Have you been Bereaved by Suicide? Do you have a desire to help other people who have also been Bereaved by Suicide? Are you comfortable listening to the experiences of others? You could be just the person we are looking for. We have self-help support groups across the UK, where you can meet with other people who have been bereaved by suicide and we want to enroll some new volunteers to set up a group in Aberdeen. Typically, our groups meet once a month and last for around 2 hours. Presently many groups are meeting virtually via Zoom but when regulations allow, they will return to Face to Face. They provide an opportunity to listen, to share, to ask questions and to connect with others. Each local SoBS group is run by a team of 3: the group leader and two group volunteers, all of whom have been bereaved by suicide themselves. Between them, they facilitate the session, get the conversation started, make sure everyone has the opportunity to talk if they want to, and generally look out for people and each other. The team also work together to manage the administration, fundraising and communication for the group, sometimes with the help of additional support volunteers. There is no set structure to a session – people are free to talk and listen as they wish. The topics discussed vary from week to week but often includes people sharing their story, how they are feeling, what has happened since their last group visit, questions about coroners and discussions about common challenges such as flashbacks, supporting children or facing neighbours. Many groups also offer a small resource library and can share information about local sources of support. For further details please contact Phill Abbiss, Volunteer Coordinator (North) at E Mail: phill.abbiss@uksobs.org or tel.: 07535 854 860.

Our Men’s Group supports men who are having a rough time and could do with a helping hand. We usually have tea/coffee together and then do some fun activities. These could include: music, debates and discussions, games and organised trips. We are especially looking for people who could share a specific skill or talent they have, or lead an activity, games or discussion. For those who can’t commit longer term, there is the possibility of volunteering for a 4-week block or volunteering on a rota.

Four Pillars is a Grampian only based LGBT+ Charity that looks after the community in relation to their mental, emotional, physical and sexual health. As a volunteer you will be at the heart of this unique service that looks to work with individuals on reducing risky sexual behaviour and STI/HIV transmissions whilst protecting the whole person. There are many different roles within Four Pillars and what kind of role you play is entirely up to you and your skills. For more information please contact Deejay Bullock at E Mail: deejay@fourpillarsuk.org or tel.: 01224 211963.

Neil’s Hugs Foundation are an already established community charity based in West Lothian and strongly believe in working in communities to raise awareness of poor mental health and suicide which is affecting so many people. We believe that partnership work is the way to achieve our goal of reducing suicide rates. Neil’s Hugs Foundation provides support to people who have lost someone to suicide, support people who are currently living with/supporting someone who has attempted suicide by signposting to appropriate support agencies. We run support groups for people who have suffered a loss to suicide; peer support groups for men and women with mild to moderate poor mental health. All the groups are safe spaces to talk, but 1-to-1 support is available for people who do not feel they are able to attend a group at this moment. Neil’s Hugs Foundation provides a befriending service to reduce isolation working with the person to engage with external groups to increase network. We are looking for people who wants to support others by giving some time to befriend someone who is experiencing poor mental health. You will help them access community resources, build their confidence and help promote a healthy wellbeing. We need volunteers who can help out at weekly support groups for people who have experienced, or are experiencing, bereavement from suicide; people who have had experience of poor mental health in the past and want to help others (both men and women) in the journey. Neil’s Hugs Foundation are looking for people who can lend an ear to others who need to talk and have phone contact with the individual. The Foundation is run by a small team but we will link in with volunteers in West Lothian for a regular support group, where one can expect informal training and general discussions and support. The Coordinator, Janice Muir, will work with you on a regular basis and hold supervisions. Here you will be required to provide briefs of case notes from contacts. Training will mostly be given online, including: the experience of bereavement & grief; First Aid For Mental Health; Neil’s Hugs Suicide Awareness; Living life and good wellbeing training is in house; and further purchased training will be a large focus initially due to covid restrictions, our aim is to have our team ready to go once the lockdown is lifted. Training will be given, but all of our roles require an understanding and empathetic nature, and the ability to listen to others and provide non-judgemental support. Times will be flexible and can work around what is good for the volunteer and the person they are supporting. All volunteers will be PVG checked to work with vulnerable adults. Due to the nature of the support we offer, someone who is currently experiencing poor mental health should not apply as this work is likely to add additional stress ontop of what they may already be experiencing. However, this is a very good position for someone who has experienced the journey of recovery. Given the nature of the support we offer this would be a role best suited to someone over 18, but we are working on a programme for young volunteers which will be piloted in West Lothian, with the intention of being rolled out in Clacks & Stirling in the future. Befrienders and the people we support will be matched according to circumstances. The first few months will be shadowed around the zoom groups and training as above, to be ready for work with people directly once lock down has lifted. Most support will be in the community but some will be in the local community centres or designated areas for the support group. All workers will have a sheet to claim expenses. This can be submitted as often as needed, plus petty cash can also be made available.

Responsibilities will include: Ensuring the meetings are effectively organised. Ensuring the effective flow of business between committees. Providing information and data, or obtaining it from others. Ensuring actions are assigned by the committee to appropriate individuals. Upholding the requirements of governing documents; advising the Chair. Knowledge of mental health and substance use desirable.

We are a Christian based charity and our mission is to help those most in need. Our area covers helping people in financial hardship and/or debt. We work with clients with a variety of issues and have various in house support and work closely with other organisations to get people the best help possible. The Debt Advice service has been running for many years now and we have an ever increasing demand for our services. We are looking for individuals who have a keen interest in the Salvation Army’s work and would be keen to join our team to help and support those going through financial difficulties. If you are reliable, have the ability to keep confidences, able to record information accurately, computer literate and have good listening skills and the ability to empathize with our clients and fully understand the situation they are in and how it affects them and passionate about helping others then we would love to hear from you. We offer full training in the form of I-learn portal or training day, Generalist Advice Training, Debt Advice Service Induction, Client Management System. Your tasks will include interviewing clients to gain a full understanding of their situation, record financial information, complete paperwork, sign post clients, undertake administrative tasks. This is a volunteer role and hours can be discussed and agreed and reasonable expenses will be paid. Due to the level of investment and training we give our volunteers we would ask for an initial commitment of 12 months.

The driver will be responsible for collecting and returning the minibus from either Grey Lodge Settlement in the Hilltown area of Dundee or Mitchell street Centre, Dundee City Council minibus. As a condition you need proof of Driving license with D1 & a mini bus MIDAS pass. There will be a requirement to sit a DCC minibus MIDAS test. Checking bus and filing with fuel will be needed. Awareness of Health and Safety would also be helpful. The main duties will include collecting group members from Mitchell Street Centre and driving to various places place of interest on their activity programme. This programme runs between August to June with breaks at Christmas and Summer. Participation in the programme is possible if interested.

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.