Being a Scout Leader is so rewarding. Pick up practical and leadership skills but the real joy likes in helping young people to grow and develop and make new friends (and memories). Impact of COVID - a shortage of leaders has left children stuck on a waiting list. We have opportunities for Scout Leaders across the region. Main Tasks Have fun! Our adult volunteers get just as much out of Scouting as our young people do. As well as helping young people to the adventure of Scouting, you’ll also have fun, make friends, develop new skills and have unforgettable experiences. Also.... Delivery of a Balanced Programme: • Delivery of a safe, exciting and stimulating Balanced Programme for the Section taking into account the needs, interests and abilities of the young people. • Ensure the safe delivery of the programme in accordance with the Policy, Organisation and Rules of The Scout Association. • Ensure that every young person in the Section has the opportunity to attend at least one nights away experience each year. • Actively support and promote the achievement of badges and awards in particular the Chief Scouts’ Award. • Actively work with other adults in the Group to support and promote Group or multi-section activities and events. • Ensure regular opportunities are provided for young people to express their views on the programme and running on the Section, and that those views are taken into account (for example using Log Chews, Pack, Troop, Sixer or Patrol Leader forums, or any other method). • Actively co-operate with other section leaders to promote the Moving On from Section to Section. Operation of the Section: • Work with the Group Scout Leader, the Group Executive Committee and others to support recruiting and inducting appropriate Assistant Leaders and Section Assistants. • Agree responsibilities with Assistant Section Leaders, Section Assistants and parent helpers taking into account the development of the individual’s leadership potential. • Ensure accurate records are kept of the young people in the Section in accordance with the Data Protection Act and pass these records to the Section Leader when the young person reaches the age to move up to the next Section. • Regularly review the operation of the Section. • Make and maintain good relationships with parents/carers of the young people. This may include running a parent rota and/or inviting parents to support camps or other residential experiences.

As one of our trained Speak out Stay safe volunteers, you’ll help us protect a generation of children from abuse and neglect by visiting schools twice a month to give our age-appropriate Speak out Stay safe workshops. You’ll play a vital role, working alongside other volunteers to make sure children understand the different types of abuse and feel empowered to speak out if they’re worried. Last year we spoke to nearly 1.8 million children in almost 8,000 schools, but we’re not done yet! As a Speak Out Stay Safe volunteer you’ll get the opportunity to: • learn valuable new skills • be part of a friendly team of like-minded people • most importantly, make a huge difference to children within your local area. To volunteer please apply online at https://join-us.nspcc.org.uk/volunteers/vacancy/6609/description or contact Natasha Reilly, Schools Coordinator at email: natasha.reilly@NSPCC.org.uk or telephone 0141 465 3672 or 07710 144791.

Give the gift of your time and become a volunteer mentor for young people. It could be life changing for you both! Would you like to support a young person on their journey to gaining new skills and experience, becoming more self-confident and achieving their goals? If the answer is yes, we would love to hear from you. Why mentoring? Mentoring is at the heart of what we do here at ProjectScotland and we offer every young person we support, the opportunity to be matched with a volunteer mentor. We are searching for people in and around Aberdeen who are able to offer one hour of their time once a week or fortnight for up to 12 months to help transform the life of someone else. The young people we work with all face different challenges in their lives such as; mental ill health, long term unemployment, low confidence and self esteem, care experienced, limited English communication skills due to being new to this country or disabilities. As a volunteer mentor, you could support your mentee with whatever is important to them. This could be: goal setting; identifying interests and strengths; confidence building; helping to establish a routine; support to explore job, training and further education opportunities; social connections; or just someone consistent to talk to and check in with to see how they are. The support you can offer is invaluable and can be life changing. How does it work? • Following recruitment, we provide training, support to join the Protection of Vulnerable Groups Scheme, ongoing support, access to lots of resources and a wonderful community of mentors across the country to connect with, learn from and build friendships with. • you are matched to one young person and meet with them once a week or fortnight for around one hour • meetings can be face to face or virtual using email/telephone/video chat/WhatsApp. There is also an opportunity to do a mixture of the two which offers a flexible and accessible approach to this volunteering role in addition to the match itself. •matches can last from 3-12 months depending upon the relationship and the needs of the mentee What’s in it for you? • Help transform your mentee’s life • Develop communication and interpersonal skills e.g. coaching, motivating others, adaptability • Gain transferable skills and experience volunteering with disadvantaged people • Participate in regular support and training • Meet new people, connect and have fun! • Learn about yourself and gain a sense of achievement supporting others • Learn more about your community and the challenges that people can face If you are interested in this opportunity please email: asia.wieloch@volunteeringmatters.org.uk We would love to hear from you! More info about ProjectScotland: ProjectScotland (part of the Volunteering Matters Family) works with people (predominantly young people) across the country who are struggling to overcome challenges such as social isolation, mental health issues, low confidence and general uncertainty about their futures. By providing wrap around support and the chance to complete a voluntary placement with a local charity; not only can this enhance confidence and self-belief, but it gives that individual the opportunity to build on their skills and experience and potentially move on to a job, further education or training. Everyone we work with is also offered a volunteer mentor.

MCR Pathways has been partnering with schools since 2007 so we know just how amazing the young people of Scotland are. However, sometimes due to situations out of their control, young people face challenges that make it more difficult for them to succeed. That’s why providing the simple support of a mentor is so important and has been proven to make a life-changing difference. This is where you can help... MCR recruits and trains volunteer mentors who are matched with a young person that shares similar interests, hobbies or career aspirations. Mentors meet with their young person at their school for just one hour per week and the difference this makes is transformational. The mentoring relationship is unique as young people establish a friendship with someone who’s there, just for them and is not a teacher, parent, guardian or counsellor. The impact on their life is huge. Recent ScotCen research shows 81.6% of mentored care-experienced pupils left school for college, university or a job, compared with 56.3% of those young people not being mentored. We are hoping to help even more young people in the area reach their potential and are looking for over 150 mentors from Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire In Aberdeen St Machar Academy has been part of the programme since August 2018 and, in 2020 was joined by Northfield, Hazlehead, Dyce, Harlaw and Lochside Academies. Aberdeenshire schools participating in the programme are Banff, Fraserburgh, Inverurie, Peterhead and The Gordons Schools Huntly The only qualification you need to be a mentor is the desire to help. All young people are different and have different needs, so it’s important that our mentors come from all walks of life. Volunteer mentors are asked to commit just one hour a week for a minimum of one year and will be fully trained and PVG checked before being matched with a young person from an Aberdeen or Aberdeenshire school. The building of the relationship with a young person is facilitated by our fantastic MCR Pathways Coordinators who are based in each school and work with our young people on a daily basis. We’re asking you to #BeTheBridge between a young person’s talent and life possibilities. For only one hour per week, you can change a life. This year, why not do something to make a difference that lasts a lifetime. Register online at https://mcrpathways.org/become-a-mentor/ For any further details please contact us at email: aberdeen@mcrpathways.org (for volunteering in schools in Aberdeen City) or email: aberdeenshire@mcrpathways.org (for volunteering in schools in Aberdeenshire). Or telephone us on 07709249661.

Early Intervention is a neurodivergent safe space for neuro divergent children and their families. A non-judgmental environment where you can be your true authentic self. Managed by volunteers we offer specialist support - Speech and Language therapy, Music Therapy, Pet therapy, and opportunities for children up to 9 years old to socialise with their neurokin whilst empowering them to embrace their identity, we also offer opportunities for semi structured play, arts and crafts and sensory messy play. Early Intervention is a volunteer-led organisation which has been providing services to neurodivergent children and their families since February 2022. This is an exciting time to get involved with us as we are seeking to develop the services we offer and to look at making the transition to becoming a Scottish Charity. Looking for people to help us take Early Intervention to the next stage. People who can help us to sharpen the governance of the organisation to make us into the kind of organisation we aspire to be. This opportunity would be attractive to someone with experience of committee work, or people, who want to gain experience in managing and developing an organisation. Over the next year we intend to make an application to become a Scottish Charity and this will be a good opportunity to become familiar with this process. Early Intervention offers the opportunity to get involved with an organisation with plans to do great things to support neurodivergent children and their families. There is a great reward in being involved in this. Although experience of committee work is desirable, full training will be offered to interested suitable candidates. We look forward to you getting in touch for an initial chat. For more details please contact Linda Lumsden, Early Intervention Founder/Volunteer at email: info@earlyintervention.org.uk or telephone: 07867 524150.

Have you ever wanted to volunteer all to do within the concept of Football? Well look no further! Street Soccer Scotland is currently looking for volunteers to join their team. No two days the same, working alongside our players developing them personally and mentally. The role includes working with coaches and players pitch side, monitoring games, inputting data, building relationships with partner organisations. We work with all ages from 10 years old all the way to past retirement . We currently run in Aberdeen: Walking Football, Kids 10-13 Year olds, Street 45 (Women's Programme) and Adult Sessions. Opportunities are available Monday to Friday - Please get in touch with Peter Wood, Programme Co-ordinator at email: peter@streetsoccerscotland.org or telephone: 07487603708, if you would like to know more.

“A digital world accessible to all” Award winning IT charity AbilityNet is looking for IT Support volunteers to help people get the most out of technology. We support older and disabled people to use technology, from setting up a new device, to showing how to use zoom or do an internet food shop. The role would take place in your local area, face to face with clients or help over Teamviewer. 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 are looking for. Relevant guidance and excellent support is provided to all volunteers. A fantastic opportunity to help and make a real difference for people. All volunteer assistance is greatly appreciated. For more information please contact Donna Baker-Smith at email community@abilitynet.org.uk or telephone 01926 956850.

- Willing to participate in activities and learn about new cultures? - Ready to create social change and improve peoples lives? No matter where you are in Scotland, you have access to training and learning opportunities abroad that can help you gain skills, boost confidence, and earn qualifications. Our organisation offers multiple trips throughout the year, with mentors available to provide support. We partner with other organizations to offer placements in Ghana, Romania, and potentially Eastern European countries, each with a unique set of activities and tasks that focus on developing various skills. We offer shorter 3 to 4 day trips for young people, aged 16-30, as well as longer trips of 2 to 3 weeks for anyone over 16. An exciting and great opportunity to help and make a difference. For more information please contact Megan Beattie, Project Delivery Lead at email: start@standinternational.org or telephone: 0131 659 9943. Further information is also available at: https://www.standinternational.org/

Early Intervention is a neurodivergent safe space for neuro divergent children and their families. A non-judgmental environment where you can be your true authentic self. Managed by volunteers we offer specialist support - Speech and Language therapy, Music Therapy, Pet therapy, and opportunities for children up to 9 years old to socialise with their neurokin whilst empowering them to embrace their identity, we also offer opportunities for semi structured play, arts and crafts and sensory messy play. Looking for friendly volunteers to help us support families at sessions, no experience necessary but would especially love to hear from those with lived experience - neurodivergent adults and or people with a close connection to neurodiversity or ASN for example an autistic family member. Although no experience is necessary, we would love to hear from any practicing/retired or student Speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, play therapists, teachers, or those with experience in social care and early years childcare. Early Intervention is a volunteer-led organisation which has been providing services to neurodivergent children and their families since February 2022. This is an exciting time to get involved with us as we are seeking to develop the services we offer and to look at making the transition to becoming a Scottish Charity. A fantastic opportunity to help and make a real difference. All volunteer assistance is greatly appreciated. For more details please contact Linda Lumsden, Early Intervention Founder/Volunteer at email: info@earlyintervention.org.uk or telephone: 07867 524150.

We have exciting opportunities at HALLA – Harlaw Area Lifelong Learning Association to help in the community as a Development Volunteer. This can involve aspects such as looking at the learning needs of people around the Kaimhill School area, encouraging volunteering with the charity/association, help develop new programmes and classes at the Kaimhill Learning Centre, help prepare funding proposals and applications, act as a ‘face’ of the charity/Learning Centre and help with room bookings at the Learning Centre. A fantastic opportunity to assist in the positive development of the Kaimhill community. Good support is provided to all volunteers e.g.: board members and part time admin. worker will always be there to help. All help is greatly appreciated. Please contact us on email: sandratindall.halla@gmail.com or tel.: 01224 861129 for further details.