Befriender volunteers are required to meet with a beneficiary to help alleviate loneliness and isolation, listen to and engage with the beneficiary, promoting positive outlooks and raising self esteem. Regularly meet with a beneficiary, either in their home or at a mutually agreed location. Listen to and engage with the beneficiary, promoting positive outlooks and raised self-esteem. Research into local community groups and activities to find relevant interests for the beneficiary. Identify any additional areas of support and make referrals to the Area Welfare Manager if required. Keep a note of visits undertaken, with recommendations and actions.

Meals delivery can be a vital service for those who want to maintain independence in their homes. In East Renfrewshire we deliver around twelve thousand meals a year to people who have difficulty with shopping, carrying food home or cooking for themselves. Hot meals are delivered twice a week on twelve different runs. All our menus are designed to provide a good, balanced diet and the meals are collected from local school kitchens. We also deliver books to those confined to the house.

The monthly female peer group is for unpaid carers who look after a relative or friend who has an illness, disability, addiction or are frail or elderly. The group allows carers to meet others in a similar situation, time out from their caring role and access support and information. The facilitator would welcome carers, encourage discussion and liaise with a member of staff to organise relevant speakers if and when requested by carers

Carer Ambassadors have a valuable role in helping to promote the work of Dundee Carers Centre and raise awareness of carers' issues at a local level. They will be the visible ‘face’ of the organisation in the community centres, GP surgeries, etc. A Carer Ambassador will represent the needs of carers and reach out to hidden carers, those who have not been identified by professionals or just don’t recognise themselves as carers. This could be through creating information stands while sharing knowledge and skills with other people.

We are a registered charity offering an accessible, flexible, child-friendly and needs-led therapeutic service to children and families in the Lothians. We aim to recruit two new Board members to strengthen and broaden the skills of our existing Board of Trustees. New members would act as consultants/advisors, offering specific knowledge and experience in the following areas: • Human Resources – policy and practice • Finance –support of voluntary agencies in establishing good practice in line with legislation, and of developing self-sustaining business practices • Early Years – policy and practice (experience in one or more of the fields of health, social work, education, therapeutic support services, or voluntary sector supporting children and families) • Strategic Planning • IT- technical support and/or client database systems • Voluntary sector – as practitioner or board member • Children’s mental health - as practitioner or policy maker • Fundraising The Board meets every 8-10 weeks for around 1 ½ hours at our premises in Eskbank. Meetings take place on a Monday morning.

Carers of East Lothian (CoEL) supports adult carers - people who are looking after a family member or friend who is chronically ill, disabled or frail. We help carers to get information and services to help their individual caring role, enhance their own well-being and strengthen their collective voice to improve services. Our Board comprises people with a wide range of experiences and backgrounds. We are always looking for people with a commitment to improving support to carers in East Lothian and who have the experience and qualities which could help us achieve our aims, we would be delighted to hear from you. We would particularly welcome people with additional finance, fundraising, negotiating and PR skills but this is not essential.

The Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme (RSVP) in Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire works with NHS Forth Valley to develop volunteering in local hospitals. We are looking for older volunteers or those in/approaching retirement to carry out support roles in Stirling Community Hospital, Falkirk Community Hospital, Forth Valley Royal Hospital or Clackmannanshire Healthcare Centre - with the aim of making a visit to the hospital a better experience for patients and visitors. Volunteers provide support to patients and visitors in many different departments. There are w wide range of volunteer roles available and we will help to find one which suits you! Volunteers contribute to the well-being of patients and visitors by being a listening ear, and a helpful and friendly face welcoming people to the hospital. Our volunteers feel valued, make new friends and keep active in retirement.

Make a difference to your local community. Develop new and existing skills and gain experience volunteering in a charity. The satisfaction of knowing you are making a vital difference to those with brain injury.

The secretary plays a vital role in assisting the committee organise the smooth running of the support group ensuring vital support is given to those who have suffered a brain injury, their families and carers. Preparing for meetings: Sending notices of all meetings to members within the time required by the governing document; Making arrangements for meetings – booking rooms, arranging refreshments, ensuring access for all attending; Preparing the agenda in consultation with the Chair and distributing the agenda with any background papers; Checking that members have carried out tasks agreed at the previous meeting. Participating in meetings: Ensuring that the minutes of the previous meeting are accurate, agreed and signed and dated on each page by the Chair; Taking and producing minutes of the meeting, noting the names of those attending and apologies, major decisions, any votes taken and agreed further actions; Distributing minutes in a timely manner. Regulatory Documents: To keep proper records for at least 6 years (or more if certain funders require it). To declare your charitable status on all correspondence, cheques, invoices and receipts.

Crossroads (South Ayrshire) Care Attendant Scheme is a local charity, founded in 1985, which provides a relief service for carers. The voluntary Management Committee is responsible for the Scheme’s operation. A manager, two assistant managers (1 FTE), and an administration assistant are employed to run the service. The service is provided by about 40 Care Attendants (all part time, mostly employees, a few volunteers). Crossroads (South Ayrshire) Care Attendant Scheme is a Scottish Company Limited by Guarantee (SC 156846) and a Scottish Charity (SC 002548). The Management Committee currently consists of 10 people. It meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 7pm in a meeting room at Biggart Hospital, Prestwick (where the office is located). There are three sub-committees which also meet monthly. There is a vacancy for someone with medical, paramedical or nursing experience to join the Management Committee and to serve on the sub-committee which supports the scheme’s manager with advice on medical policies and procedures and supports staff with advice when incidents occur.