Disability Equality Scotland is a national charity working to make life more accessible, equal and inclusive for disabled people in Scotland. We are the umbrella organisation for all local disability Access Panels in Scotland, providing them with support and guidance to improve the lives of disabled people at a local level throughout Scotland. Our Nairn panel is currently operating in Moray and would welcome new volunteers to support their work. What is an Access Panel? Access Panels are groups of volunteers who work to improve access and inclusion for disabled people in their local community. They do this by raising awareness and helping to change attitudes among the general public about the need for inclusive access. Access Panels are made up of people of all ages and abilities who share a passion for the issues faced by disabled people. With the help of Disability Equality Scotland as the national umbrella body, Access Panels support their communities to become as accessible as possible, particularly in relation to the built environment, healthcare, employment, education, and transport.

Ability Net's network of volunteers provide free tech support to enable older and disabled people to make full use of their home technology. They are seeking volunteers in Moray to join their IT Can Help network to support people with their IT or computer needs. This role involves contacting and supporting clients, feeding back on progress, and supporting the local Co-ordinator with promoting the IT Can Help service in the local area. Volunteers will take all necessary precautions to ensure that both volunteer and client stay as safe as possible, and volunteers and clients will wear face coverings and social distance where possible. If you like to help others, have good IT and computing skills, knowledge of standard operating systems and software and the ability to communicate well, please consider volunteering with our growing in Moray! Roles are flexible and can fit around your schedule, too.

Volunteering with the Forres, Nairn & District RDA is one of the most rewarding things you can do, not only for the children who will benefit enormously from your contribution, but also you personally will gain so much. We need volunteers who can help in any number of ways, not just helping on the rides, or being directly involved with the ponies. From crazy fundraisers to baking cakes, event organising to poo picking, as well as walking with riders, volunteering with us is so rewarding for all involved. No experience of horses necessary as there are so many things that volunteers can do where they don’t need to be in charge of a horse/pony and all training can be provided. Volunteer opportunities will be allocated depending on preferences of the volunteer. The Forres & Nairn group RDA is currently held at Muiryhall near Elgin. Sessions are 9.30- 1pm and are only in term time. The children come by minibus from many of the local primary and secondary schools. They are the ONLY RDA group to not charge anything to the riders and they receive no central funding so everything has to be fundraised. To operate safely they need many volunteers as they often need 3 volunteers/pony depending on the disability.

From Monday – Friday our friendly and dedicated team of staff, volunteers and trainees steam, organise and label tonnes of items donated by the local community, including second-hand clothing and a range of one-off collectables. Volunteers not only help in the shop but importantly also help our trainees learn and make the most of their experience in this friendly, supportive retail environment. Volunteering is flexible, please consider joining the team!

There are 2 walk leaders per pre risk assessed easy terrain walks in the Golspie area. Walks last up to 1 hr with plenty of stops along the way if required.

Volunteering Matters Overview At Volunteering Matters we believe everyone in the UK should have the opportunity to thrive, so we bring people together to overcome some of society’s most complex issues through the power of volunteering. We partner with communities to overcome adversity, tackling social isolation and loneliness, improving health, developing skills and opportunities. And because we’re a national charity, we do this at scale, sharing our expertise and building partnerships to make an even bigger impact. We turn local knowledge and energy into action and progress, building stronger communities and a better future for all. Project Overview Our Family Supporters in Edinburgh project offers practical and emotional support to families across the city of Edinburgh, empowering them to face a range of life challenges. We recruit, train and match dedicated, local volunteers to help families every step of the way, spending 1-1 time together on a personalised set of goals chosen by the family, for the family. We can help in many ways, such as improved living standards, budgeting, healthier eating, better school life and behaviour, access to health and wellbeing aid, as well as introducing parents to community resources, to name a few. So far, thousands of families across the UK have benefitted from our service and we are now delighted to extend the programmes reach to families in Edinburgh. Who can volunteer with us? Our volunteers are locally based people with an understanding of the challenges that families are facing. Aged 18+, each volunteer brings different life experiences and skills that they can use to help the family they are matched to, offering support on a weekly basis for an hour or so each week, usually for 6-9 months at a time that suits everyone. They build a strong relationship based on trust and mutual respect, acting as a friendly face who listens and cares about the family. All volunteers are interviewed, trained to the highest standards and undergo disclosure checks before being matched with a family. We also encourage and welcome volunteers who have the ability to speak multiple languages join our team! What can we offer volunteers? As well as the sense of achievement that comes through supporting a family, our volunteers will have the opportunity to learn and develop new skills, attend social events with other volunteers and enhance their employability. Certificates are provided upon completion of induction training and at the end of the commitment, with project staff happy to provide references for future studies or employment.

Organising, writing, and sending the branch newsletter. Making sure the newsletter is clearly written and accessible. Collecting information about news, events, and activities. Liaising with the Branch Chair, and committee, to make sure all relevant information is included. Meeting edit and publication deadlines, which are set by the branch. Following NAS branding guidelines.

Keeping social media up to date. Activities should be advertised at least two weeks in advance so that people have time to book a place and/or arrange their time so that they can attend.. Making sure the information is clear and well written. Information needs to be relevant to the branch and should be displayed in a way that is easy for someone to follow. Communicating with other committee members to encourage and remind them to pass on information to go onto the website.

The Trust provides free holidays with one-to-one care for over 140 children aged 4-16 every summer in various locations around the United Kingdom. The holidays are provided at no cost to the children’s families. Due to the high level of skilled care they require or financial circumstances, the children selected for these breaks would not otherwise receive a holiday. The holidays provide a range of fun activities in a safe and supported environment and use a care ratio of one helper to one child at all times. Each holiday includes at least one fully qualified nurse whose sole task is to take care of the children’s medical needs. The Trust is an entirely voluntary organisation and owes its success to over 200 people who dedicate their free time to helping these children. This voluntary structure ensures that every penny raised goes directly towards a child’s holiday. Being a volunteer helper on a Newman Trust holiday is a wonderfully rewarding experience. You will enable deserving children to have a holiday of a lifetime and contribute to a unique experience for all involved. The holidays are FUN, FULFILLING and strangely ADDICTIVE! That said, the holidays are tiring and sometimes emotionally demanding. Real commitment is required before the holiday and on the week. All new helpers are required to attend a recruitment session to meet a representative from the holiday so we can complete background checks. On the holiday itself it can be tough work looking after someone with additional needs and you'll need to put every effort into helping your child and working within the group. However, there's a lot of support, it’s great fun, and incredibly rewarding. No prior training is needed - just a strong will to help others, lots of energy, and a sense of humour. There is also a very supportive and friendly environment with the more experienced helpers actively helping those newer to the role.

Wee County Veterans was set up as a charity in 2022. Originally run by Duncan Paterson, the former chair. Their office in Sauchie, Clackmannanshire called Duncans Den, has been set up for Former armed forces personnel and their families who are encouraged to head in when the shutters are up, with the kettle always at the ready for a cuppa and volunteers on hand to provide support on a wide variety of issues. Come in and socialise with other veterans, tell your stories. They can also hopefully resolve any problems or signpost you to other groups such as SSAFA or ASAP where they will get the help or information you need. Wee County Veterans are looking for a veteran, good at arithmetic to help with their accounts. No experience in accountancy required, training will be given on a basic excel spreadsheet. Flexible working, 2 -4 hours a week Volunteer must be a Veteran (but does not need to have accountancy experience, just basic arithmetic).