The Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme (RSVP) encourages and assists older people 50+ to use their skills and experiences to volunteer and keep active in retirement. Across the Forth Valley region we have hundreds of older people volunteering in their communities including in local NHS hospitals, primary schools, our Healthy Walking Group and charitable knitting groups. Volunteering can have a huge impact on the people we support, the local community and volunteers themselves. People who volunteer are less likely to become socially isolated and experience fewer health problems, while socialising more and having fun in their spare time. RSVP Forth Valley are currently recruiting a Volunteer Walk Organiser. Our Walking Group has been on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic but is ready to re-start. The Volunteer role includes performing administrative duties for the walking group who meet 1-3 times per week. As our organiser, you will help to recruit and induct new walk leaders, oversee the walk schedule to ensure each walk takes place safely and to recruit new walkers to join. The Walk Organiser would also take part in quarterly meetings of the RSVP Forth Valley Organisers committee who oversee the delivery of the wider programme. Each walk is led by a trained walk leader and of course, you will have the opportunity to also take part in our beautiful walks around the Forth Valley. Full support is available and provided by peers, volunteers and our buddy organisation Volunteering Matters who are a national volunteering charity.

Gathering stories for 2 projects : Falls Prevention and Dundee Year of the Older Person. Both projects need to hear of first hand experience of people and their journeys. Within Falls the stories are about the background to the fall and what happened after, how was their experience and what did they learn. For DYOP it is about gathering and collating stories to help impact on reducing stereotypes and to also collate conversations with older people for the ‘See Me Hear My Voice’ strand of work. Stories can be recorded and transcribed, There will be robust guidance on the process and support. Main tasks: Calling the older people to arrange the interview time Recording the interview (or writing it down if they don't want recorded) Transcribing the recording onto a template document Collating the stories and editing as appropriate Liaising with DVVA staff and other volunteers involved Training: Training can be provided from a mentor in how to record and gather stories. The volunteer will be supported by the respective team lead. You will not be cold calling as these people have offered to share their stories. For more information, contact Jud Clark (Falls Prevention) 07530 231588, E- judithclark@dvva.scot or Nicola Mitchell (DYOP) 01382 305745 E- nicolamitchell@dvva.scot

Forth Valley Top Toes provides a personal foot care service for clients who are unable to provide their own personal foot care. This project supports the work of NHS podiatry services, allowing them to focus on quality care for those who really need it. Good foot care can reduce the risk of falls among vulnerable older people. Clients will be given their own set of clippers at first appointment and will bring with them to each subsequent appointment. Key tasks: · Set up sterile treatment room with appropriate equipment. · Check and clean plinth. · Show client into treatment room. · Complete health and well-being checklist with each client · Remove client’s footwear (where requested by client) · Clean toenails with sterile antiseptic wipes · Clean and check the client’s set of nippers for cleanliness and suitability for use. · Cut toenails using client’s own set of clippers. · Give foot care and emollient advice. · Update client’s personal record booklet · Dispose of wipes, clippings etc. in appropriate bin. Skills, Experience, Personal Qualities Required: Volunteers are aged 18 years and over and will have excellent communication skills, good hand to eye coordination, good hand strength and dexterity; be compassionate and understanding, trustworthy; able to observe strict confidentiality. Induction training and nail cutting training (provided by NHS Forth Valley) must be completed before volunteering. PVG membership is required for this role.

Forth Valley Top Toes provides a personal foot care service for clients who have long term medical conditions and cannot manage to cut their toenail and in particular, but not exclusively those over the age of 50. This project aims to support the work of NHS podiatry services, allowing them to focus on quality care for those who really need it. Good foot care can reduce the risk of falls among vulnerable older people. Clients will be given their own set of clippers at first appointment and will bring with them to each subsequent appointment. Key tasks: • Welcome client to clinic. • Ask for clipper set and record book. • Check for any changes to medication. • Ask for donation. • Write receipt and give to client. • Make a new appointment for client. • Record donation in donations log. • Give clipper set and record booklet to personal footcare volunteer. • Be the warm, welcoming and friendly face or Forth Valley Top Toes. Skills, Experience, Personal Qualities Required: An open, friendly and welcoming personality, good at dealing with people, able to observe strict confidentiality, communicate well with others. Previous experience of working within a medical / health environment would be an advantage but not essential. Volunteers should be over 16.

Give a Dog a Bone are all about Companionship in the Community, through offering a safe space for retired people to make new friends, learn new skills and mix with dogs. Can you support Give a Dog a Bone by helping in their local Community Space in Alloa? Are you confident and friendly with good listening skills? Are you dependable and trustworthy? Are you a real team player who can ‘think on your feet’? Do you make a mean cuppa? If yes all/some of the above and can spare 3 to 4 hours a few times a month then Give a Dog a Bone might have the perfect opportunity for you (and your well-behaved dog too, if you have one!) Volunteers can expect to be: - Welcoming visitors and their dogs to the Community Space, engaging with them and make them feel at ease. - Confidently and accurately promoting the aims and objectives of the charity. - Maintaining high levels of cleanliness and tidiness at all times, ensuring that the Community Space presents no risks to visitors, dogs, staff or volunteers. - Dealing with any donations handed via the Community Space for the charity as instructed by the Management Team. - To attend any additional training necessary for the volunteer role. Benefits of the role include: - Full training will be provided – in your local community space with a member of staff or experienced volunteer. It is a hands-on role and you will be well supported throughout. - Increased confidence and sense of purpose. - Meeting new people and building new relationships. - Giving something back within your local community. - If you have a well-behaved dog, they can volunteer with you as a Companionship Dog! - It’s a win/win! The volunteer can expect to be given a named contact within the charity to help and support you and your dog throughout your volunteer journey! If you need any more information or would like to apply, please register your interest on our website www.giveadogabone.net or contact us at hello@giveadogabone.net

We’re looking for volunteers to operate our national helpline, supporting individuals over the phone. You’ll provide support for people who have received a digital device as part of Connecting Scotland, supporting the most vulnerable to get online. Queries range from enquiries about the programme, to basic support with turning on or using a device. We call these volunteers Digital Champions. This role is done remotely at the moment due to COVID-19 but there is possibility to work from our Edinburgh office in the future. The role is open to the whole of Scotland. The role tasks include: covering a minimum of one weekly 2-hour helpline shift, providing responses to enquiries and basic digital support to callers, logging any calls that require follow-up , supporting our staff in obtaining monitoring details from callers.

We are delighted to welcome back Volunteers and have opportunities across our services in Aberdeen. So, no matter where you live in the city, there could be an opportunity near you! In the first instance we are seeking Befrienders. Many of our Service Users have been shielding for over a year. We are looking for Volunteers to become befrienders, being a befriender means you could be supporting someone with an outside walk, build up confidence with support to a supermarket, help with laundry, just enjoy sitting having a chat over a cuppa, or maybe help with some light domestic duties or cooking. All Volunteers will go through pre recruitment checks that include, Interview, PVG and References. Volunteering is such a worthwhile act, not only can your support be lifechanging for an older person, but you can also gain, increased confidence, experience improve your own self-esteem, feel part of a team, and make new friends. For more details please contact Julie Suttar, Engagement & Liaison Lead at E-Mail: jsuttar@bonaccordcare.org or tel.: 07901944728.

We are delighted to welcome back Volunteers and have opportunities across our services in Aberdeen. So, no matter where you live in the city, there could be an opportunity near you! In the first instance we are seeking Befrienders. Many of our Service Users have been shielding for over a year. We are looking for Volunteers to become befrienders, being a befriender means you could be supporting someone with an outside walk, build up confidence with support to a supermarket, help with laundry, just enjoy sitting having a chat over a cuppa, or maybe help with some light domestic duties or cooking. All Volunteers will go through pre recruitment checks that include, Interview, PVG and References. Volunteering is such a worthwhile act, not only can your support be lifechanging for an older person, but you can also gain, increased confidence, experience improve your own self-esteem, feel part of a team, and make new friends. For more details please contact Julie Suttar, Engagement & Liaison Lead at E-Mail: jsuttar@bonaccordcare.org or tel.: 07901944728.

This is a very rewarding role providing much-needed support for people who are accessing our service. The main element of the role is to deliver or collect wheelchairs to/from people’s homes supporting them to maintain their independence, or you could choose to support members of the public from varying locations around the hub area (e.g., often using partner supermarket car parks) to enable them to obtain a wheelchair or other mobility aids equipment. You could also be driving between hub and spoke locations to transfer stock. This is the ideal role for someone who enjoys meeting people, can show compassion and empathy and who likes driving. It will involve driving a Red Cross or hire vehicle. A fantastic opportunity to help and make a real difference. All volunteers are greatly appreciated. For further details please contact us at email wheelchairvolunteer@redcross.org.uk or tel.: 03000 040309.

Braveheart are currently recruiting volunteer walk leaders in the Falkirk area. They are looking for people over the age of 18 who are reasonably fit, like walking and enjoy meeting people. If you have a few spare hours per week and would like to encourage and support other people in walking their way to good health on our Braveheart walks, please get in touch.