Community Lifestyles supports adults with learning disabilities, physical disabilities and mental health problems. We recognise the importance of enabling service users to develop friendships and community support networks. You could become part of this! Lifestyles has set up various groups across Glasgow covering a wide range of activities including, arts & crafts, drumming, baking, singing, tea dances, Ceilidh dancing, cycling, karaoke, football, lunch clubs and walking. We are looking for volunteer involvement in all of these groups – so if you have an interest in any of these activities or would just like to invest some time working with people in the community we would like to hear from you. No previous experience required, just a genuine interest in working with adults with various disabilities.

Thornton Rose Riding for the Disabled is looking for volunteers. We provide people with disabilities with the opportunity to ride and enjoy all the activities connected with horse riding. The horses help people both therapeutically and recreationally. Our riders gain, through their contact with horses, a greater sense of achievement and confidence, which in turn makes their lives easier and more fulfilled. Your help is needed to:- Support our Riders by talking and interacing with them to provide a social and fun experience, walking along side them for safety and social interaction, helping them to understand horses and helping them have a fun and an enjoyable experience. For the horses: Bring them in from the field and give them a much appreciated groom, put on their saddles and bridles ready for the rides, be friendly and gentle – they love to be looked after and cared for, give them their food and take them back to the field and clean up their home/stable (light work). After the rides we all sit together and have lunch (which is provided) and share what happened during the rides and get to know each other. You can choose how regularly you want to come along and we will ensure that you have all the support and training you needs. Come along and try it with no commitment.

This is a chance to make an enormous impact on the quality of life of one or more people with learning disabilities by entering into a 1:1 befriending relationship or being a member of a befriending group. The satisfaction to be had from befriending, and the difference it makes to people with learning disabilities, is immense. In a recent survey, every one of our volunteers said they would recommend volunteering with us to their friends. The role is great work experience and a source of references if you are thinking about applying for courses or paid jobs in Care. 1:1 links: You would be introduced to a child, young person or adult with learning disabilities who lives reasonably near you and shares your interests. They would probably be of a similar age to you, although we do link some adult volunteers with children and young people. You would meet up with them regularly (weekly, fortnightly or monthly) to do whatever activities you both chose. After a trial period, the relationship would last for at least 6 months. Befriending Groups: The groups are generally staff-supervised and have equal numbers of volunteers and people with learning disabilities. Members choose the activities, which have often included art & crafts, drama and outdoor projects. Membership of the children’s (8-16yrs) and young people’s (16-25yrs) groups is usually for a minimum of a year. For adult groups we would look for at least 6 months commitment. See the information about the Branch below for more details of the groups operating in your area.

St Colms has a large polytunnel and garden area with cold frames where they grow and sell plants. We are looking for volunteers to assist adults with learning disabilities with horticulture activities. This could be in the polytunnel or outdoors. Tasks include sowing seeds, planting out seedlings, weeding and watering. This would suit someone with an interest in gardening but experience is not necessary as training will be given. Tasks will be arranged to suit ability and preference.

Flexicare provide social and leisure opportunities for young people and adults with a learning disability or autism. The services include groups, befriending and small Going Places groups and take place across Renfrewshire. Our volunteers help by supporting at one of our groups or by being a volunteer befriender.

Garioch Community Kitchen exist to enhance the health and well-being of all sectors of the community in Central Aberdeenshire. We provide a range of services including informative food workshops in a safe and supported environment, delivering practical and nutritional information and teaching transferable food skills in the Wyness Hall and on an outreach basis. We work in partnership with other agencies and groups to promote healthy cooking and eating choices. We are looking for motivated, local individuals who can contribute their knowledge and skill base to the Charity. It is essential our Committee is made up of people with varying skill sets and therefore we welcome applications from individuals from the private, public and/or third sector. Committee meetings are held quarterly, and Committee members are expected to attend with email communication outwith these meetings. Trustees are responsible for the governance of the Charity and to support the Business Development Manager.

Aberdeen in Recovery (AiR) was granted Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) charitable status in March this year. We are now looking to find talented, passionate and skilled people to fill some vacant seats on our Board of Trustees to help us grow and develop our innovative and solution focused new charity. This is a unique opportunity to help lay the foundations to ensure AiR has a long-term future as a charity with solid processes in place to ensure it meets its mission of: “To be a bridge from ‘dependence’ to ‘independence’ for the individual seeking to recover from problematic substance use and addictive behaviours”. This is such an exciting and invigorating prospect for individuals to get involved and be participant in the tsunami of change which is now gaining momentum and being driven by “Experts by Experience” and the vibrant Lived Experienced Communities which are blossoming, not only locally but are now established as a national phenomena. Since its conception, AiR and its members have worked tirelessly to establish and build collaborative relationships with professional services and third sector support agencies. We have consistently driven the message that individuals who have personal lived/living experience of active substance use, including Family members who have been affected by the addictive behaviours of a loved one, and the Recovery Communities they represent have something valid, essential and extremely beneficial to bring to described Recovery Orientated Systems of Care (ROSC). We can provide existing services and clinical structural systems with resources, skills and capabilities that they, no matter how much effort, time and money they invest, will never be able to offer or provide. So, it gives the greatest of pleasure to see this is now recognised on the highest levels that “Recoverists” can productively contribute to the design, development and delivery of truly person-centred ROSC. This being evidenced by the vision, philosophy and content of the Scottish Governments “Rights, Respect and Recovery” Drug and Alcohol Strategy. We also believe it is reaffirmed by the recent success in being granted funding from the Government’s National Development Fund, with our principle partner Alcohol and Drugs Action (ADA), for our ‘Recovery Peer Pathway’ joint two-year project. This collaborative venture will build on three years of pilot work to further establish and build proactive and productive Developmental Pathways within ADA and their Volunteer network while in synergy with AiR membership for individuals who desire to initiate change in their behaviours and outlook as they progress on their recovery journeys within, and imperatively out-with, statutory and formal support services. We believe that the blue sky thinking behind this project categorically and emphatically fits with the expectations, outcomes and concepts of the above Government policy. So, if you have lived experience, or a stakeholder interest, and a passion for recovery and are willing to give of yourself that another may learn, you will not find a better opportunity to indulge your appetite than from within Aberdeen in Recovery. For more information please contact Dermot Craig, Recovery Community Development Manager at E Mail: dermot@aberdeeninrecovery.org or tel.: 01224 638342 / Mobile: 07751 213108.

Do you agree that every person who has a learning disability should have the choice and control to live the life they choose? Aberdeen ENABLE Branch are looking for enthusiastic, committed volunteers to help at their weekly 'Pop Club' for adults with a Learning Disability from all over Aberdeen. The Branch has been running social activities in the city for nearly 60 years and there are currently around fifty members of the club. There are a number of tasks on the night at the club such as: welcoming people arriving and collecting money, making tea and coffee and serving tables, playing music, interacting with members of the club and seeing members off safely and tidying the hall afterwards. Activities Volunteers are required to help with these tasks on the night. The club meets fortnightly on a Friday night at the Rosemount Community Centre in Aberdeen (AB25 2NS) from 7.00 until 9.30 Throughout the volunteering opportunity you will gain new skills and experience working with people who have a Learning Disabilities, their families and carers. You will also have lots of fun helping to create an enjoyable experience for all involved. Out of pocket expenses will be reimbursed in line with Aberdeen Branch policy. Volunteers will be given an induction by the Branch Committee. If you are interested but would like to visit the Pop Club for a 'taster session' - this can be arranged as well. For more details please contact: Jessie Gordon, Aberdeen Branch Secretary Tel No: 01224 873936/ 07845463299

Based at our warehouse and working as part of a team we would like you to use your skills to minimise our waste. This could range from basic maintenance of furniture to recreating something new from old. While we understand that sometimes working on your own might be a preferred activity it would be great if you could also share your skill with our employees, trainees or volunteers. We usually organise PAT testing training once a year – so if you have access to an ITA account there is an opportunity to learn and practice the skills gained. In addition to this, we also have access to a variety of other free training opportunities such as First Aid and customer service.

We require help to run a charity shop, completing a variety of retail related tasks as mentioned above. Training will be provided. You will be working alongside people with mild to moderate learning disabilities.