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Description
This is a unique opportunity for you to make a positive difference to the lives of victims and witnesses affected by crime. Crime can affect anyone in Scotland and every one of us can help. Victims of crime often feel a range of emotions in the aftermath of an offence. What sets us apart from other support organisations is that we are available to all victims of crime no matter what it is or when it happened.
We are looking for more people to join our incredible team of volunteers who provide information, guidance, emotional support and practical assistance to help anyone affected by crime, including victims, witnesses their families and friends. This may take place in person, online, and in court.
Organisation aims and objectives.
Victim Support Scotland is the leading charity dedicated to helping people affected by crime across Scotland. We support victims of crime, witnesses and their family members, regardless of who they are and their circumstances. Our service is independent, free, non-judgemental and confidential. We offer bespoke support, personalised to the needs of each individual.
Victim Support Scotland provides information, practical help, emotional support and guidance through the criminal justice system. We offer specialist services to support people who face specific crimes including murder, terrorism, rape and sexual assault, domestic violence and hate crime. We empower people to cope with the aftermath of a crime and find the strength to move forward with their lives.
We have dedicated volunteers, supported by paid staff, in our national and local offices across Scotland, as well as our teams in the Sheriff and High Courts, helping us to provide high quality support to those affected by crime. Victim Support Scotland represents the voice of people affected by crime. We influence key national policy decision-making to champion victim and witness rights and improve support services.
How would you help?
Our Support Volunteers provide emotional support, practical help, information and guidance through the criminal justice system. We aim to empower people who have been impacted by crime, to move on with their lives. This includes:-
• Discuss service users’ needs by telephone, webchat, appointments and face-to-face contact, agreeing next steps at the end of each contact.
• Help service users feel more confident by arranging and conducting court familiarisation visits.
• Support service users in the court room and other appropriate locations on the day of the trial, liaising with court officials on behalf of the service users.
• Feedback and agree follow-up actions with staff members.
• Provide administrative support in completing the service users journey.
What are the benefits to me ?
Volunteering with Victim Support Scotland can be challenging and also extremely rewarding. Each time you volunteer you make a positive difference to someone’s life.
As a volunteer you will:
• Support people when they most need it.
• Learn new skills and knowledge of the criminal justice sector
• Gain access to a range of specialist training courses that are relevant to your volunteering role.
• Positively contribute to your community as a member of a team actively working to reduce the impact of crime.
• A chance to give something back.
• Receive support in your volunteering role to deliver services effectively.
• All agreed expenses (e.g. travel) will be reimbursed.
We’d love for you to join our busy, diverse and fun team at Stella’s Voice, Aberdeen Charity Shop.
If you’ve got a “can do” attitude, are excited about charity retail and keen to gain new skills, we are looking for volunteers to help with sorting through donations, price items, dress windows and assist customers. No previous experience is needed, all training will be provided.
We ask for a minimum of 2 hours commitment a week. A fantastic opportunity to help. All assistance helps in the vital work of Stella’s Voice charity in protecting the world’s most vulnerable people from human traffickers. It's also a great way to meet new people and make new friends.
For more details please contact hr@stellasvoice.org or call 01224 611840.
Rape Crisis Grampian is a fully inclusive service which provides free, confidential support to survivors of rape and sexual violence aged 13 years and over.
Survivors are supported by Support Volunteers who provide face to face, email or telephone support.
Support Volunteers undertake a comprehensive selection and training process and are registered with the PVG – Protection of Vulnerable Groups scheme.
We are looking for individuals who are:
*Empathetic, non-judgemental and good listeners
*Able to commit to volunteering for at least 12 months and a minimum of three hours per week
*Able to maintain confidentiality and anonymity
*Open to gaining an understanding about rape and sexual violence and its impacts on individuals.
Excellent training and support is provided to all volunteers. Including sixty hours of training. The training is comprehensive and ensures all Volunteers are equipped with the skills necessary to support Survivors. Debriefing is provided after each support session and volunteers are further supported via quarterly group Supervision as an additional means of support.
If you would like more information or to apply please contact our Volunteer Coordinator at email: info@rcgrampian.co.uk
The Stirling Interfaith Community Justice Group (SICJG) is a charitable organisation (charity no. SC042540), that works alongside the Scottish Prison Service to deliver support and assistance to families visiting those in custody. They are located in the Family Help Hub at HMP and YOI Cornton Vale and the Visitor Centre at HMP Glenochil.
The aim of the Family Help Hub is to provide a supportive, friendly and welcoming environment for families visiting relatives or loved ones in prison. Support is provided by staff and trained volunteers to ensure experiences of prison visiting are less stressful and more positive, thereby encouraging more frequent visits and maintaining family ties in order to reduce re-offending, increase the stability of children's lives and achieve positive long-term outcomes for all of the family.
What is the role of a volunteer?
· The group have many volunteers from various backgrounds and different levels of experience with the criminal justice system. However, training is given to all volunteers so no experience is necessary.
· You will be based at one of the centres and will be responsible for welcoming visitors before they head to their visits. You will usually provide teas and coffees.
· If someone is visiting for the first time, you will sit down with them and talk them through the processes and signpost them to any help from other services.
· Volunteers will be expected to help in building relationships with visitors and looking out for any signs that they may need additional help or support during the visit.
Children’s visits:
One of the main activities that SICJG coordinate is children’s visits. These are more relaxed and allow the children to interact with their parents freely. The group are even involved with organising parties throughout the year, such as Easter, Halloween and Christmas.
Who to contact
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer or have any questions, please contact either:
Lauren - Laurensicjg@outlook.com, or Lyndsay - Lyndsaysicjg@outlook.com
The role is diverse but demanding. You could be doing anything from policing a football match to assisting at a road accident. Special Constables also police major sporting and public events and provide an excellent bridge between the Police Service and the public, representing both the community within the police service and the police service within local communities.
Specials come from all walks of life and the role can suit those who are able to commit the time to volunteer alongside their own paid employment. It can also be a way for people to experience the role who are considering it as a future career.
You must meet our essential criteria to join and go through the application process. You’ll receive training that is closely aligned to the content of the initial training provided to Probationer Officers, ensuring you are ready to police your streets.
We are looking for enthusiastic and committed people from all backgrounds from across South Ayrshire.
While qualifications and experience are good to have, what’s more important to us is to have a ‘can do’ attitude and are committed to providing compassionate and informative services to people who have been affected by crime.
You could be a student or recent graduate who is keen to build their CV; or you could be a mid-career professional who is looking to take their life in a different direction. We are open to applications from people from all walks of life.
Victims of crime often feel a range of emotions such as anxiety, confusion and anger, while witnesses may feel confused, anxious and overwhelmed by the court system. As a support volunteer, you will provide help and support in both local communities and within the court environment, ensuring people receive the high-quality support and care they need to move forward after crime.
As a support volunteer, you will make personal contact with people affected by crime, providing them with support at a time when they need it most.
You will:
• Discuss service users’ needs by telephone, face-to-face visits or other means, agreeing next steps at the end of each contact
• Help witnesses feel more confident at court by arranging and conducting court familiarisation visits
• Support service users in the court room and other appropriate locations on the day of a trial, liaising with court officials on behalf of service users
• Give feedback and agree follow-up actions with staff members
• Provide administrative support in completing service users’ journeys Benefits to volunteering with VSS
As a support volunteer you will gain many benefits, such as:
• Supporting people when they most need it, helping them to recover from what can be a very distressing time in their life and empowering them to move forward
• Learning new skills and gaining experience of working within the criminal justice sector
• Gaining access to a range of training courses that are relevant to your volunteering role
• Positively affecting your community as a member of a team actively working to reduce the impact of crime
The 70/30 Campaign is aiming to reduce child abuse and neglect by 70% by 2030. As a 70/30 Ambassador you will be empowering your local community to protect our children by spreading awareness and gaining support to prevent child abuse and neglect from happening in the first place. You will gain new skills, and be part of a large network of volunteers and professionals, while making a real difference in your local community and across the UK.
The role is very flexible and depends on your skills and on the needs in your local area, but you can take part in a range of activities, such as: spreading awareness with people you know and on social media; fundraising; organising events; engaging with MPs, MSPs, AMs and councillors; engaging with local press; expanding your local 70/30 group.
Ambassadors will take part in a training session with a member of the team and are invited to join the bi-monthly national conference call with other ambassadors across the country. Ambassadors usually give 2 or more hours of their time a week, but get in touch if you are interested and don't have much time available as there is always some way you can help!
Please visit our website and complete the form to become an ambassador today at www.wavetrust.org/7030 or contact Alex Williamson at email: awilliamson@wavetrust.org.
Putting yourself forward to assist any organisation / group or association is to the benefit and promotion of their objectives and what they stand for within the communities they operate.
Police Scotland Special Constables contribute a competent and professional support backup to the organisation as a whole.
As a Special Constable you will have received training, be assessed and achieved a competent level of Police Legislation knowledge to work alongside your fellow Regular colleagues.
A small range and example of the duties you could be involved in are from Missing person enquiries, Working on wildlife crime investigations, Anti-disorder patrols to deal with hotspots, Driving Police vehicles / Crewing patrol vehicles to Major incident door to door enquiries.
Each Police Scotland Division have a Special Constable Coordinator to look after the deployment and development of their Special Constables. After initial training a Special Constable will deploy within their chosen area and develop their skill base with the assistance of their Coordinator and their respective Local Policing team.
Example of comments from current Special Constables:
-“I felt I could contribute to the community I live in and would have opportunities to meet and work with other people while doing a job I had always considered.”
-“Serving the community is an integral part of a Special Constables duties, working as part of the local team and often with other agencies to provide essential services to those who require assistance in their time of need”
-“Volunteering my time to my community has become something that I find extremely rewarding.”
-“I have received a tremendous amount of encouragement, nurturing and support from all my colleagues, from the front office staff to my fellow Special Constables, Constables, Sergeants, Inspector and Chief Inspector. This makes volunteering for duties an easy decision, who would not want to be part of such an amazing team! “
*Interested in Police Scotland Special Constables please contact your Local Special Constable Coordinator or Police Scotland Recruitment at email Policerecruitmentaberdeen@scotland.pnn.police.uk (for Aberdeen) or email: aberdeenshiremorayspecialconstablescoordinator@scotland.pnn.police.uk (for Aberdeenshire and Moray).
*Further information is also available at https://www.scotland.police.uk/recruitment/special-constables/
If you have a passion for helping others, this opportunity is perfect for you! You will have the chance to educate the children in your community on health and safety matters such as mental well-being, cyber security, water safety, railway safety, and more. You will help give the children the skills they need to navigate everyday risks, as well as help them build character and resilience.
So, if saving lives as a part of a dedicated team is something you like the sound of, go ahead and give us an email or call – please contact Charley Pirie, School Co-ordinator at email: charley@absafe.org.uk or telephone 07376302532.
The Partnership works to raise awareness of the challenges faced by people with disabilities and to break down barriers, overcome challenges and improve quality of life.
The group comprises approximately 15 members of the public, working with five local councillors, and its vision is to:
a) To bring about improvements to the lives of people in Aberdeen City who experience exclusion because of disability by promoting a rights-based approach to disability equality.
b) To create a society where disabled people are valued, respected and included in the life of the City.
c) To encourage and promote inclusion and equality.
d) To create fair opportunity by identifying and removing the disabling barriers which disabled people face daily including prejudice, discrimination and negative attitudes.
e) To provide a means of partnership, consultation and joint action with Aberdeen City Council
Meetings are held at Aberdeen Town House (entrance from Queen Street, Aberdeen). There is also the option to join the meeting remotely if you choose to do so. The Disability Equity Partnership (DEP) has 6 meetings over the year. Examples of projects we have been working on include the City Centre Masterplan, Union Terrace Gardens, webpage and information accessibility to reduce barriers and improve access to information, goods and services.
A fantastic opportunity to make a real difference and all volunteers are greatly appreciated.
For further details please contact Baldeep McGarry, Equalities Officer at email: BMcGarry@aberdeencity.gov.uk or tel.: 07767353006.