Disability Equality Scotland is looking for new members to join the new Access Panel in Moray to promote inclusive design and accessibility in the area. Access Panels can be found across Scotland, and they are groups of volunteer disabled people who work to improve accessibility in their local areas. Access Panels work with many different groups in their area such as the local authority, community council, and other groups to help improve accessibility for disabled people. Disability Equality Scotland is the umbrella body for Access Panels in Scotland. Access Panels work to improve physical access and wider social inclusion in their local communities. They are made up of groups of local volunteers, including disabled people, who come together to improve access in their local communities. This doesn’t just mean access to the built environment. Access Panels are increasingly concerned with ‘access’ in the fullest sense, including: roads; employment; education; health; transport; the countryside and leisure and recreation, etc. Panels provide a valuable service in their communities, including: • Engaging with local authorities and other public bodies on access matters and independent living • Examining and advising on building warrant applications and planning • Undertaking site visits Many take on specific projects, such as: • Researching and publishing local access guides for disabled people and tourism • Disseminating information on access and independent living • Offering advice and guidance to architects and designers Access Panels can help their communities in many ways including: • Creating a better physical environment for all • Assisting local authorities, public bodies and designers meet their statutory obligations • Promoting full social inclusion • Encouraging people to take ownership of what happens in their own communities • Keeping access and independent living issues to the fore What is an Access Panel? Access Panels are groups of volunteers who work to improve access and inclusion for disabled people in their local community. They do this by raising awareness and helping to change attitudes among the general public about the need for inclusive access. Access Panels are made up of people of all ages and abilities who share a passion for the issues faced by disabled people. With the help of Disability Equality Scotland as the national umbrella body, Access Panels support their communities to become as accessible as possible, particularly in relation to the built environment, healthcare, employment, education, and transport.

Would you be willing to help people access essential services and social activities in Angus? Could you be a volunteer driver? We are looking for drivers who can help us provide a volunteer driver service to assist service users to access school, appointments, meetings and access community activities as requested by Voluntary Services. The main tasks involve: • Safely transporting service users including young people, older people and people with disabilities • Assisting people in and out of the car • Helping people to their front door • Assisting with bags • Maintaining appropriate boundaries in relationships • Maintaining confidentiality • Taking responsibility for ensuring car seats are appropriate for car and child being transported. You will need to be: • A confident driver • Willing to use your own vehicle and have business insurance cover • Enjoy meeting people • Show empathy, patience and reliability • Availability 2-3 hours daily • Be comfortable working on own initiative but know when to seek support We are looking for volunteers who can offer 2-3 hours per week with a minimum period of 6 months commitment. Induction training is mandatory and includes confidentiality, personal safety, protecting people, lone working, communication skills and values. Other training may be offered, such as manual handling, dealing with difficult behaviour, working with people with disabilities. A PVG will be required.

VoiceAbility is an independent charity and one of the country’s largest providers of advocacy and involvement services. We support people to be heard in decisions about their health, care and wellbeing. We currently have great opportunities in Orkney to volunteer with us as a Support Session Volunteer helping our clients with general advocacy, supporting people with a variety of challenges. The focus of the role will be on supporting those with complex needs who self-disclose as having a disability to use our toolkits and helping them understand their rights and access their benefits. Volunteer support helps us to reduce waitlists and support more individuals by: • Helping clients understand about advocacy • Supporting clients to self-advocate with our tool kits • Signposting clients to other services where required • 1:1 casework • Supporting the service to deliver “collective” advocacy sessions • Keeping detailed notes and records of casework • Promotion of services through events and community engagement Full training and excellent support is provided to all volunteers. All help makes a real difference and is greatly appreciated.

VoiceAbility is an independent charity and one of the country’s largest providers of advocacy and involvement services. We support people to be heard in decisions about their health, care and wellbeing. We currently have great opportunities in Orkney to volunteer with us as an Advocacy Support Team Leader, supporting people with a variety of challenges. Volunteer support helps us to reduce waitlists and support more individuals. The Service Team Volunteer role supports a local Team in the delivery of our services. This can include: • Administrative support • Helping clients understand the service and how to access it • Dropping off promotional materials • Attending events • Assisting staff with workshops, presentations and awareness raising • Accompanying staff on home visits • Promoting the organisation and our services • Submitting regular reports on activities completed

Forfar Open Gardens are looking for Volunteer Gardeners to provide general help within the garden whether that be pottering in the outdoor or indoor planting areas, clearing and pruning in the large woodland space or any of the many jobs in between. The garden is an open space for people young and old to come along and enjoy so you have a keen interest in gardening or would like to learn then they would love to hear from you. Youth opportunities are available on Friday afternoons. Interested? Want to know more? Get in touch.

To provide support and encouragement to volunteers of Forfar Open Garden Scheme that may require additional support.

The volunteers will be helping children and adults. They may be working with horses and ponies and there's lots of walking involved so it's an excellent way to keep fit.

Are interested in becoming a volunteer driver? Do you enjoy driving and helping people? If you have your own vehicle and able to offer regular commitment, we have opportunities available in Angus and Dundee. We are looking for volunteer drivers to help us transport: - adults to day care - children to school - people to their GP or hospital appointment - people with learning disabilities to college. We pay your mileage expenses and provide appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). If you are interested please get in touch with Voluntary Services on 01307 492448 or VolunteerServices@angus.gov.uk.

St Colms has a large polytunnel and garden area with cold frames where they grow and sell plants. We are looking for volunteers to assist adults with learning disabilities with horticulture activities.This could be in the polytunnel or outdoors. Tasks include sowing seeds, planting out seedlings, weeding and watering.

PSPA is a national charity providing support and information to people living with PSP and CBD, while funding research into treatments and ultimately a cure. We rely entirely on voluntary donations. You can see more about this here at https://pspassociation.org.uk/ PSP and CBD are rare and little known. Education Volunteers can improve this situation. Our volunteers raise awareness with health and social care professionals and in local communities by offering informative talks to interested groups. These talks are set up on an ad hoc basis, a small number of times in a year and as close as possible to the volunteers’ local area - A driving licence and access to a car is desirable.