Are you able to make time, once or twice a week, to support the business objectives alongside the service manager? They are looking for someone who can really support their team with administrative work. They are a very busy charity which supports adults with both physical and learning disabilities and therefore they would love the support of a volunteer admin assistant to ensure that their admin processes are up to date. The admin team are vital in making sure that everything runs smoothly. Admin assistant volunteers will help provide effective and efficient administrative support across the services in Fife enabling them to work with more service users and deliver first rate care. What's in it for you? -Gaining valuable work experience in office administration -Becoming more confident -Becoming part of a friendly and dedicated team -Meeting people from all walks of life and making new friends -Improving your communication and IT skills -Enjoying new experiences and learning something new every day

Why we need you The National Autistic Society (NAS) has around 100 branches, all run by volunteers, who provide local support to autistic people and their families. Every branch is different and so are the activities they provide – they may run parent support groups, adult social groups, children’s activities, conferences or focus on providing information or campaigning. However, no matter how big or small, all branches are hugely valued by the people in their local area. The branch chairperson role is vital to the running of the North Ayrshire branch as they act as a leader and a coordinator for the branch and its volunteers. What you will be doing Lead (and chair) committee meetings and public meetings. This also involves setting out what needs to be discussed at meetings, ensuring that each issue is covered and that other people have a chance to speak. Represent the branch at external meetings e.g. with local services for people with autism Allocate tasks to other people involved in your branch Raise the profile of the NAS within your branch and local community Ensure your branch complies with NAS policies including risk assessments, data protection and safeguarding Monitor branch income and expenditure in partnership with the branch treasurer Countersign and authorise all branch bank payments Co-ordinate and promote local campaigns and bring others on board to help you Support fundraising in your branch Act as a key contact for the NAS, keeping the Senior Branch Engagement Officer up to date on branch activities Skills qualities and experience useful for the role (but not essential) Flexibility on days and the amount of time committed to the role. The majority of branch chairs give around 5 hours a week but it depends how active the branch is. Home based (plus travel to branch activities) Ideally you will live in the North Ayrshire area. Support Designated Senior Branch Engagement Officer to answer any queries and support you with the day to day running of the branch. Written guidance on a range of branch activities Various training courses relevant to running a branch Insurance cover for all branch activities Agreed expenses reimbursed for attendance at any event organised by the National Autistic Society branch support team. What you could get out of it Improve support to autistic individuals and their families in your local area You could build up knowledge and hands on experience of autistic people. Access free training and learn new skills Meet new people A worthwhile achievement to add to your CV. Having fun whilst carrying out a valuable role. This is a rewarding and fulfilling opportunity and will allow you to make a difference to those you are supporting and their families. Volunteering can keep you mentally stimulated and provide you with a sense of purpose. We seek applications from anyone interested in the role, but particularly welcome applications from those on the autism spectrum. You will be asked to attend some branch meetings and also have knowledge of the local area so we ask that you live locally to be able to do this role. We process applications as we receive them, we will close the role when we find a suitable volunteer for the role. Consequently, the role may close before the advertised closing date.

**ADVERTISED OPPORTUNITIES ARE ONLY AVAILABLE AFTER COVID-19 LOCKDOWN LIFTED** Volunteers form a team that assists and enhances the benefits of riding and equine assisted sessions to children and adults with a wide range of disabilities. No experience is necessary as full training will be given and the volunteer will decide which role in the team that they feel most comfortable, as an assistant or leader. Volunteers can offer their time on days or evenings which are most convenient to them. there are normally 2-3 sessions that ordinarily run per morning or evening. Morning sessions occur on Monday – Saturday, and evening sessions are available Mondays and Thursdays. There is also the opportunity to help care for the horses and ponies and participate in pony welfare activities. There are also placements available with the Duke of Edinburgh and Princes Trust. **ADVERTISED OPPORTUNITIES ARE ONLY AVAILABLE AFTER COVID-19 LOCKDOWN LIFTED**

**ADVERTISED OPPORTUNITIES ARE ONLY AVAILABLE AFTER COVID-19 LOCKDOWN LIFTED** Volunteers will help in the general maintenance of fields, fencing painting, grass cutting and gardening with work takes place on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Friday mornings. Knowledge and experience of DIY is an advantage but not essential as volunteers can expect training will be given for specific tasks to be carried out. Minimum age is 16, (and no max upper limit) so long as they are fit for the outdoor tasks and weather. Note that no out of pocket expenses will be paid. Own transport is essential. Public transport limited. No travel expenses paid. Applications to join our group via our website. Contact the Volunteerenquiries@shiresmill.org or by telephoning 01383 882700 or 0845 241 4369. Taster sessions are available when centre reopens. Phone to arrange a time and date to have a tour of the centre to discuss opportunities available. **ADVERTISED OPPORTUNITIES ARE ONLY AVAILABLE AFTER COVID-19 LOCKDOWN LIFTED**

Would you like to support people with learning disabilities to socialise and make friends? dates-n-mates is a friendship and dating agency for adults with learning disabilities. We offer a friendship matching service to our members to help them make and sustain friendships. We are looking for Volunteer Chaperones to help members who are matched to meet and have a good time. Meetings usually take place in cafes, pubs, restaurants and parks. As a volunteer chaperone, you will join the members and help them to interact while they’re together. It’s all about helping them to have a safe, enjoyable and friendly time. Its fun, sociable and very rewarding! A large number of people with learning disabilities feel lonely and socially isolated. Your support will help to change this. Friendship match meetings last roughly 1 hour and are different days and times each week so we appreciate that volunteers can't always commit to these hours because they are only available on certain days. dates-n-mates offer a variety of training and support to our volunteers. We require our volunteers to be a member of the PVG scheme but there is no cost to yourself. Access to additional training is available. For further information or to apply please contact Raynor McCulloch, Volunteer Co-ordinator at E Mail: volunteering@c-change.org.uk or Tel. 07720 591229.

Blackwood Homes and Care was founded in 1972 by Dr Margaret Blackwood MBE, a campaigner for the rights and independence of disabled people. We deliver our vision of helping people live their life to the full in the pioneering spirit of Dr Blackwood by providing high quality housing, care and support for disabled people of all ages, with over 1500 homes across all 29 mainland local authorities in Scotland. -What will I be doing as a Digital Buddy?: Can you help our customers feel less isolated by supporting them to use technology to connect with the wider world? We are looking for people who are confident with basic IT skills and have the patience to share your skills with people who are new and uncertain when using technology. You also need to enjoy making casual conversation and building familiar relationships. Customers are perhaps unsure how to connect to the internet, charge their device, video call a friend or do shopping online. Helping someone make a video call for the first time to family they’ve not seen due to the pandemic really makes a difference to their quality of life along with their mood and mental wellbeing. At Blackwood we believe that using technology can significantly improve the lives of our customers. We provide care (in care homes), care at home services and tenancies to people with different support needs. Our customers have been offered a tablet which is set up with our innovative system CleverCogs. The role out of this is delivered by our Digital Skills Coaches but people continue to need support with basic IT issues to gain skills and confidence. Some customers don’t like to ask for more help, so knowing there is a wider network of buddies that can provide digital support will be very beneficial. This is where your time will be invaluable! Due to COVID-19 this role will start remotely, providing help over the phone or a video call. As restrictions ease, you will be able to visit customers in their home. Hopefully getting to meet some of the people you’ve helped remotely. -What will you get from volunteering?: • Supporting your local community to join the digital age and providing them with the autonomy to run their own lives online • The opportunity to be involved in key unforgettable digital-learning moments, such as their first video call with a much-missed family member • By providing a friendly face and conversation, you are helping to eradicate social isolation for many • Satisfaction that you’ve made a difference to the lives of Blackwood Customers. • Be involved in our innovative initiatives • Build on trouble-shooting and problem-solving skills • Awareness and knowledge of differing accessibility and communication needs, and how to meet those needs • Evidence of IT, communication and disability accessibility knowledge and skills for your CV • Induction to Blackwood • Training on the likely issues that you’ll help with to ensure you’re confident undertaking your role. • Support throughout your volunteering. Staff will be available should you need assistance and we’ll have a regular catch up. -What do I do next?: Please get in touch with the Volunteering Development Co-ordinator, Zoe MacGregor to find out more. Contact Zoe at email: volunteering@blackwoodgroup.org.uk or tel.: 07976 573745. Or look at the website https://www.blackwoodgroup.org.uk/volunteer for more opportunities and complete the on-line expression of interest form. You will be contacted to arrange an informal discussion to find out more and talk about what you would like to do. You can also follow Blackwood Homes and Care on social media to hear about what’s going on.

Would you like to support people with learning disabilities to socialise and make friends? dates-n-mates is a friendship and dating agency for adults with learning disabilities. We are looking for Event Volunteers to attend organised social events to help our members to interact while they're together. As an Events Volunteer, your role is to help our members enjoy socialising in safe and friendly environments. Our events include going to restaurants, pubs, cinema, tenpin bowling, day trips and walks. The events are sociable, great fun and your role is very rewarding. A large number of people with learning disabilities feel lonely and socially isolated. Your support will help to change this. Events take place afternoons and evenings and usually last 2 hours. We ask for a minimum of 2 hours per week, but our events and friendship match meetings are different days and times each week so we appreciate that volunteers can't always commit to these hours because they are only available on certain days. dates-n-mates offer a variety of training and support to our volunteers. We require our volunteers to be a member of the PVG scheme but there is no cost to yourself. Access to additional training is available. For further information or to apply please contact Raynor McCulloch, Volunteer Co-ordinator at E Mail: volunteering@c-change.org.uk or Tel. 07720 591229.

As a Voluntary Co-worker you will become part of a team within one of our 10 residential Care homes, set in beautiful surroundings 5 miles outside of Aberdeen City centre and close to the Deeside Railway line. The opportunity does not require you to have previous experience, we just ask that you are caring, patient and willing to help our pupils, have an interest in people and different ways of communications. Our pupils age from 12-25 years old and as part of your position, you will be with them when they attend the school, farm and gardens, workshops or even riding stables as part of their personalised daily routines and assist them with their tasks throughout the day. Training provided in induction and support given throughout the volunteering time within Camphill School Aberdeen. A fantastic opportunity to help with all assistance making a real difference and greatly appreciated. For more details please contact Naomi Paton, Recruitment Administrator at E Mail: n.paton@crss.org.uk or tel.: 01224 866162.

As a Voluntary Workshop Assistant you will become part of a team within our farm and gardens, set in beautiful surroundings 5miles outside of Aberdeen city centre and close to the Deeside Railway line. The opportunity does not require you to have previous experience, we just ask that you are caring, patient and willing to help our pupils, have an interest in people and different ways of communications. Our pupils age from 12-25 years old and as part of your position, you will be with them when they attend the various workshops (woodwork, metal, weavery, felt, candle, pottery, bike and Fruver- our food workshop)as part of their personalised daily routines and assist them with their tasks. Training provided in induction and support given throughout the volunteering time within Camphill School Aberdeen. A fantastic opportunity to help with all assistance making a real difference and greatly appreciated. For more details please contact Naomi Paton, Recruitment Administrator at E Mail: n.paton@crss.org.uk or tel.: 01224 866162.

As a Voluntary Farm and Gardens Volunteer you will become part of a team within our farm and gardens, set in beautiful surroundings 5miles outside of Aberdeen city centre and close to the Deeside Railway line. The opportunity does not require you to have previous experience, we just ask that you are caring, patient and willing to help our pupils, have an interest in people and different ways of communications. Please note- our farm cares for cows, pigs, goats, hens and alpacas. Our pupils age from 12-25 years old and as part of your position, you will be with them when they attend the farm and gardens as part of their personalised daily routines and assist them with their tasks. Training provided in induction and support given throughout the volunteering time within Camphill School Aberdeen. A fantastic opportunity to help with all assistance making a real difference and greatly appreciated. For more details please contact Naomi Paton, Recruitment Administrator at E Mail: n.paton@crss.org.uk or tel.: 01224 866162.