To provide regular friendly conversation and companionship for an elderly, socially isolated person on an ongoing basis. The activities and responsibilities will vary according to the needs of the visually impaired person. Some people require help with reading and writing letters. Others may want to go out for a walk, but can only do so with a sighted guide. Some people like the chance to go shopping, while others just want to sit and chat over a cup of tea. While the Coronavirus is an ongoing threat, befriending will be limited to telephone contact. Friendly chats can be a lifeline at this time. We would hope that this initial telephone contact might later lead to befriending in person.

About Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland Everyone has the right to live life to the full. After a diagnosis of a chest or heart condition or a stroke, many people experience fear and isolation and struggle with the impact on their lives. Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland won’t stand for that. The care and support we deliver every day ensures everyone can live the life they want to. About Our Services Across Scotland, over 1 million people – that’s one in five of the population – are living with the effects of serious chest and heart conditions and stroke. By 2021 we will double the number of people we support so that more people can live life to the full. We will do this by providing vital advice, information, and support through our No Life Half Lived Support services across Scotland. These services include our Advice Line, Stroke Nurse Service, Rehabilitation Support Service, Health Information, Health Defence, Education and E-learning, Financial Advice & Support and our Peer Support Groups. About the Role Rehabilitation Support Volunteers support people who have had a stroke to develop autonomy and confidence in self-management, enabling them to fully engage with their community and activities of their choosing. The service follows a pathway from hospital to community and can be delivered in a one-to-one and/or a group setting. The service can be delivered to provide specified person-centred communication support for those with a communication difficulty and/or to support a specific physical or everyday task. About Volunteering at CHSS Volunteers are vital to the success of No Life Half Lived strategy. We will double the number of volunteers that we have to reach everybody who needs us and help us to raise funds. Our Volunteer Steering Group will make sure that every volunteer is supported so they have the best experience and become ambassadors for CHSS in their local communities. CHSS is committed to ensuring that every volunteer has the best experience throughout their volunteering journey and has been reaccredited with the Investing in Volunteers quality standard.

Guide Dogs are looking for a Fundraiser to assist the local fundraising team in promoting and taking part in a variety of activities to raise money for Guide Dogs. In this role you will have the chance to take part in activities such as street collections on ‘flag’ days, helping on stalls at local events to fundraiser and keeping track of what we sell (including the cuddly toys), taking collection boxes to local businesses and counting donations.

To give talks and presentations about the work of Guide Dogs within a designated area, in line with the guidelines received at speaker training courses. What does the role involve? • Giving talks when requested to local organisations and groups within a 15 mile radius of your home • Keeping up to date with Guide Dogs news and key messages • Talks should be natural and enthusiastic, tailored to the audience and following guidelines on current key messages • Passing any donations given for talks to the Mobility Team as per guidelines • Attending cheque presentations when requested by the local Mobility Team • Informing your Mobility Team Support Worker of any requests to do talks using the speaker cards supplied • Encouraging local organisations and groups to volunteer or fundraise on behalf of Guide Dogs What will I get out of it? • Meet a variety of local groups and people • Enjoy giving information about Guide Dogs’ aims which enable blind and partially-sighted people to enjoy the same freedom of movement as everyone else

*Bon Accord Care: Kingswells Care Home: Bon Accord Care recognises the invaluable contribution that the general public: friends and relatives can provide to the care and well-being of the people we support. We encourage the involvement of individuals who wish to volunteer in a service in a voluntary capacity, whilst ensuring that the health, safety and well-being of volunteers, the people we support, staff members and visitors is maintained at all times. Kingswells Care Home, is seeking support from volunteers or local community groups to help look after, care for and maintain our beautiful gardens. Kingswells Care Home provides support for individuals with dementia and age related conditions. Being able to use the safe garden area, or being able to look out at flowering tubs and pots and bird feeders, can greatly enhance the quality of an individual’s day. If you are handy with potting plants, weeding borders, then we really would love to hear from you. This is a great opportunity to meet new people, help you stay active and fit. Most importantly you will be contributing to improving the quality of daily life experienced by our service users. *About Bon Accord Care: Bon Accord Care is at the forefront of the continuing development of services to enable independence and reduce hospital admissions, as well as promote active ageing and well-being. Working together with our key partners, we are aligned with the Aberdeen City Health and Social Care Partnership to deliver services. Bon Accord Care work together with service users, partners, employees and volunteers to support our communities and create meaningful relationships with those around us. We deliver a range of services that are aimed at prevention, maximising independence, and enhancing wellbeing. Our focus from the outset is to get to know individual preferences, wants, history and lifestyle to ensure that each person receives a service that is unique to them. Our range of services cover: care at home, housing support, residential care homes, rehabilitation, re-ablement, occupational therapy, SVQs through learning and development, community equipment, telecare, day care, responder, respite and community meals. For further details please contact Julie Suttar, Engagement & Liaison Lead at E-Mail: BACVolunteering@bonaccordcare.org or tel.: 01224 570400.

*Balnagask House Residential Care Home Opportunities: Administrative / Office Work; Befriending / Mentoring; Care / Support worker; Practical /DIY; Supporting with activities such as crafts/baking and gentle walks and exercise: Bon Accord Care recognises the invaluable contribution that the general public: friends and relatives can provide to the care and well-being of the people we support. We will encourage the involvement of individuals who wish to volunteer in a service in a voluntary capacity, whilst ensuring that the health, safety and well-being of volunteers, the people we support, staff members and visitors is maintained at all times. We are looking for kind, caring individuals to support our front-line staff and services, making a positive difference to the day to day life experience of our service users. Current opportunities include, Befriending where we will link you with a service user, to chat to over a cuppa, reminisce about old Aberdeen, read a paper with, chat about your favourite TV soap, go for a local walk etc. Supporting with mealtimes and serving Teas & Coffees, helping in our busy laundry, supporting group activities such as crafts and light exercise. In addition, there is an opportunity to support the reception area, and meet and greet visitors and finally someone with some practical DIY experience to help keep our small patio area and car park clean and tidy. Get involved with Bon Accord Care. A chance to make a difference, help others, make new friends, gain work experience and more! Excellent support and relevant training are provided to all volunteers. A fantastic opportunity to help make a real difference-all volunteers are greatly appreciated. *About Bon Accord Care: Bon Accord Care is at the forefront of the continuing development of services to enable independence and reduce hospital admissions, as well as promote active ageing and well-being. Working together with our key partners, we are aligned with the Aberdeen City Health and Social Care Partnership to deliver services. Bon Accord Care work together with service users, partners, employees and volunteers to support our communities and create meaningful relationships with those around us. We deliver a range of services that are aimed at prevention, maximising independence, and enhancing wellbeing. Our focus from the outset is to get to know individual preferences, wants, history and lifestyle to ensure that each person receives a service that is unique to them. Our range of services cover: care at home, housing support, residential care homes, rehabilitation, re-ablement, occupational therapy, SVQs through learning and development, community equipment, telecare, day care, responder, respite and community meals. For further details please contact Julie Suttar, Engagement & Liaison Lead at E-Mail: BACVolunteering@bonaccordcare.org or tel.: 01224 570400.

*None Residential Services SOUTH: Opportunities: Befriending / Mentoring; Care / Support Volunteers; Practical /DIY; Supporting with activities such as crafts/baking and gentle walks and exercise: Bon Accord Care recognises the invaluable contribution that the general public: friends and relatives can provide to the care and well-being of the people we support. We will encourage the involvement of individuals who wish to volunteer in a service in a voluntary capacity, whilst ensuring that the health, safety and well-being of volunteers, the people we support, staff members and visitors is maintained at all times. We are looking for kind, caring individuals to support our front-line staff and services, making a positive difference to the day to day life experience of our service users. Current opportunities include, Befriending where we will link you with a service user, to chat to over a cuppa, reminisce about old Aberdeen, read a paper with, chat about your favourite TV soap, go for a local walk etc. Supporting with mealtimes and serving Teas & Coffees, helping in our Service User with laundry, and shopping, supporting group activities such as crafts and light exercise. In addition, we are seeking volunteers with some practical DIY experience to help keep our outdoor communal areas and car parks clean and tidy. Get involved with Bon Accord Care. A chance to make a difference, help others, make new friends, gain work experience and more! Excellent support and relevant training are provided to all volunteers. A fantastic opportunity to help make a real difference-all volunteers are greatly appreciated. *About Bon Accord Care: Bon Accord Care is at the forefront of the continuing development of services to enable independence and reduce hospital admissions, as well as promote active ageing and well-being. Working together with our key partners, we are aligned with the Aberdeen City Health and Social Care Partnership to deliver services. Bon Accord Care work together with service users, partners, employees and volunteers to support our communities and create meaningful relationships with those around us. We deliver a range of services that are aimed at prevention, maximising independence, and enhancing wellbeing. Our focus from the outset is to get to know individual preferences, wants, history and lifestyle to ensure that each person receives a service that is unique to them. Our range of services cover: care at home, housing support, residential care homes, rehabilitation, re-ablement, occupational therapy, SVQs through learning and development, community equipment, telecare, day care, responder, respite and community meals. For further details please contact Julie Suttar, Engagement & Liaison Lead at E-Mail: BACVolunteering@bonaccordcare.org or tel.: 01224 570400.

1 in 6 people in Scotland have a hearing impairment . You will know someone who has it, or may have hearing loss yourself. In Midlothian we have recently introduced the hearing aid battery pick up points in all our local libraries. This has been a huge success. It draws people into Libraries, to interact with staff and other members of the community and makes them aware of the wide range of activities which are on offer there. This saves time and money for people, reduces social isolation and eases pressure on the over-stretched staff in Audiology in Edinburgh. It means fewer hearing aids lie unused in drawers, for want of a battery. It really is a win, win. We now want to expand on this by offering repair and maintenance clinics locally too. The replacement of tubing in the hearing aid for example, is required every so often. It is not difficult to do, but it is a bit fiddly, especially for older or disabled people who are a large proportion of hearing aid users. Full training is provided prior to involvement. We have established a clinic which runs on the first Wednesday of every month in Dalkeith Library, 10.30-11.30 am. We also have now established a clinic in Penicuik Town Hall on the last Wednesday of every month 10:30 - 11:30am. If we can recruit more volunteers, we would like to start a clinic in Gorebridge, which would involve a similar monthly commitment. At present due to Covid-19 clinics are suspended but do get in touch if you are interested in this opportunity. Contact will then be made with volunteers once the clinics are re-opened.

Volunteers provide much needed support for our activities and services through a variety of volunteer assignments. We are always happy to hear from people who can offer some time be it an hour a week or a couple of days a week. Volunteers are currently involved in a range of assignments which offer them an opportunity to use their skills or maybe learn new ones. We are currently looking for volunteers to become involved in... -Clubs and Social Groups -Admin and Clerical Support -Fundraising Events -Helping in our Charity Shop and Store -Computing Activities -Assisting in our AudioService -Running our Fitness Room -Visiting people in their own homes -Outings and Holidays -Our Resources Centres -Guiding Running -HELLO Centre (Home Entertainment Lending Library) -Doing odd jobs (painting etc.) -Driving for our clients -Befriending We would like to hear from anyone who feels they have something to offer. Some people feel they have time to spare but don't really know what they can do. We want to hear from them and will take time to explain our services and opportunities available. Full support and training is provided. Please contact us on Email: linda.fachie@nesensoryservices.org or Tel.: 0345 271 2345 for more details.

Drivers are required to support elderly service users with severe sensory loss to keep connected with their local community. This would include supporting people to attend appointments, visit local community groups and attend NESS group activities. Ness provides support to over 3500 people with severe sensory loss across Grampian. The CIS-Connect Inform Support Project aims to support older people with sensory loss who may feel lonely or socially isolated or may lose independent living skills as a result of the daily challenges of their sensory loss. This service has been developed to reach out to those individuals and to offer support, assistance, social opportunities and companionship through trained volunteers. Volunteers aim to help service users to build up their confidence and to increase their independence by providing assistance, a listening ear and encouraging service users to get out and about and rediscover old interests or find new ones. This is a great, enjoyable opportunity to help in the local community, make a positive difference and also the opportunity to develop new skills and interests as well. For more information please contact: Clare Harris e-mail: Clare.Harris@nesensoryservices.org Tel.: 0845 2712345