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.

We try to help those who have already overdosed and encourage them to seek help.

Are you interested in contributing to the work of Health in Mind, a mental health and wellbeing charity based in Edinburgh, working across Scotland? Health in Mind is seeking to recruit suitably experienced and qualified people onto our Board Directors. Health in Mind Board Directors are responsible for the charity's governance and strategy, and for making sure that the charity is administered effectively. They have ultimate accountability for its activities and outcomes. In an increasingly challenging financial environment for the Health and Social Care sector, in the midst of a period of change, we are seeking to increase our working partnerships, improve our effectiveness, continue to develop creative approaches to meet need and increase our unrestricted income. In order to help us achieve this, we are seeking new volunteer Board Directors, particularly those with an appropriate level of the following knowledge, skills or experience: Human Resources Health and Social Care Finance / audit / accounting IT / systems Health in Mind Board meets six times a year, currently via video conferencing, usually in our city centre office in Edinburgh and is supported by a number of focussed committees, currently meeting quarterly by video conference. An application pack is available on our website. https://www.health-in-mind.org.uk/be_a_health_in_mind_hero/become_a_board_director/d109/ If you have difficulties accessing the pack, please contact Annmarie Mitchell, HR/Admin Assistant on 0131 225 8508 or email annmarie.mitchell@health-in-mind.org.uk If you would like any further information, you can contact Wendy Bates, Chief Executive, at wendy.bates@health-in-mind.org.uk, 0131 225 8508, or you can complete the Board Director application form directly. Closing date for applications is 22 April 2021 at noon. Interviews will take place, via video conference on 13 and 17 May 2021. If shortlisted, there will be an opportunity to meet informally with Health in Mind Chair and Chief Executive prior to an interview conducted by small panel of current Board Directors. Successful applicants will be expected to provide two references and be prepared to join the PVG scheme. Health in Mind promotes equality and diversity in the workplace. Registered charity no SC004128.

We are looking for welcoming and enthusiastic volunteer(s) to lead short health walks in Moray -- currently these gentle walks are based in Forres, Elgin, Cullen, Buckie, Lossie and Keith. It's sociable, relaxed, fun and flexible -- and there is great support for our volunteers. Becoming a volunteer walk leader requires you to commit around an hour or so of your time weekly (but there is room for flexible dates!) and to sometimes complete a small amount of preparation & paper work for the walk. Health walks encourage people who have not exercised for a while, find walking boring, or lack confidence to join a walking group because they think they will not be able to keep up. Walks are free, short, low intensity, safe and social and are usually followed by a cup of tea or coffee and a chat! Over the next year we plan to build upon our network of gentle exercise activities across the Moray region. To help us achieve this we are looking for friendly and supportive volunteers who enjoy walking, meeting new folk sharing the wide ranging health and well- being benefits of gentle physical activity. We would love it if you could help us set up indoor and outdoor Strength and Balance sessions as well as new Health Walks to boost our provision in the area, helping the people that need it to access these opportunities. Volunteer walk leaders receive on-going support from the Health Walk co-ordinator, too. If you are a people person, like to walk and the outdoors please get in touch!

Help People at Difficult Times Listening volunteers are there for anyone who needs someone, and provide confidential emotional support for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which may lead to suicide. Every seven seconds someone contacts us. Every seven seconds we can help someone turn their life around. As a listening volunteer you get the chance to make a real difference to someone’s future. You can offer support on the phone, email or text. Volunteers typically volunteer a minimum of a 4 hour duty per week, as well as a 4 hour night duty at monthly intervals. There are no qualifications required and you’ll receive full training to prepare you for the kinds of conversations you’ll have. And when you start out, you’ll have a mentor with you, to give you confidence you’re doing the right thing. You can also apply to help with administration or other non-listening support. Let us know how you would like to help.

Everyone can feel lonely and isolated at times, especially if experiencing hardship. This year, in response to the crippling effects of loneliness and isolation on peoples physical, emotional and mental health, that the pandemic has only exacerbated, TLC are setting up a befriending service to combat loneliness and isolation in Aberdeen. Our aim is that our expertly trained and compassionate volunteers will not only provide a lifeline to people, in the form of friendship, but also a helping hand to reconnect to the community, bringing joy and passion back into people’s lives. Due to Covid-19 government restrictions, the project will run differently than usual with the use of video conferencing or by phone, however, once restrictions are eased and it is safe to meet in person, befriending sessions will operate face-to-face in people’s homes or in the community. If you would like to be a beacon of hope for someone in need, please apply to become a TLC Befriender. For further information please contact Jonny Astill, Development Manager at EMail: jonny@tlc.org.uk

Talkable offers a talkline to anyone suffering from panic or anxiety. We are currently looking for someone who has knowledge and understanding around legal matters and could advise us on any such matters as our organisation continues to grow, develop and help people. This would not be a full time role, it would be flexible to suit volunteers/on an as and when required basis when we need documents looking over or creating. An excellent opportunity to help in our vital work. All help makes a difference and is greatly appreciated. For more information please contact Chelsea Birkett at E Mail: info@talkable.online or tel: 07999 453655.

Talkable offers a talkline to anyone suffering from panic or anxiety. We are currently looking for people who have knowledge and understanding around mental health issues and who would like to volunteer at talkable. You would be required to answer the phone to provide a vital listening ear for our service users. You will be required to download an app to allow calls to come through and preferably be able to download whatsapp as this is where all our communication among us happens. An excellent opportunity to help and make a real difference for people. All help is greatly appreciated. For more information please contact Chelsea Birkett at E Mail: info@talkable.online or tel: 07999 453655.

Street Friends Helping the Homeless Aberdeen is working towards a brighter future for homeless people, vulnerable and people in poverty. With dignity Street Friends Helping the Homeless offer fresh chilled sandwiches and desserts as meals, food parcels for a few days, clothing, pet food, toiletries/condoms/sanitary products to those most in need as a result of homeless, poverty or vulnerable. We have established links with specialist services. When we befriend, we keep a note anonymously, on how people are doing, if they are in danger/emergency they are given immediate help. If they wish to progress we can use the referrals to get people to the correct professional service. We offer kindness, empathy, friendship and safe choices if people wish to pursue them. As our outreach grows we need cleaning volunteers, twice a week for our storage facility. We are looking for people with skills to do basic tasks such as deep cleans, sterilising and tidying. We have a full volunteer pathway with training opportunities and all help makes a real difference and is always greatly appreciated. For more information about volunteering with Street Friends Helping the Homeless please contact Sam Raion, Communications Secretary at email admin@streetfriendshelpingthehomeless.com

Absafe is a unique safety education charity dedicated to saving lives and reducing harm by instilling a positive safety culture in our communities and inspiring a passion for safety through education and engagement. No one else does what we do locally! Our vision is for a safer future; free from life-changing unintentional injury and harm, with protective communities inspired by a passion for safety, so that no one has to learn by accident. We are passionate about the power of educating in a participative and engaging environment, using fun to create lasting change in children’s lives and in the communities in which they live. We believe in the transformative impact that a positive safety culture can have on the health and prosperity of future generations. Absafe provides health, safety and well-being education and risk awareness. Protecting people and places from harm, helping communities thrive by building a strong positive safety culture, and giving individuals the confidence, skills and attitudes to create a safer future. We deliver a range of unique projects and interactive training programmes designed to inform, instruct and engage to reduce vulnerability to unintentional injury and harm, and support positive decision-making in relation to harmful behaviour. We are looking for a Volunteer Treasurer to join our Board of Trustees, so we are able to continue to deliver education to the children and young people of Aberdeen, we would like you to have an interest in Education, health, safety risk management, and also health and wellbeing. We are a small Charity and every member is important, joining Absafe means that you will be making a real difference to the children and young people of Aberdeen. For more information please contact Louise Richardson, CEO at email: Louise@absafe.org.uk or tel.: 07748654105.