volunteers to get involved and help us manage our remote and fascinating Culbin Sands reserve. We rely on the hard work and dedication of volunteers to keep the habitats on this reserve in fine condition. To do this, we are running work groups, usually once or twice a week between August and April. This role is suitable for under 18’s. We will carry out habitat management tasks during these work groups, which will include the removal of scrub and small trees with hand tools and burning brash on bonfires. We are looking for volunteers to help out with these management tasks by joining our dedicated team of volunteers. Work groups take place between Monday and Saturday. It is not possible to run work groups on regular days of the week as access to Culbin Sands is dependent on the timing of tides, so planned work group dates are released every few weeks. The tasks are running as part of our LIFE 100% for Nature Project, which aims to improve the condition of sand dune and vegetated shingle habitats on the reserve, to benefit a range of rare and threatened species. In this role you'll learn about the management and ecology of this important reserve while developing new skills in habitat management or just enjoying this remote and wild reserve. While in the role, appropriate training and support will be provided for all tasks. Through this role you will be making an important contribution to the management of this reserve. We are looking for volunteers who are enthusiastic, flexible and can get on well with a range of people. If you have an interest in conservation it will be helpful, but not essential. No specialist skills are required however, you will need to be able to use hand tools (bowsaws, loppers) for cutting vegetation and you will need to be able to withstand 4-6 hours of working (at your own pace) on a remote site in sometimes poor weather conditions. You will need to be able to move over steep, boggy and sandy ground and be able to step over or use a narrow plank to cross a tidal creek to access the site. You will need to be comfortable to occasionally work around loud machinery and to follow safety instructions. Due to the remoteness of the reserve, there are no indoor toilet facilities at this reserve. You will need to make sure you have an up-to-date tetanus injection. As the reserve is remote, you will need your own transport to get to the reserve. The reserve is not served by public transport. Volunteers will need to provide their own food, drink and outdoor clothing, including wellies. The RSPB will provide appropriate Personal Protective Equipment relevant to the tasks, such as work gloves and protective glasses. We recommend that new volunteers attend a trial volunteer session, to ensure that the role is suitable for them.

Burghead Amenities Association has a wonderful community garden in Burghead which is enjoyed by people of all generations and abilities. They have various flower beds, a sensory garden, play area for toddlers, and hopefully soon they will have an outdoor gym for all ages and abilities. There is ample scope for people to help with all aspects of the garden, from simple weeding, to assisting them on maintenance, designing and caring vegetables. No Skills are required as there will be people around to learn from, to do whatever is needed. The garden is run totally by volunteers, most of whom have no horticultural training, but they all learn from each other and help each other. This is mostly physical work, so people that have difficulty or pain bending and kneeling may want to restrict their time allocation for helping. The local primary children come over with their teachers from the school. All ages are welcome, but children will need to be accompanied by an adult. Volunteers help one hour on a Monday evening and two hours on Saturday mornings. Get in touch if you would like to find out more! https://www.facebook.com/pg/burgheadstationyard/about

Wild Things, a local environmental charity based in Moray, has been tackling non-native invasive species on the lower Findhorn River to great effect. Giant Hogweed, Japanese Knotweed and Himalayan Balsam are all plants which out-compete native flora, radically altering the biodiversity of fragile and unique Scottish habitats. We are committed to eradicating the presence of non-native invasive species and working closely with our partners, Findhorn, Nairn and Lossie Fisheries Trust as well as dedicated volunteers from across Moray, we are beating back invasive species. We are looking for adult volunteers for this volunteering role. We provide full PEE and training. The effort can be physically a bit tough and chemicals are used to treat species (glyphosate) and the chemical produced by the plant itself are dangerous (hence the PPE and training). The work can also be quite fun and enjoyable as there is a huge feel-good factor for the positive environmental impacts and a team-spirit working with other volunteers. Individuals can sign up through the website www.wild-things.org.uk What does a day out on our Habitat Restoration Project involve? Conservation volunteering could be: Digging up giant hogweed Pulling up Himalayan balsam Spraying giant hogweed with herbicides Spraying Japanese knotweed with herbicides Clearing paths Surveying for invasive non native plants Fresh air and exercise Good company An opportunity to explore local habitats and the plants and animals that live there These invasive non-native species (INNS) overwhelm the native flora and fauna, limiting biodiversity and threatening the unique but vulnerable habitats around the river which are host to a wide variety of enigmatic species such as Atlantic salmon, otter and osprey. In addition, giant hogweed is a highly toxic plant and is a human health concern, limiting the public’s access to and enjoyment of the river. Your work and energy will help Wild Things! support the return of native species along the banks of the River Findhorn.

We need your help to support this event and help raise vital funds for Scotland's ex-Service men and women. We are looking for volunteers to help with bucket collections and running the Erskine stand during the four days of the show?. Could you spare 2 hours between 10am and 6pm on Fri 24th, Sat 25th, Sun 26th or Mon 27th May on show days. The role will include bucket collecting, supporting us to staff our Erskine stand, welcoming guests and giving out stickers and balloons to donators. As a thank you for helping, you will receive free access to the show. We would also appreciate practical support on Thursday 23rd helping us to set up in advance of the show starting on the 24th. Thank you.

Elgin Museum is Scotland’s oldest continuously independent museum and run entirely by volunteers. Would you be interested in joining us as a visitor service volunteer? This very rewarding work includes welcoming visitors and helping visitor's orientate themselves to the museum, so they can make the most of their visit! A willingness to learn about the Museums collections, and ability to explain to visitors how and where to access information, are essential for the volunteer role. (Looking at the displays and their interpretation is the best way to familiarise yourself – and you can always ask questions of more seasoned volunteers on duty with you!) The ability to serve in the shop, including the use of a (very simple) card reader and to communicate with the front desk via walkie would also be helpful. Full Training will be given with an induction to the Museum’s workings. Volunteers will need to be comfortable and able to work independently after being given initial training. If you feel this volunteering role is for you, please email: curator@elginmuseum.org.uk or visit our website https://elginmuseum.org.uk/volunteering/

- Willing to participate in activities and learn about new cultures? - Ready to create social change and improve peoples lives? No matter where you are in Scotland, you have access to training and learning opportunities abroad that can help you gain skills, boost confidence, and earn qualifications. Our organisation offers multiple trips throughout the year, with mentors available to provide support. We partner with other organizations to offer placements in Ghana, Romania, and potentially Eastern European countries, each with a unique set of activities and tasks that focus on developing various skills. We offer shorter 3 to 4 day trips for young people, aged 16-30, as well as longer trips of 2 to 3 weeks for anyone over 16. An exciting and great opportunity to help and make a difference. For more information please contact Megan Beattie, Project Delivery Lead at email: start@standinternational.org or telephone: 0131 659 9943. Further information is also available at: https://www.standinternational.org/