Inspire have opportunities for people to assist as Befrienders. Befriender Volunteers allow individuals supported by Inspire to have regular contact with a volunteer who shares their interests and with whom they can carry out activities, such as going for coffee, going to the cinema or even going with them to the football. A befriender is someone who will make a regular commitment to an individual supported by Inspire, to come with them to events or do activities with them, but will also be there to listen and talk with and share experiences. This is a great, enjoyable opportunity where you will make a vital contribution to the work of Inspire and the people we support in the North-east of Scotland and be part of a friendly and supportive team. For more details please contact: Volunteer Co-ordinator tel: 01224 280005 / volunteering@inspiremail.org.uk

The workshop is a safe alcohol / drug free working environment. Our aims are to support our workers and where possible enable them to enter into mainstream employment. Working in a supported workshop, assisting worker / volunteers with barriers to employment e.g. mental health, drugs / alcohol issues, to carry out assigned tasks.

Leonard Cheshire operates in 51 countries around the world, working with 21,000 people in the UK. Volunteers assist the users of their service to break down barriers. Their staff and volunteers are essential in enabling involvement with social activities and integration within the local community. Leonard Cheshire are looking for 1 or 2 befrienders for a lady with additional support needs who lives in supported living and a wheelchair user. She likes going out for walks and drives, enjoys music, musicals, bowling and the cinema. She likes hand massages, manicures, shopping and garden centres . If you share these interest then please get in touch. Leonard Cheshire are especially looking for someone who wants to create a long-term friendship but it’s not necessary to commit to a regular time slot - volunteering can be flexible.

The opportunity to work in a beautiful and peaceful garden enviroment. Working with the GROW principals of Gardening Recycling Organic and Wildlife. Supporting amd working alongside adults with learning difficulties and special needs awith horticultural theory and education.

We require someone to assist with our swimming sessions, our clients enjoy swimming and may need some support getting access to the swimming pool and possibly a level of support whilst they are in the pool. Ideally we require someone who is a strong swimmer and will be able to support our clients whilst they are participating in activities within the pool. This role should not require assisting people to get dressed.

We are looking for someone who can engage our clients to participate in our dance sessions and reach their full potential, the role requires someone to assist with the classes and support the work of our tutors whilst supporting our clients as they participate in the session. Our clients may need a little encouragement to participate but we hope that once they try the sessions they will be keen to continue.

At present we have a website, just recently constructed but needs to be optimised. We have an independent Twitter account and a Facebook page but the Facebook account is connected to the manager's personal Facebook page. We, therefore, need to develop an independent Facebook page for the charity. We believe it would also be advantageous to the charity to have an Instagram page. We need a volunteer, or volunteers, to create a new Facebook page and an Instagram page. To moderate, promote and develop the charity on social media creating a profile that will hopefully assist us in promoting our work and increase our online fundraising. We also need that person, or persons, to optimise our website profile on the Internet to drive more views to our website. This will hopefully lead to more people becoming members of the charity and making donations to the charity via our website and social media pages.

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.

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

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.