Blackwood Homes and Care was founded in 1972 by Dr Margaret Blackwood MBE, a campaigner for the rights and independence of disabled people. We deliver our vision of helping people live their life to the full in the pioneering spirit of Dr Blackwood by providing high quality housing, care and support for disabled people of all ages, with over 1500 homes across all 29 mainland local authorities in Scotland. -What will I be doing as a Digital Buddy?: Can you help our customers feel less isolated by supporting them to use technology to connect with the wider world? We are looking for people who are confident with basic IT skills and have the patience to share your skills with people who are new and uncertain when using technology. You also need to enjoy making casual conversation and building familiar relationships. Customers are perhaps unsure how to connect to the internet, charge their device, video call a friend or do shopping online. Helping someone make a video call for the first time to family they’ve not seen due to the pandemic really makes a difference to their quality of life along with their mood and mental wellbeing. At Blackwood we believe that using technology can significantly improve the lives of our customers. We provide care (in care homes), care at home services and tenancies to people with different support needs. Our customers have been offered a tablet which is set up with our innovative system CleverCogs. The role out of this is delivered by our Digital Skills Coaches but people continue to need support with basic IT issues to gain skills and confidence. Some customers don’t like to ask for more help, so knowing there is a wider network of buddies that can provide digital support will be very beneficial. This is where your time will be invaluable! Due to COVID-19 this role will start remotely, providing help over the phone or a video call. As restrictions ease, you will be able to visit customers in their home. Hopefully getting to meet some of the people you’ve helped remotely. -What will you get from volunteering?: • Supporting your local community to join the digital age and providing them with the autonomy to run their own lives online • The opportunity to be involved in key unforgettable digital-learning moments, such as their first video call with a much-missed family member • By providing a friendly face and conversation, you are helping to eradicate social isolation for many • Satisfaction that you’ve made a difference to the lives of Blackwood Customers. • Be involved in our innovative initiatives • Build on trouble-shooting and problem-solving skills • Awareness and knowledge of differing accessibility and communication needs, and how to meet those needs • Evidence of IT, communication and disability accessibility knowledge and skills for your CV • Induction to Blackwood • Training on the likely issues that you’ll help with to ensure you’re confident undertaking your role. • Support throughout your volunteering. Staff will be available should you need assistance and we’ll have a regular catch up. -What do I do next?: Please get in touch with the Volunteering Development Co-ordinator, Zoe MacGregor to find out more. Contact Zoe at email: volunteering@blackwoodgroup.org.uk or tel.: 07976 573745. Or look at the website https://www.blackwoodgroup.org.uk/volunteer for more opportunities and complete the on-line expression of interest form. You will be contacted to arrange an informal discussion to find out more and talk about what you would like to do. You can also follow Blackwood Homes and Care on social media to hear about what’s going on.

Talkable offers a talkline to anyone suffering from panic or anxiety. We currently have a range of ways that you can help as a volunteer and as we continue to grow and provide ever more vital support to people. Opportunities to join our team of volunteers include: *Call Handler Volunteers. *Message Line Volunteers. *Legal Advisor Volunteer(s). *Mental Health Consultant Volunteer(s). *Policy and Procedure Advisor Volunteers. Excellent support and any relevant training is provided to all volunteers. There will also be an Area Manager to oversee everything and volunteers will be a part of a group of others who all help and support one another. There are flexible times available to assist. All help makes a difference and is greatly appreciated. For more information about any of these volunteer roles or any other ways you wish to help us as a volunteer please contact Chelsea Birkett at E Mail: info@talkable.online or tel: 07999 453655.

1 in 6 people in Scotland have a hearing impairment . You will know someone who has it, or may have hearing loss yourself. In Midlothian we have recently introduced the hearing aid battery pick up points in all our local libraries. This has been a huge success. It draws people into Libraries, to interact with staff and other members of the community and makes them aware of the wide range of activities which are on offer there. This saves time and money for people, reduces social isolation and eases pressure on the over-stretched staff in Audiology in Edinburgh. It means fewer hearing aids lie unused in drawers, for want of a battery. It really is a win, win. We now want to expand on this by offering repair and maintenance clinics locally too. The replacement of tubing in the hearing aid for example, is required every so often. It is not difficult to do, but it is a bit fiddly, especially for older or disabled people who are a large proportion of hearing aid users. Full training is provided prior to involvement. We have established a clinic which runs on the first Wednesday of every month in Dalkeith Library, 10.30-11.30 am. We also have now established a clinic in Penicuik Town Hall on the last Wednesday of every month 10:30 - 11:30am. If we can recruit more volunteers, we would like to start a clinic in Gorebridge, which would involve a similar monthly commitment. At present due to Covid-19 clinics are suspended but do get in touch if you are interested in this opportunity. Contact will then be made with volunteers once the clinics are re-opened.

Helm is a charity based in Dundee which provides a creative, supportive learning service for people, in particular young people, who may face difficult barriers to developing sustainable careers. We encourage young people to strive for positive results and over 70% reach positive destinations. Where do you fit in? Helm are currently looking for a dynamic individual who can engage with students to find that spark that ignites a potential future in either training or employment within car mechanics. You will be based at our Training garage in Dundee and will work alongside our Head Mechanic and students in commercial service and repairs and intensive teaching on Helm training cars and motorbikes. We also provide a valeting service.

MS Therapy Centre in Dundee is accepting applications from people to join their team of oxygen chamber operators. Our oxygen sessions operate 6 days a week in a non-clinical environment. Volunteers would ideally provide back-up and support to our lead chamber operators. Full training would take place on the premises. As some of our members require assistance in and out of the oxygen chamber, would ask that you are physically fit. Ideally volunteer sessions would last 2-3 hours, once a week. The chamber seats 8 people at one time.

The Breadmaker, as part of the Aberdeen Day Project (a registered charity) is an artisan bakery and coffee house. Located in Aberdeen City we produce and sell a range of quality handcrafted breads and confectionary to wholesale and retail customers alike with the purpose of providing a range of work placements, training and social activities for adults with learning disabilities (apprentices) who can otherwise experience exclusion and isolation in society. As Volunteer Trustees/Directors you would help maintain the objectives and aims of the Breadmaker to include and empower people who attend the charity to play a full and active role in the community, reduce isolation, increase friends/social life, increase confidence and self esteem of individuals who have a learning disability. We would especially be appreciative of people to join our Board of Trustees who have a professional background, people who come from HR, IT, Marketing, Care, Counsellor background etc. Our Board of Trustees meetings take place monthly and there is also an Annual General Meeting. An exciting and fantastic opportunity to volunteer at an award winning social enterprise/charity, working alongside our CEO and senior management team to enhance apprentices/people we support lives. For more information please contact Donald Anderson, CEO at email donald.anderson@thebreadmaker.org.uk or tel.: 01224 641520.

We are looking for dedicated individuals to strengthen and support the existing trustees on our Board. We wish to increase the diversity and experience on our Board, so hope to attract applications from a wide range of talented individuals. Whilst all applications are appreciated, we are keen to attract people with experience or knowledge in the following areas: Social Media/Marketing – You will work closely with the Scheme Manager to help grow our social media following, as well as post new content on social media and our new website. Fundraising – You will support the Scheme Manager with fundraising activities e.g., community fundraising, online fundraising or bid writing. Child Protection – We support families with young children and welcome trustees with experience in this area. You will be available for ad hoc email correspondence to support the staff team in their work if necessary.

These examinations require volunteer patients with clear physical signs (e.g. a heart murmur) that can be found by a skilled doctor when they examine a patient, or symptoms (e.g. breathlessness). The use of "real" patients in clinical examinations allows the candidate to discover abnormalities on examination in a way that actors and manikins cannot, and gives the students an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge, attitudes, behaviours and skills in a much more reliable way.

The Bellman SCIO is Stonehaven's volunteer-run local news website. We would be delighted to hear from anyone who could help provide content for the site - stories, videos or photographs about Stonehaven life. Help with marketing and contacting local groups to develop range of contributions would be useful. And if there is a website developer with time to spare, this would be invaluable.

Mearns FM is continually on the look out for some fresh new voluntary talent. What do you get? Some real hands on experience of working in a professional environment. You’ll be taught the art of radio presentation. You’ll see every aspect of how a radio station is operated. We’ll also help you get a foot into the industry, and you’ll get the opportunity to be a part of a hardworking and committed team of volunteers. Further permanent or temporary studios could be established anywhere in K & M with internet access if volunteers in that location wish to organise one. No previous Broadcasting experience is required and training is provided. We transmit programmes made by other community organisations. They must however meet Ofcom guidelines.