Meal Makers is a local neighbourhood food-sharing project that connects people with a love for cooking who are happy to share an extra portion of home cooked food with an older neighbour (or “diner”) who might be unable or lack the motivation to prepare a meal for themselves. Meals can be shared once a week, once a fortnight or every now and then, at times to suit. It is designed to be a flexible volunteering opportunity based on an everyday activity. We do our best to match our volunteers with a like-minded neighbour (similar hobbies, interests and dietary requirements) so that both the cook and diner get the most from their Meal Makers experience; we do find that the volunteers benefit from participating just as much as the older person who receives the meal. Once paired with a diner, cooks then arrange meals directly with them at a time that is convenient for both. The Meal Makers team will be in constant communication with the cooks and diners to ensure that both parties are enjoying the experience. We have regular check-in calls and are always on hand to provide support when necessary.

Meal Makers is a local neighbourhood food-sharing project that connects people with a love for cooking who are happy to share an extra portion of home cooked food with an older neighbour (or “diner”) who might be unable or lack the motivation to prepare a meal for themselves. Meals can be shared once a week, once a fortnight or every now and then, at times to suit. It is designed to be a flexible volunteering opportunity based on an everyday activity. We do our best to match our volunteers with a like-minded neighbour (similar hobbies, interests and dietary requirements) so that both the cook and diner get the most from their Meal Makers experience; we do find that the volunteers benefit from participating just as much as the older person who receives the meal. Once paired with a diner, cooks then arrange meals directly with them at a time that is convenient for both. The Meal Makers team will be in constant communication with the cooks and diners to ensure that both parties are enjoying the experience. We have regular check-in calls and are always on hand to provide support when necessary.

Meal Makers is a local neighbourhood food-sharing project that connects people with a love for cooking who are happy to share an extra portion of home cooked food with an older neighbour (or “diner”) who might be unable or lack the motivation to prepare a meal for themselves. Meals can be shared once a week, once a fortnight or every now and then, at times to suit. It is designed to be a flexible volunteering opportunity based on an everyday activity. We do our best to match our volunteers with a like-minded neighbour (similar hobbies, interests and dietary requirements) so that both the cook and diner get the most from their Meal Makers experience; we do find that the volunteers benefit from participating just as much as the older person who receives the meal. Once paired with a diner, cooks then arrange meals directly with them at a time that is convenient for both. The Meal Makers team will be in constant communication with the cooks and diners to ensure that both parties are enjoying the experience. We have regular check-in calls and are always on hand to provide support when necessary.

Re-engage is a national charity which supports a network of volunteers to run monthly tea parties across the country for isolated people over the age of 75. Once a month on a Sunday afternoon volunteer drivers use their own cars to collect one or two local older people and accompany them to a local volunteer host's home for afternoon tea, friendship and fun. Our guests are generally over the age of 75, living alone in their own homes and socially isolated. We have a fantastic team of volunteers in Aberdeen and have exciting opportunities for new people to join us in helping as volunteers: -Tea Party Hosts: Do you have a few hours to spare once or twice a year? Would you like to host a tea party for a small group of isolated older people and their drivers in your own home? Many older people feel isolated, so our monthly tea parties make a big difference to their lives. Our hosts provide a warm, friendly atmosphere and an afternoon tea with sandwiches and cakes for our guests and volunteer drivers. -Volunteer Drivers: We need drivers to take an isolated older person, using their own cars to collect guests and take them to a volunteer host's home. Once there, you will take part in the tea party for a couple of hours with the other drivers and guests before returning your guest home again. It's the same small group of drivers and guests who meet in a different host's home each month establishing a real link of companionship and fun! Come and join us in making a big difference to the lives of isolated older people in your local community. For more details please contact Lorna Dunbar at email lorna.dunbar@contact-the-elderly.org.uk or tel.: 01738 730249.

The Caf4e & Company Lunch Club is working with Aberdeen City Health & Social Care Partnership to address the problem of social isolation among older people in Bridge of Don. The Lunch Club runs once a fortnight on Fridays and provides a nutritious hot meal along with activities and entertainment and the opportunity for members and volunteers to socialise and develop friendships. Volunteers benefit as they find themselves involved in a community where they are able to help others but also receive support, encouragement and friendship. We provide a warm and welcoming environment and volunteers are able to choose which tasks suit them best – driving, social interaction & hosting tables, practical tasks, befriending. A fantastic opportunity to help and make a real difference. All help is greatly appreciated. To find out more, please contact the Lunch Club Coordinator Rachel Wallace at Rachel.caf4e@outlook.com

We are looking for people to provide a 'kindness call' to help people have social contact to reduce social isolation and lonliness; this can be done through our new telephone check in service, text message or facetime call to our Peer Group membership or Rehabilitation Support Service Users. This role could also entail doing some shopping, dog walking or collecting medication where it is safe to do so, in compliance with current offical guidance. Please note that you would only be able to take on these extra duties if you are not classed in the vulnerable category (anyone recommended to receive a flu jag).

This role involves collecting shopping, medication or other essential supplies for someone who is self-isolating, and delivering these sullies to thier home.

Reading Friends is a pilot project now beiong launched in Moray in partnership with Re-engage and The Reading Agency. Delivered by volunteers and co-produced with participants, Reading Friends meet regularly to chat and share stories in groups or one-to-one sessions. Reading Friends aims to empower, engage and connect people who are vulnerable, isolated and at risk of loneliness. Reading Friends groups will meet in local libraries, care homes, or sheltered housing and will have monthly get togethers. The group will decide on a topic to talk about -- inspiration could be drawn from a movie, book, poem or a news article. Get the chat going and volunteer with Reading Friends!

The RAF Association is a member-led welfare charity that exists to ensure all members of the RAF family are supported in terms of welfare, when they require it. The Befriender role is at the heart of this charity objective and volunteers undertaking this role will be helping us to deliver this support to the RAF family. Essentially the aim of the Befriender role is to help alleviate isolation and loneliness, giving time to listen and encourage communication on a shared interest or topic, leading to improving and developing enjoyable social networks. A Befriender volunteer carries out visits to and keeps in touch with members of the RAF family on behalf of the Association. Befriender volunteers exist to provide companionship and to deliver outcome focussed support to a beneficiary and to ensure that they remain part of the community and feel socially connected to the wider family. The role of a Befriender is varied and could involve helping out with practical tasks such as driving someone to a doctor’s appointment, or helping them with their shopping.

Day Centre Assistants foster a friendly and supportive atmosphere within the group by: Welcoming and accompanying/escorting older people on the premises. Arranging and or facilitating appropriate activities during groups sessions. Offering support and assistance to enable all members to participate as full as they wish in the activities. Serving pre-prepared meals and teas and coffees. Washing and tidying up. Occasional escorting on community transport.