How would you like to be part of the Guide Dogs family and help people with sight loss live the life they choose? We would love to have you onboard to help with our ambition of a future where every person with sight loss has the confidence and support they need to live their lives to the full. Did you know that we don’t just provide life-changing guide dogs, we also provide advice, skills, emotional and practical support for children, adults and their families living with sight loss to help them live actively, independently and well? To do all this we need the support of amazing volunteers like you! If you would like more information, are unsure or need flexibility around the role then chat to us first by emailing VolunteerScotNI@Guidedogs.org.uk and someone will be in touch. What does the role involve? Identifying suitable places and placing our iconic dog-shaped collection boxes locally in shops and businesses and counting up the funds every few months before paying them in to Guide Dogs. Key responsibilities: * Identifying and placing collecting boxes in suitable locations * Talking to the shop owner, receptionist etc at the location about how the boxes will help Guide Dogs and what we do * Emptying boxes every 3-6 months (as they get full) and banking the income through the paying in book provided. Give a receipt and letter of thanks to the hosts * Keeping a written record of the location of all boxes for your supervisor, the dates they are emptied and the dates/ amounts banked * If boxes aren’t collecting much, you’ll decide to move them to a better location. Your supervisor may also ask you to remove boxes * Reporting any stolen boxes to the local mobility team Please contact VolunteerScotNI@guidedogs.org.uk for more information.

Want to help our oceans but don’t know where to start? Ghost Fishing UK is appealing for help in Shetland between the 6th and 11th of August 2023. If you are on Shetland during these dates and would like to help turn lost fishing gear into a recycled product, read on… We are looking for volunteers to roll their sleeves up and come and help us in the evenings at Lerwick harbour quayside. Any lost fishing gear we find needs to be sorted, pressure washed and bagged, ready for transport to the mainland for recycling. Any creel pots we find will be cleaned and sorted, awaiting collection from fishermen who want them. We expect the vessel MV Valhalla to return to the harbour at approximately 5 pm each day, where we will need some assistance unloading, cleaning, and sorting any gear found. Updates on our progress will be daily via our social media channels. You’ll need your wellies, old or waterproof clothes and gloves if you have some (we can provide if you need them). We will provide all cutting and pressure-washing equipment. Don’t forget to join us on Thursday evening, 10th August, (adults only) for an evening social and progress update and a Q&A session with the team. We look forward to seeing you there!

You will be providing a puppy with a vital foundation for its future role as a guide dog. This is a full-time volunteering opportunity as a puppy will live with you in your home for around 12-16 months. It should be noted that although it is possible for another Puppy Raiser to look after a dog on your behalf for short periods of time that this may not always be possible. Consideration should be given to your future plans such as holidays abroad. “It’s so rewarding to know that the dog will go on to help people with sight loss gain independence and freedom.” – Chris, Puppy Raiser We rely on volunteers like you to help us improve the lives of people with sight loss. In this role your support will include:- • Developing, caring and providing for the needs of one of our puppies using Positive Reinforcement Techniques and following Guide Dogs Puppy Raising for Excellent Partnerships (PREP) programme • Familiarising a puppy to a wide range of environments including shops and outdoor off lead exercise areas in all climates and seasons. • Teaching a puppy it’s ok to be left alone by gradually building up from a few minutes to a maximum of 4 hours • Attending regular puppy classes • Regularly meeting with Guide Dogs representatives to discuss your pup’s development • Completing regular on-line questionnaires to help us monitor puppy progress Ideally you will: • Be able to handle large breed dogs (around 25-40kg) • Have access to a car on a weekly basis for training and vet visits • Have your own home or written permission to have a dog in the home • Have access to a secure area where the puppy could go to the toilet during the day, especially first thing in the morning and last thing at night • Be able to access online content and training materials (you will need your own email address) If you don’t feel you tick every box but are sure this role is the one for you, please drop us a message and tell us why. We’re open to suggestions and happy to chat with you to find out what’s possible! Volunteering is a two-way street, so in return for your time you will get; • A dedicated volunteer manager/key contact who will help you settle in and support you during your time with us. • The challenge and reward of seeing a puppy develop in your home. • The opportunity to learn and develop your understanding in dog body language, learning theory, the human animal bond and the life of a Guide Dog. Volunteering for Guide Dogs should never leave you out of pocket. We’ll make sure we pay any expenses related to your volunteering with us in line with our policy. If you have any questions or would like to discuss the role further before applying please email volunteer coordinator Aaron Puckrin at aaron.puckrin@guidedogs.org.uk. Thank you.

Do you have an interest in pastoral care, some free time and a lovely, gentle dog? Then volunteering for Pet and Companion (PEACE for short) could be for you and your furry friend! PEACE is a charity providing Canine Therapy along with Pastoral Care for people in need of support and companionship, particularly: the elderly; patients receiving end of life care; students during stressful periods; and vulnerable women. Pastoral Carers and their therapy dogs (PEACE Teams) visit people in need of support and companionship in various locations, including: Care Homes; University and College campuses; and community hubs. Ideally, PEACE Teams will volunteer for a couple of hours a week/fortnight in order to build relationships with the people they visit. The PEACE dog helps to provide a relaxing environment (the basis of canine therapy), while the Pastoral Carer offers both a listening ear and a means of support, happy to talk through any concerns or fears a person may have (pastoral care). The role of a PEACE Pastoral Carer is similar to that of a Chaplain. All Pastoral Carers are therefore Christians, and are comfortable praying and/or discussing their faith with the people they visit, if requested. All PEACE Pastoral Carers receive training in Mental Health First Aid, attentive listening and dementia awareness. Volunteers will also become members of the PVG (Protecting Vulnerable Groups) scheme. For information about volunteering or any other enquiries about PEACE, please contact Sarah Jeffrey at email: sarah@petandcompanion.com Further information is also available at www.petandcompanion.com

We rely on volunteers like you to help us improve the lives of people with sight loss. We have dogs at various ages and stages of their career who may need temporary accommodation and the need will be dependent on your location and circumstances. In this role your support will include: • Providing a safe, secure, and welcoming environment for a dog or puppy. • Ensuring the dog or puppy is fed, exercised, and cared for to maintain excellent health. • Using positive reinforcement training techniques to teach or maintain behaviours. • Ensuring the dog is not left alone for more than 4 hours in a 24-hour period. Foster volunteers who care for dogs in training need to drop off and collect their dog from a local regional centre. Times are normally Monday to Friday between 8 - 9am and 5 - 6pm however there are allowances. Dogs will stay with our staff in the centre during the day to complete training. In the evenings and at weekends volunteer dog fosterers will keep the dog at home. If you require any more information or would like to chat to someone about this role then please email VolunteerScotNI@Guidedogs.org.uk

Western Isles Support for Cats and Kittens was established early in 2020 in response to the growing need for control of the feral cat population, especially in Lewis and Harris Do you love cats? Could you foster a cat/kitten in your own home for Western Isles Support for Cats and Kittens? We need volunteers with lots of love to give who can help these little ones learn to trust and be confident around people and household noises. Everything you need will be provided by us, a cage, litter, bedding and food. If so please contact your local Volunteer Centre in the Western Isles lewis@volunteercentrewi.org for more info

Western Isles Support for Cats and Kittens was established early in 2020 in response to the growing need for control of the feral cat population, especially in Lewis and Harris We are looking for volunteers 18 and over to help with cleaning pens and feeding our cats/kittens on one morning per week. Could you spare 1 hour before 10 am once a week to help our cats?

Outreach volunteers are volunteers involved in transporting cats to various locations. Duties can involve trapping and releasing feral cats, taking cats/ supplies to new home or generally being out and about sometimes at short notice. Volunteers must be mobile/fit enough to access rural areas, scrubland etc. Driving license preferred as locating and trapping feral cats usually involves going to rural or derelict areas.

Could you offer to help fundraise for unwanted and abandoned cats in Caithness? volunteers can help at stalls, collect money cans or offer in any creative way to raise funding for vets bills etc. This charity relies solely on donations and fundraising.

A range of volunteering opportunities available including: - staffing the front desk - showing people around our Discovery Centre - maintaining the display tanks - DIY & maintenance of grounds - campaigning