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 including financial information • 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

As a Sported volunteer you will use your professional skills and lived experience to help groups overcome operational challenges, become better equipped for the future, and tackle inequality in sport. Most of our roles are quite flexible and work around your schedule. Most of our volunteering support is delivered digitally, making it even easier to get started supporting members across our network. Travel expenses in line with our policy are covered where in-person meetings occur. Our roles include: SHORT TERM PLACEMENTS - Focused on one topic area or specific challenge, placements usually last about 6 sessions. LONG TERM PLACEMENTS - Placements span a series of months and encompass multiple topics, or a single complex subject. ONE-OFF SUPPORT - Kickstarts are semi-structured, informal chats to learn more about a group's strengths and challenges, and recommend a course of action. SPECIFIC PROJECT WORK - Facilitating/delivering webinare and training, or supporting Sported itself plus much more! We are looking for volunteers who have 3 or more years professional and/or lived experience in any of the below core support topics; Evaluation and Impact / Facilities / Financial Management / Fundraising and Income Generation / Governance / Inclusion / Leadership Coaching / Marketing/PR / Planning (Business/Strategic) / Project Planning / Sports Development / Volunteer and Staff Management / Women and Girls / Other skills or lived experience that might be applicable. Please note: Our members operate across the UK, and support varies depending on their needs. As such there may not currently be any opportunities within your region. NEXT STEP: Unsure if you've got the right qualifications? Not terrible interested in sport? Don't let that stop you form getting in touch and chatting with a member of the Sported team! We think volunteering with us is a rewarding member of the Sported team! We think volunteering with us is a rewarding opportunity to help community groups survive so that young people thrive.

Pause & Breathe are a Community Interest Company run by husband and wife Susie Hooper and Phil Blackburn. We are passionate about making wellbeing more accessible financially, as we believe everyone is entitled to access services to enable good mental, physical and emotional health. Based in Bonnybridge, near Falkirk, it is our mission to promote the health and wellness of our local community through providing wellbeing sessions that are accessible to all. We encourage habits that contribute to improved physical, emotional and mental health by increasing awareness of factors and resources that contribute to wellbeing. We are seeking some administrative support to help with the day-to-day running of Pause & Breathe and to help let people know about the opportunities on offer at our Community Wellbeing Centre. This support would consist of: - processing bookings for our events - listing bookings on our booking page, website and Facebook - support with newsletters and blogs - creating posts for social media and posters/flyers If you would like to know more or think you can help, then please do reach out!

Interested in inspiring young people in the STEM subjects? Join a national network of 32,000 STEM Ambassadors in the UK and 5,000 in Scotland! STEM Ambassadors volunteer to inspire the next generation and help young people to develop the skills, confidence and mindset to build successful futures in STEM. You can volunteer as a STEM Ambassador to give career talks, run STEM clubs, provide advice on STEM subjects, run STEM workshops, help young people with STEM competitions - anything really which will ignite their imagination. STEM Ambassadors can find their own opportunities to volunteer or can search the STEM Ambassador digital platform for both face to face and online requests placed by teachers and community groups. The platform will connect you with the teacher/community group making the request and you can message to arrange the activity. All of your volunteering can be recorded on the platform to build a detailed summary of what you have been involved with. All STEM Ambassadors undergo a PVG Disclosure check and undertake online induction training before being authorised to work with young people. The programme is funded through the UK Government, with SSERC being the local Scottish delivery partner. SSERC will provide you with regular updates, training sessions and networking opportunities to keep your knowledge up to date and relevant for working in schools and community groups.

Neil's Hugs Foundation is a well-established charity in West Lothian and are expanding into the Clackmannanshire area. The group are developing a safe, compassionate and confidential space where support groups can meet for: • Anyone who are experiencing poor mental health • To support people who have lost loved ones to suicide • Families who are supporting a loved one who attempted suicide. The Foundation seeks to provide a safe place to talk and listen and support each other. They aim to reduce loneliness and isolation people with poor mental health experience. Neil's Hugs are developing a one-to-one, 12 week Befriending Service to aid people who are experiencing anxiety and poor mental health to build confidence and skills. Volunteers can help in offering this one-to-one support by becoming Befriender, which will: • Aid in achieving people's desired outcomes • Help people become more active in their local community. Volunteers can help in facilitating groups. Often people find it difficult to talk to people they know, so Neil's Hugs have also established a number of groups. The Support Groups are designed around providing a safe space for people to talk. The groups allow members the space and time while offering a compassionate, listening ear. The Foundation also utilises activities such as art therapy: - Listening Ear Service which is a phone or video service (Zoom) where volunteers support individuals who are experiencing poor mental health by giving them space on a weekly basis to talk. The volunteer’s listen and give support to those who just need someone to talk to. - People who have lost loved ones to suicide can attend a weekly Support Group that provides peer-support for families and friends who have lost a loved one to suicide. This too is a safe place to talk about loved one and to have peers involved in people's grief and loss. - The Gardening Group is among the newest developments at The Foundation. They have now linked in with the Wimpy Park's Garden who have offered an area for volunteers and those grieving to develop into a reflection garden. Volunteers can: If the above roles are not suitable, there are always extra help needed in raising awareness of suicide in communities and raising funds to help keep these vital projects going.

Do you have some time to spare helping out your local community? Are you interested in making a difference during the cost-of-living crisis? FDCU currently have a volunteering opportunity for a social media assistant. The post would involve updating our social media platforms and website, it would be beneficial if the applicant could help create newsletters and suggest marketing ideas to promote our ethical financial products to the local community. Benefits to volunteering with FDCU: • Gaining experience and developing skills • Learning new and sharing existing skills • Supporting and making a difference to your local community • Meeting new friends

We are looking for people who are passionate about ending child hunger and ensuring that every child receives a daily meal in a place of education. As a Community Volunteer you can contribute as an individual or become part of one of our local groups of passionate volunteers, helping to grow our movement by motivating and inspiring people in your local community to support our work. You can raise awareness of our work within your community in a number of ways, including: •Helping us to share our story - give Mary’s Meals talks to local community organisations, schools, churches and faith groups to raise vital awareness and funds •Host fundraising events in your local area such as coffee mornings, quizzes, and bucket collections •Promote Mary’s Meals fundraising campaigns •Distribute and display promotional materials and place collection tins in your local community •Host community engagement events such as film screenings to share our message •Help us to generate corporate support in your local area •Support with local media opportunities •Come together as a group with other local volunteers to support each other with this work All of our volunteer activities are tailored to suit your different skills and time constraints.

Our 24 hour Freephone Dementia Helpline is a vital support for people with dementia, their carers & families and the wider community by ensuring that there is always someone there to listen and act when needed, be that day or night. The Helpline is delivered entirely by trained volunteers. This role can include telephone and online support. The role includes: Offering person-centred emotional support and information to people affected by dementia, primarily but not limited to, over the telephone. Developing and maintaining knowledge on health and social care issues that relate to people living with dementia, including statutory services and welfare benefits. Maintaining knowledge of other organisations and services that can help people living with dementia and sign post when appropriate. Recording information about enquiries on our database in line with our data protection policy. Attend ongoing training opportunities either online or in-person. Keep up to date with Alzheimer Scotland news and our work across Scotland. This volunteer role is available to people who can commit a minimum of 1 shift every 2 weeks. The Helpline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week so a variety of shifts are available.

About Bookmark Bookmark exists to change children’s life stories through the joy of reading. We partner with schools to develop whole school reading cultures and to provide one-to-one reading support. For the children who need us, we’re changing their story. About the role Each year, one in four children leave primary school unable to read well and disadvantaged children are disproportionately affected. Struggling to read can contribute to poor educational attainment, lower literacy in adulthood and has even been linked to a lower life expectancy. Bookmark volunteers spend one hour a week reading stories and playing games with a child aged between five and ten years old, on our secure online platform. The programme involves two 30-minute sessions a week with the same child, for six weeks. You book your programme through the Bookmark Volunteer Hub and select sessions at times that work with your schedule. “It was such a wonderful experience. I was very happy knowing that I was helping someone. The child really improved a lot during the 6 weeks. It was really rewarding for me to see the improvement.” — Joe, Bookmark volunteer If you would like to apply to volunteer, please complete our application form here: https://www.bookmarkreading.org/registernow

Wave Radio is a broadcasting service for the wellbeing of patients at Dr Gray’s Hospital -- and by broadcasting online, they aim to bring the community into the hospital and the hospital into the community. This volunteering opportunity is also a great one if you have a love in music. They are not just looking for people to present on air, but would also welcome people who have a bit of spare time to catalogue music or music production. For people interested in any of their presenter slots, please know these programmes can be pre-recorded for broadcast at a later time. Right now, volunteers can do their shows from home, through the studios at Dr. Grays. Volunteers who have an interest in specific musical genre (i.e./Classical, show tunes, soul etc. ) or have a wide musical taste can find out more about how to help with their breakfast, afternoon and early evening programmes. Wave Radio is run entirely by volunteers and donations. Please get in touch if you would like to find out more about volunteering with them!