The Red Cross run a Patient Transport Service which provides an essential lifeline for those who need to get to and from hospital treatment facilities. The service provides enhanced care for those needing additional medical support during the journey and this role includes clinical skills and would give volunteers good experience, especially for those wanting a career in ambulance work and the NHS. The role is based in Aberdeen and we are looking for people who can complete 15 days of training run via a combination of e-learning, Zoom training and face to face sessions. You would need to be able to commit to the dates from 20th-23rd April for training in Aberdeen. Once this is completed, we are looking for people to do 2 x 8 hour shifts per month, which can be weekend, evening or weekdays. The minimum age for the role is 21 and you need to have held a UK Driving licence for 2 years. The role will involve: • Collecting and taking patients to a hospital or other treatment centre for appointments or visits • Completing all tasks associated with service delivery, e.g. accurate records, cleaning to approved infection control schedules, equipment used in accordance with training and procedures. • Using communication equipment, if required, in accordance with the radio licence and British Red Cross guidelines, and keeping appropriate records of use • Applying the duty of candour requirements to communication with service users and representatives. • Additional support and guidance sought when required • Providing basic first aid as necessary, in line with the current scope of practice, regulatory standards, and British Red Cross policies, procedures and core values To apply please go to http://bit.ly/ASAberdeen or for more information email MBaxter@redcross.org.uk

Woodfarm Day Centre provides meetings on Thursdays for the elderly to give social contact, activities, a meal, and entertainment. Mini-buses bring members to Woodfarm Pavilion. Hours, normally from 10 am to 3 pm, are flexible for volunteers. You will help members to move about, take part in games, chat and encourage participation in activities, as well as serving food to members. If you can help, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Community alarms support many older and more vulnerable people in Moray to continue living as independently as possible in their own homes. At the press of a button they can quickly raise an alert if they need assistance. There are a number of people in our communities who unfortunately have no family or friends living close by who are able to act as their alarm responder and go check on them when an alarm is activated to provide initial assistance. We are currently experiencing a greater demand for volunteer alarm responders across Moray, especially in the Forres, Elgin, Buckie and Dufftown areas for people who do not have close family, friends are neighbours for this type of support. This volunteer service is very much about remaining calm and providing reassurance. If you would like to know more about what is entailed please contact the Volunteer Development Team email volunteering.CC@moray.gov.uk.

We are looking for welcoming and enthusiastic volunteer(s) to lead short health walks in Moray -- currently these gentle walks are based in Forres, Elgin, Cullen, Buckie, Lossie and Keith. It's sociable, relaxed, fun and flexible -- and there is great support for our volunteers. Becoming a volunteer walk leader requires you to commit around an hour or so of your time weekly (but there is room for flexible dates!) and to sometimes complete a small amount of preparation & paper work for the walk. Health walks encourage people who have not exercised for a while, find walking boring, or lack confidence to join a walking group because they think they will not be able to keep up. Walks are free, short, low intensity, safe and social and are usually followed by a cup of tea or coffee and a chat! Over the next year we plan to build upon our network of gentle exercise activities across the Moray region. To help us achieve this we are looking for friendly and supportive volunteers who enjoy walking, meeting new folk sharing the wide ranging health and well- being benefits of gentle physical activity. We would love it if you could help us set up indoor and outdoor Strength and Balance sessions as well as new Health Walks to boost our provision in the area, helping the people that need it to access these opportunities. Volunteer walk leaders receive on-going support from the Health Walk co-ordinator, too. If you are a people person, like to walk and the outdoors please get in touch!

This is your opportunity to improve the lives of those within our community while enjoying yourself at the same time. We provide a high standard of care and offer appropriate levels of support for Carers in Perth and Kinross. Giving carers respite we enable those who have a degree of physical and/or mental frailty to remain as independent as possible, to improve their quality of life and to delay possible admission to residential nursing home care. We have a variety of different clients with a variety of different needs and as an activities volunteer your role would work as part of the team and support people to stay safe, have an enjoyable experience and for them to remain as independent as possible. We are looking for an activities volunteer to inspire and engage our clients to sample the activities such as arts and crafts, games and all ability sports etc. You will build positive relationships with clients and be supportive of them.

This is a wonderful opportunity to support a young man with a learning difficulty in Glencaple to go out and about in the local area to meet and greet people, have snacks, go shopping, the cinema, do activity pass-times and to really spend time feeling included in the community. The role is designed to be fun but with meaningful outcomes for enjoyment, inclusion and health and wellbeing..

Everyone can feel lonely and isolated at times, especially if experiencing hardship. This year, in response to the crippling effects of loneliness and isolation on peoples physical, emotional and mental health, that the pandemic has only exacerbated, TLC are setting up a befriending service to combat loneliness and isolation in Aberdeen. Our aim is that our expertly trained and compassionate volunteers will not only provide a lifeline to people, in the form of friendship, but also a helping hand to reconnect to the community, bringing joy and passion back into people’s lives. Due to Covid-19 government restrictions, the project will run differently than usual with the use of video conferencing or by phone, however, once restrictions are eased and it is safe to meet in person, befriending sessions will operate face-to-face in people’s homes or in the community. If you would like to be a beacon of hope for someone in need, please apply to become a TLC Befriender. For further information please contact Jonny Astill, Development Manager at EMail: jonny@tlc.org.uk

*Our award-winning charity is looking for Tech volunteers to support older and disabled people with their tech at home.* - Our Vision: Do you have a passion for the power of technology? Our vision is to create ….. “A world in which digital services are equally accessible to all” As an AbilityNet Tech volunteer you can help unleash the power of technology to ensure that older people and disabled people are not excluded from the digital world. “One of your advisors, Trevor, has been helping me with some very basic computer skills on a tablet that I have hardly touched since it was bought for me as a present from my wife. I suffer from Parkinson’s and it is very difficult for me to concentrate. Trevor has been extremely kind and patient and has opened up a world I hardly knew existed.” (AbilityNet client). - Overview: All across the country our 300 volunteers support older and/or disabled people at home to offer one-to-one support with their technology, whether that’s a computer, laptop, smartphone or tablet. Our volunteers: -Trouble shoot technical issues. -Offer impartial advice on technology. -Set up new tech and install hardware and software. -Show people how to use their tech at home e.g. shop online, send and receive emails and Skype with family and friends. -Make adaptations to support a disabled person’s specific technology needs. - What will I be doing? -Contacting clients to arrange a date/time to support (home visits or supporting them remotely). -Carrying out tech support for the clients you have accepted. -Feeding back on progress via our online ticketing system. -Supporting your local Coordinator with promoting the volunteer service in the local area. -Getting together with other tech volunteers at team meetings and wider company events. -Undergoing training on technology, particularly adaptive technology. -Supporting other volunteers through our online chat facility. - What skills do I need?: You don’t need to be a tech guru to help out. If you use a computer at home or work, and perhaps support family and friends with their tech issues, you are likely to have the skills we need: -A passion to help others. -Good IT and computer skills. -Knowledge of standard operating systems and software. -The ability to communicate well with people. -Patience and empathy. - What are the benefits to me?: As an AbilityNet Tech volunteer you can: -Change the lives of disabled and older people. -Benefit from technology and disability training. -Network with a nationwide team of other Tech volunteers. -Be flexible with your volunteering and plan it around your other work and home commitments. - How much time will I need to offer?: The service is client led and will depend on the demand in your local area. The work is flexible and you can arrange visits around your home and work commitments. On average a volunteer undertakes 4 hours of volunteering a month, this can be in or out of work hours, in the evenings or weekends. - What else do I need to know?: -We pay travel expenses at 45p per mile. -As you will be help vulnerable adults you’ll need an enhanced PVG (Scotland) –Protection of Vulnerable Groups check which will be renewed/checked every 2 years (at no cost to the volunteer). - What should I do next?: If you think you have what it takes to be an AbilityNet Tech volunteer please either apply online at https://abilitynet.org.uk/abilitynet-itcanhelp-volunteer-application or if you would like more information, or to chat further about the volunteer role contact the AbilityNet Free Services team on 0800 048 7642, or email volunteers@abilitynet.org.uk You will be contacted by a local volunteer Coordinator to arrange an informal interview.

Street Friends Helping the Homeless Aberdeen is working towards a brighter future for homeless people, vulnerable and people in poverty. With dignity Street Friends Helping the Homeless offer fresh chilled sandwiches and desserts as meals, food parcels for a few days, clothing, pet food, toiletries/condoms/sanitary products to those most in need as a result of homeless, poverty or vulnerable. We have established links with specialist services. When we befriend, we keep a note anonymously, on how people are doing, if they are in danger/emergency they are given immediate help. If they wish to progress we can use the referrals to get people to the correct professional service. We offer kindness, empathy, friendship and safe choices if people wish to pursue them. As our outreach grows we need cleaning volunteers, twice a week for our storage facility. We are looking for people with skills to do basic tasks such as deep cleans, sterilising and tidying. We have a full volunteer pathway with training opportunities and all help makes a real difference and is always greatly appreciated. For more information about volunteering with Street Friends Helping the Homeless please contact Sam Raion, Communications Secretary at email admin@streetfriendshelpingthehomeless.com

*Bon Accord Care: Kingswells Care Home: Bon Accord Care recognises the invaluable contribution that the general public: friends and relatives can provide to the care and well-being of the people we support. We encourage the involvement of individuals who wish to volunteer in a service in a voluntary capacity, whilst ensuring that the health, safety and well-being of volunteers, the people we support, staff members and visitors is maintained at all times. Kingswells Care Home, is seeking support from volunteers or local community groups to help look after, care for and maintain our beautiful gardens. Kingswells Care Home provides support for individuals with dementia and age related conditions. Being able to use the safe garden area, or being able to look out at flowering tubs and pots and bird feeders, can greatly enhance the quality of an individual’s day. If you are handy with potting plants, weeding borders, then we really would love to hear from you. This is a great opportunity to meet new people, help you stay active and fit. Most importantly you will be contributing to improving the quality of daily life experienced by our service users. *About Bon Accord Care: Bon Accord Care is at the forefront of the continuing development of services to enable independence and reduce hospital admissions, as well as promote active ageing and well-being. Working together with our key partners, we are aligned with the Aberdeen City Health and Social Care Partnership to deliver services. Bon Accord Care work together with service users, partners, employees and volunteers to support our communities and create meaningful relationships with those around us. We deliver a range of services that are aimed at prevention, maximising independence, and enhancing wellbeing. Our focus from the outset is to get to know individual preferences, wants, history and lifestyle to ensure that each person receives a service that is unique to them. Our range of services cover: care at home, housing support, residential care homes, rehabilitation, re-ablement, occupational therapy, SVQs through learning and development, community equipment, telecare, day care, responder, respite and community meals. For further details please contact Julie Suttar, Engagement & Liaison Lead at E-Mail: BACVolunteering@bonaccordcare.org or tel.: 01224 570400.