Could you help someone who has a sensory impairment get to a local social group? Northeast Sensory Services (NESS) helps people who have vision or hearing impairments get to social groups and activities -- this is a vital service for people -- helping them to maintain social contacts, but also to rebuild and gain confidence too. Could you join their pool of volunteer drivers? They are in real need just now. Volunteers provide transport and guided assistance to those who may need it. They are looking for kind, happy, friendly people, willing to help a blind or deaf person in and out of a car. Volunteers can give a few hours per week (or more if they can manage) to collect a person and then return them home a few hours later. All expenses will be reimbursed by the NESS and Sensory awareness training will be provided. And, if you are a holder of a category D1 license NESS would also like to hear from you. They need these drivers for their minibus for occasional outings as well. Most volunteering happens Monday - Thursday afternoons, and the occasional Thursday morning. So you can pick a day or even a couple of hours that suits. Email Heather Roy if you could help out with a spot of driving and make a huge difference to someone near you. heather.roy@nesensoryservices.org

Join our amazing team of Community Support Volunteers in Aberdeen, who support people who have had one of our conditions 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 group setting in person, virtually or via telephone. We also have opportunities for volunteers to become Walk Leaders, to safely lead community health walks either in a 1:1 or group setting, while effectively supporting people living with and at high risk of our conditions. The service can be delivered to provide person-centred support for those with a communication difficulty and/or to support an individual to achieve a specific goal. A fantastic opportunity to help and make a real difference for people and the community. Excellent support and relevant training is provided to all volunteers and all assistance is greatly appreciated. For more details please contact Victoria Wood, Community Support Services Coordinator at email: Victoria.wood@chss.org.uk or telephone: 07733614861.

We need home-based telephone befriending volunteers to call our members, who are all service veterans with a vision impairment. Your regular calls will help our members overcome isolation and loneliness. It’s good to talk! If you love a relaxed, friendly chat on the phone and if the idea of doing this whilst also making a genuine impact as a volunteer sounds too good to be true … read on. Our members tell us that their regular check-ins and chats with someone at Sight Scotland Veterans are something they look forward to. Sometimes they can even be a lifeline. Just a simple phone call once a week can make the difference that helps one of our members overcome the effects of isolation and loneliness. We need a friendly and naturally chatty home-based volunteer who can check in regularly with our members by phone, take some time to make sure they are doing OK, and fill them in with all the latest gossip at Sight Scotland Veterans. You will never be cold calling, there’s no pressure and nothing to sell. We will only ask you to call signed-up Sight Scotland Veterans members who we know will be only too happy to hear from you. As a volunteer, you will get to know inspiring people, gain valuable experiences, and help us to change the lives of those who have served their country.

Helping run a peer support group in your local community: By giving your time, you will help us to reach the thousands of people living with sight loss in your area and provide life-changing support. Why we need you: The Macular Society is the UK’s leading charity determined to beat the fear and isolation of macular disease with world-class research, and the best advice and support Our groups provide information, support and new friendships to those with macular disease, along with their family and friends. Whether you can spare a few hours or a couple of days a week, you’ll be doing something great to help people with macular disease. Rewarding and enjoyable roles Everyone has a reason for volunteering. Perhaps you know someone who has macular disease, are currently supporting a loved one, or want to give something back to support your community. If you want to gain experience or develop new skills, we are sure we have something for you too. Will it suit me? You will be working as part of a team to ensure the smooth running of the group. No one person is responsible, which helps to lighten the load. Select the task(s) that feel right for you. Tasks shared by volunteers may include: • Meet and greet – welcoming members and guests, sharing information, wrapping things up at the end. • Group programme – organising guest speakers and suggesting social activities. • Keeping in touch with group members. • Maintaining a list of members and sharing updates with head office. • Collecting meeting subs. • Organising and/or serving tea and coffee. • Setting out the chairs. Time commitment Most of our groups meet monthly. The Galashiels Macular Support Group will be meeting at a central venue in Galashiels. Two to three hours is all we need each month, with flexibility if things change for you. Offering your help If you see yourself in this role, get in touch to have a chat. If it isn’t for you, then we would still love to hear from you. We have other exciting volunteer opportunities that may be a better fit for your time and talents.

Volunteers help ensure the shop is tidy and attractive; you can use your creativity to make eye-catching window displays, sorting and replacing stock to keep the shop looking fresh and stylish. Incoming donations are organised and labelled, and clothes steamed and tagged. Our polite, approachable volunteers assist customers; welcoming them through the door, ringing purchases through the cash register and encouraging signing up to the Gift Aid scheme. A bonus of volunteering in this role is having access to great quality items at reasonable prices, as soon as they hit the shop floor! In the shop volunteer role you will develop your understanding of stock management, marketing and customer service. These skills are valuable for personal development as well as very relevant to careers in retail, advertising and business. You will have the opportunity to meet lots of people, play an active role in your community and make friends.

Supporting a local charity aimed at inclusiveness and working to promote, sustain and increase individual education and access to local, fresh grown produce. To help alleviate food poverty, to promote healthy living and access to outdoor spaces and to enhance community cohesiveness. To support and empower those who are impacted by health. Various roles are available depending on preference. We have a wide list of opportunities from helping in the gardens, becoming a lead volunteer, mentoring other volunteers, helping out at activities and open days in the community gardens, being involved in the online presence of the charity eg taking pictures and possibly helping with IT. We are also involved with several other initiatives and we are happy to discuss volunteer involvement in these areas too, where appropriate.

Support the wellbeing of a resident at QME Care, Kelso, with volunteer companionship. Spend time together participating in a mutually enjoyed hobby, or just having a cuppa and a chat. Our aim is to provide a service that helps improve health and well-being, providing companionship to increase confidence and reduce loneliness and isolation. Companionship/ Befriending visits are tailored to meet the needs of our residents with volunteer companions/ befrienders carefully matched to residents based on shared interests. They can accompany their ‘companion’ to groups of interest to help build their confidence or return to a hobby they previously enjoyed. During a weekly or fortnightly visit to their assigned resident, volunteers will provide friendship and companionship. This might include participating in shared interests, playing a game, going for a stroll, or simply having a cuppa and a chat.

Helping run a peer support group in your local community: By giving your time, you will help us to reach the thousands of people living with sight loss in your area and provide life-changing support. Why we need you: The Macular Society is the UK’s leading charity determined to beat the fear and isolation of macular disease with world-class research, and the best advice and support Our groups provide information, support and new friendships to those with macular disease, along with their family and friends. Whether you can spare a few hours or a couple of days a week, you’ll be doing something great to help people with macular disease. Rewarding and enjoyable roles Everyone has a reason for volunteering. Perhaps you know someone who has macular disease, are currently supporting a loved one, or want to give something back to support your community. If you want to gain experience or develop new skills, we are sure we have something for you too. Will it suit me? You will be working as part of a team to ensure the smooth running of the group. No one person is responsible, which helps to lighten the load. Select the task(s) that feel right for you. Tasks shared by volunteers may include: • Meet and greet – welcoming members and guests, sharing information, wrapping things up at the end. • Group programme – organising guest speakers and suggesting social activities. • Keeping in touch with group members. • Maintaining a list of members and sharing updates with head office. • Collecting meeting subs. • Organising and/or serving tea and coffee. • Setting out the chairs. Time commitment Most of our groups meet monthly. The Kelso Macular Support Group will be meeting at a central venue in Kelso. Two to three hours is all we need each month, with flexibility if things change for you. Offering your help If you see yourself in this role, get in touch to have a chat. If it isn’t for you, then we would still love to hear from you. We have other exciting volunteer opportunities that may be a better fit for your time and talents.

For many people, a simple outing to the beach is impossible. Volunteer, ‘be the change’ and help others relive fond memories or experience the joys of sand, sea and shore for the very first time! Our pool of volunteers are contacted when a booking is made to hire one of our beach wheelchairs and invited to help out. On the day of the hire, the volunteer on duty will collect the equipment required from the Sea the Change storage shed, taking it to meet the hirer at the appointed time next to the disabled parking bays by Coldingham beach. After demonstrating the features and safe use of the wheelchair and/or hoist, hirers will be left to carry on and enjoy their visit. Volunteers are NOT required to assist with transfers to and from wheelchairs or with using the hoist. At the end of the hire, the volunteer will clean equipment as necessary and wipe down surfaces with antibacterial solution before returning items to the storage shed. In the event of an emergency, the volunteer will contact the Project Officer for assistance.

Want to join the team to drive our minibus? You will be volunteering with our team, helping in transporting children and young people to and from home and on regular daily outings. For further details please email claire.crichton@grampianautisticsociety.org.uk or telephone: 01224 277900.