Advocacy Service Aberdeen is a registered charity providing independent advocacy support to a wide range of people living in Aberdeen City. Independent advocacy is about helping people and groups have a stronger voice, addressing imbalances of power and ensuring people’s rights are recognised, respected and secured. We have advocacy services for: • People with a mental disorder, including a learning disability • Victims of domestic abuse • Carers • Older adults • Self-directed support • Children and Young people • Substance use We are looking for people to join our Board of trustees who are passionate about the rights and inclusion of people in decisions which matter to them. The Board is responsible for setting the strategy and policies of the charity and overseeing the running of the organisation. We are open to applicants from a diverse range of experiences and background and would also be interested in hearing from people who have the following experiences: • Finance/accounting • Fundraising • Experience of supporting/caring for people in the above service areas • Law • Human Resources Board meetings are held on Mondays every 6 weeks 5pm to 7pm, either remotely via Microsoft Teams or in-person. To find out more please contact us at tel: 01224 332314 / email: asa@advocacy.org.uk or visit https://www.advocacy.org.uk/ and https://www.advocacy.org.uk/our-board/

Could you support unpaid carers or people with disabilities to access benefits? Could you help someone find local services? Could you help someone understand the information they have been given about their care and support? Could you support or lead a group of people on a topic of interest? You could help improve the quality of someone’s life. This role is ideal for people with an interest in the care sector, students e.g.: social work or retired professionals. Support Session Volunteers help our clients with general advocacy, supporting people with a variety of challenges. This helps us to reduce waitlists and support more individuals by: • Helping clients understand about advocacy • Supporting clients to self-advocate with our tool kits • Signposting clients to other services where required • Supporting the service to deliver “collective” advocacy sessions • Light Touch Advocacy • Supporting advocates with casework • Promotion of services and the organisation • Logging activity onto our systems Volunteer, Ben’s priorities changed after a serious illness. “I wanted to give something back. It’s really rewarding as you get to use your knowledge and skills for a really good purpose.” You’ll develop skills in communication and confidentiality, add experience and knowledge to your CV, and know you’re making a genuine difference to people’s lives. As a volunteer you’ll receive full training, support from the volunteer team and your local advocates, and paid expenses. *Perks and Benefits - Reference after 6 months of volunteering. - Robust training programme - The opportunity to make a positive difference to people with care and support needs. - The opportunity to learn new skills, meet new people and gain experience in your chosen volunteering role/s - The opportunity to help us develop our volunteering work - Additional learning & training opportunities *Skills You'll Need Volunteering with VoiceAbility is ideal for people who have or want experience in human rights, health, care and wellbeing - but we care more about your values and empathy than your level of experience. Some beneficial skills and qualities to have are: • Good communication skills – written and verbal • A basic level of IT literacy – email, docs • Accuracy and attention to detail • Ability to manage own time and prioritise workload • Ability to work independently & as part of a team • A commitment to the aims and ethos of VoiceAbility *Travel Information The role is a hybrid role, as we have no main "office base". People volunteer in and around their local area, and must be able to travel by themselves. Volunteers also meet clients in person to offer face-to-face support if needed. This would be across your specific geographic area of Aberdeen and you will travel locally and attend networking events to promote the service (approved travel expenses are reimbursed to volunteers). For more information/to apply please complete the form at https://voiceability.current-vacancies.com/Jobs/Advert/3336374?cid=1938&t=Volunteer-for-VoiceAbility-across-Scotland or contact Karen Murphy, Volunteer Coordinator at email: karen.murphy@voiceability.org or telephone: 07585 969 716. Further details are also available at https://www.voiceability.org/jobs/volunteering

Can you help promote services to local people in your community? Can you help at events and awareness raising sessions? You could help improve access to services in your community. This role is ideal for people who already have a connection to their community or would like to build one. The Service Team Volunteer role supports in the delivery of advocacy and other services by: • Helping clients understand about advocacy • Attending events and awareness raising activities • Networking and promoting our services and organisation • Signposting to other services • Building professional relationships and partnership working • Supporting our community engagement programmes in your local area Volunteering with VoiceAbility is ideal for people who have or want experience in human rights, health, care and wellbeing - but we care more about your values and empathy than your level of experience. Volunteer, Ben’s priorities changed after a serious illness: “I wanted to give something back. It’s really rewarding as you get to use your knowledge and skills for a really good purpose.” You’ll develop skills in communication and confidentiality, add experience and knowledge to your CV, and know you’re making a genuine difference to people’s lives. As a volunteer you’ll receive full training, support from the volunteer team and your local advocates, and paid expenses. *Perks and Benefits - Reference after 6 months of volunteering. - Robust training programme - The opportunity to make a positive difference to people with care and support needs. - The opportunity to learn new skills, meet new people and gain experience in your chosen volunteering role/s - The opportunity to help us develop our volunteering work - Additional learning & training opportunities *Skills You'll Need Volunteering with VoiceAbility is ideal for people who have or want experience in human rights, health, care and wellbeing - but we care more about your values and empathy than your level of experience. Some beneficial skills and qualities to have are: • Good communication skills – written and verbal • A basic level of IT literacy – email, docs • Accuracy and attention to detail • Ability to manage own time and prioritise workload • Ability to work independently & as part of a team • A commitment to the aims and ethos of VoiceAbility *Travel Information The role is a hybrid role, as we have no main "office base". People volunteer in and around their local area, and must be able to travel by themselves. Volunteers also meet clients in person to offer face-to-face support if needed. This would be across your specific geographic area of Aberdeen and you will travel locally and attend networking events to promote the service (approved travel expenses are reimbursed to volunteers). For more information/to apply please complete the form at https://voiceability.current-vacancies.com/Jobs/Advert/3336374?cid=1938&t=Volunteer-for-VoiceAbility-across-Scotland or contact Karen Murphy, Volunteer Coordinator at email: karen.murphy@voiceability.org or telephone: 07585 969 716. Further details are also available at https://www.voiceability.org/jobs/volunteering

This is a great opportunity to be involved with a Christian Medical charity to raise funds for a neglected tropical disease. Leprosy still exists in over 120 countries with approximately 200,000 new cases every year despite there being a cure. The group has been in existence in the local area for over 50 years. We meet 4 times per year to organise events eg coffee mornings, concerts, participating in sponsored walk such as the Kilt Walk and running events. Speaking opportunities are available to inform others of the charity. We have a good relationship with various local churches who support us and send in donations. You would be volunteering with a small group of friendly , welcoming people to use your ideas to participate in and enhance fundraising events. All new ideas for fundraising are always welcomed. We feel new members to the group would enhance and refresh what we do. A warm welcome is extended to attend a meeting to decide whether this is something you would enjoy and find as rewarding as we do. The Leprosy Mission Scotland ( Registered Scottish Charity SC022411 ) is part of The Leprosy Mission International. For more information/to help please contact Stella Anderson, Chair at email stellaanderson20@gmail.com or telephone 07946626568.

ASA is a local charity and was founded in 1996. We provide an independent advocacy service for people living in Aberdeen City. We help people to have a voice, to gain information to help them make choices and to help them feel better prepared and able to engage with social care, health care and housing and educational professionals. Our values are at the core of the work we do together with those we support. Advocacy Service Aberdeen believes in: Independence; A Non-Judgemental approach; Inclusion; Respect; Person Centred; Confidentiality; Team work; Empowerment. If you have some spare time to offer and feel you have the skills and qualities to support the work we do, we would like to hear from you. The work we do is carried out Monday to Friday between 9:00am-5:00pm. There are many ways you can support our organisation, this includes : – *Gathering feedback and Service Evaluations - Contacting people who use the service to ask them about their experience of using the service. This could be carried out in person, by phone or via a video call. *Supporting our Collective Advocacy Groups - this would include meeting patients at Royal Cornhill Hospital; People who live in supported or shared accommodation; Expert by experience group who share their personal views and experiences of using Aberdeen City Health & Social Care provision. *Administrative/Clerical - Helping us with admin and clerical tasks. Supporting case work / referrals in the following areas: Carers, Domestic Abuse, Mental Health, Autism, Learning Disabilities, Older Adults (65+), Older Adults Mental Health, Self-Directed Support or Problematic Substance Use. If your values are aligned with ours and you have the time to give to support a local charity in your community, we would love to hear from you. Currently we are particularly interested in people who would be looking to volunteer in the following roles: - Domestic Abuse Service Volunteer - Administrator Volunteer To find out more about our volunteering opportunities please contact our Volunteer Coordinator Joanne Grant at email: asa@advocacy.org.uk or telephone 01224 332366. Further details are also available at https://www.advocacy.org.uk/volunteer/

- 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/

WaterAid Speakers are trained volunteers that deliver inspiring talks and workshops, to raise awareness about the importance of clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene, to transform peoples’ lives for good. Our Speaker volunteers engage audiences about the important work of WaterAid, inspiring them to take action, as they speak with schools, universities, businesses, youth groups, religious places of worship, service organisations, and many more. WaterAid Speakers: •Deliver a minimum of four talks or workshops per year, either online and/or face to face. •Deliver talks or workshops on key days such as: World Water Day on 22 March, World Toilet Day on 19 November, Menstrual Hygiene Day on 28 May and Global Handwashing Day on 15 October. •Contact new audiences to organise and deliver talk and workshop opportunities. •Complete online Speaker Network training and adhere to volunteer guidance and best practise. •Make use of our public speaking resources (such as PowerPoint presentations) included in our Speaker e-newsletter, emails, and online resource library. •Keep up to date with our key messages, appeals, campaigns, fundraising and volunteering. •Regularly liaise with the Speaker Network team about talks and workshops. •Provide feedback on talks or workshops by completing the online evaluations. •Provide support to new Speakers around their public speaking development. •Demonstrate the WaterAid values including being considerate when representing WaterAid and always leaving others with a positive view of our organisation and the work that we do. A fantastic opportunity to help and make a real difference. All volunteers are greatly appreciated. To become a WaterAid Volunteer or for more information please email speakers@wateraid.org

Somebody Cares is a local charity who furnish homes, provide clothing, baby equipment, toys and food parcels to those in need within our city and shire. Through referral from many local support services, charities, social workers and the local councils, clients are able to access our services completely free of charge. By demonstrating empathy and support, our aim is to provide a helping hand to those who are facing challenging times, by offering hope and providing then with essential and practicable items which they otherwise couldn’t afford to purchase. Our greatest wish is that after receiving our support our clients can gain confidence, flourish and begin to escape the poverty trap. We work with men, woman and children from many different backgrounds, and our services are accessed by many support services including Aberdeen City Council, Cornhill Hospital, Grampians Women’s Aid, Barnardo’s, Children’s 1st, Turning Point Scotland, Langstane Housing, Shmu, Children and Family Services, Social Bite, Drugs and Alcohol Awareness and many medical professionals. We fund our charitable work by selling some of our donated items at our very busy retail megastore at Hazeldene Road, Aberdeen. (Old Dobbie’s building). The Megastore has many gems and bargains and has a strong local clientele who visit the store on a regular basis. We are looking for volunteers to help us sort through many of the donated items ready for sale. We are flexible with hours and days and are looking for enthusiastic people with a heart for making a difference to join our friendly team. A fantastic opportunity to help. All volunteers make a real difference and are greatly appreciated. For further details please contact Alison Topley, Chief Operating Officer at email: volunteer@somebodycaresscotland.org or telephone: 01224 460700.

Aberdeen Multicultural Centre (AMC) is an outcome driven, user led charity, committed to making a positive impact on the lives of wider communities in Aberdeen. AMC encourages co-operation and integration amongst diverse community groups. AMC’s vibrant aims are to support communities from social, economic, welfare & environmental perspectives. AMC has run Climate Change projects for the last five years aimed at awareness raising and changing behaviours in relation to home energy efficiency, active travel, food waste, recycling and home gardening amongst diverse communities in Aberdeen. AMC has become cultural hub of communities in Aberdeen. AMC has been organising different cultural events such as International Mother Language Day, Aberdeen Mela- One World Day, Multicultural Burns Night etc. AMC also involved in different sports & physical activities such as Multicultural Football Festival, Multicultural Bike Rally, Wellbeing & Mindfulness Meditation Sessions, Relaxation & Chair base exercises for BAME older people etc. We are seeking volunteers to help us with grant proposal writing support to expand our reach and services even further. A fantastic and exciting opportunity to assist in the continued successful development of Aberdeen Multicultural Centre and make a real difference for people and communities. All help is greatly appreciated. For further information please contact Ahashan Habib, Centre Manager at E Mail: a.habib@abmc.org.uk or tel. 01224 561992.

You will be the first point of contact for clients within the Bureau, along with helping to ensure the smooth running and organisation of the Bureau is many different ways. Depending on what your are comfortable with you might be doing the following: -Welcoming clients -Answering telephone calls/emails and passing messages to the appropriate person or arranging appointments for clients -Updating databases and information systems -Filing and photocopying -Taking minutes at meetings -Ordering stationary and other supplies