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 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.

We’re looking for volunteers to join our global movement, to help raise awareness about Mary’s Meals and fundraise for our work. 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. If you have a little time to spare, you enjoy meeting like-minded people, want to learn new skills and you’d like to help our amazing cause, then our Community Volunteer role is perfect for you! Volunteering is fulfilling and fun. By gifting your precious free time to Mary’s Meals, you can learn useful new skills, meet new people, and make a valuable contribution to our important work to reach more hungry children with life-changing meals in schools. We really need your help so we can keep our promise to the more than 1.8million children who rely on a nutritious daily meal at school from Mary’s Meals, especially as Covid-19 has hit many developing countries so hard. 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. We have a range of activities that can be done from the comfort of your home, while Covid-19 restrictions are in place. They include: hosting virtual talks, spreading the word about our work on social media or holding screenings of our inspiring videos with family and friends. If you don’t mind public speaking, we can also train you to visit schools, Rotary Clubs and other local organisations to give talks virtually and generate support for our cause.

Whatever role they choose and however many hours they give, Charlie House volunteers are helping to support local babies, children and young people with complex disabilities and life-limiting conditions as well as getting the charity closer to its dream of building a specialist support centre in the North East. Following on the success of the Aberdeen Indoor Christmas Market, Charlie House is very excited to be bringing the Curated Aberdeen Market to the city. The market features a wide range of stall holders and is open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Curated Aberdeen Market offers a wonderful opportunity to raise funds for and awareness of Charlie House. Volunteers are key to the success of this, helping to give customers a welcoming and positive curated shopping experience. Supporting the Market Manager, the volunteer role includes meeting and greeting customers, highlighting any Covid-safe measures, manning the Charlie House stall selling merchandise and raffle tickets, restocking merchandise and being an ambassador for the charity. A fantastic opportunity to help, which makes a real difference and is greatly appreciated. For further details please contact Joan Cowie, Volunteer & Information Coordinator at E Mail: joan@charliehouse.org.uk or tel.: 01224 313333.

Have you been Bereaved by Suicide? Do you have a desire to help other people who have also been Bereaved by Suicide? Are you comfortable listening to the experiences of others? You could be just the person we are looking for. We have self-help support groups across the UK, where you can meet with other people who have been bereaved by suicide and we want to enroll some new volunteers to set up a group in Aberdeen. Typically, our groups meet once a month and last for around 2 hours. Presently many groups are meeting virtually via Zoom but when regulations allow, they will return to Face to Face. They provide an opportunity to listen, to share, to ask questions and to connect with others. Each local SoBS group is run by a team of 3: the group leader and two group volunteers, all of whom have been bereaved by suicide themselves. Between them, they facilitate the session, get the conversation started, make sure everyone has the opportunity to talk if they want to, and generally look out for people and each other. The team also work together to manage the administration, fundraising and communication for the group, sometimes with the help of additional support volunteers. There is no set structure to a session – people are free to talk and listen as they wish. The topics discussed vary from week to week but often includes people sharing their story, how they are feeling, what has happened since their last group visit, questions about coroners and discussions about common challenges such as flashbacks, supporting children or facing neighbours. Many groups also offer a small resource library and can share information about local sources of support. For further details please contact Phill Abbiss, Volunteer Coordinator (North) at E Mail: phill.abbiss@uksobs.org or tel.: 07535 854 860.

We are delighted to welcome back Volunteers and have opportunities across our services in Aberdeen. So, no matter where you live in the city, there could be an opportunity near you! In the first instance we are seeking Befrienders. Many of our Service Users have been shielding for over a year. We are looking for Volunteers to become befrienders, being a befriender means you could be supporting someone with an outside walk, build up confidence with support to a supermarket, help with laundry, just enjoy sitting having a chat over a cuppa, or maybe help with some light domestic duties or cooking. All Volunteers will go through pre recruitment checks that include, Interview, PVG and References. Volunteering is such a worthwhile act, not only can your support be lifechanging for an older person, but you can also gain, increased confidence, experience improve your own self-esteem, feel part of a team, and make new friends. For more details please contact Julie Suttar, Engagement & Liaison Lead at E-Mail: jsuttar@bonaccordcare.org or tel.: 07901944728.

The Board of Trustees of Four Pillars are looking to recruit new trustees to ensure the Charity can continue to grow and support the LGBT+ community in Grampian. Four pillars currently run a community hub, support and social groups, 1 to 1 support, provide volunteering opportunities and facilitate Grampian Pride. There are lots of ideas in the pipeline for the future. In order to achieve these we are particularly looking for people with previous experience of serving on a charity board and/or with skills and knowledge in one or more of the following: -An understanding of the needs of the LGBT+ community in Grampian -PR social media -Legal knowledge -Fundraising/ event planning We would also like to hear from people currently underrepresented on our board: -People with a disability -People from an ethnic minority For more information or to apply please go to our website www.fourpillarsuk.org/volunteer

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.

Charlie House runs a café in the city’s Bon Accord Centre with 100% of profits supporting babies, children and young people with complex disabilities and life-limiting conditions, and their families, across the North-east of Scotland. The café is open seven days a week providing sit-in and take-away hot/cold drinks, soup, cakes and sandwiches. Our ReCHarge café volunteers are a key part of the team, helping to give customers a welcoming and positive café experience. Volunteer activities include helping to: -meet and greet customers -keep the café and servery areas clean and tidy -prepare food/drinks -take payments -replenish stock. Volunteers are also trained and encouraged to promote Charlie House events and activities to potential families, volunteers, supporters and members of the public. All help makes a real difference and is greatly appreciated. For further details please contact Joan Cowie, Volunteer & Information Coordinator at E Mail: joan@charliehouse.org.uk or tel.: 01224 313333

volunteers to assist with maintenance and practical tasks at Dunnet Forest, Caithness. This is a community woodland supported by volunteers.

To open up the museum and/or close it down at the days end. To provide a warm welcome to the museum to all visitors. To provide information about the local area and answer questions. To handle small shop sales, operate a till and credit card machine. Light cleaning duties. Any extra covid related cleaning duties.