*Dementia Café Volunteers* We are looking for friendly, enthusiastic and caring volunteers who can help us at the Living Well Cafés we have at Newhills Church, Bucksburn AB21 9SS, Oldmachar Church, Bridge of Don AB22 8PR, High Church Hilton, Aberdeen AB24 4NQ and Ferryhill Parish Church, Aberdeen AB11 6UD. You will receive ongoing training and support including Dementia Friends Sessions, working in partnership with Alzheimer's Scotland and NHS Grampian to help you understand what dementia is and how it may affect people. This is a great opportunity to help make a real difference and all assistance is greatly appreciated. For more information about volunteering with us please contact Jeanette Abel on 07512 141818 or Linda Rendall on 07927 541029 or email us at cafe@thelivingwellproject.org.uk

The James Tyrrell Centre is a small charity that provides a social outlet for lonely or socially isolated older people in the local community. We are based at Mastrick Parish Church . We serve tea and toast on arrival around 10am, a three course lunch at midday and afternoon tea and cake around 2:30pm. Throughout the day we play cards, dominoes, have quizzes and play different physical games such as boccia (indoor bowling) quoits and others. We also enjoy a beetle drive and we can be very competitive!! We need people to help us with the activities and the general running of the centre. Your duties as a volunteer would be to assist with activities and chat with our members. They have lots of stories to tell and enjoy listening as well. Other duties would include setting up and clearing of tables for meal times and washing/drying dishes. Excellent support and relevant training is provided to all volunteers including an initial induction and training in basic first aid and moving and handling. A fantastic opportunity to help and make a real difference-all volunteer help is greatly appreciated. For further details please contact Jane Wilson at tel: 01224 692004.

The Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme (RSVP) in Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire works with NHS Forth Valley to develop volunteering in local hospitals. We are looking for older volunteers or those in/approaching retirement to carry out support roles in Stirling Community Hospital, Falkirk Community Hospital, Forth Valley Royal Hospital or Clackmannanshire Healthcare Centre - with the aim of making a visit to the hospital a better experience for patients and visitors. Volunteers provide support to patients and visitors in many different departments. There are w wide range of volunteer roles available and we will help to find one which suits you! Volunteers contribute to the well-being of patients and visitors by being a listening ear, and a helpful and friendly face welcoming people to the hospital. Our volunteers feel valued, make new friends and keep active in retirement.

Volunteering Matters are the UK's leading volunteering charity. Our Handyperson service runs in Stirling and Clackmannanshire and involves volunteers who complete small and minor maintenance jobs that some older or disabled people cannot do by themselves in their own homes. The types of jobs that volunteers complete take less than 2 hours and include things such as changing lightbulbs, hanging curtains, replacing batteries in smoke alarms, unblocking sinks, putting up shelves or building flat pack furniture. It can often be difficult to find tradespeople willing to do such minor jobs and can be somewhat dangerous for older, frail people to do themselves so that’s where our volunteers step in to help. As a result of our service, older people feel more confident in their ability to live independently in their own homes. We also offer fire safety advice and how to prevent a fall at home. Volunteers receive full support from project staff as well as travel expenses, free uniform and health & safety equipment. Volunteers find that not only are they helping others, they’re also strengthening their own communities and networks. The hours available are completely flexible and we will work around the volunteer and what spare time they have. If you are interested in volunteering, or you know someone who could do with some help around the house, then please contact contact us.

Lingo Flamingo offers language classes to older adults in care homes to help support the battle against dementia. As a Language Tutor you will go into care homes and teach older adults in classes of ten - to help improve their language and research has shown that knowing a second language can delay the onset of dementia by up to five years. Learning a language also has cognitive effects. Lingo Flamingo offer comprehensive training and supply all the necessary teaching materials.

This is your opportunity to improve the lives of those within our community while enjoying yourself at the same time. We have a variety of different clients with a variety of different needs and as a care assistant your role would be to work as part of the team and support people to stay safe, have an enjoyable experience and for them to remain as independent as possible. During a typical day you would be expected to chat with clients, support mobility, encourage participation in activities and help out at meal times. You will have the opportunity to take part in any training that will enhance your ability to carry out this role.

Help us build up the pace in Scotland by sharing our badges and displaying posters across your local area; playing your part in the future of Scottish medical research and taking on heart disease. We can provide posters for you to display in your local shops, community centres, libraries, supermarkets, pharmacies and doctors surgeries to help us reach as many people as possible. Our Heart of Scotland Appeal is a fundraising campaign to raise and spend money in Scotland on vital medical research into the prevention, treatment and cure of heart disease. 41 people die every day in Scotland from cardiovascular disease and we know that the death rate form coronary heart disease is almost 50% higher than for the South East of England. This isn't fair and we want to change this. The Heart of Scotland Appeal is backed by internationally acclaimed Scottish fashion designer, Christopher Kane. Christopher has designed four unique badges to sell to friends, family and colleagues for donations, as well as asking local shops if they will have a box of badges on their counter (that we can send out to them). Join our network of volunteer Pace Makers and help us get everyone wearing a Heart of Scotland badge.

*Why not join our exciting Hearing Forces project, which is providing support to veterans aged 65+, who have hearing loss or tinnitus and their families and carers. If you’ve got a few hours to spare every month, you could help reduce loneliness and social isolation and provide life changing support to older veterans.* There’s the opportunity to assist with hearing screening, information and hearing aid maintenance. You’ll also inform veterans about helpful equipment and signpost veterans to other services within the Unforgotten Forces consortium that can help them. No previous experience is essential, as you will get lots of training and support. For further details please contact Heather Hart, Hearing Forces – Project Assistant at E Mail: hearing.forces@hearingloss.org.uk or tel.: 0141 341 5344.

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.

This is truly time well spent. Musical memories is an opportunity for people to come together in a social setting and enjoy an afternoon of music and conversation. Volunteers are needed to help set up tables and help with coffees and teas.