Join the Asthma and Allergy Foundation: Make a Difference! Are you passionate about improving the lives of individuals affected by asthma and allergies? Do you want to make a meaningful impact within your community? Look no further! The Asthma and Allergy Foundation is seeking dedicated volunteers like you to join our mission and help us create a healthier, more informed world. *About Us: The Asthma and Allergy Foundation is a leading nonprofit organisation committed to advocating for individuals with asthma and allergies. Our goal is to enhance the quality of life for those affected by these conditions by providing education, support, and resources. We work tirelessly to raise awareness, promote research, and advocate for policies that improve access to proper care and treatment. *Volunteer Opportunities: By joining our team of volunteers, you will have the opportunity to make a genuine difference in the lives of individuals with asthma and allergies. Here are some of the exciting and rewarding volunteer roles available: • Education and Outreach: Help us spread awareness and knowledge about asthma and allergies by organising and participating in community outreach events, workshops, and educational campaigns. share your expertise and empower others to manage their condition effectively. • Fundraising and Events: Assist us in organising fundraising events, such as charity walks, runs, and galas. Contribute your creative ideas, communication skills, and organisational talents to make these events successful and impactful. • Support Groups: Provide emotional support and guidance to individuals and families affected by asthma and allergies. Facilitate support group meetings, offer resources, and create a safe space for sharing experiences and coping strategies. • Advocacy: Be a voice for change by engaging in advocacy efforts at local, regional, and national levels. Help us advocate for policies that improve access to quality healthcare, promote allergen safety, and ensure the rights of individuals with asthma and allergies are protected. • Volunteer Receptionist/Administration Assistant: Providing support to the administration team, answering phone calls and greeting visitors, and helping with general administrative tasks. *Why Volunteer with Us? • Make a difference: Your time and skills can have a direct impact on improving the lives of individuals with asthma and allergies. • Personal growth: Gain valuable skills, knowledge, and experience in healthcare advocacy, community outreach, event planning, and more. • Join a supportive community: Connect with like-minded individuals who are passionate about making a difference and building a healthier future. • Flexibility: We offer a variety of volunteer opportunities, allowing you to choose the role that aligns with your interests, skills, and availability. • Recognition and appreciation: Your efforts will be recognized and appreciated through various means, including certificates, letters of recommendation, and public acknowledgments. *Join Our Team Today! If you are ready to make a lasting impact and contribute to the well-being of individuals living with asthma and allergies, we invite you to join our dedicated team of volunteers. Together, we can create a world where asthma and allergies no longer hinder individuals from living their best lives. All help makes a real difference and is greatly appreciated. For more information please contact Vicki McGrain Rae, Head of Services and Health Promotion at email: vicki.rae@asthmaandallergy.org.uk / telephone: 07967054745 or Stephen Nakote, Finance & Admin Officer at email: info@asthmaandallergy.org.uk / telephone: 01224 973001.

Main duties: We would love to find some new people to help in our Crown Street charity shop which is open Monday to Saturday. We have teams of volunteers working each day: receiving, unpacking and pricing donations; helping on the shop floor; and serving customers. Ideally volunteers would be able to commit to a full day each week, but even half a day would be welcome.

The Trustee will provide direction for the Centre on a wide range of matters with due care and diligence. They will provide strategic overview in terms of purpose and delivery of services. They will develop forwarding planning systems which consider current and future factors which impact on services we provide. They will closely monitor and review external and internal factors which influence the need for services within South Ayrshire. Accountability The Trustee is accountable to the Board, contractual partners, regulatory bodies such as OSCR and Care Inspectorate. Trustee’s manage the Centre effectively and regularly meet to oversee the activities and services provided by the Centre. They have a vital role in terms of setting and reviewing policies and procedures in consultation with all staff within the Centre and if appropriate partner agencies. The Committee shall ensure that our Annual Report is completed, and our AGM is held within the timescales set out within the Constitution of the Centre. Interest of the Charity Trustees are expected to put the interest of the charity before their own interests or the interests of any other person or organisation. Applicants must be committed to the ethos/aims and objectives of the Centre. Charitable Purpose Trustee much ensure the charity is operating and fulfilling its charitable purpose as outlined within its constitution. Specific duties • Attend Board Meetings and Sub-Committee meeting as required • Give priority to the interests of the Centre • Act with due care and diligence • Ensure the charity operates within its charitable purpose Qualifications and Skills • Experience within the Charitable Sector • Understanding of decision-making systems within Local and National Government • Good understanding in terms of housing and homelessness • Good understanding Debt, Benefits and income maximisation • Understanding poverty related issues • Good team worker • Attendance at related training and seminars Personal Qualities • Maturity • Patience • Excellent interpersonal skills • Confident • Caring and approachable • Resourceful • Negotiating ability • Non-judgemental

Family Wellbeing Befriending Volunteer - Edinburgh Would you like to support children, young people, and their families in Edinburgh? Children 1st works to keep children where they are safe, well and loved with their families and communities. This volunteering opportunity will be based within the Children 1st Edinburgh Family Wellbeing Service which supports children and young people across the city. The safety and wellbeing of children and young people is at the heart of what we do. Our work includes support for families who face a number of different barriers and challenges including: ethnically diverse backgrounds; money worries; children with additional support needs; children and parents affected by poor mental health, and families affected by domestic abuse. We take a strength-based approach to improve safety and wellbeing. Volunteering with the Edinburgh Family Wellbeing Service as a befriending volunteer will complement the support we provide to help reduce isolation and promote a sense of belonging by encouraging children and young people to engage with their wider community. What will I be doing We know that safe, supportive and trusting relationships are an essential part of building children’s confidence, resilience and wellbeing. As a befriending volunteer you will build a positive 1 to 1 relationship with the child or young person you are matched with. You will meet with them regularly and support them to take part in a range of activities within their community and to develop new interests and connections. What you do together will depend on the interests of the child and could include taking them to a local park, taking them to sports clubs, art and craft activities, attending events in the community, and much more. We aim to match volunteers and children based on shared interests wherever possible and we also take into account volunteers’ transport requirements. We will explore this with you at interview and during training and induction. Please see role description below for information about the role. Further Information We would love you to be part of the Children 1st team. We provide a comprehensive initial training course that will equip you with the skills and knowledge that you need. Our next training will run on the following dates: • Sun 5th Nov – 10.00am-4.30pm • Weds 8th Nov – 6.00pm-8.30pm • Weds 15th Nov - 6.00pm-8.30pm • Sun 19th Nov - 10.00am-4.30pm This training is being run in partnership with our East Lothian and Midlothian services and will take place at the Children 1st office at 83 Whitehouse Loan, Edinburgh, EH9 1AT. We cover reasonable travel expenses for those attending the training. We also provide all of our volunteers with ongoing support and are able to reimburse reasonable out-of-pocket expenses for travel and costs incurred as part of the volunteering role. We ask volunteers to commit to giving a few hours a week for at least a year. As the children we support attend school we are looking for volunteers with availability out with school hours and weekends. Interviews: We anticipate that interviews will take place from the w/b 12th September 2023. If you would like to find out more about the role or have any questions please get in touch, we’d love to hear from you. Contact Rebecca Gracher – rebecca.gracher@children1st.org.uk

Would you like to help to support children, young people and families in Midlothian? Are you able to offer a few hours of your time each week? If so, please get in touch, we’d love to hear from you. This volunteering opportunity will be based with the Midlothian Family Wellbeing team, in Dalkeith. Our aim is to help children and families recover and move on from trauma and/or adversity that they have faced. Volunteering with the Midlothian team will complement the support families receive from the wider team to help build confidence and stronger family relationships, reduce isolation, build stability in their recovery and promote a sense of belonging with their wider community. We are particularly interested in hearing from people with their own lived experience of addiction and recovery orientated supports, whether that is as the person in addiction or experience of a loved one’s addiction. If you now have stability in relation to recovery and mental health and are interested in volunteering in this area, we would like to hear from you. However, we also welcome applications from those applicants who do not have lived experience but have a passion for doing the right thing for children and families. What will I be doing? Our volunteers build relationships with families in different ways including: • Family Wellbeing – this can include activities such as helping to establish and support family play and spending time with the family in the local community accessing activities and resources. • Befriending – developing a 1 to 1 supportive, reliable, social relationship with a child, young person or adult by arranging weekly opportunities to experience new activities and develop interests. • Parent Mentoring - helping to increase a parent or carer’s confidence and self-esteem. • Group Work – supporting the work of Children1st staff within group sessions with parents as well as whole family activities. During training and induction we will explore further what families need and the skills and qualities you could bring to one of these roles. What do I need to know? We provide a comprehensive introductory training course that will equip you with the skills and knowledge that you need. Our next training will run on the following dates: • Sun 5th Nov – 10.00am-4.30pm • Weds 8th Nov – 6.00pm-8.30pm • Weds 15th Nov - 6.00pm-8.30pm • Sun 19th Nov - 10.00am-4.30pm This training is being run in partnership with our East Lothian and Edinburgh services and will take place at the Children 1st office at 83 Whitehouse Loan, Edinburgh, EH9 1AT. We cover reasonable travel expenses for those attending the training. We also provide all of our volunteers with ongoing support and are able to reimburse reasonable out of pocket expenses. We ask volunteers to commit to giving a few hours a week for at least a year. Please follow link to website below for role description. Interviews: We anticipate that interviews will take place from the w/b 11th September

Your role as the Food Pantry Customer Assistant is to help customers who come into the Food Pantry, offering information and assistance as they are enquiring, browsing or purchasing food. Our Food Pantry is the first one in South Ayrshire based in Ayr Town Centre. A Pantry is a membership scheme aimed at helping people make their money go further by reducing their food shopping bills and providing advice and support. Local Pantries mean people can bring down their food shopping bills, and access good food, whilst freeing up more money for other essentials and enabling tight budgets to stretch a little further. A Pantry offers dignity, choice, community and food quality. Your role will be to assist new and current members learn about the Pantry and do their shopping. We will give you full training on how it works, equipment used, systems to follow etc. You will always be volunteering as part of a team of volunteers with a staff team leader present. As there will be a café on the premises, there will be an opportunity to benefit from Barista training. DUTIES: The role of the Food Pantry Customer Assistant will be as follows: • Assist customers to the Pantry, engaging in conversation • Offer information on how the Pantry works • Offer signposting to other services where necessary • Operate till with cash / card handling • Restock and rotate shelves and fridges as required • Clean and sanitise according to guidance • To commit to a minimum of 3.5hrs per week

We meet usually once a month for about 2 hrs (7pm- 9pm) usually the 3rd Thursday of the month. We can offer a small payment to cover expenses. Some examples of our involvement are monthly meetings involving locally elected councillors, police and guest speakers. We regularly review local planning applications, local news/ concerns and organise community events such as beach cleans, seasonal town decorations/ events such as the summer bunting and Christmas Lights display/ switch on. We also support to facilitate local projects and collaborating with organisations to distribute community funds. There is opportunity to become involved in such a wide variety of projects/ groups dependant on your availability of time.

We are looking for a volunteer who would like to become our minute secretary. This involves attending once monthly meetings for about 2hrs (7-9pm) usually the third Thursday in Forfar to take minutes for the meeting, typing these up and distributing to the members. This is an excellent opportunity to get involved in your local community and might suit a volunteer hoping to further develop IT and admin skills.

There is opportunity to become involved in such a wide variety of projects/ groups dependant on your availability of time. We would love support to reach our community more. Perhaps you have skills / interest in social media use or website development. Support once a month with minute taking would aid our volunteer group also. All options provide an insight into the wider activity within the community and support development of skills and experience. We meet usually every last Monday of the month (except July and December). Some examples of our involvement are monthly meetings involving locally elected councillors, Police and guest speakers. We regularly review local planning applications, police reports, local news and address any concerns raised. We organise community events such as beach cleans, seasonal town decorations/ events such as the summer bunting and Christmas Lights display/ switch on. We also support to facilitate local projects such as most recently the creation of our Carnoustie Butterfly and supporting creation of the town heritage trail as well as collaborating with organisations to distribute community funds, such as the recent Seagreen Community Funding.

Are you interested in volunteering as an office volunteer? As a small charity we benefit from volunteers who give their time to help our organisation and the families we work with. If you are interested please get in touch with us or drop by our shop at 40, Dalrymple Street Girvan.